INTRODUCTION
Stock class can be best described as "Paintball's Back To Earth Movement". Players were tired of playing with levels of technology that they saw as a crutch or as a substitute for skill. Stock is also attractive to players who can't afford to go through a case of paint a day.
Dr Marty Nation formed the Stockgun Player's Association to help spread the word of the re-emergence of stock class. You see, stock class is not a new idea, but a modification of an old one. When paintball first started, all you had were stock class paintmarkers.
WHAT MAKES A STOCKGUN -- A STOCKGUN
In order to try and equalize the technology available to the player within this class, a strict set of guidelines has been established. These guidelines only apply to the paintmarker being used.
1. Feed/Operating System
A stockgun must be manually operated. Some manually actuated mechanical manipulation must be performed to load a ball and cock the paintmarker's action. No semi-automatics or double- actions (with the exception of the Crosman 3357 Spotmarker).
A stockgun can only be powered by a SINGLE 12 gram powerlet.
The paintballs are gravity fed from a tube that is parallel to the barrel. The outer circumference of the tube, or stock feed block, must touch the outer circumference of the barrel.
The feed tube can not hold more than 20 paintballs either capped or with a tube inserted.
The magazine tube or feeding block's outer circumference must touch the outer circumference of the barrel. It must be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. It must be flat and can have no ramps to encourage balls to roll to the bolt. (This is to prevent any design that provides enough space to stack another paintball so that will be ready to load without tilting the paintmarker.)
In the feed tube there can be no arrangement to impede the balls from rolling off the bolt except the thickness of the main body and the tube above it.
No direct feeds, the paintmarker must be tilted to load EVERY paintball.
2. Power System
No quick changes for the CO2. This means the knob holding the CO2 in must be unscrewed and the powerlet dropped out through the threads. (With the exception of: Nelspot 007 & Crosman 3357 Spotmarker. Because the grip panels must be removed to change 12 grams, they have been made exceptions.) However, Battlegrips for the Nelspot (that have a drop out hole for the twelve gram) are not permitted.
For safety reasons, the knob must be turned at least one and one half full revolutions to remove it. No check valves. Removing the CO2 must inactivate the 'marker.
Rat-a-tac, Phantom stock class, and other "bucket-type" quick changers are permitted.
3. Barrel
The barrel may be any length but must be smoothbore and solid. This means- no holes, rifling, or muzzle brakes.
There can be one barrel addition but it may not exceed eight inches from the tip of the (original marker's) barrel and may not be drilled, rifled, etc.
4. Other Equipment
No autotriggers.
Any type of stocks, grips, and sights are allowed. With the exception of the Battlegrips for the Nelspot, that have a drop out hole for the twelve gram.
WHY PLAY STOCK CLASS?
Stock class teaches the paintball player the essentials of the game. It teaches skill, marksmanship and movement. Stock class, while not making all players equal, allows them to improve more than if they were using a semi, and relying on firepower.
Because you have limited air and paint immediately available to you in your paintmarker, you must make every shot count. It is a very good venue to introduce players to the game of paintball.
IS STOCK CLASS POPULAR?
It is gaining is popularity. The main problem with stock class is that many players are reluctant to give up their high tech toys and use, what in their eyes, is a low tech "klunker". Also players, who already have invested hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars in paintmarkers and support equipment, are reluctant to spend money on another paintmarker and another complete set of support equipment.
Stock class is gaining popularity on the west coast, mainly in California. It is ironic since this is the birth place of constant air, the auto trigger, direct feed and the semiautomatic paintmarker. Several Stock Class tournaments have been held at several "big name" fields.
Well, play stock class. Ignorance is no longer an excuse.
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