| Founded | Santa Clara, California (2002) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, California |
| Products | T68 M4 Gen 6, T68 magazine fed AK47, T68 Paintball Pistol, M249 SAW paintball gun, RAP68 Shotgun, RAP4 METS, RAP4 XPower, SplitFire Dual Feed System, M80 Landmine |
| Website | www.rap4.com |
RAP4 is a manufacturer of paintball markers, paintball equipment, tactical gear and training tools.
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In 2002, RAP4 began as a small company that brought a new type of marker to the paintball industry by distribution of R.A.M (real action marker) by APS Airgun Limited (a worldwide supplier for military training and Real Action Game equipment). Four partners began the company together, today, three remain. In the paintball industry, the company is fairly new, but due to the unique products it carries, it has grown in fame fairly quickly.
At the beginning, RAP4 sold a .43 caliber R.A.M. paintball gun rebranded after the company, the RAP4. The RAP4 used a smaller version of the standard .68 caliber paintball, the measurement was .43. The .43 caliber paintball was encased in an alloy casing, when the paintball was fired, the casing would eject out of the ejection port while the paintball was projected out of the barrel. This marker was designed after and was a replica of the M4. This marker embodied the company motto, “As Real as it Gets.” The unique nature of this marker was its realism. This marker featured an air system in the back of the marker, inside the buttstock. This added to the realism by eliminating an air tank on the bottom of the standard paintball markers. This was the first of its kind in the paintball world. The other unique quality of the marker was that it used a 20 round magazine instead of the standard paintball hopper to chamber paintballs. By using the magazine to feed paintballs, this made it possible to replicate the M4. The R.A.M. was the first marker to utilize a magazine.
The T68 marker debuted with the first generation in 2004, and has since had seven revisions. It is a .68 caliber semi-automatic and full auto CO2 or HPA (high pressure air) powered paintball marker. Besides standard paintball play, the marker is also used for military simulation (MilSim), and law enforcement training - as the marker physically resembles an M16 and M4 U.S. Military assault rifle and carbines.[1] The markers provide effective crowd control and are an alternative method for subduing individuals; the markers can fire .68 caliber Less Lethal Live Rounds, more commonly known as pepper balls - live rounds filled with powder substance that irritates the eyes and nose, similar to pepper spray.
The T68 core is a design similar in action to the Spyder markers. Primary systems (Barrel, Air System, Feed System & Trigger) attach to the core. Additional external components add to the overall M-4 look. These include a carry handle (fixed or removable with RIS weaver rail), T-charging (cocking) handle (Gen 3 upwards), pistol grip with trigger guard, faux clip housing with working magazine release, fake magazine with hollow interior (for storage), M-4 handguard assembly with interchangeable front handguards, M-4 forward sight with bayonet lug and sling loop, and either 3-position M4 Carbine or fixed M-16A2 style stock. Various barrel lengths and styles are available, from 1" through 20", with interchangeable muzzle flash suppressors or faux silencers. The barrels use Spyder threads, so aftermarket barrels are also capable of being used. Made from machined aircraft aluminum, it is extremely rugged and simple to operate and maintain. The marker is purely mechanical, with no electronic parts in its factory form. A velocity adjustment screw is provided under the stock for adjustment of the shooting velocity, and a simple push-safe safety is situated just ahead of the trigger on the core.
The sixth generation and later models feature large changes to the marker core and body to accept a working 18-round magazine. They eliminates the gap between the trigger and the magazine receiver, allowing the trigger finger to reach the magazine release button for tactical reload. The air system is completely internal and allows the unit to be self contained.
The T68 can use any weaver mounted accessory and be made into any configuration of the M-16/M4 Carbine, as well as working M203 grenade launchers that can be mounted on the marker. There are also AK-47 stocks and handguards, and MP5 accessories, allowing custom configurations.
Even though RAP4 is known for its magazine fed markers, they still cater to those who prefer to play with a hopper fed system. Their newest design is the Split Fire Dual Feed System. This is only compatible with the T68, M4 and AK47, and allows the user to use both a hopper and magazine. The Split Fire adapter is installed inside the T68, and by turning a dial, the marker switches from feeding from the magazine to the hopper, and vice versa. This revolutionary idea is perfect for law enforcement and military. This is valuable to law enforcement and military since it gives them two options to subdue hostile individuals. They can load rubber balls in the hopper to influence individuals to cooperate and if that does not work, they can have the pepper balls in the magazine for an added effect.
The M80 Landmine is pressure activated and fires a variety of liquids and powders, and is durable for years of use in harsh environments. The reusable M80 Landmine is powered by a rechargeable CO2 reservoir that disperses more than 2oz of smoke-simulation powder or liquid paint, creating a twenty-foot blast radius. The RAP4 reusable M80 Landmine is used for paintball and the military combat training. The mine is light and compact, and it can easily be concealed for an effective booby trap, making it an ideal training tool. As an antipersonnel training device, they can be used with smoke-simulation powder to leave a noticeable residue and dramatic cloud, or liquid paint for a distinguishing mark. The mine will “detonate” with 10 lbs of pressure, and will produce a loud explosion. It may be used on its side or vertically, buried with the top exposed or incorporated into a wide variety of realistic booby trap setups. This item is also popular with the military due to the realism of the mine and its variety of uses for training.
RAP4 designed the XPower with realism in mind. This is an exact match to the M4 Carbine. It is the same length, weight, look and functionality of the real life M4. Though the paintball version shoots only .43 caliber paintballs, it is still very popular among law enforcement and military because of the realism. This marker even ejects a cartridge after each shot, just like real assault rifles. It shoots .43 caliber Paintballs, which are loaded into alloy or biodegradable plastic shells, which eject after every shot. The paintballs used for this marker are smaller than the standard .68 caliber that most markers use. Also in this marker, the internal air system and magazine feed that is the trademark for all RAP4 markers.
The T68 M249 Magazine is currently being manufactured by RAP4 and has a tentative release date for December 2009. Designed after the real M249 magazine for the Squad Automatic Weapon, this magazine holds 200 .68 caliber paintballs, like most hoppers. Unlike a hopper though, this will feed from beneath the marker versus on top like hoppers. This will give players an advantage by being able to aim better and giving them a better line of sight, as well as keeping them more hidden. This is also a big benefit to magazine players by giving them more shooting capabilities by giving them 200 paintballs to shoot per magazine instead of the standard 18. The magazine is battery operated and is force fed into the chamber of the marker prior to each shot. This magazine is currently only going to be compatible with the T68 markers.
Another product of the T68 production line, is, the T68 AK47. RAP4 completed its scenario and realism focus by producing the two most common assault rifle, just in a paintball gun version. The M16 and AK47 are both available for purchase as a paintball marker. The T68 Gen6 AK47 features an all-metal construction with the RAP4 internal Flexi Air System. Each unit incorporates a fully functional magazine-feed system with an 18 round detachable magazine. The AK47 Paintball Gun is designed for scenario paintball and for military training. As the "opposing force" marker, the T68 AK47 enhances military combat training, scenario realism...and is great when you want to play a bad guy for the weekend.
Many Military installations, police departments and Federal Agencies use RAP4 products, below is an example of some of those: Fort Bragg, N.C. Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Fort McClellan, Al. Fort Leonard Wood, Mo Fort Bliss, Texas/ N.M United States Department of Homeland Security United States Department of Transportation New York City Police Department Bureau of Indian Affairs San Mateo Police Department