WHAT IS STOCK CLASS?

Since it's inception, stock class rules have undergone modifications to suit various events and to widen the stock class parameters in order that more people can play. Due to these modifications, there seems to be some argument amongst stock class purists as to what exactly stock class is. Some believe that we should adhere to the technology that was available at the time paintball began, which was the intention of the original set of rules.

However, I feel that we must change with the times and embrace new technology available to us. Things like pneumatic assist mechanisms, electro-pneumatic technology (used in today's semis) and other hi-tech advancements. There is nothing wrong with using technology in stock class so long as it does not take the skill out of the game, like it has with the rest of paintball.

First, lets look at what I call Original Format Stock Class.

ORIGINAL FORMAT STOCK CLASS

  1. Feed/Operating System
    1. A stockgun must be manually operated. Some manually actuated mechanical manipulation must be performed to load a ball and cock the paintmarker's action. No semi-automatics or double- actions (with the exception of the Crosman 3357 Spotmarker).
    2. A stockgun can only be powered by a SINGLE 12 gram powerlet.
    3. The paintballs are gravity fed from a tube that is parallel to the barrel. The outer circumference of the tube, or stock feed block, must touch the outer circumference of the barrel.
    4. The feed tube can not hold more than 20 paintballs either capped or with a tube inserted.
    5. The magazine tube or feeding block's outer circumference must touch the outer circumference of the barrel. It must be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. It must be flat and can have no ramps to encourage balls to roll to the bolt. (This is to prevent any design that provides enough space to stack another paintball so that will be ready to load without tilting the paintmarker.)
    6. In the feed tube there can be no arrangement to impede the balls from rolling off the bolt except the thickness of the main body and the tube above it.
    7. No direct feeds, the paintmarker must be tilted to load EVERY paintball.
  2. Power System
    1. No quick changes for the CO2. This means the knob holding the CO2 in must be unscrewed and the powerlet dropped out through the threads. (With the exception of: Nelspot 007 & Crosman 3357 Spotmarker. Because the grip panels must be removed to change 12 grams, they have been made exceptions.) However, Battlegrips for the Nelspot (that have a drop out hole for the twelve gram) are not permitted.
    2. For safety reasons, the knob must be turned at least one and one half full revolutions to remove it. No check valves. Removing the CO2 must inactivate the 'marker.
    3. Rat-a-tac, Phantom stock class, and other "bucket-type" quick changers are permitted.
  3. Barrel
    1. The barrel may be any length but must be smoothbore and solid. This means- no holes, rifling, or muzzle brakes.
    2. There can be one barrel addition but it may not exceed eight inches from the tip of the (original marker's) barrel and may not be drilled, rifled, etc.
  4. Other Equipment
    1. No autotriggers.
    2. Any type of stocks, grips, and sights are allowed. With the exception of the Battlegrips for the Nelspot, that have a drop out hole for the twelve gram.

Now let's look at what I call . . .

MODIFIED STOCK CLASS

(Differences from above rules are in CAPITALS.)

  1. Feed/Operating System
    1. A stockgun must be manually operated. Some manually actuated mechanical manipulation must be performed to load a ball and cock the paintmarker's action. No semi-automatics or double- actions (with the exception of the Crosman 3357 Spotmarker).
    2. A stockgun can only be powered by a single 12 gram powerlet.
    3. The paintballs are gravity fed from a tube that is parallel to the barrel. The outer circumference of the tube, or stock feed block, DOES NOT HAVE TO touch the outer circumference of the barrel. (This allows players with direct feed pumps attack a stock feed to their marker.)
    4. The feed tube can not hold more than 20 paintballs either capped or with a tube inserted.
    5. The magazine tube or feeding block's outer circumference DOES NOT HAVE TO touch the outer circumference of the barrel. It must be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. It DOES NOT HAVE TO be flat. IT CAN HAVE A ramp to encourage balls to roll to the bolt.
    6. DIRECT FEEDS AR ALLOWED AS LONG AS NO MORE THAN TWO BALLS ARE STACKED IN THE DIRECT FEED OVER THE BOLT.
  2. Power System
    1. No quick changes for the CO2. This means the knob holding the CO2 in must be unscrewed and the powerlet dropped out through the threads. (With the exception of: Nelspot 007 & Crosman 3357 Spotmarker. Because the grip panels must be removed to change 12 grams, they have been made exceptions.) However, Battlegrips for the Nelspot (that have a drop out hole for the twelve gram) are not permitted.
    2. For safety reasons, the knob must be turned at least one and one half full revolutions to remove it. No check valves. Removing the CO2 must inactivate the 'marker.
    3. Rat-a-tac, Phantom stock class, and other "bucket-type" quick changers are permitted.
  3. Barrel
    1. The barrel may be any length AND CAN HAVE ANY TYPE OF VENTING, holes, rifling, or muzzle brakes.
    2. There can be one barrel addition AND IT CAN BE CONFIGURED IN ANY WAY, AS IN THE RULE ABOVE.
  4. Other Equipment
    1. No autotriggers.
    2. Any type of stocks, grips, and sights are allowed, THIS INCLUDES Battlegrips for the Nelspot, that have a drop out hole for the twelve gram.

Now we will see what I call . . .

EXTREME STOCK CLASS

  1. This is like MODIFIED STOCK CLASS, but any air system can be used. Players are not restricted to 12 grams.
  2. Pneumatic assist mechanisms and any other modification that does not break the Modified Stock Class Rules can be used.

After all that is said and done, here is what I consider to be the only essential rules for a stock class marker.

OPEN STOCK CLASS

All the above classes are included. The only restriction is in velocity.

  1. Markers conforming to Original Format Stock Class Rules: 290 fps
  2. Markers conforming to Modified Stock Class Rules: 280 fps
  3. Markers conforming to Extreme Format Stock Class Rules: 270 fps
DURTY DAN'S BASIC STOCK CLASS PARAMETERS

  1. A stockgun must be manually operated, pneumatic or electronic assist is allowed (this is so long as it cannot make the marker easily converted to a semi on the field.)
  2. A stockgun can only be powered by a SINGLE 12 gram powerlet. It can have a drop out slot, so long as the marker is only powered by a single powerlet. For safety reasons, the knob must be turned at least one and one half full revolutions to remove it.
  3. The paintballs are gravity fed from a tube that is parallel to the barrel.
  4. The feed tube can not hold more than 20 paintballs either capped or with a tube inserted.
As far as I am concerned, as long as the marker conforms to the basic rules, it's a stock class marker.

You have to remember that stock class rules, as so many stock class players seem to think, were not brought down from a mountain carved in stone tablets. Stock class rules SHOULD be modifiable so we can get more people playing stock class.

The harder you make the rules, the less people will be willing to play.

All of the articles in the website "www.DURTYDAN.com" are free to use for webpages, school projects, reference and to promote paintball to players and the non-playing public. Please give credit where credit is due and (where possible) provide a link back to the www.DURTYDAN.com website.
© Durty Dan 2000. All rights reserved. All works contained in the website known as "www.DURTYDAN.com" are under copyright of the author Durty Dan. While the Terms of Use are broad they do not include the right to republish this work in any publication (hardcopy or electronic) for the purposes of personal financial gain.




back to DDPASP main