New Years Giveaway - Cidasoft Package 2

Round two of our New Years Giveaways! Aubrey Bawley, if you're reading this, email me ASAP here: Connor@greyops.net

Up for today...

One Detonator Package and a Removal Tool

How to win:

1. Become a fan of Cidasoft's Facebook page.
2. Comment on this post (in the form below) saying, "Cidasoft rocks!"
3. Profit (that was easy eh?)

2010 Year-end Roundup

2010 was a pretty wild year here at Grey Ops. Despite all the growing pains, late nights, and outbursts of cursing in front of a computer needed to keep a not-for-profit blog going, we managed to make it to our 1-year anniversary and beyond...with style!

If you've been following us for a while, then you know that we like to give our readers a break from the usual. To that end, we started regular features that keep this site FUN. Features like theme weeks, Ugly Milsim Markers, and Mike's Rant of the Month. We highlighted beautiful Milsim markers that were pure works of art, and some that weren't quite so hot. We reviewed lots of gear, from the popular to the obscure, and probably told you more than you ever wanted to know about tactical footwear for Milsim Paintball during Boot Week.

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #2

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 2:

#2: Tippmann A5

Christmas Giveaway - Cidasoft Package 1

Christmas may have come and gone but the generosity of many companies abounds, and Grey Ops is happy to bring you even more free stuff. Cidasoft, a company previously showcased on Grey Ops a few times, has been kind enough to donate a few gifts for our readers.

Up for today...

One Detonator Package and a Removal Tool

How to win:

1. Become a fan of Cidasoft's Facebook page.
2. Comment on this post (in the form below) saying, "Cidasoft rocks!"
3. Profit (that was easy eh?)

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #3

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 4:

#3: Tippmann US Army Series

Milsim Awesomeness: Special Ops Mission

If you haven't yet heard of the "reality" show Special Ops Mission, which aired through 2009-2010 on The Military Channel, you're in for a lot of fun!

The reality series "stars" Wil Willis, a Special Operations veteran with 15 years of experience between the US Army Rangers and Air Force Para-Rescue. Equipped with an infra-red camcorder on his M4 carbine, you'll literally get to see what he sees when he sights down the barrel.

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #4

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 4:

#4: Smart Parts SP8

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #5

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 5:

#5:

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #6

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 6:

#6: Tiberius T9.1

Action 500 Paintball "Boxing Month" Sale & BIG GAME details!

For our readers in the Montreal area, here's a heads-up on Action500's Boxing Month sale.

Anyone purchasing a marker at their pro shop during the Month of December receives a free annual membership (a $150 value). Shoppers who are already members can spend $250 or more at their pro-shop to receive a 6-month extension to their membership OR 1000 free field paintballs!

For more information on the sale, visit their web site, or call (514) 254-4244.

Note as well that Action500 has an upcoming Big Game at their Montreal indoor site, on January 16th at Noon. Entry is $15, and includes lunch and free all day air or CO2. Paintballs will be sold for $99/case at the game, and you'll receive an additional $15 off your case if you register at least 7 days before the event. This is a great opportunity for players to try out Action500 without paying the usual high paint prices.

Christmas Giveaway - S-Thunder Grenade Launchers

The generous folks at S-Thunder have agreed to give away two of their awesome Pistol Grip Launchers to you, the readers of Grey Ops! One launcher is the composite version, and the other is the metal version (with top mounted Picatinny rail). To see the launchers in action, check out this video from Modern Intel:

How to win:

1. Become a fan of S-Thunder's Facebook Page.
2. Comment on this post (in the form below) saying, "S-Thunder rocks!"
3. Profit*2! (that was easy eh?)

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #7

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 7:

#7: Milsig K-Series

CP Gear Boxing Day Sale

We've reported on sales at CP Gear in the past, and now it's time for another! CP Gear is holding a Boxing Day sale, with 20% off everything in their web store until Midnight on December 27th. To take advantage of the savings, type the coupon code "BOXING" in the appropriate field at checkout.

Thanks to Jon for bringing this sale to my attention!

PBL's Boxing Day Sale Announced!

