Pneumatic paintball gun with volume restrictor

Abstract

A volume restrictor can be provided for a pneumatic paintball gun to reduce the volume of compressed gas available within a compressed gas storage area for a firing operation of the paintball gun. In one embodiment, the volume restrictor includes a body having a forward end and a rearward end. A forward sealing member can be arranged on the forward end to seal around a bolt of the paintball gun. A rearward sealing member can be arranged on the rearward end of the body to seal against a rearward endwall of the compressed gas storage area. By placing the volume restrictor within the compressed gas storage area of the paintball gun, the volume of compressed gas available for a firing operation is reduced, thereby requiring an increased operating pressure to achieve the same paintball velocity. The increased chamber pressure can result in a shorter recharge time and less velocity drop off in successive shots. A set of volume restrictors can be provided to permit a user to selectively adjust the available volume of compressed gas in the compressed gas storage chamber. Other configurations of volume restrictors are also contemplated within this invention, for example, such as non-sealing volume restricting rings having various wall thicknesses.