Editing Pump-action paintball markers (section)

== Historical development ==

=== Early marking pistols ===

The earliest organised paintball games used manually operated marking equipment originally developed for forestry and agricultural applications.

The first recorded organised paintball game took place on 27 June 1981 near Henniker, New Hampshire, United States.

Participants used Nel-Spot 007 marking pistols powered by disposable 12-gram carbon dioxide cartridges.

These early pistols required manual cocking and loading between shots.

Although not all early manually operated markers used a conventional sliding pump handle, they established the mechanical principles from which later pump-action paintball equipment developed.

=== Development during the 1980s ===

During the 1980s, manufacturers developed more specialised pump-action markers for recreational and competitive paintball.

These incorporated improvements including longer barrels, larger ammunition capacities, bulk-gas connections and alternative feeding systems.

Companies including [[Sheridan]], Pursuit Marketing Inc. and [[Line SI]] produced or distributed pump-action equipment.

[[Bud Orr]] developed the [[WGP Sniper]] during the mid-to-late 1980s.

The Sniper used a machined aluminium body and a manually operated pump mechanism. Its design subsequently provided the mechanical foundation for the semiautomatic [[Autococker]].

[[Component Concepts Inc.]] began developing the [[CCI Phantom]] in 1986 and introduced it commercially in 1987.[2]

The Phantom became associated with stock-class and open-class pump paintball.

=== Competition with semiautomatic markers ===

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, semiautomatic markers became increasingly common.

Markers such as the Autococker and [[Automag]] eliminated the need for manual recocking between shots, allowing players to achieve higher firing rates.

Electronic markers subsequently expanded the distinction between pump-action and other marker types.

Nevertheless, pump-action equipment remained in recreational use and continued to support dedicated competitive formats.

=== Later pump-action markers ===

Pump-action marker production continued after semiautomatic and electronic systems became dominant in mainstream tournament paintball.

Manufacturers developed revised versions of historical designs and specialised competition markers.

Examples included the CCM Series 6, CCM T2 and Empire Sniper.

Some players also converted semiautomatic Autococker markers into pump-action configurations by removing the pneumatic recocking system and fitting a manual pump assembly.

Such conversions use the underlying mechanical architecture of the original Sniper and Autococker designs.