People new to paintball are often surprised to learn that there are paintball sniper rifles. The truth is that these types of weapon platforms have been around for at least a decade or two. However, they’ve come a long way in design and improvements over the succession of years.
Only certain game modes make the use of a paintball sniper rifle a good option. Smaller player arenas and rapid-fire game modes lack the space required for the long-range sniping of unwitting opponents. However, when playing at larger arenas, designated outdoor locations, or undisturbed in the woods, these lend themselves to advanced tactics rather than CQB tactics alone.
The introduction of the First Strike paintballs changed the potential for sniper rifle potential. As the equipment became better and more reliable, extending the potential range of fire, new-style paintballs arrived too. Armed with different styling, First Strike paintballs (FSP) fly greater distances, with better accuracy due to their fin-like rear design. The eager paintball sniper can remain out of sight while taking down their foe.
Does Paintball Have Snipers?
Speed Limitations
The sniping aspect of paintball is a tricky subject. In the past, it wasn’t possible to have them because the feet per second (FPS) speed of paintball markers was restricted. This was done for safety reasons to avoid injuries and keep the game safe.
While protective masks and other equipment must be worn, a paintball striking the body still hurts and leaves a bruise. Therefore, whatever markers or paintball sniper rifles are used on the battlefield, they must still adhere to firing speed limitations. There was also a lack of available options, attachments, and other additions to customize the gear for the player too.
Paintball Sniper Rifles Differ Significantly from their IRL Counterparts
Sniper rifles in paintball don’t always operate as you might expect. The best case of this is the ability for rapid fire. Most real-world sniper rifles aren’t capable of repeated fire where multiple shots are taken per second. Often, wind measurements are taken, scope adjustments made for estimated distance to the target, and even the curve of the earth is factored in. That’s all simplified down to an aim-and-fire setup with PB sniper rifles.
Some of the rifles I reviewed below were capable of firing up to 17 paintballs per second; no invented sniper rifle has this capability. And even if one did, the amount of physical recoil would be unmanageable for a sniper team consisting of one sniper and their spotter.
Not All PB Sniper Rifles Look Alike
Different versions of the best paintball sniper rifle exist. Some resemble a standard marker, a hopper feeder system, a scope, and a few other tweaks. Others may appear to be a closer replica of an AR rifle or similar complete with a scope attachment.
Then for advanced paintballers who wish to hide in a sniper’s nest or the underbrush, some sniper rifles for paintball look like something out of Call of Duty. These are larger, fitted with longer barrels, and zoom magnification scopes, and have some heft to them too. You won’t find yourself running around the battlefield with one of these babies!
Additionally, there are paintball sniper gun set packages to modify existing paintball weapons to make them look and feel more like a sniper setup.
Feet per Second Speed Vs Accuracy
While it’s true that the FPS (shooting speed) for paintballs when using a sniper rifle is only around 250 FPS, when using FSP, accuracy is improved up to 100-130 yards. The better-quality rifle in paintball pays off because they provide consistency in delivery from one shot to the next. Of course, when aiming it helps to either be laying prone or crouched motionless for the best results.
How to Make a Paintball Sniper
A sniper for paintball is made up of the main weapon, and accessories or attachments which vary depending on the product. Some rifles are more customizable than others.
A major decision is whether to opt for a paintball sniper gun set – to customize an existing paintball marker into something more akin to a paintball sniper rifle – or to purchase a dedicated sniper rifle. For better outcomes, I would suggest choosing based on aesthetics or features; you may need to make compromises based on your budget or how often you’ll play as a sniper in scenarios.
Players are accustomed to a hopper attached atop their marker to feed paintballs through when depressing the trigger. This isn’t always the case with paintball sniping in-game.
Some snipers come fitted with a hopper or it’s an optional extra to increase the number of available paintballs without needing to reload. Other PB weapons are entirely magfed with different capacities depending on the model, from just 8 paintballs to around 19. This compares to potentially hundreds loaded into an attached hopper.
Sniper rifles for paintball aren’t all the same length either, especially when it comes to the barrel. A typical barrel length for a paintball sniper rifle is at least 14 inches. However, true platforms may offer up to a 20” barrel. The latter lends more authenticity to the sniper rifle’s appearance, but it won’t necessarily improve accuracy. For PB rifles that more resembles an AR-15 or similar, their barrels are closer to 11 inches.
There are also specialized, sometimes patented barrel designs. For example, Tippmann has a flatline barrel design. This patented design extends the range and adds a backspin to the FSP. Another prominent one is the Apex barrel from BT, which is a wider attachment at the front of the default barrel. This can put a spin on paintballs to change their in-air characteristics (some players swear they can bend balls around corners, trees, or walls).
