Helping others our

“I know you can’t fix it,” the young player said to me as he handed me his marker. “But can you at least try.” “Sure, no problem,” is my customary reply to all such inquiries.

I took a look at his Model 98 and knew what was wrong. It was a blustery 40 degrees outside and he managed to chop balls. The bolt would not blow back and was stuck in the forward position. I opened his breech, used a screw driver to get the extra paintballs out, sprayed it clean with my special alcohol/water mixture, dried it out, oiled it, and handed it back to him.

“There you are my friend.” His face lit up with excitement. “Hope it works out for you.” He quickly fired a few shots and realized how his gun was back in good shape. Lessons taught, lessons learned.

The key to keeping your gun working is proper maintenance. The young man later admitted that he never oiled his marker, ever. This is a pet peeve of mine. Why don’t people realize how important it is to keep your marker well maintained? It is crucial. You must oil your gun before and after every use and clean it thoroughly. Loose paintbchips, rust, and dried paint can cause more damage than you think.

Remember, if you take care of your marker, it will take care of you.