Stock class is the
original form of paintball. In the truest sense of the word, it is
played with 12 gram powered pistols with a horizontal feed that holds
ten balls. However, it has advanced a long ways since the begining. You
are still limited as to the type of marker you can use, what the power
source is and how many balls the feed can hold. The markers themselves
have advanced in technology but all in all, haven't changed that much
in the last 15 years. There are still certain parameters that the
markers have to fall within to be classed as stock.
First
it must be a pump.
Semis are not allowed in stock class.For those unfamiliar with it, this
means you have to pump the handle between each shot. Yes, I know this
seems like a giant leap backwards in the age of semis and electros, but
that is part of the point of Stock Class play. The biggest effect here
is to put every player on the field on equal terms marker-wise.
Whatever differences there are in the markers, they all have roughly
the same mechanical limitations
Secondly,
there are no bulky CO2 tanks allowed in a "True Stock" event. The
markers must be powered by a single 12 gram caplet. These are used with
a Quick Change, usually a bucket type. There are other types of quick
changers such as the lever changer and the twist knob , but the bucket
changer is the most common. Again, this is to put everyone on a roughly
equal footing.
Third,
the feedtube must be horizontal. It runs parallel to the body of the
marker so that you will either have to tilt the whole thing forwards or
backwards to load the next ball. These feeds will only hold a maximum
20 balls, but on the average they hold 15.
Fourth
there is a crossover class called "Mod Stock". This allows for the use
of a bulk tank with a gravity feed gun, but in place of the hopper is a
"Stickfeed". Again, it can hold no more than 20 rounds, but you
do not have to tilt it to get the next ball to feed. Once again, this
helps to level the playing field some. Even though the "Mod Stocker"
does not have to tilt the gun, they have a limited supply of ammo,
which helps to partially nullify the advatage of grvity feed.
Now I imagine the next thing you
would ask is, "Why would I want to play with all of those restrictions
on my gear? I went out and bought a $XXX marker so I could shoot 10
balls per second and now this guy tells me this is how I should play."
In all truth, I am not telling you this is how you should play,
I am just trying to get the message out that there are different ways
to play other than "hosing down an area". The biggest
reason for playing
stock class is FUN !
I have played a number of stock class games and can tell you from
personal experience that it is one of the best times you can have
playing paintball. First, there is the fellowship that developes among
Stock players, as we know that we are a minority in the paintball
world. Just by playing with us and giving us your best attitude towards
the game and others, you will find yourself quickly accepted as a
friend.
Another reason is strictly
economics. If you go to the field and
have to spend $10 for a field fee, another $10 for air fills for the
day and $60+ for a case of paint to play six to eight games, you have
probably spent half of your weeks paycheck for about three or four
hours of
play time, and may have had to go home early due to lack of something.
On the other hand, by playing stock class you spend the same $10 for
the field fee, either $5 for 12 grams or $3 for a 4 oz tank fill, and
about $15 for 500 rounds of paint and get to play from opening until
whenever closing time is. At this point you will probably have paint
left over for next time. You spend less money, get to play more often
and longer, so you get to have more fun. To me, this makes good sense.
Membership in the Marshals is
very easy. There is a $5 per year membership fee to cover
administrative costs such as the cost of the website, setup fees for
the T shirts, pathes and other things. Other than that, show up to
three games that are listed as Marshals games on this site, and play at
the very least "Mod Stock". Thats it.
If you would like to find out
more, click the big badge at the top of the page. That will take you to
the Home page of the original chapter of the Paintball Marshals.