They are silent, deadly and invisible. They deal paintball "death" from hidden locations, rarely striking from the same place twice. They are the feared sniper, a paintball nemesis that will drive the opposing team crazy in any scenario paintball game that you might play. This is a coveted position, but it isn't a position in which everyone will excel. When you are choosing your position and your team is looking for a sniper, you have to determine if it is really something you want to try.
What Do You Need to Be a Sniper in Paintball?
You are going to want to have a lot of patience. Being a sniper is the opposite of the run and gun play on the front line. The sniper in paintball is going to have to act like their real world counterparts. This means you have to be able to sit alone in a secluded spot for long periods and wait until you can get the perfect shot. For the large-scale scenario paintball games that are so popular, being a sniper might mean spending many hours or more than a day alone in the woods waiting for your target.
Even though it's just a game, you still have to take your position as a sniper in paintball seriously. This means that you aren't out in the woods to enjoy the scenery and take pictures of the wildlife! You are part of a team and they are counting on you to do your part. Pay attention to your surroundings!
Sniping with a Spotter
You might want to have a two-man sniper paintball team, which is how many snipers operate in the field in real life. One will be a spotter, who will help the sniper search for targets. While it is advantageous to have two people working in tandem as a sniper team, you will also find that it has some issues. Two people are going to be louder and easier to spot than a single sniper. To combat this, the sniper team should spend time practicing moving across terrain together as quietly as possible. It helps to use hand signals for basic communication.
The Basics
You are always going to have to pay attention to your safety and the safety of others. This means that goggles are a necessity at all times. Make sure that you have a paintball marker that is suited for sniping. The regular guns aren't going to do as good of a job as the specialized paintball guns.
If you are serious about being a sniper in paintball, you will want to have a sniper rifle for paintball. If you can't afford one, you can always see if you can rent one or borrow one until you have the money to buy one of your own. In addition to the sniper rifle, you will also want to have a backup weapon. A paintball pistol is a good idea because it won't be too bulky to carry through rugged terrain.
Load your gun and keep the safety on until you are ready to fire. This will prevent any accidental shots that could give away your position.
Tips and Tricks for the Sniper in Paintball
If you have a map of the area, use it to find the terrain that is going to be most advantageous to giving you a bird's eye view of the enemy. Make sure you find several different spots that look like they will be good perches for you. If one of them is inaccessible because of the terrain or because of enemy movement, you will still have backups on which you can rely.
Always take care when moving through any terrain. Don't move across open or exposed terrain unless it is the only way through. Choosing a circuitous route that is safer is always a better bet, even if it takes more time. You want to move slowly and as quietly as possible. Your opponents may have scouts, guards and snipers of their own who are searching for movement.
Keep a low profile. This means that when you are in position, you want to be as close to the ground as possible. Always make sure that you aren't going to stand out against the sky. If you have a scope on your paintball rifle, keep it covered until you are ready to scout your targets. If you don't, the glint from the glass can give away your position.
Invest in a gillie suit or make one of your own. This will give you the advantage of camouflage. If you take a shot and miss, you are going to need to head to another vantage point. That shot will give away your position.
These are just a few tips and tricks to help you if you want to be a sniper in paintball. Have fun on the field!