Helikon-Tex à la PenCott

From Helikon-Tex's Facebook page comes the announcement that they will be producing uniforms in the PenCott camouflage family:

"[ENG] Combat Patrol Uniform™ (CPU™) is the first to be produced in PenCott™ camo. After that Combat Shirt, Bonnie Hat and BBC Cap will come. In Q3/Q4 2013 we plan to release a new Parka. More information about our cooperation with Hyde Definition available on http://www.hydedefinition.com/latest/?p=460
CPU™ Pencott™ will make its debut on IWA 2013."

No word on what variants will be released initially, but it's a fair bet (supposition) it will (hopefully) be the triad of GreenZone SandStorm and Badlands.

You can also read about the news here on Hyde Definition's website.

3 Years of Powder Balls

It's now been more than 3 years since powder balls became widely available for paintball players, and I thought it would be interesting to do a brief retrospective. As far as usage, it would appear that powder balls reached their saturation point a while ago and don't seem to have expanded since. Milsim players in Québec use them often, and some fields/organizations still seem to use them exclusively. The combination of them being easier to clean up and MSQ SOP rules stating that all hits count makes them perfect for MSQ events, especially those taking place at less conventional paintball fields.

Drone with Paintball Marker

While the guys in the above video are... off, what's been accomplished here is pretty cool. I had thought that a drone capable of effectively firing paintballs using easily commercially available materials would not be around for a while, but this is capable of just that. In fact, in the video you can see the drone mark a target successfully on a flyby. I'm sure this is titillating to anyone interested in paintball and drones (i.e. everyone cool), and won't be the last time we'll see such a set-up. Anyone up for a build collaboration?

Should First Strikes be Fired by Every Marker?

With the increasing availability of First Strike rounds and the similar rise in platforms capable of utilizing the revolutionary (well I guess we can argue about that) paintballs, the question begs asking, "Just because manufacturers can make all of their markers compatible with First Strike rounds, should they?". 

Carmatech Pricing Announced

Pricing for the Carmatech SAR12 platform has been announced. The entry model is priced at $830 with the full shebang ringing in at $999. Semiautomatic pricing has yet to be released and additional magazines cost $39 each. What are your thoughts on the pricing?

Tiberius CQB Holster

Tiberius Arms has announced the launch of their CQB Holster, which would appear to be based upon the holster previously(?) produced by CQB Tactical Paintball. No word on pricing or availability as of yet.

Release: Urban Combat Simulation Group

From the desk of Scott of 780 Recon (Alberta Milsim Group):

The members of 780 Recon are proud to officially announce the creation of the Urban Combat Simulation Group. The Urban Combat Simulation Group (UCSG) was founded by a group of MilSim enthusiasts seeking the "next level" in realistic combat simulation by applying real world Rules of Engagement (ROE) that reflect how military organizations around the world operate. As such, the UCSG is committed to the safety and well being of it's participants, holding true to the foundations of Honour, Loyalty, and Trust, which are critical components of a team based combat environment. 

Event: Diefenbunker Under Siege

CDA Paintball in Nova Scotia has acquired the rights to play at the Atlantic Diefenbunker and will be hosting a game there in March! With limited ammo on the table for March 9th, this should be a must-attend event for anyone in the area. Full details here.

2013 Tankless Invasion News

Tankless Invasion has some updated product offerings for the new year with the 2013 version of their launcher (the TKL-01) now on sale for $239.90. Additionally, they have a new product I hadn't seen before called the TKL-02 (currently out of stock unfortunately):

Event: Cell Team Six

On Target Paintball in New Jersey will be hosting a mag-fed event on March 24, 2013 that the American (and border adjacent) milsim/mag-fed cadre should definitely check out. If you're interested be sure to check out the Facebook event page. Rental markers will be the RAP4 468, and the Facebook indicates that there will be a rent to own option the day of. As the retail industry says, "If they try, they'll buy!".

RAP4 468 in Free Fall

A cool promotional video, but it would have been awesome to see it firing after the jumper landed. Got me thinking about how awesome paintball would be in space. Beyond the whole Ender's Game dynamics, would be really fun having a marker that shot straight for once.

More Boat, More Fun

Anyone who's seen naval boarding/clearing action videos on Youtube or elsewhere has surely thought of paintballing in such a cool environment, these players from Ecuador are lucky enough to have access to said environment. Check it out:



Video only slightly marred by dubstep overkill. I did quite enjoy the sampling from The Warriors though.

A-TACS LE Release

I'm a day late in my posting, but check out the new pattern variant released by DCS! Its moniker is A-TACS LE and is obviously targeted towards the law enforcement community. Here's the full release:

Columbus, Georgia-based Digital Concealment systems announces the introduction of the newest camouflage pattern in their line-up. As the name indicates, new A-TACS LE Camo was developed for Law Enforcement professionals. The pattern combines various shades of grey, blue and black and utilizes the trademark “organic pixel” look developed by DCS for its original A-TACS AU Camo pattern. A-TACS LE also incorporates variable angles and urban forms derived from photography and effectively utilizes an even blend of light and shadow to create unique pattern with a slight horizontal flow. Additionally, A-TACS LE Camo was developed to work with variable combinations of black or blue nylon gear and other equipment allowing municipalities and departments the option to easily upgrade their kit on an “as needed” basis, gradually phasing in new items while still maintaining a cohesive and uniform appearance.

A-TACS LE Camo joins DCS’s current pattern line-up that includes the original A-TACS AU Camo pattern designed for arid and urban environments and introduced in 2009, and A-TACS FG Camo, designed for foliated green environments, which was introduced in 2011.

A-TACS LE Camo will be available on a wide variety of fabrics and substrates including hydrographic film in the coming months. For additional information on A-TACS LE Camo, contact Digital Concealment Systems by e-mail at: info@a-tacs.com or, visit them online at: www.a-tacs.com.