RAP4 (Real Action Paintball Marker)
The RAP4 is a paintball marker within the family of Real Action Markers(RAM) paintball markers. It fires .40 or .43 caliber shell-encased paintball rounds or rubber balls. As it is designed primarily for law enforcement and military training, the marker looks and operates like a real M4 Carbine. This includes many working or simulated features like that of a real M4, including a charging handle that flips open the ejection port, removeable carry handle with RIS rail, interchangeable front grip and rear STOCK, clip release, fire selector switch, and adjustable windage sights. The upper and lower receiver even separate like a real M4, and are made of machined aluminum. Because of this the marker is fully submersible in water without any ill effects. Barrel insert kits are available that allow the marker to be converted to fire 6mm airsoft pellets.
The RAP4 is the American trade name for markers designed and manufactured in China by the Qian Wei Company and distributed worldwide by APS Paintball Ltd. in Hong Kong. They are sold outside the USA under the model range name RAM. APS Paintball has licenced the German Company Umarex to sell all APS products in Europe. For the UK, there is since 2007 another RAM distributor, Brocock. APS has also opened a subsidiary in the US: APS USA, in Denver, Colorado. RAP4 is the most important distributor of RAM products, coming from APS in Hong Kong or Umarex USA.
Design
The RAP4 is revolutionary in design in that the marker is magazine fed and has the ability to eject empty shells like a real rifle. Each paintball fits into a thimble shaped aluminum or plastic shell that is then loaded into the magazine. Each magazine holds up to 20 of these encased paintballs. The magazine is inserted into the marker, and automatically chambers the first cased paintball round into the breech once seated. When fired, the paintball is propelled out of the casing and through the barrel, and the casing is ejected by a small arm inside the breech that is actuated by the movement of the bolt. This arm smacks the casing, ejecting it from the ejection port on the right side of the marker, giving the effect of simulating a spent cartridge being ejected. When aluminum casings are used, the casings even realistically "tink" as they hit the ground. The plastic casings are of a biodegradable nature, intended to be fire-and-forget, but are able to be re-used like the aluminum ones. The newest version of the RAP4, the METS (Military Enhanced Training System), features a trigger locking system that locks the trigger when the magazine is empty, simulating a "dry clip". Older versions allowed the user to continue to "dry fire", which is damaging to the marker over time and not an accurate weapon simulation.
Modifications
The modular nature of the M-16 is replicated on the marker, with any real M-16 accessory able to be used on a RAP4, except for actual upper or lower receivers or their internals. RAP4 markers cannot be modified to chamber nor fire real ammunition. Various foregrips can be used, and barrels are available in 1", 14", 16", 18", and 20" lengths. M-16A2 handguards, M4 Carbine handguards, match handguards, RIS handguards, weaver rails, various scopes and electronic sights, solid M-16A2 stocks, 3 position M4 Carbine stocks, Crane 4-position stocks, tactical handgrips, laser sights, tactical flashlights, various muzzle flash suppressors, and even mock silencers are available, allowing a RAP4 to be turned into any conceivable M-16 configuration. There are even simulated M203 grenade launchers that can be mounted either on the barrel or RIS rails. These use simulated grenades that look like a real M203 round, but actually work like a shotgun shell. The grenade has an internal RESERVOIR that is charged with CO2 or compressed air. Depending on the version, the "explosive" tip will have one or numerous holes for either .68 caliber, .43 caliber, or .40 caliber paintballs to be loaded into. The .43 caliber for instance has 5 holes, each capable of holding up to 5 .43 caliber paintballs each for a total of 25. Once charged and loaded, the grenade is inserted into the M203 and ready to fire. The M203 has its own trigger that fires the grenade, which goes off like a shotgun blast with a loud report. After firing, the grenade is removed and refilled to be used again.
Legality
A drawback to the RAP4 is its limited use for recreational paintball in the United States. Although manufactured with and sold with the federal mandated 1/4" Blaze Orange tip to distinguish its nature as a replica firearm, many paintball fields do not allow its use because of its extremely convincing appearance to a real M-16. Other fields claim that insurance limitations let them only allow .68 caliber markers. Others simply do not like milsim paintball markers, and are biased towards them, preferring to only allow the mainstream speedball and competition style equipment onto their fields.
Non-lethal training use
The RAP4 is distributed through Real Action Paintball (RAP4). Currently it is used by both the United States Army and Marine Corps for live fire training, and various law enforcement agencies. RAP4 boasts that the United States Marines have put over 1000 trainees through their RAP4's, without breakdown. The marker is also capable of non-lethal uses for law enforcement, due to its ability to fire .43 caliber solid rubber rounds.
Models
Other RAM .43 caliber simulation markers include:
- RAP5: Heckler & Koch MP5: Nearly as versatile as the RAP4, also modular with numerous configurations possible
- RAP47: AK-47 Assault Rifle: The venerable AK-47 Soviet weapon, complete with wood grip and stock
- RAP17: Glock 17 handgun: Police issue Glock sidearm, clip fed, with an internal or disposable CO2 reservoir and blowback *RAP226: SIG-Sauer P226 handgun
- SIG Sauer sidearm, clip fed, with an internal or disposable CO2 reservoir and blowback
- RAP99: Walther P99 handgun: Walther sidearm, clip fed, with an internal or disposable CO2 reservoir and blowback
- T68 Gen5:M-16: .68 caliber magazine fed/optional hopper feed
External links
de:Real Action Marker