Editing History of paintball equipment (section)

== Ammunition and feeding systems ==

=== Paintballs ===

Early paintball ammunition developed from marking projectiles manufactured for agricultural and industrial use.

As recreational paintball expanded, manufacturers began producing paintballs intended specifically for organised games.

[[Pursuit Marketing Inc.]] established a relationship with [[R.P. Scherer]], a specialist encapsulation manufacturer, to develop paintballs suited to recreational use.[4]

The paintball industry subsequently developed ammunition with water-soluble fillings and shell characteristics intended for different playing conditions.

Manufacturers and brands associated with ammunition development included [[ZAP Paintball]], [[Diablo Paintball]], [[Draxxus]] and [[GI Sportz]].

=== Gravity-fed loaders ===

Early markers typically used horizontal feed tubes holding approximately ten paintballs.

As semiautomatic markers became more common, larger gravity-fed ammunition loaders were introduced.

Hoppers capable of carrying 100 to 200 paintballs became widely used.

Contemporary reporting by [[WARPIG]] documented the transition from small feed tubes to improvised and subsequently commercially manufactured loaders during the late 1980s.[6]

=== Electronic loaders ===

Higher firing rates created difficulties for conventional gravity-fed loaders.

Manufacturers responded by developing powered loading systems intended to reduce feeding interruptions.

The [[ViewLoader Revolution]] became a prominent electronically agitated loader during the late 1990s.

WARPIG documented its introduction at the 1997 NPPL World Cup and subsequent electronic revisions.[7]

Odyssey subsequently developed the [[Halo B]] family of powered loaders.

In June 2001, WARPIG reported on Odyssey's preparations to manufacture the original HALO system.[6]

Powered loaders became increasingly important as electronic tournament markers developed higher firing rates.

Later products included the [[DYE Rotor]] and [[Virtue Spire]], which incorporated alternative feeding mechanisms and electronic controls.