Boxing Day is a fine Canadian tradition, much like the practice of criticizing politicians, or brewing beer that actually gets you wasted. So what better way is there to say goodbye to Christmas than celebrating a fine Canadian tradition with the purchase of new Paintball gear?

This December 26th PBL.com is holding a Boxing Day sale, with up to 80% off items for sale at any of it's brick-and-mortar locations in Montreal, Winnipeg, or Surrey. Those who can't make it in person can benefit from up to 20% off on Internet orders. Not only that, but if you find what you're looking for at a lower price on another vendor's web site on Boxing Day, they'll beat that price by 5%. All it takes is a screen cap of that vendor's product listing!

Paintball Gear Canada's Boxing Week Sale

This year Paintball Gear Canada is continuing its yearly tradition of holding a Boxing Week sale. From December 25-27 you can take advantage of employee pricing online (December 26-31 in-store).

Their sister store, Tactical Paintball, is holding the same sale event as well.

As an example of the price reductions you can expect, a BT TM7, normally priced at $389.99 CDN, is selling for $300.00 CDN. Other examples are Ninja 13ci 3000psi tanks for $47.00 CDN, thermal lenses for around $20.00 CDN, and Pure Energy 48ci "steelie" tanks for $32.00 CDN! And as always, any order totalling $150.00 or more before taxes ships for free. Savings like these are hard to pass up, so be sure to visit their web site or brick & mortar store over the next few days!

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #8

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 8:

#8: RAP4 RAM Series

Christmas Giveaway - Milsig MSG RRV Complete Vest Package

That's right boys and girls, we're pulling out the big guns!

Up for grabs today is a complete Milsig MSG RRV system in ACU/UCP!

That includes:

• Fully adjustable dual configuration suspension system (H or X)
• 1x Center Utility Pouch w/ MULTICAM velcro ID patch area
• 2x Double Dual MSG Magazine Pouches (Holds 8x MILSIG Mags or 8x AK Mags)
• 1x Utility Pouch
• 1x Insulated Water Bottle Pouch

How to win:

1. Become a fan of Milsig's Facebook page.
2. Comment on this post (in the form below) saying, "Milsig rocks!"
3. Profit (that was easy eh?)

Contest rules:

1. The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator (random.org), and contacted via the email address they used to comment (so use a valid email address that you check often).
2. Contest is over at 12 noon EST on Friday December 31st 2010.
3. Winner will be announced shortly thereafter
4. The winner will receive one Milsig MSG RRV Vest Complete (ACU)
5. One entry per applicant please.
6. Keep the comments only to entries please, anything else will be deleted.
7. Contest only open to those living in Canada and the continental United States. 

To get the jump on future giveaways , Like us on Facebook and subscribe via email (on the bar to your right).

Winner: Aubrey Bawley

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #9

The list of top ten milsim markers continues! On to number 9:

#9: ATS-85

The original Magazine fed rifle with a unique design that fired semi auto and full auto up to 12 balls per second without the use of batteries. It used an innovative loading mechanism known to be insanely accurate and consistent. Unfortunately it is also known for being complicated and high maintenance using a linkage system with lots of fiddly bits. Because it has such a unique design few people know how to service it. Many dismissed the ATS-85 for having a plastic frame and a high price tag.

Cost when new: $599

This article is a cooperative effort by GreyOps Blog and Hitman Paintball Reviews. You can find out more about these authors at:

• Grey Ops
• Hitman Paintball

This article and its content reflect the opinions of the authors and is not affiliated with any commercial entity or publication. This list was intended for entertainment purposes only.

Thanks for reading and happy holidays!

*All images obtained through limited license to modify and display as per Photobucket's Terms of Use (6.1).

Christmas Giveaway - Multicam MSG QD Single Point Tactical Sling

What, another giveaway?!?! Do you like Multicam (rhetorical question, everyone does)? Well, up for grabs today is a Multicam MSG QD Single Point Sling, courtesy of Milsig! Keep your eyes peeled for many more giveaways during our Christmas free stuff blitz.

How to win:

1. Become a fan of Milsig's Facebook page.
2. Comment on this post (in the form below) saying, "Milsig and Multicam rock!"
3. Profit (that was easy eh?)

