Buying a Pump and Playing in a Semi World Author: Mister.44 Client: Paintball Magazine Publish Date: April 1999 NOTE: This is the original copy submitted and does not reflect any editorial changes. © 2000 Steve Novak

As I step out of door of the clubhouse, the whispers start. I admit it. I dress to intimidate. The game is half-mental, and I want the edge before I even step on to field. They look me over, noticing how my Scott mask looks much different than their rental JT’s. My purple K-State shirt sticks out like a sore thumb amid the sea of woodland BDU camo. They focus on my gear: my shin pads, my funky hat, my colored gloves, and my harness holding my tank on my back. Finally they follow the remote line up to my gun. The words "full auto", "some tournament gun", and "Autococker" float in the air. Finally, one of the on lookers steps forward and asks, "Is that a ‘Cocker?"

I smile and reply, "No, sir, this here is a Sniper 1, hand made by Bud Orr himself!"

"A Sniper?" he replies with a puzzled look. "It looks like a ‘Cocker sorta."

"Well, this is the pump gun that is the predecessor to the Autococker. The Autococker is a Sniper that automatically cocks itself. Hence the name Autococker."

I can tell that the history lesson was filtered out, as he replies, "So, it’s a pump?"

"Yep!"

"Oh, cool." A bit relieved he joins the rest of his buddies as we prepare for the first game.Sniper, Bushmaster, Maverick, Trracer, Piranha, Spartan, Splatmaster, Sterling, Phantom, Buzzard, Houndstooth, Grey Ghost. All of these guns were at one time the main staple of paintball. But, amid the many cheap semi clones, tournament leviathans, and new electro-gadgit guns, they have become little more than a novelty for some new players, and a fond memory for old players. Pump play is extinct, replaced by the semi-auto, now affordable and reliable for almost any player. People have forgotten about the guns of yore - or have they? Believe it or not, there are still some people who play with pump guns. It may be for financial reasons, or maybe they want to hone their skills. Some do it just for a change of pace. At any rate, many people still play pump, some exclusively. Maybe playing pump is something that interests you? But where do you start? Many players have never heard of half the pump guns on the market. How does one choose what gun to get? Does one need to alter his or her playing style to be successful? Sit tight, my friends, as we look at how to make you a successful pump player.

Gear Up!

You have decided that you are ready to play some pump, but how do you know what gun to get? While I am a firm believer in "it’s the player, not the gun", one still needs to choose wisely when buying a pump gun. The selection of pump guns that are currently being made is much smaller than in the past. This leaves your choices limited when choosing a new gun. However, there are still many excellent guns currently made. The ACI Maverick (AKA PMI Trracer), CCI Phantom, WGP Sniper, Sheridan PGP, Brass Eagle Tiger Shark and Talon, and soon to be re-released Lapco Grey Ghost are all currently made and cover a range of prices. If your taste is more exotic, try an Earon Carter Buzzard or Glenn Palmer Houndstooth. Both of these guns are built from the ground up and finished by hand.

When looking at buying a new gun, look mainly at its construction and quality of the gun. Is the gun all metal? What kind of warranty does it come with? Where can I get replacement parts? Generally, the higher the price of a pump gun, the more care was spent in its construction. This means the parts are machined to tighter tolerances, making the action smoother. Some of the higher end pumps, especially the custom built ones, have excellent stock barrels, which shoot as good or better than any aftermarket barrel. You will also want to consider size and weight when shopping around. For example, if you normally shoot an Autococker, you may want to get a Sniper, as it is the same size and uses the same barrels. Also you will want to look for an "auto-trigger". An auto-trigger is a device that allows you to hold down the trigger, and pump the gun, firing with each pump. It makes it easier to lay down some cover fire. Of course not all guns have this, and it is not a requirement.

Another option is to buy a used pump. Now just because it is old, doesn’t mean its obsolete, but then again there were some very shoddy pumps on the market "back in the day". When shopping for a used gun, ask your field owner or resident fossil. Not only can these guys tell you if the gun is worth a plug nickel, but some of them may have some nice guns stuck in a gear bag in a closet somewhere. They might rarely play with them anymore and would part with them for a good price.

When looking at buying a used gun, look again at its quality and construction, as well as its condition. Is the company that made it still around so you can get spare parts? What condition is the barrel in? Is the barrel removable? Does it have an auto-trigger? Beware of cheap guns with bad machining, plastic parts, or just plain shoddy workmanship. The Sheridan P-68, (AKA PMI 2, AKA Piranha), Sterling, Bushmaster, and custom Lapco guns are all well constructed pump guns that are no longer made.

Once you have selected your new pump, you can stop there, slap on a tank and hopper and have tons of fun…or not. The spirit of paintball includes taking any gun, no matter its make, and tweaking it to the maximum performance attainable. Add an agitated loader. Put on an expansion chamber or a regulator. Hook up a remote line and gas through stock. Did somebody say compressed air? Be creative! Not only do you have the ability to thumb through old magazines or talk to veteran players to find out what the tournament players of yesteryear did to their pumps – but you have new technology and gadgets that they only dreamed of back then. Add a .45 grip to that old Sniper! Hmmm, what if you put in a low-pressure valve in this gun? It’s a whole new avenue of tinkering for those inclined!

