Combustion-gas-powered paintball marker

A method of launching a projectile from a projectile launcher, comprising the steps of:

• providing a projectile launcher with a barrel for containing a projectile to be propelled from said barrel, and for controlling the direction of propulsion of the projectile when the projectile is propelled out from said barrel;
• loading a magazine with a plurality of projectiles, to be individually propelled from said projectile launcher, wherein said magazine is operatively connected to said barrel at a breech location through which the plurality of projectiles, disposed within said magazine, may be individually and sequentially introduced from said magazine into said barrel;
• positioning a piston within a cylinder housing such that said piston is movable within said cylinder housing between a retracted position and an extended position;
• defining a combustion chamber, upon a first side of said piston within said cylinder housing, for combusting an air-fuel mixture;
• fixedly connecting a bolt to said piston such that said bolt is movably disposed within said barrel between a retracted position, for uncovering said breech location of said magazine so as to permit a leading one of the projectiles, disposed within said magazine, to enter said barrel in preparation for propulsion from said barrel, and an extended position for covering said breech location of said magazine so as to prevent other ones of the projectiles, disposed within said magazine, from entering said barrel;
• and
• igniting said air-fuel mixture within said combustion chamber so as to initiate firing of said projectile launcher and the launching of the leading one of the projectiles, disposed within said barrel, out from said barrel.