Contest rules:

1. The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator (random.org), and contacted via the email address they used to comment (so use a valid email address that you check often).
2. Contest is over at 3:30pm EST on Thursday December 30th
3. Winner will be announced shortly thereafter
4. The winner will receive one Milsig MSG Single Point Tactical Sling in Multicam
5. One entry per applicant please.
6. Keep the comments only to entries please, anything else will be deleted.
7. Contest only open to those living in Canada and the continental United States. 

To get the jump on future giveaways (hint hint, there's a whole s***load of them coming up very soon), Like us on Facebook and subscribe via email (on the bar to your right).

Winner: Ripper

Top Ten Milsim Markers - #10

As part of a collaborative effort between myself and Stan from Hitman Paintball (you may know him from several of his very popular Youtube videos), we got together and tried to come to a compromised consensus as to what the top ten Milsim markers are/were. Steve from 68Caliber was kind enough to agree to assist in the syndication of this list, and will also be hosting the feature on his site.

These were the criteria used:

- Woodsball/Milsim oriented markers
- Made by an established company
- Markers could not be: a pump, handgun, special edition, limited run, or custom made

Alright, on to #10 on our list:

#10: Tippmann SMG 60

Christmas Giveaway - Milsig TA5C System for A5

What's that you say? More free stuff from Milsig? Well have at it! It, today, being a brand spankin' new TA5C System C for the Tippmann A5, courtesy of Milsig Industries.

Those of you that have been paying attention will know the drill...

How to win:

1. Become a fan of Milsig's Facebook page.
2. Comment on this post (in the form below) saying, "Milsig rocks!"
3. Profit (that was easy eh?)

Contest rules:

1. The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator (random.org), and contacted via the email address they used to comment (so use a valid email address that you check often).
2. Contest is over at 10:30pm EST on Wed December 29th
3. Winner will be announced shortly thereafter
4. The winner will receive one Milsig TA5C System C
5. One entry per applicant please.
6. Keep the comments only to entries please, anything else will be deleted.
7. Contest only open to those living in Canada and the continental United States. 

To get the jump on future giveaways (hint hint, there's a whole s***load of them coming up very soon), Like us on Facebook and subscribe via email (on the bar to your right).

Winner: Rickmum

Milsim Toys for Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, hopefully you've taken care of your holiday shopping (save for that last-minute Christmas Eve emergency we all seem to have). But if you're the type who buys themselves a present at Christmas (and why not?), then you owe it to yourself to pick up something for your Milsim Paintball or Airsoft collection. But what do you get for yourself when you've already blown your year-end bonus on everything you could possibly need for next season?

We at Grey Ops have come up with a few ideas for last-minute cheap toys to enrich your Milsim gameplay - because why should kids have all the fun? Check 'em out, then grab your wallet and head out to do some holiday shopping for yours truly. Go ahead, you deserve it.

One Step Closer to Adaptive Camouflage

Hyperstealth recently put out an interesting press release, that seems to claim that we are now one step closer to the advent of adaptive camouflage technology. Here's the meaty part of the release (from Hyperstealth's website):

Christmas Giveaway - MSG QD Single Point Tactical Sling

Up for grabs today is a black MSG QD Single Point Sling, courtesy of Milsig! Keep your eyes peeled for many more giveaways during our Christmas free stuff blitz.

How to win:

1. Become a fan of Milsig's Facebook page.
2. Comment on this post (in the form below) saying, "Milsig rocks!"
3. Profit (that was easy eh?)

Contest rules:

1. The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator (random.org), and contacted via the email address they used to comment (so use a valid email address that you check often).
2. Contest is over at 7:30pm EST on Tuesday December 28th
3. Winner will be announced shortly thereafter
4. The winner will receive one Milsig MSG Single Point Tactical Sling in Black
5. One entry per applicant please.
6. Keep the comments only to entries please, anything else will be deleted.
7. Contest only open to those living in Canada and the continental United States. 

To get the jump on future giveaways (hint hint, there's a whole s***load of them coming up very soon), Like us on Facebook and subscribe via email (on the bar to your right).

