Editing Paintball equipment (section)

== Loading systems ==

Paintball markers use feeding systems to supply projectiles to the firing chamber.

=== Gravity-fed loaders ===

A '''gravity-fed loader''', commonly called a hopper, stores paintballs above the marker and allows them to enter the firing chamber through gravity.

Traditional loaders generally use moulded plastic containers holding approximately 200 paintballs.

They are widely used with mechanical recreational markers and rental equipment.

Gravity-fed systems may experience interruptions when paintballs settle irregularly above the feed opening.

=== Electronic loaders ===

Electronic loaders use powered mechanisms to assist paintball feeding.

These systems may incorporate paddles, rotating feed trays, belts or other mechanisms controlled by sensors.

Electronic loaders became increasingly important as the firing rates of tournament markers increased during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Historically significant examples include the ViewLoader Revolution, [[Halo B]], [[DYE Rotor]] and [[Virtue Spire]].

=== Magazine-fed systems ===

Magazine-fed paintball markers use detachable or integral magazines that store a limited number of paintballs.

These systems are particularly associated with [[magfed paintball]], scenario games and mechanical competition formats.

Some magazine-fed markers can also use First Strike-type shaped projectiles, where permitted by the marker manufacturer and field rules.