Editing Stock-class paintball (section)

== Equipment and rules ==

=== Traditional stock-class ===

Traditional stock-class rules restrict the operation, ammunition capacity and propellant supply of paintball markers.

The principal requirements are:

* '''Manual operation:''' Markers must be manually cycled between shots, generally by pump, bolt or lever action.
* '''Horizontal feed:''' Paintballs must be supplied from a tube running parallel to the barrel, without a conventional hopper.
* '''Limited ammunition:''' Feed tubes generally contain approximately 10 to 20 paintballs.
* '''12-gram CO2:''' Markers must be powered by a single 12-gram CO2 cartridge.
* '''No semi-automatic firing:''' Markers must not cycle automatically between shots.

Traditional tournament rules also restricted certain modifications, including autotrigger mechanisms, check valves and rapid CO2 cartridge changers.[4][8]

There is no universally enforced stock-class rulebook, and individual event organisers may permit different configurations.

=== Rock and cock ===

A defining characteristic of traditional stock-class equipment is the horizontal ammunition feed.

Because the ammunition tube is positioned parallel to the barrel, players generally tilt the marker to allow the next paintball to enter the breech.

The process of tilting the marker and cycling its action is commonly known as '''rock and cock'''.

Unlike conventional gravity-fed loaders, the system does not continuously position paintballs directly above the breech.

This restricts the rate at which successive shots can be loaded and fired.

=== Stock-Class 2.0 ===

'''Stock-Class 2.0''' is an updated ruleset developed by Mark "Slim" Hatfield and used at recreational stock-class events in the northeastern United States.

The rules were developed from games organised beginning in 2003 and formally documented during 2011.[2]

Stock-Class 2.0 retains three principal requirements:

* A manually operated marker.
* An unassisted horizontal ammunition feed.
* Power from a single 12-gram CO2 cartridge.

Unlike some earlier tournament rules, Stock-Class 2.0 permits certain quick-change cartridge systems and markers fitted with autotrigger mechanisms, although using the autotrigger to fire automatically during pumping is prohibited.

The rules also specify a maximum 20-round feed tube and prohibit spring-assisted feeds, magazine-fed systems and multiple-cartridge gas supplies.[9]

The rules are used by participating organisers rather than universally adopted across the sport.