The optical scope is an important part of any paintball sniper rifle. There are 30mm red dot sights, and longshot optics with zoom magnification capabilities. The Supremacy scope is a popular choice, for example. However, many models come with perfectly adequate red dot optics suitable for beginner to intermediate players.
A rail panel system fitted to the top of the rifle –some also have them on the sides too—enables more attachments. A raiser rail, MOE, or the popular 1913 Picatinny rail are three such examples of this. Without fitted rails, adding attachments becomes challenging.
Top 4 Best Paintball Snipers
Planet Eclipse’s EMF100 is considered the gold standard by many hardened paintball players.
It’s our best sniper setup. Whilst its standard configuration is as a rifle, it is modifiable to give it a sniper rifle appearance too. This allows paintballers to play a more active role in some game modes and scenarios or hold back to provide sniper cover fire for covert missions to rescue a hostage from enemy territory.
Primarily, the EMF100 is magfed. For some people, this limits their ability to fire rapidly at the opposition. For others who prefer a stealthy approach as they move carefully toward a target, the increased range that is provided is worth the trade-off.
First Strike paintballs or 0.68 caliber round paintballs can be manually fed into the magazines from the bottom, or a mag ejected, and another quickly slotted into place. While 0.68 caliber paintballs are approximately 10 times lower in cost, they don’t provide the accuracy demanded by players who prefer to attack from a distance of 50 yards or greater.
Pros
Pros
- Multiple configurations including sniper, rifle, and others
- Compatible with FSP and 0.68 caliber round paintballs
- CF20 and DYE DTM Magazine compatible
- Cocker-threaded, two-piece 14.5” barrel
- Magfed and Loader Fed options
- Lightweight and Portable
- 5 styles to choose from
Cons
- Sniper configuration looks more Starship Troopers futuristic than a military sniper rifle
- Mags hold 20 rounds only
My Opinion
I found the EMF100 to be a leader in the pack. It isn’t as weighty or hefty as some PB sniper rifles. When I wanted to move closer to the enemy, it allowed enough portability while giving up nothing in firepower. Even with a sniper rifle modification, it performed smoothly and gave me confidence on the battlefield. It’s also almost endlessly customizable with various scopes, stocks, lasers, and more to alter its capabilities as the need arises.
The Tippmann A-5 comes from a top-tier brand, and it shows. It is best suited to scenario or woodsball over other PB game modes. The semi-auto feature with 15 paintballs shooting out every second can annihilate your opponents. When they’re unmatched in weaponry, it can even be overkill. Yet, it’s good to have the firepower when you’re up against a similarly equipped opponent.
There are many customizations in the box. This saves spending more to purchase many extras to complete a decent sniper rifle setup. The supplied red dot sight was wonderful. Also, for people who want a proven product with less fuss, the A-5 is a strong contender.
This weapon does admittedly use more compressed air than other weapons. A day of paintball scenarios will require a 6,000-psi supply to avoid running out. It is a bit heavier; some players prefer to use a backpack with a tank inside to reduce the weight in their hands.
Pros
Pros
- Portable rifle
- High-speed cyclone hopper with a 200-round capacity
- Fire 15 paintballs a second
- Nitrogen or compressed air powered
- Red dot sight
- Response Trigger
- 8.5-inch barrel for greater maneuverability
- Estimated range of 130-150 feet
- Mounting rail system for attachments and removable to add a sling
- Selector switch to move to safe mode
Cons
- Uses more air than some other models
- The scope is sometimes better for left-eye-dominant people
My Opinion
I found that the Tippman A-5 stuck to be a good balance between a paintball marker and a PB sniper rifle with a longer barrel. The response trigger is something where you either love it or you don’t. Took a bit of time to adjust to it, but now I love it. Added a preferred optic and I was good to go. Sniper play was viable with it too, but so were rush play moves. Good all-around option.
3. First Strike FS T15
The First Strike T15 has many fans because it’s highly customizable through its Picatinny rail system. For example, the stock barrel can be replaced with a rifled one for improved accuracy. Ones from LACPCO fit fine, others may need an adapter but will fit it too.
It’s another PB weapon that’s good for woodsball but modifiable to adapt to different game scenarios too. As to be expected at a distance, FSPs offer greater accuracy than round ones. Real-Steel parts can augment the feel if Airsoft additions take something away from the experience.
Pros
Pros
- From the makers of First Strike paintballs
- Looks like an AR Rifle
- 19 FSP and 20 0.68 calibers magfed capacity
- Picatinny quad rail system for ultimate customization
- Light aluminum construction
- The realistic-looking stock incorporates a 3,000-psi tank
Cons
- Some players wish to avoid a military spec appearance on their PB gear
- Incompatible with CO2 cartridges (12-gram version)
- Heavier than some players prefer
My Opinion
I found that the T15 struck an excellent balance between form and function. I had complete freedom of movement, no worrisome air tank or hose attachment to worry about, and a good mag capacity. First Strike paintball compatibility was expected and delivered. Numerous possible configurations could extend the many ways the T15 could be utilized in a game. No complaints.
