Sheridan PGP

The Sheridan PGP (Paint Gun Pump) is a .68-calibre pump-action paintball marker manufactured by Sheridan and distributed by Pursuit Marketing Inc. (PMI). Developed from the earlier Sheridan PG pistol during the 1980s, the PGP became an established marker in stock-class paintball and was known for its compact brass construction, internal ammunition magazine and use of disposable 12-gram carbon dioxide cartridges.[1][2]

The PGP was one of the early alternatives to the Nel-Spot 007. Its stacked-tube valve and hammer arrangement influenced later paintball equipment, including the WGP Sniper and Autococker.[2][3]

History

Development

The PGP originated from a manufacturing and distribution relationship between Sheridan and Pursuit Marketing Inc., established by Jeffrey Perlmutter and David Freeman in 1982.

PMI approached Ray Katt, president of Benjamin Sheridan, about adapting the company's existing CO₂-powered airgun designs to fire .68-calibre paintballs.

Sheridan developed two prototype marking pistols, one using a top-mounted ammunition tube and another using a side-mounted feed.

The top-loading design was selected for production and became known as the PG, an abbreviation of Paint Gun.[1]

The original PG used a manually operated bolt.

Players and aftermarket manufacturers subsequently developed pump-action conversions to simplify loading and recocking.

Sheridan introduced a factory pump-action version designated PGP, meaning Paint Gun Pump.[1]

The precise date of the PGP's first commercial introduction has not been conclusively established.

Early production

The original PGP incorporated three brass tubes arranged vertically.

The upper tube housed the paintball magazine, the middle tube formed the barrel, and the lower tube contained the hammer, valve and CO₂ cartridge assembly.

The marker used a manually operated pump handle and an internal magazine holding approximately ten paintballs.

Its compact construction made it suitable for stock-class games, in which ammunition capacity and propellant supply were restricted.[2][4]

The PGP was distributed through PMI and became one of Sheridan's established paintball products during the 1980s and 1990s.

Development of later Sheridan markers

The PGP's mechanical arrangement provided a basis for other Sheridan pump-action markers.

Related products included the PMI-1, PMI-2, KP-series rifles and P68 variants.

These markers incorporated different barrel lengths, ammunition-feeding arrangements and gas systems while retaining elements of Sheridan's valve and hammer design.[2]

The stacked-tube operating system also influenced the development of the WGP Sniper.

Bud Orr subsequently developed the semiautomatic Autococker from the Sniper platform.[3]

Updated PGP (2001)

Sheridan introduced a revised PGP around 2001.

The updated model incorporated several changes from the earlier design, including:

A longer barrel.
An adjustable velocity system.
Revised bolt construction.
A quick-change CO₂ mechanism.
Updated sights.
A speed-loading arrangement.

The revised model retained the PGP's brass construction, pump-action operation and internal ammunition magazine.[5]

A contemporary comparison published by the Stock-Class Paintball Network on 2 April 2002 examined the differences between the original and updated PGP models.[4]

Operating mechanism

The PGP uses a manually operated pump-action mechanism.

Moving the pump handle cycles the bolt and recocks the firing mechanism.

A paintball is fed from the internal magazine into the breech before firing.

Pulling the trigger releases the hammer, which operates the valve and allows compressed carbon dioxide to propel the paintball.

The marker uses a Sheridan-style valve system housed in the lower tube.

Unlike semiautomatic markers, the PGP requires manual recocking between shots.

Construction

The original PGP uses a three-tube brass body.

Its principal components include:

An integral brass barrel.
An upper ammunition magazine.
A manually operated pump handle.
A Sheridan valve and hammer assembly.
A disposable 12-gram CO₂ cartridge system.
A mechanical trigger and grip frame.

The original design incorporated a removable magazine plug for loading paintballs.

Later models introduced changes to the pump handle, bolt, velocity adjustment and loading system.[4][5]

Models and variants

Model	Description
Sheridan PG	Original bolt-action pistol from which the PGP developed
Original PGP	Pump-action version with brass body and internal magazine
Updated PGP	Revised model introduced around 2001 with updated loading, velocity adjustment and CO₂ components

Aftermarket conversions and customised PGP markers should be distinguished from factory-produced models.

Customisation

The PGP became a platform for specialist paintball marker modifications.

Custom airsmiths developed alternative pump handles, loading systems, bolts, valve components and gas arrangements.

Palmer's Pursuit Shop, established by Glenn Palmer, became associated with custom Sheridan-based paintball equipment.

Other specialist manufacturers produced modifications intended to improve loading convenience, maintenance and compatibility with different paintball ammunition.[6]

Historical examples of PGP modifications are preserved in specialist paintball equipment collections.

Influence on paintball equipment

The PGP is associated with the development of stock-class paintball equipment during the 1980s and 1990s.

Its compact design, limited ammunition capacity and disposable CO₂ supply reflected the equipment commonly used in early recreational paintball.

The Sheridan valve and hammer arrangement also influenced later pump-action and semiautomatic markers.

The PGP remains documented in historical equipment archives and specialist paintball publications.[2][3]

References

External links