Winner: Canadianpunkrock

Christmas Giveaway - Milsig Drop Leg Holster

As a reminder from my previous post, Milsig has some great deals up this Christmas season as part of a huge sale.

Included amongst these deals is an awesome loadout of free gifts you get with the order of certain items:

12 FREE GIFTS VALUED OVER $350 WITH EVERY MARKER PURCHASE (EXCLUDING CQB)
6 FREE GIFTS VALUED OVER $80 WITH CQB PRO/CQB PURCHASE
5 FREE GIFTS VALUED OVER $100 WITH EVERY MSG RRV VEST PURCHASE

And as usual, you get free shipping to Canada and the United States for every order over $300.

Now, speaking of free, Milsig has generously agreed to give you guys some awesome free gear! And of course the perfect venue for giving you free stuff is Grey Ops.

LEGO Black Ops

Keshen8 over on YouTube has animated a battle royale of elite LEGO-men warriors shooting it out with all sorts of hardware. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out above. There's even a nod to Paintball in his video!

Thanks to Darren for bringing this to my attention!

Tactics #7 - Withdrawal

In this installment of the Grey Ops Tactics Series, I'll be discussing a difficult subject: Withdrawal. And by withdrawal, I don't mean what you feel when you haven't played Call of Duty: Black Ops since yesterday, or when you're 10 hours into your latest attempt to quit smoking. I'm talking about the bitter reality of having to RETREAT when your team is getting whooped on the Paintball field!

Christmas Giveaway - $100 from RAP4

In the spirit of Christmas and the holiday season, Grey Ops and RAP4 have banded together for an awesome giveaway!

Today we're giving away a $100 gift certificate on any regularly priced item at RAP4.

To win, here's what you have to do:

1. Register at RAP4's Community Forum
2. Go to this thread: http://forum.rap4.com/polls/greyops-net-promotion-question/msg106592/?topicseen#msg106592
3. In 250 words or less, answer this: "If Santa could bring you the ultimate milsim/scenario marker, what would it be and why?" as a reply in the thread linked to.
4. Winners will be randomly selected next Tuesday December 21st 2010 at midnight PST.
5. One entry only please!

This, in awesome milsim form!

A huge thanks to RAP4 and specifically Peter for helping us out with this contest. Be sure to become a fan of Grey Ops on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, so you can stay on top of the latest giveaways. We love giving you free stuff!

RAP4 has plenty of great products newly released and on pre-order, go check out their Under Armour BDUs and Conversion Kits.

Paintball Paradise Pro Shop

Read:

Dear readers,

     I've never closed a thread for comments before on Grey Ops. That's because I strongly believe that everyone has a right to post comments here. I don't moderate comments, and every comment that Disqus decides isn't spam is automatically and immediately posted. However, because some incessant fanboys couldn't stop beating a seriously dead horse in a pestering circle jerk fashion, the comments for this thread are now closed. You can read the comment section to understand my frustration. If you have an issue with this decision, you can email me here, but you should probably check with your mommy first (because if you're that juvenile you probably shouldn't be using a computer by yourself).

Sincerely,

Connor

Ottawa is home to a new paintball pro shop, Paintball Paradise. For those of us in the west end, it's a godsend, especially given how the city just lost the PSI Indoor pro shop. The location is great, the store well stocked and the staff very friendly. You can even find a great selection of shirts from Deadbox Before Dishonor, an Ottawa based paintball apparel company.

Grey Ops Milsim T-Shirts Now Available

I still have yet to take better pictures of the shirt, but I'll do a photoshoot soon!

Alright boys and girls, Grey Ops T-Shirts are ready to go! Another congratulations to Southpaw for winning the inaugural shirt via our Youtube contest. 

To get your kick ass milsim t-shirt, here's what you should know:

• Email tshirts@greyops.net to order
• Shirts are $22 CDN (currently roughly parity with USD) tax and shipping included
• Shirts shipped via Canada Post letter post in Canada, and Canada Post/USPS small package post in the United States
• Payment via Paypal only
• If you want a shirt elsewhere than Canada and the continental United States, shipping costs will be greater (email tshirts@greyops.net for more details)

A huge thanks to Deadbox Paintball for creating the t-shirts, they truly did an amazing job and were a breeze to deal with. I've got a limited number of t-shirts for this order, so get your order in while you can!

