Tippmann Sports is once again on the cutting edge of promoting paintball and making it more accessible to newer players with a free iPhone app that lets players find stores and fields in their area.

The application, launched in conjunction with MapMuse mobile mapping software, pinpoints nearby paintball stores and fields after a player inputs any U.S. or Canadian address. The software provides the location ogf the store or field, as well as a website and contact information.

The Tippmann app is available now and can be quickly downloaded for free at the iTunes Store – those interested should simply search for “Tippmann” or “Paintball.”

“There are more than 6 million iPhones currently active in the U.S. alone. So, we believe a lot of players are going to utilize this new technology. This is actually just the first of several new initiatives Tippmann will be rolling out to better link paintball players with stores and fields,” said Ron Goldblatt, director of marketing for Tippmann Sports. “Many players who have already tried this innovative new app have been a little surprised when they see just how many fields and retailers are located nearby. Without question, this technology represents a great way to drive additional traffic to stores and fields – especially among newer players who typically aren’t as familiar with their many options.”

Tippmann will be expanding its new iPhone app soon to include locations throughout Europe, and eventually plans to have the app showcase paintball retailers and fields from around the globe.

Tippmann Sports has expanded its popular line of mil-sim paintball guns, U.S. Army Paintball, with the Carver One.

Featuring Tippmann’s characteristic performance and durability at a price point accessible to nearly every player, the Carver One incorporates an array of features that make it perfect for woods paintball.

The Carver One includes:

• four picatinny rails to add scopes or handles
• built-in foregrip
• built-in sling mounts
• built-in sights
• 8.5” quick thread barrel

Tippmann/U.S. Army Paintball offers a stock and foregrip (sold separately) that adds another level of customization to the paintball gun. An eGrip (electronic) version of the paintball gun will also be released.

The Carver One will be introduced at the Paintball Extravaganza on February 9 and will begin shipping in March. Lik all U.S. Army Paintball guns, the Carver One will include the “Play Smart. Play Strong.” training manual, which emphasizes the importance of teamwork and strategy on the paintball field. The newest addition to the line also comes with a maintenance pack, including an Allen wrench set, marker lubricant, cleaning cable and barrel sleeve.

So where did Tippmann come up with the name? In keeping with the military theme of all U.S. Army Paintball guns, “Carver” is a term used by American special operations forces. It’s an acronym used throughout the targeting and mission planning cycle to assess mission validity and requirements. The acronym stands for Criticality, Accessibility, Recoverability, Vulnerability, Effect, and Recognizability.

For years, Engler Custom Paintball Guns has been creating amazingly realistic replicas of actual firearms for paintball, often made from super-reliable Tippmann paintball guns like the Tippmann 98C, the A-5, and the X-7.

The company’s latest creation uses Tippmann’s X7 Phenom technology to create a replica German MG-42 for paintball that performs as well as anything on the field.

This replica light machine gun is sure to turn heads, manufactured with a real steel, authentic MG-42 shell. High-performance parts include a Hammerhead barrel and Tippmann’s FlexValve Technology for superior air efficiency and accuracy. (You can see the accuracy for yourself in the video below.)

Engler’s MG-42 Phenom also comes with a bi-pod for added realism. The perfect addition to any heavy gunner’s arsenal, the MG-42 Phenom is for the serious player who wants to stand out.

Like all X7 Phenoms, the Engler Custom MG-42 Phenom operates well with compressed air or CO2. Its spool valve design virtually eliminates recall for greater accuracy.

Planet Eclipse announced that pro paintball team Dynasty has joined the Eclipse stable of sponsored teams for the 2010 season and beyond.

Dynasty, NPPL Series champions for seven years running, will shoot a mixture of Eclipse Geos and Eclipse Egos in their quest to remain the world’s number one pro paintball team. Dynasty will once again seek to dominate the NPPL and PSP paintball leagues in the U.S., as well as representing Planet Eclipse throughout Europe and the world.

In a press release first picked up by the digital magazine www.paintballX3.com, Ian “Jacko” Parsons of Eclipse said, ““What was already shaping up to be a good 2010 has just turned into a great 2010! We are delighted to be associated with Dynasty and their worldwide presence on and off the field.”

Alex Fraige of Dynasty added, “Eclipse has an outstanding presence in competitive paintball and we’re honored to have them as our marker sponsor for 2010. Choosing Eclipse was simple as Egos and Geos are by far the most consistent and reliable markers available and teams using them have the best back up at events worldwide. We know that shooting Eclipse will give us that all important edge in 2010!”

More troubling economic news for the paintball industry this month, as Smart Parts announced it has temporarily closed the doors on its Loyalhanna, Pennsylvania, operation. The company has shut down all manufacturing and sales operations for a corporate restructuring, which is expected to be complete by the end of this month.

In a press release, Smart Parts Vice President Adam Gardner said, “It is important that people do not send equipment in for service at this time. Our buildings will not be staffed.” He added that packages will be refused and returned to the sender.

