Paintball pistols are a type of paintball marker

Paintball marker

A paintball marker, also known as a paintball gun, is the main piece of equipment in the sport of paintball. Markers use an expanding gas, such as carbon dioxide or compressed air, to propel paintballs through the barrel. Some paintball players refer to the piece of equipment as a "marker" rather...

 used in paintball

Paintball

Paintball is a sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball marker . Paintballs have a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble...

, which loosely resemble pistol

Pistol

When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...

s. There are two main types of pistols: pump and semi-automatic.

Speedball

Speedball

Speedball is one of the two distinct game variants in the sport of paintball, the other being woodsball. It is a general term for a game in which the playing field is composed of bunkers, of the same location and number on each side of the field, that provide an equal playing field for each team...

Paintball pistols are not used in tournament level speedball games. Due to one marker per person rules, a player may not carry two markers onto the field. A pistol has a lower shot capacity, leaving the player at a severe disadvantage against an opponent. Sometimes in recreational settings a player will agree to play with a pistol to put themselves at a severe disadvantage to attempt to prove superior skill over an opponent. Playing in such a situation has many similarities to stock paintball

Stock paintball

Stockclass paintball is a paintball game variant, in which players are restricted to use the most basic paintball markers to tag opponents with.-The rules:Stock paintball players must adhere to the following rules, in regards to usable paintball markers....

Scenario

Scenario paintball

Scenario paintball is a type of paintball game in which players participate in a scenario, or story; and may include historical re-enactments, futuristic or video game simulations. Games tend to last in the range of hours or days, and may include a large group of players...

Paintball pistols are primarily used as a sidearm, due to lower performance than full size markers. The use of a paintball pistol is often as a last resort situation. In scenario games often drivers of paintball tanks

Paintball tank

]Paintball tanks are mechanized vehicles used in various types of the sport of paintball, usually with the intent of military simulation. Paintball tanks are commonly used for woodsball and scenario paintball games; and are often referred to as "Paintball Armored Vehicles" .Paintball tanks are...

 will utilize a paintball pistol as a backup marker.

Some players use them as their primary weapons, such as this player from the paintball team Reaper's Black Hearts from the Woodsball Tournament League.http://www.woodsballtournament.com/pics/reaper.jpg

Bush

Paintball pistols are often used as a sidearms in a last resort situation. Some players have learned diversionary tactics with pistols, pretending to fumble or reload the main marker, only to pull up a close range shot with a pistol. Many players find this kind of action unsportsmanlike, and some fields ban the use of sidearms.

Pros and Cons

There are several pros and cons to carrying a paintball pistol (as compared to a standard paintball marker):

Cons

• Smaller ammunition capacity
• Shorter barrels (give paintballs less space to stabilize before leaving the barrel — thus less accurate shots, though the barrel only needs to be 6 inches long to achieve maximum stabilisation)
• Smaller air capacity (usually 12 gram CO₂
  Carbon dioxide
  Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
  
   powerlet
  Powerlet
  A Powerlet cartridge is a small disposable metal container holding of liquid CO2 and often a small quantity of oil, used as a power source for certain air guns, paintball markers, and a few airsoft guns...
  
  s, they can usually fire 30 shots, sometimes 3–4 oz tanks)

Pros

• Extremely light
• Can be carried in holster
• Smaller profile
• Maneuverable
• Extremely portable
• Can be used as a side arm
• Less likely to be shot while blind firing (banned on most fields)
• Easier to reload
• No hopper (less likely to be shot)
• Can help improve skill

Some paintball pistols

• 32 Degrees Delta 68
• AGA 62
• AGD Sydarm
• Ariakon ACP (2)
• Ariakon Overlord
  Ariakon Overlord
  The Ariakon Overlord is a semi-automatic .68 caliber paintball pistol.The Overlord has what is claimed to be the fastest available loading system for a paintball pistol, the Rapid Release Magazine System. A lever at the back of the system releases the magazine, which is ejected with the help of a...
  
  
• Armotech Zeus G1/G2
• BT SA-17
• Carter Boxgun
• Carter Desert Duck
• CCI Phantom
  CCI Phantom
  The CCI Phantom is a Nelson-based pump action paintball marker developed and produced by Mike Casady. Production of the Phantom began in 1987 after about six months of prototype work. The name for the marker was derived from the much more stealth-oriented and drawn-out style of play that was...
  
   stock class configurable marker
• Core ZX
• Crosman 3357
• FASTech Armed Forces Trainer (or AFT)
• Kingman Training Eraser and Chaser
  Kingman Training: Eraser / Chaser
  The Kingman Training: Eraser / Chaser are .43 caliber. paintball pistols utilizing a Reversal Stiker Valve system. The KT marker gives a simulated weight and feel, comparable to a real hand pistol....
  
  
• Nelspot
• NSG Splatmaster, and Rapide
• Walther P99 RAM Paintball Pistol
• PMI-I,II,Pursuit Pistol
• PT Enforcer
• PT Extreme
• PPS Squall, or Micro Squall, Pug
• RAM X50 Real Action Marker
• RAP4 T68 Pistol
• DD68 Redux
  DD68 Redux
  The DD68 Redux "68 Desert Duck Redux" or just "Redux" is a Nelson-based pump-action paintball marker produced by Steve Brett at Von Kampen Corporation and based on the late David Loo's DD68 Desert Duck....
  
   stock class marker
• Sheridan PGP pump pistol
  PGP (paintball marker)
  The PGP is a paintball pistol originally manufactured by Sheridan. It is a "Stock Class" paintball marker, meaning that it utilizes 12 gram CO2 powerlets, and has a horizontal feed tube that holds 10 rounds.-Old and new styles:...
  
  , PG stock class markers
• Tiberius Tac-8/Tac-9
• Tippmann TPX
  Tippmann TPX
  The TPX is a magazine fed paintball pistol made by Tippmann. New to the paintball pistol market, Tippmann released the TPX in 2009. This paintball marker uses an air system that allows for 12 gram CO2 cartridges to be placed underneath the barrel...
  
  
• WarSensor WSP
• WarSensor Zeus G1/G2+
• Rap 17
• Rap 226
• Rap p99
• Rap 4 desert eagle
• Pirahna USP