Simunition FX - Paintball for Pros

On any given weekend, we as Milsim Paintball players dress up like soldiers and police, and simulate gun battles by shooting at each other with .68cal paintball technology for fun. By and large, most of us are happy with the level of realism afforded to us by our guns and gear, and even those that grumble tend to just buck up and enjoy the game. But what do actual soldiers and police use when they want to simulate a deadly force encounter or mission? What technology do they turn to when they want to practice gun battles, with the utmost realism required for their training?

Enter the Simunition FX Training System.

Over the Top, Over the Beach

How much paintball gear can you stuff in a water barrel? Thanks to the unlimited knowledge provided to us via Youtube, we now know that the answer is a lot.

I don't understand whatever he's speaking and I can't read Cyrillic, but the gist of it seems to be an over the beach test for an APS RAM marker. These tests examine how well something performs when taken immediately out of a submerged environment, for a reference point check out this video:

Tactics #6 - Ambush!

Ambush is one of the most devastating tactics on the battlefield. Attacking an opposing force (OPFOR) that's off-guard and in a bad position can inflict heavy losses on them before they have a chance to recover. The shock and ferocity of a well-planned ambush can (and usually does) win the firefight!

In this post, I'll outline the basics for executing a successful ambush.

Simon Stevens and the FN303

Paintball aficionados will recognize both Simon Stevens (currently with KEE) and the FN303 launcher. In the video below, Simon gives us a rare look at all the components and workings of the less lethal launcher (whose development he had a hand in), which is essentially a militarized Automag.

Video originally found on Pro Paintball

Recognize the nylon rounds Simon examines? Those are the precursors to today's First Strike rounds. 

Click here if you'd like to see FN303s used in a prison riot in Iraq (Youtube embedding disabled by request). Foul language and a hilarious verbal reaming-out ahead.

I Won Something! - Visual Reviews

I'm a big fan of Shemaghs (read the old Gear Week post about them here), so imagine my surprise when I won one via a Youtube contest. This was part of a video contest by the relative newcomer to the paintball media scene, Visual Reviews, which is the real subject of this post.

Kaz is a great addition to the constantly growing Canadian paintball media, head on over to his Youtube channel to check out what he has to offer.

Connor's Recurring Nightmare or "Accuracy Vs. Precision"

I'll admit it, I'm a nitpicker. If you know me personally, or have read the blog to great length, here's the point where you silently nod your head. As with any nitpicker, I have the unfortunate habit of cringing every time someone uses a word that isn't entirely appropriate in the circumstances.



Paintball is riddled with such a word, and it comes up all the time, so in this post I'll make my point and that's the last you'll hear of it (no promises). The word of the day is...

MIKE’S RANT OF THE MONTH – Montreal Paintball Fields' Out-of-Control Paint Prices!

I’m generally a pretty Zen, relaxed guy. But every once in a while, with no warning, I come across something that makes me angry...VERY angry. This conveniently happens around once a month...so why not turn it into a monthly feature on Grey Ops?

The following opinions are mine alone, and don’t necessarily represent the views of Connor or any other writer on the Grey Ops team. Please direct all wrath, angry comments, law suits, and profanity towards myself (Mike), and spare all innocent parties.
****

With the winter months upon us, with their cold paintball-busting temperatures and party-pooping snow on the ground, now's the time of year I look forward to playing indoors. However I'm a resident of Ottawa, Ontario, and this city's only indoor field just recently closed up shop (not that it'll be missed much, as it was a tiny airball field). So that leaves me and my Paintball buddies the option of driving to either Montreal or Toronto this winter to enjoy the indoor fields available in each of those fine cities. And with Montreal being closer, that's where we tend to go for our winter day trips.

So with Montreal not that far away, and with several indoor fields to choose from in the Montreal area, I should be happy and looking forward to going to play there, right?

RANT ON!

