Feed Rate Characteristics

Feed rate is commonly expressed as the number of paintballs that can be supplied per second under specified conditions. In gravity and agitating systems, feed rate is constrained by gravitational acceleration, friction in the stack, and the random nature of paintball motion in the shell. Force feed designs increase feed rate by actively driving paint into the stack and coordinating output with marker activity.

Theoretical limits based on mechanical speed are distinct from practical limits observed on the field. Practical feed rate depends on paint quality, temperature, stack compression, and the alignment of feed components. As rates approach the upper capability of the system, the likelihood of occasional gaps or partial feeds can increase if any part of the stack encounters elevated friction or obstruction.

Marker firing characteristics further shape how feed rate is experienced. Firing modes that generate long strings of closely spaced shots place sustained demands on the loader, while shorter bursts or irregular patterns impose different loading profiles. Technical discussions of feed rate characteristics focus on these interactions between loader design, feed stack behavior, and marker timing rather than on user specific configuration advice.