Finally, you need to look at your other accessories, mainly your harness. If you are a new player, you may only have a two-pod harness or nothing at all. But even if you are the guy with the 8+1 harness and the $2000 custom gun, you are not going to go through nearly as much paint with a pump gun. So, lighten your load. Take off the 8+1 and get a 4+1, a two pod harness, or *gasp* play with only the paint in your hopper! This will suddenly make you feel fifty pounds lighter. You will feel like you CAN make that bunker! You have less weight shifting around, getting in your way and straining your back. (I have heard of a player who developed back problems and began playing pump for this very reason). Then look at your tank. You don’t really need a 20oz, do you? Take it off and put on a 12oz. Heck, try a 3.5oz if you want a real light gun. With the less weight of the harness, tank, and gun, you will be able to move a tad faster, or at the very least get less tired from hauling fifty pounds of gear around.

Stay Sharp!

Now that you have selected your gear, you need to mentally prepare yourself. Now, I’ll be frank, even if you are a god with your $1000 gun, and can leap tall buildings in single bound, you can’t expect to do as well with a pump gun – at least not without some practice first. You must remember that there is a reason for you playing pump. You must remember that it is for fun or as a skill builder, and not get too frustrated if you get lit up your first few outings. Stick with it. To help you out, let’s look at some ways pump play is different.

There are a few things where your pump gun is different. Besides the rate of fire being less than your beloved semi, you MUST use two hands. Keep this in mind. If you make a mad dash, you need two hands on the gun. Of course, when you do this, you will have a steadier platform for that first shot, hopefully increasing your accuracy. Because you must have two hands on your gun, shooting with your off hand is a real pain. For example, if you are right handed and lean out the left side of a bunker, you are going to have a lot of your body exposed. The only remedy is to only take one shot, or learn to pump off handed. Another hard thing to do is to pump when you are lying prone. While it can be done, and be done well, it takes time to learn.

Once you learn some of the limits of your gun, you need to also look at how you play the game. Just because you don’t have a semi, does not mean that you can’t play aggressive. However, because you will have a lower rate of fire than others, and you must have two hands on your gun (making you unable to be as tight in a bunker as you may normally be), you may need to alter your style a little, or at least plan ahead. If you are playing in a speedball setting, make sure that your bunker is large enough for you, remember that you cannot make your body as small as normal because you must pump the gun with two hands. I usually opt for larger bunkers that allow me to stand or kneel. This is because I can react quicker if I need to get up and move. With a pump gun, you may find it to your advantage to move to get a better angle or to get closer to your target.

If you are in a woodland setting, there are other things to consider. For one thing, if you are used to wearing your bright tourney uniform, you may want to hang it up for your Real Tree, Tiger Stripe, or BDU Woodland camos. Concealment will give you an edge. However, concealment does not replace cover. Make sure you have some hard cover, like a bunker, embankment, or tree. With a semi, you maybe could get away with hiding in not so good cover, but you don’t want to take that chance with your pump. Find a nice comfy spot that you can curl up into if the guy with the Angel decides that he needs to dump a case on you.

Once you find a spot that you find comfortable and safe, let’s look at how to use that cover to your advantage. You know that it is a good bunker, and if you stay sharp, they will not be able to dig you out. However, the opponent’s mentality maybe, "I have a semi, and I am going to shoot 1000 rounds at that pump guy!" This can be quite fun! While he is unloading on you, you are snug and cozy in your nice bunker you had picked out earlier. You know he can’t hit you, so you actually have the upper hand. You will want to pop up from time to time, and snap shoot a round. Pop up, shoot, and pop down. Try not to pop up in the same place over and over. Seeing you do this will frustrate the semi player. Which is where you come in again. I mean think about it, he has a semi, and you have a lowly gun from the Stone Age! Let him know that and taunt him. "Hey, stop picking on me, I have a pump!" "Man, how about you save your paint, give me a twenty, and I’ll call my self out?" Be a smart aleck, but don’t be too rude and don’t cuss. Profanity can really anger someone to the point of overreacting, and this is just a game for fun, we don’t want any hard feelings. By now, his blood is boiling. Some one this frustrated makes mistakes. He will start to do things like lean out of his bunker more, which will give you a good shot. If you are unable to do this, then teamwork, an important part of paintball, comes into play. Have your buddy move down your opponent’s side to get a good angle on him. Your opponent will be so focused on you, that your teammate can almost walk up to him.

Hopefully, these hints will be a springboard for you starting a little pump play. It can be very fun, and a unique challenge. Remember that you are in it for the thrill, and stick with it. With time and experience, you will get better and better. You’ll learn a few more tricks on your own, and maybe even event a few! Good luck, and Play safe!