Few sniper paintball rifles look the part. While our previous three rifles are excellent mid-range options, the 468PTR M82 gets as closer to a stealthy sniper rifle appearance and function as you’re going to get. Don a ghillie suit, crawl through the underbrush, and stalk your prey!
It is no surprise that paintball competitions have been won by teams using long-scope sniper rifles similar to the M82. This is the next generation, years in design, with ten U.S. patents already registered due to its original specifications.
Pros
- aintball Sniper rifle design
- 5-year development cycle to perfect the design
- FSP compatible
- DMAG and HELIX magazines compatible with 0.68 caliber paintballs
- Bi-pod, Suppressor, and Snipe Scope included
- 20-inch-long barrel for realistic sniper action
- Multiple mounting options
- CO2 and compressed air powered
- Stock with air system incorporated
- All metal design
Cons
- Larger and heavier restricting game mode applicability for paintball
My Opinion
I had the opportunity to try out the 468. It blew me away. While other weapons like the A-5 or T15 will give you greater maneuverability on the battlefield, if you’re tasked with overwatch, this should be your weapon of choice. Accept no substitute.
What Makes a Great Paintball Sniper?
Accuracy
Accuracy at a distance is critical, otherwise, there’s no point in using a sniper rifle. The construction matters including the quality of the barrel design and consistency in psi delivery too. Even the paintball size is important because inconsistency increases inaccuracy even when your aim is good.
A reliable scope, stock, and barrel help to increase the number of rounds that hit their intended target. Enough said.
Weight
The more you’ll be moving around, the lighter a paintball weapon ideally should be. With sniper rifles, that’s a bit of a compromise though. Accuracy requires stillness through a crouched or camouflaged prone position for the best sniper action.
Some models are not too heavy, but use more air pressure during usage, requiring carrying around a larger air tank. This also contributes to the weight and is easy to overlook.
Distance
Making a sniper shot with a scope at 50 yards is very possible. To get up to 100 yards, you’ll need everything configured for accuracy. This includes a barrel known for delivering distance while not sacrificing targeting.
Some sniper rifles in paintball essentially loop in their shots to the target. The greater the distance, the more this is the case. This can reduce the distance achieved. More efficient sniper weapons deliver a straighter-angled shot at the target.
Cost
Basic PB guns are not too expensive. However, they will come with a few accessories or customization options. Pay more and you’re likely to get better design, higher quality materials, improved manufacturing quality and controls over it, etc.
Paying for decent quality is worth it. Otherwise, you’ll spend more time dismantling, cleaning, and repairing your PB rifle than enjoying using it. It’ll also likely chop paintballs or jam frequently at exactly the wrong moment in the match too.
Customizability
The ability to customize offers gains over the basic sniper rifle configuration. Rail systems fitted to the side and top of a weapon allow you to introduce new additions whenever you like. Without them, it’s easy to fall out of love with your latest purchase.
Fitting a grip that’s more comfortable for long hours of play, a laser to mark your targets, a magnified scope to spot the enemies at a distance, and a barrel suppressor to hide your signature all quickly become essential items. To pull off stealth successfully, your gear has got to be configured right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you Snipe in Paintball?
Yes, it’s possible to snipe in paintball. You’ll need to use FSP for longer distances and better accuracy at a minimum. A purpose-built PB sniper rifle is needed if you’re serious about it.
How far do paintball snipers shoot?
A properly configured PB sniper can easily reach out and touch someone at 50 yards. Getting to 100 yards and beyond is closing in on the maximum capacity for the best paintball sniper weapons on the market.
Is Sniping Effective in Paintball?
If you play effectively, wear a ghillie suit to disguise your appearance, and know how to flank your opponents, you can be the unsung hero of the hour.
Do Paintball Snipers have more power?
Paintball snipers do not have more power. The PSI is similar and sometimes configured down to 250 PSI. They do use First Strike rounds which allow for cleaner flight paths to the target. Also, with rifled barrel designs and improved mechanics, accuracy is achieved at a distance without requiring more power to do so.
Conclusion
If you’re wanting to take paintball to the next level or you prefer a slower style, then consider becoming a paintball sniper. It’s far more about making smart strategic decisions downrange than it is about faster reaction times than your enemy. A specially designed PB sniper rifle for distant takedowns and mid-range warfighting is essential.
James has traveled all over the US looking for the perfect field to lay it all down and show off his skills. He is driven to win with his team no matter what. With 5 years of tournaments, he shares his extensive knowledge with other players!