Fun arrives in many shapes and sizes, including the splat marks you put on your opponents. The splat mark stands as proof the marked player should be "out"--and when it was your shot, you get the bragging rights. The reason paintball requires a mark is to prove the tagged player should leave the game.
How big must the mark be, to separate a splat mark from splatter? The size of a U.S. quarter is the usual rule.
On my test bench right now are markers or launchers that shoot different sizes of paintballs: .68, .60/.62/.625, .50, ..43/.40/.38/.375, and 6mm. This collection includes paintball blowguns, real action paintball launchers, airsoft guns, and paintball markers. I've shot them all to see how they mark. Nothing marks bigger than .68 caliber, of course, because it is the largest ball with the most colored fill.
The .68 caliber paintballs dominate our sport. Goggle systems are engineered to the .68 caliber paintball, from impact testing to protection from spray and bits of shell. The quarter size mark rule is in every major rulebook. These other sizes almost without exception are used in other sports, or for target shooting.
Paintball used to have markers in other calibers. These now are treasured collector's items, hard to find and fairly expensive. For more than 15 years, paintball has left it to other sports to venture into smaller caliber projectiles. They have ventured, with vigor, while paintball has almost 100 per cent limited itself to .68 caliber.
I've tested quite a few of these other-sport devices. They're an adventure. Some shoot a small projectile at a high speed in feet per second, which presents different safety challenges from what we have in paintball. Some of these devices leave a lot to be desired when their lightweight projectiles whirl and spin, unpredictably, in erratic flight patterns. Masks need to be mandatory. You can lose an eye to the smallest projectile, so a word of warning: goggle up, any time you're shooting or around someone shooting them.
The obvious question is whether these other devices, shooting other than .68 caliber paintballs, need to be kept in their own separate games. A number of fields run airsoft games without mixing airsoft and paintball. At the same time, some scenario game producers allow different caliber launchers in their games. You shoot a smaller caliber, you take the chance the ref won't call the other player out on a too-small paint mark.
Let's say paintball and insurance rules change, so these other calibers are welcome--as long as safety rules are followed--in paintball games. Big brother .68 can run side by side with his or her little brothers. I'd expect to see multi-size barrel kits, different size loaders, and overall a whole new world of gadgets and gear. The major issues that paintball would need to address are goggle safety, velocity, and how to educate everyone about different calibers and different launchers.
Could paintball go this way? Sure. It once did, and could again. Should it? Why not?
