The Asylum Guide to: Stock Class & Pump Paintball

Here at Asylum we love all sorts of paintball, and one our favourite forms of paintball is good old pump paintball – so here it is, the low down on pump action and stock class paintball.

Pump action paintball guns are probably the most simple in functionality of all paintball markers. To operate you simply pump the handle which allows the paintball marker to load a paintball from the gravity fed hopper or feed tube as well as cocking the paintball gun ready to fire.

This simplicity makes pump paintball markers more reliable, more efficient and some would even argue more accurate (though this is debatable) than other types of paintball markers on the market. Many players, especially older players returning to the sport are taking up stock class and paintball as a cheaper alternative or tournament players looking for a challenge.  Everyone has their own reason for going pump.

Why Play Stock & Pump Paintball?

Lots of players enjoy the challenge that playing paintball with limited paint and a pump provides. They feel that this is more of a “true” style of paintball focused on accuracy, tactics and skill compared to the modern spray and pray style of paintball.

Pump play is cheap paintball, if you are used to shooting a case of paintball with a semi you’ll find that you are shooting only a bag.  If you can’t afford to play paintball as much as you used to, you’ll definitely find pump action paintball a cheaper, more cost effective option for budget paintball.

Stat from team ADHD playing pump paintball at Asylum

Playing pump paintball is an ideal way to introduce newer players to the game.  They are likely to be less worried about getting shot if the guns aren’t shooting 20bps in their direction!

What is Stock Class Paintball?

Stock class is a restricted, “old school” format of paintball where your paintball marker must fit the following requirements:

• The marker must have a horizontal paintball feed – the marker must be tilted (rocked) forward or backward to feed the next shot.
• The marker may not be semi-automatic – it requires pumping or cocking prior to each shot being fired (in other words “rock and cock”).
• The marker must be powered by a single 12 gram powerlet – limiting the number of shots to 15-40 depending on the efficiency of the marker.
• The marker may only hold a maximum of 20 paintballs inside the feed tube

What is the Difference Between Stock Class & Pump Play?

Pump Action play is slightly less restrictive than stock class, in that a pump action must still be mechanical and not semi automatic, but you may add a constant air CO2 or HPA tank, a vertical or powerfeed, and a loader of any size.  Many players start playing pump when they want some extra challenge, but don’t want to go all the way to stock class, or just find it easier to buy a pump marker locally than a stock class marker.

What types of Pump Paintball Markers Can You Buy?

There have been a lot of pump action markers released by manufactuers recently including:

• Tippman SL68
• Spyder Hammer Pump
• Tracer Pump
• Azodin Kaos Pump
• Empire Sniper Pump

Heck, even Bob Long have made a $1000 USD+ pump action on the intimidator frame! A brand new pump action marker can set you back anywhere from $100 upwards, with high end custom markers costing thousands.

Pump Action Glossary

It seems these pump players speak some strange, ancient paintball language, so what do all these terms actually mean?

Stock Class: A Pump Gun with A “Rock and Cock” feed, no hopper and powered by a 12 gram CO2 canister

Vertical Stock Class: Same as above, except the 12 gram CO2 canister is attached to the marker vertically

Auto Trigger: When a gun is capable of firing every time you pump the marker while the trigger is depressed

Direct Feed: A Pump that isn’t stock class, and uses a hopper instead

Nelson Based: A pump gun with a body that consists of  a single tube (i.e. Phantom) with all three main components (Bolt, hammer and value) inside

Sheridan Based: Stacked tube pump gun (i.e. PGP) where the bolt is in the top tube, while hammer and valve are in the bottom, a real tinkerers gun (Autocockers are basically these with an automatic pump on them!)

Hitman Mod: An extra handle/trigger that attaches to the pump arm allowing you to pump faster

Tube: cylinders that hold 10 paintballs

Quickchange adaptor: Screw in adaptor for ASA connection that takes 12 gram CO2 cylinders

Ready to Play Pump Paintball?

Want to get in touch with other like minded pump action paintball players – check out the Australia-New Zealand Pump players association on Facebook or check out the Pump FAQ Ultimate Sticky on PBNation.com.

Pump action is also experiencing a resurgence in the form of the D4 Mechanical and Pump league run by the South Auckland Paintball Club.  Joining the league is an ideal way to get into competitive pump play in a fun environment.

Do you play pump?  What is your set up and why do you pick pump over semi?