High School Locks Down For Gun Threat (Fox 12 Oregon)

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- R.A. Long High School went into lockdown mode for about 40 minutes while officers investigated reports of guns in the area, school officials said.

Beyond safety and the gun, another piece of paintball gear that is a must-have is a device for actually carrying the balls. Most players purchase a special carrying belt that holds tubes that can be filled with paintballs. The tubes generally hold 200 paint balls each. Style of play will determine how many balls need to be carried.

Aside from the marker and balls, the most important purchases on the paintball gear market fall in the safety category. Remember, safety and comfort are far more important on the field of play than looks.

Other paintball gear some players purchase includes optional safety equipment. If the sting of being hit by a ball is too much, there are hard plastic pieces of body armor that can help protected the back, chest, arms and legs. These aren't required to play, but many players use them.

All of the markers mentioned above do carry a hefty price tag, but there are alternatives, including the Ion by Smart Parts. This gun costs about half the price of the others and can hold its own when used by a good player.

Depending on what type of game you play will most likely determine the weapon you choose, such as if you're a wood ball player you might be more inclined go with a Tippman these markers are known for their durability and reliability.

To buy a mask correctly, it is important to make sure it fits securely. It doesn't matter what it looks like, dont forget that! If a mask doesn't fit right, it is not the right piece of gear.

Those that plan to play mostly on air ball or speedball fields will need a marker that fires at least 15 balls a second. Any number of guns fit this description. Examples include the Ego made by Planet Eclipse, a Dmc or a Dm6 made by Dye perhaps even a Karnivor made by Worrgames. Some of these guns are what might be considered by some to be "top of the line."

After a marker is chosen, the next piece of paintball gear that will be needed is a mask. There are all kinds of makes to choose from. They come in all sorts of colors and some even have tinted, or colored, lenses. But as cool as some may look, always remember that a mask's number one just is to protect the face and especially the eyes. Safety is the first concern of this type of paintball gear.

What Paintball Gear Do Players Need?

What Paintball Gear Do Players Need?

The first piece of paintball gear any player will need is a marker or gun. The type of game that will be played will most likely determine the weapon chosen.