Meanwhile, DLX Technology, a subsidiary of Smart Parts, will offer support for owners and dealers of DLX Luxe paintball guns through the West Coast office. Customers and dealers can contact DLX in the following ways:

Toll Free: 866-573-LUXE (5893)
International: 724-532-4633
E-mail: dtrent@luxepaintball.com
Shipping: Darryl Trent/DLX Technology
964 San Francisco Way
Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Photo courtesy of The Ford Report

Paint manufacturer Brass Eagle will be closing the doors on its Neosho, Missouri-based manufacturing facility in mid-February. The factory will continue full production until mid-January, when it will begin scaling down. By mid-February, the plant will close, leaving at least 60 people out of work.

The 2009 recession hit the paintball industry hard, with many operations scaling down and others closing shop for good. According to reports, Neosho’s director of economic development Gib Garrow is already hard at work to find jobs for soon-to-be former Brass Eagle employees.

Brass Eagle was best known for manufacturing recreational-grade paintballs sold at paintball retail outlets as well as mass market retailers like Wal-mart.

As for the other brands owned by Brass Eagle’s parent company, Jarden? JT Sports continues business as usual, in spite of rumors to the contrary.

In an exclusive interview with JT’s Chuck Geiling, Shooting Hot Editor-in-Chief and publisher of the Ford Report, Dale Ford lays the rumors of JT’s closing to rest. In a phone interview with Ford, Geiling noted the closing of the Brass Eagle paintball manufacturing plant will have no impact whatsoever on JT Sports’ product lines, including VL Viewloaders and JT’s lines of goggles, paintball guns and soft goods.

DYE Paintball was launched in 1994 when pro paintball player Dave Youngblood started making aftermarket barrels in his garage. Although the company now manufactures bestselling lines of paintball guns, goggles and more, it has never stopped developing and enhancing its original Boomstick barrels.

Now DYE Paintball offers a new Boomstick barrel that combines the accuracy of stainless steel with the light weight and durability of carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber is the lightest, toughest barrel material available. The new Carbon Fiber Boomstick uses a proprietary, surgical grade stainless steel insert and a carbon fiber outer sleeve. The steel is honed to a 6 micron surface finish, making it smooth and straight for enhanced accuracy and consistency.

The Carbon Fiber Boomstick features the same trademark muzzle break design as other Boomsticks, making it distinctive on the field – a true status symbol worthy of top professional players — and silent enough for even the stealthiest sniper.

DYE Carbon Fiber Boomstick barrels are available in bore sizes .684, .688 and .692 and lengths of 15” and 17”.

JT’s new FX Concept series harness system is available in two variations: a 4+5 harness with a thermoformed contoured lumbar system for superior comfort, and the super lightweight FX Harness LITE, which holds up to 14 pods.

The 4+5 harness fits the needs of most woodsball and tournament paintball players. Neoprene inserts mold to the body for added traction and comfort, while pods slip easily in and out of the plastic-enforced sleeves.

The FX Harness LITE is designed for back players and diehard scenario players who need to carry nearly a full case of paint but don’t want to be weighed down. The fully elastic pod sleeve expands to hold 13 pods but collapses when empty to decrease your profile on the field.

Both pod packs in the JT FX Concept line include:

- mesh lined interior and vents to keep you cool on the field
- silicone printed no-slip elastic pod ejectors to ensure pods stay put
- fully-adjustable 4-point belt system for added comfort on any size player

The FX harnesses are just two quality products in JT’s new FX Concept line.

Photo Courtest of Planet Eclipse

When Planet Eclipse came on the paintball scene in 2004 with their new electro-pneumatic paintball gun, paintball players fell in love at first sight.

Now, with the sixth generation of this insanely-accurate machine gun, the Ego10 improves on its predecessors in a few noteworthy ways. The gun is the lightest Ego ever created, weighing a mere 1.98 pounds (including barrel) and also the most air efficient and most gentle on paint.

Like last year’s SL94 Ego, the Ego 10 uses a Zick2 kit, but replaces the standard Cure3+ bolt with a body-cut contoured Cure3+ bolt. In plain English?

Balls load more gently and there’s less chance the ball will break in the gun when the bolt strikes it. The new system also offers a softer return – again, less broken balls. The bolt’s two piece design means it can be removed, cleaned or replaced with no tools.

The improvements also make this year’s Ego is smoother than ever, meaning you’ll still achieve 28 + bps but you’ll also get:

- Quieter firing
- Enhanced accuracy
- Less wear-and-tear on mechanical internals for longer life

Shooting Hot Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 3

There’s a new kid on the paintball media block. Shooting Hot Magazine, now in its third month, is rapidly becoming the “place where all the cool kids hang out.”

Check out the December 2009 issue of this all-digital, all-reality, no-holds-barred magazine edited by Dale Ford and associate editor Joseph Hollaran and published by Billy Smith of Low Country Paintball fame.

This issue brings more of the controversy, honest reviews and straightforward journalism paintballers have come to expect from the Shooting Hot team – and a few pages no one ever expected.

You’ll find:
* Dishes that will make your mouth water from Bill “PB Chef” Bain
* Girls that will make your mouth water from Rich “PB Junkie” Struth
* T.B. Wright: on the truth about national scenario game promoters
* Hybrid players: the future of paintball?
* Dawn Allcot has a little chat with Brian “MOATI” Russell, the man behind the new Special Ops Paintball
* Behind the lines with Dale Ford at Command Decisions’ Fulda Gap scenario event
* Low Country Paintball’s Prison Escape, Season 1
* Inside the Tippmann Phenom… and much, much more.