ICS GLM

As ArniesAirsoft reports, ICS has released an airsoft version of the Milkor MGL (often portrayed in videogames). This behemoth is compatible with any paintball/airsoft 40mm grenade and would prove a fun toy. I don't know if it would be useful in an anti-tank role for paintball, as I don't think the rotating chambers could hold a Nerf pocket vortex. What you could do is pick up something like the foam slugs from Milsim Labs and possibly squish them into the chambers. 

At $225, it's not much more expensive than a lot of standard 40mm launchers available for paintball. Add this to the list of things that would be a terrible idea to try and import into Canada. 

First-Timer Paintball

Volcano Todd has posted an entertaining account of his first time playing Paintball, and the lessons he learned from it.

Anyone who has yet to play the game should give this a read, as it dispells a lot of misconceptions about Paintball held by the uninitiated. Pass it on to people you're trying to get into the game, to show them what it's really about!

Carnage Paintball Road Trip **NEW DATE**

Back during No Money November I posted about an awesome deal involving a road trip from the Ottawa area to Arnold Paintball Indoor in Montreal, Quebec. Unfortunately the date of December 17th was postponed until a later date, as it conflicted with the Christmas schedules of too many interested people.

Well I'm happy to announce that the Carnage Paintball Road Trip is back on! The new event date is Saturday January 29th, 2010. Not only does this new date mean the holiday rush will be over, but as a bonus it'll now be on a Saturday night as opposed to a Friday night. No one will have to rush home from work to grab their gear and get ready, and out-of-towners who want to make the trip will be able to drive to Ottawa on a leisurely Saturday afternoon and take part.

The timing is perfect too, because this event's scheduled smack-in-the-middle of winter, when everyone is beginning to get restless and feeling the itch to play. This trip will give you your much-needed Paintball fix!

As before, if you're interested in being a part of this, be sure to contact Charles by phone at (613) 229-3207, or e-mail him at info@carnagefields.ca to reserve your spot!

Marker of the Month - Nerf Mk-19

Back by popular demand, the Marker of the Month isn't exactly a marker. It's better.

Behold:

Nerf Mk-19

Based on the Mk-19 automatic grenade launcher, this devastating piece of paintball artillery was built by Q of Underground Mod Shop's forum.

Specs:

• Powered by two 110ci 4500 HPA tanks
• Electrically driven belt
• Capable of semi and full automatic fire
• 152 rpm
• 4 air chambers (for consistent sustained fire)

No Money November Draws to a Close

Thanks to all of you that followed No Money November! Hopefully some of our tips prove useful and your wallets feel a bit heavier. Theme months are fun for us, and from the recent survey, the vast majority of you like them as well. That being said, December won't be a theme month, but expect lots of Christmas cheer floating around.

If you like free stuff, be sure to connect with Grey Ops in the different ways shown below. For most of our contests you need to be connected in some way or another, and I think I'll try and run an unannounced contest sometime around Christmas (i.e. you won't hear about it until one of our readers wins).

No Money November: Memberships, Coupons, Gift Certificates, and Loyalty Programs

Paintball is by no means a "budget" sport, but there are ways to cut costs here and there. In this post I'll go over some, and show you how to save money in the long term at local fields.

No Money November: Buying Used Paintball Gear

Paintball gear is generally pretty sturdy and built to last. Markers and tanks are built to take a pounding from high pressures, while Paintball apparel and Milsim accessories are usually pretty rugged and made to stand up to slides, dives, and lots of kneeling behind cover. With this in mind, members of the No Money Nation may be tempted to buy second-hand paintball gear to equip themselves. But before you lay down your hard-earned cash for used gear, there are a number of things to consider.

First, before jumping at an opportunity to buy something second-hand, it's important that the seller accurately describe the items he's selling, with no hidden secrets about it. The manufacturer's own ad copy already goes into detail about how great the product is, but an honest seller will tell you if there's a problem with the one he's selling, whether that problem is a scratch, a busted O-ring, or the need for a new ASA. If there's an issue that needs to be fixed, you can often subtract the cost of the replacement part PLUS extra for the hassle and tech work you'll have to do to bring the item up to working condition.

Next, it's important for price-haggling reasons to know WHY the seller is trying to offload his gear!


