First Strike Paintball is set to change the way we look at paintball.
FSP paintballs are not washed out like regular paintballs; instead, they’re made with better ingredients, more powerful propellent and better adhesives. The result? A paintball that flies farther, straighter and with less wind drift.
FSP paintballs will be more expensive than regular paintballs and First Strike Paintball (the company behind FSP) is currently working with field operators to figure out the best pricing for their new ammo. We’re told prices should be within 10% of current rates.
First Strike Paintball is also working on a new loader to feed their paintballs. First Strike claims the loader will maintain consistent velocity and feed reliability no matter how cold it gets. The loader uses a disposable, pressurized cartridge that won’t work with other paintballs or other blowback loaders. We’re told this loader will be ready in time for the 2013 paintball season and we’ll get our hands on one in early spring. The loader is expected to retail for $250 and cartridges will cost between $25 and $35 each.
The future of paintball is upon us. First Strike Paintballs, loaders and markers are set to change the way we play paintball.
Why First Strike Paintballs will change the way we play paintball?
Paint-balls are not round balls. They are actually oblong in shape with diameters usually between .6800″ and .7000″. The “caliber” or size is usually around 558. This has been the industry standard since the early 80’s. Most paintballs consist of three parts: a powder, a shell and the fill (paint). The shell is made from either paper or plastic (more commonly seen in the past), which is rolled up around the fill and powder. The shell material determines speed, distance and accuracy. Paper shells are faster but not as accurate; plastic shells travel less distance but are more accurate. A good paintball must have a consistent shell with an even fill of about 160 to 180 . The powder is the most critical part of the paintball. The raw materials used for this product determine cooking temperature and pressure necessary to form into a ball (balls can explode at temperatures over 400).
Every manufacturer uses their own powder. Some of the most common powders are nitrocellulose, methylacetate butyrate, isobutylnitrite and many more. Once formed into a ball, the paintball must be sealed or capped to keep everything in place. This is done by applying either wax paper or silicone oil on top of the fills (to seal it) and on the inside of the shell (to lubricate).
Like all other industries, paintball has its own terminology. To better understand how FSP paintballs will change the way we look at paintball, we need to first take a closer look at some industry terms and what they mean:
- First Strike (F.S.) -First Strike is a new paintball that has never been touched, shot or kicked around. It’s the first round fired from your marker. This term is now used to indicate higher quality paintballs.
- Propellant or Propellent (P.O.P.) – The propellant is the raw material used to cook or form the paintball. It is what determines cooking temperature and pressure of the ball. A higher propellant level will result in more pressure, which results in higher velocities (FPS).
- Ballistic Coefficient (B.C.) -This refers to how well a projectile (paintball) can overcome air resistance while flying through the air. The higher the coefficient, the better the performance.
The important thing to note is that each raw material used in a paintball has its own cooking temperature and pressure. If you notice, there are specific ingredients used to cook paintballs at different temperatures and pressures. That’s why all manufacturers have their own unique recipe or ration for each raw material.
First Strike rounds are actually more like a miniaturized ammunition round than traditional paintballs. They look more like .223 or .308 caliber ammo than what most of us are used to. The FSP projectile is designed for an optimal flight which will travel up to 200 feet per second. The balls are actually manufactured in partnership with the same company that makes the ammo for the US military, so they’re built to stringent specifications.
Once fired, these rounds will deliver greatly increased accuracy and distance. And since they don’t break down into goo after impact, you can fire at your target again and again. There’s no need to walk your shots when using First Strike rounds.
First Strike Projectile
First Strike projectiles do have a few disadvantages, though. Since they are .68 caliber, you can’t use them in standard paintball markers. You’ll need to purchase either an after-market conversion kit or a complete marker that is designed to fire First Strike rounds. And while paintballs are usually good for about 100 shots, the FSP projectiles will suffer some damage after just one shot. That means you’ll have to use them sparingly if you want your rounds to last for more than one day of play.
First Strike Paintballs have been under development by a secret coalition of firearms industry veterans and paintball enthusiasts for the past three years. The result is First Strike Projectiles (FSP), an ammunition technology that changes everything.
The FSP concept is simple: like traditional projectiles, launch at high velocity to break on impact or shortly after; unlike traditional projectiles, when they break on impact, microcapsules filled with special marking paint are released.
You may be asking yourself “a $200 marker just for some paintballs? I’ve bought $20 cases of paintballs that were no better than the ones my gun came with!”
The answer is that FSP isn’t meant to replace your current paintballs. It is an entirely new technology that gives you the benefits of traditional projectiles without any of the drawbacks.
First Strike Projectile in action
FSP paintballs are in a league all their own, because in addition to being high tech, they are also higher quality. The microcapsules inside the paintball contain more than three times the quantity of paint as a traditional paintball. The First Strike Projectile is accurate up to 200 feet, and the color-marking paint inside does not break down over time.
That means that you can play with your FSP marker for hours without fear of losing accuracy or effectiveness. Why buy a paintball marker that only shoots regular paintballs when you can get one that shoots them better? It’s time to upgrade your game with FSP technology.
