The tubular bolt of a paintball gun communicates with a cylinder through bores when in a forward, firing position, allowing compressed gas from the cylinder to expel a paintball. In accordance with the invention a bore whereby the cylinder communicates with a source of compressed gas is occluded by the bolt when the bolt is in the firing position. By this arrangement only gas stored in the cylinder is used to fire a paintball and the source of compressed gas is not in communication with the cylinder except when the trigger is released and the bolt is in its retracted position.