Types of Sellers

The Deserter

This seller is getting out of the game, and you can usually get the best deals from him. The Deserter is usually a noob who played paintball once or twice, bought a full set of gear, then just couldn't find the time to play after that. He thinks it was a bad decision and just wants to recoup some of his cash. Or it may be a hardcore player whose wife just gave birth to triplets and he needs quick cash, or who suffered an injury and decided that the adrenaline rush of Paintball just isn't worth another ACL reconstruction. And occasionally, someone with little or no interest in Paintball will get a marker for Christmas or his birthday, and he wants to sell it for some cash to buy the gift he REALLY wanted.

The Deserter's asking price is usually highly negotiable, and he wants to sell his stuff "yesterday" so he can get access to some quick cash and move on with his life.

No Money November: Paintball Gear at Thrift Stores

In a couple of previous posts I revealed some handy paintball items that you could pick up at your local dollar store (in case you missed them, you'll find them here and here).

Now, in this post I'll reveal another little-known spot where you can pick up milsim paintball gear on the cheap: Thrift stores! Thrift stores may go by different names depending on where you're located, but I'm talking about stores like the Salvation Army or your local swap meet. These are stores where people donate clothing, household items, or sporting goods, and these in turn are sold, with the profits usually going to support any number of charities. In my neck of the woods the biggest chain of second-hand goods stores is known as Value Village (I believe it's known as Savers in the States). The sheer department store scale of these outlets means you have more selection and items to choose from, and a better chance of lucking out and finding some good gear for milsim paintball!

No Money November: T-Shirt Winner!

No Money November: Special Ops Paintball Goes off the Deep End

Warning: Rampant sarcasm present.

No Money November had been going so smoothly...

Numerous paintball retailers are lowering their prices or offering great deals leading up the to the Christmas Holiday Non-Denominational Festival end of the year end of the Gregorian calendar (PC enough for you?) and many paintballers are feeling the economic love.

However, one of the more popular custom paintball gear manufacturers has, lamentably, gone batshit crazy. Observe:

Dragon Scale Tactical Paintball Battle Pants

Price tag: $275 USD

No Money November: Flasc Christmas Promotion

Flasc sells BT, Tippmann, Tiberius and Azodin markers and has an amazing array of awesome barrels. Get in on the promotion before December 25th and get a free barrel and tip (of your choosing) with the purchase of any of these popular markers. Yet more savings for No Money November!

Here are some articles on FLASC products.

No Money November: Last Minute Giveaway Contest

Scroll down to the bottom of this post if you don't care about words, only free t-shirts.

Those of you that follow the blog on a regular basis may already know that I've had some t-shirts in the works for a little while. Well a short while back I received a shipment from Deadbox Paintball (I'll be doing a piece on said company this week, but short version is they're awesome), containing some goodies. I'm not looking to make any money from these, and the pricing should be about $21 shipping included to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.

I'll have a sale thread up soon, along with pictures of the shirts on real human beings, but for now here's what the front of the shirts look like:

Apologies for the crappy picture, photoshoot soon to follow.

No Money November: Tactics #5 - Battlefield Communication, Part 2

As part of No Money November, I'll be posting a multi-part series on paintball tactics. After all, those who use proper tactics in paintball achieve their objectives and have more fun with less paintballs, win free s*** when they win tournaments, and can play the game without investing hard-earned cash in gimmicky products, "the next best thing". Good tactics go hand-in-hand with saving money at Paintball!
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In the first post on the topic of communication, I explained the necessity of proper communication to maintain an effective team, and some obstacles faced in the heat of battle. In this installment, we'll look at how to overcome those obstacles.

First, to overcome the "heat of battle", yell loudly as you speak to your teammate, to snap him out of that tunnel hearing and keep him from tuning you out as background noise. Start your message with his name or call sign to get his attention, and to let him know the message is directed at him. If the message is directed to your whole team, yell out the team name first (or just "TEAM!") so that everyone perks their ears up. Not only does yelling increase your chances of being heard, it can serve a motivational purpose. Human beings are social animals, and most naturally seek and respond to leaders, especially under stress. By "speaking with your balls" (i.e. speaking loudly and confidently), you provide motivation and help keep the team focused.