"You mean you gotta pump that every time you wanna shoot?" is a question I hear almost every time I play. Many players, especially younger kids, have never seen or even heard of a pump gun. Many are inquisitive, few are judgmental. In my ventures, I have encountered both positive and negative attitudes towards pump play.
The few negative comments I receive relate to how archaic pumps are, but most comments are positive, asking about why I play and what it's like. Often newer players, both old and young, approach me asking about my phantom and how she works. My typical response includes relatively detailed descriptions and demonstrations on how to load ten round tubes and 12gram CO2 cartridges. I always offer people who are curious about pump play a chance to shoot my phantom, either in the chronograph range or on the field, wherever we may be at the time of the inquisition. Most turn down the opportunity, but express interest in trying it out in the future.
For most who are hesitant to try pump, the reasoning is simple: they are afraid of being out gunned. Well, this is somewhat valid, I won't lie to you on this. You're at a significant technological disadvantage by using a stock class pump , but what most don’t think about, is that they can move much more effectively with the reduction in weight, giving them an advantage in that area. The lack of firepower coupled with the thought of facing massive firepower would be enough to discourage even the bravest of newbies. I don’t blame players for being reluctant to try it, heck, even some avid pumpers pick up a semi occasionally. So far these are the only reasons I have encountered why people do not play pump.
Unfortunately for the skeptics, pump play carries more advantages than it would seem. Aside from using less paint, pump play allows you to force yourself to think more, communicate with your team, and work as a team. It also forces you to do something most semi players would consider sacrilege: it forces you to aim. This does fuel the misconception that pumps are more accurate than semis, well that’s hearsay. Pumps are not any more accurate than semis, pump PLAYERS are more accurate than semi players.
With limited firepower, pumpers like myself depend solely on skill to defeat our opponents. Many refer to pump players as snipers or sneakers. This may hold some element of truth, as we do pick our shots and move with a bit more stealth than most semi players do, but we do enjoy a good firefight every now and then too. Not to mention, it’s a great feeling knowing that you just took out that 18bps electro-whatever with your stock class phantom. You will improve your skill as a result as the apparent disadvantages. If you don’t, then you take a lot of walks to the dead box.
I mentioned earlier that pumpers save money. Its true. I can play in a 26-hour scenario game with less than 300 rounds. Using less paint means I use less air. There is also less wear on my marker which means less money spent in replacement parts further down the road. A pump uses less air than most semi's do also, because additional air is needed in cycling the gun.
Okay, so I have convinced you to try pump play. What next? Well here are some tips for first timers and beginning pump players:
Also, more of a mantra than a tip, Don’t give up. You should not expect to own the field the first time you play with a pump. It will take a while, depending on how often you play and who quickly you can admit your mistakes and learn from them.
If you have any questions about pump play, there is a plethora of online resources available. Check out the phantom owners group at www.phog.org. www.stockclasspaintball.com also has a great deal of information available. The manufacturer of the phantom has a copy of stock class rules at www.phantomonline.com. Additional online resources include www.pumpplayers.com and www.munkies.net/ppig. Or you can write a letter to the editor, and I'll answer it in a future issue.