Paintball Gun Recommendation Needed

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
In 2 weeks I'm going to play paintball in PA with some people from work (including my supervisor, lol). This is my first time playing paintball, and I want to bring my own gun. Looking for something in the $150-$200 price range. I'm also getting an airsoft P90 (probably Tokyo Marui) around the same time, so if there is a site that has both, it would be better.

Any recommendations?
 

theflyingpig

Banned
Mar 9, 2008
5,616
18
0
Just bring a real gun and watch everyone else scatter after your first victim's brains get splattered across their silly little face shields. Everyone knows this.
 
Reactions: ch33zw1z and clamum

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
Just bring a real gun and watch everyone else scatter after your first victim's brains get splattered across their silly little face shields. Everyone knows this.

The sad thing is that you are intelligent enough that your posts, were they not troll posts, would probably be helpful and insightful.

EKT.
 
T

Tim

The sad thing is, anyone who might be there who knows his paintball will laugh at anything you buy in that price range. Paintballing is serious sh1t, with guns costing over 9000... erm, I mean over and around 1000 being the norm for anyone who's into it.
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
Tippman 98 Custom

Or the A-5. You can't go wrong with either, but if you're looking for a little more "oomph" I'd go with the A-5 + an upgraded barrel.

EDIT: Where in PA are you playing at? I'm guessing Skirmish.
 

Chooie

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 1999
2,266
4
81
Do you already own a quality mask with a thermal lens? That should really be your first order of business, well before contemplating the purchase of your own gun. Second, most field rental guns (if not all) use crappy gravity fed loaders that cause jams and pinched and broken balls, severely limiting your fun. Do you know if the field you are going to play at uses CO2 or HPA (compressed air/nitrogen)? If they use CO2, I would take your $200 budget an buy a good mask, loader, an HPA tank.

If you spend wisely you might even be able to afford a secondhand marker in your budget - but even if you can't, putting a good loader and HPA tank onto a rental gun will put you leaps and bounds ahead of your co-workers running straight rentals, especially since you will be able to see through your mask and they'll have scratched up foggy rental goggles.

Here is an example of what I would suggest, but by all means do the research yourself.

$50 gets you a brand new high quality mask - http://www.ansgear.com/Proto_Axis_Pro_Mask_Blue_p/protoaxispromaskblue.htm

If you buy new, expect to spend $80 or so on a good loader - but buying secondhand off of the buy/sell/trade forums at PB Nation or TechPB will save you a good chunk of money, as players often upgrade from perfectly good loaders to get the latest and greatest. Here is an example of what you should be looking for - http://www.ansgear.com/Empire_Magna_Drive_Hopper_With_RF_Chip_Smoke_p/empiremagnaloadersmoke.htm

Same goes with HPA tanks - you can buy a new one from $45 or so up to several hundred dollars depending on the capacity, pressure, and material (aluminum, fiber wrapped aluminum, or carbon fiber), but you can often find a tank that is a couple of years old for much less than the cost of a new one... but, caveat emptor - paintball tanks require a pressure testing process called hydrotesting (hydro for short) every 3 or 5 years, depending on when the tank was manufactured and what it is made from. Fiber wrapped tanks also have a limited service life, IIRC 15 years. Don't make the mistake of buying someone else's problem (a tank that cannot be recertified or one that needs recertification before use). If you're not up to making sure you are getting what you think you're getting, I would just buy an inexpensive new model, such as this one - http://www.ansgear.com/PMI_Pure_Energy_Aluminum_48_3000_Basic_Tank_p/pmialu483kbasichp.htm

With all that out of the way, if you really want to buy your own gun, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to actually read the documentation that comes with it - and if you buy secondhand, go to the manufacturer's website and download the manual. Many, if not all, of newbie paintball gun issues stem from improper care on the owner's part. If you want a recommendation for a gun (and I assume you do, since that's what you initially asked in the thread and I've TOTALLY derailed it) I'd suggest getting a marker like this - http://www.ansgear.com/Azodin_Kaos_Paintball_Gun_Black_p/azodinkaosblack.htm This particular gun is simple, easy to maintain, and has nice features such as a low-rise feedneck and autococker threading for the barrel.

Hope this helps! Stay safe and have fun!
 
Last edited:

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
Are you planning on playing paintball regularly after this? If not there's no reason to purchase a gun; just rent one. Tippmann guns are good as well as Spyder guns. I've owned a few guns and rented one during a business party and there was really no difference, especially since it's not a competition match or anything. Rent one, buy some paintballs, and have a blast.
 

aleckz

Golden Member
Jan 3, 2004
1,032
0
76
If you are just looking into the sport, try borrowing a gun from a friend and have them take you through the steps and procedures of that individual gun. If you can't do this, I would look into a Tippman 98 Custom or a low end Spyder (they sell full kits at places like Dick's or Scheels). It will cost around ~$200 give or take.

Tippmans are pretty rugged and durable, very cheap and replacement parts are easily found. Spyders are different, parts aren't hard to find, just a little bit more expensive. Either way, when you buy a gun, make sure you read the manual and understand how to take apart the gun and reassemble it. If you go to most fields, you're going to have to find the "sweetspot" of a gun, which entails how fast the gun is shooting. This is done by either the regulator on the gun (if it has one, Spyders & Tipps don't usually have one) or through the internals in gun (there is usually an allen keyed bolt that regulates the pressure on the body or back of the gun).

Make sure you know your gun and you're experienced enough to take it apart for a good quick field cleaning because you are going to chop (shoot too fast/incorrectly shoot) a ball once and awhile. While this isn't the biggest thing, a chopped ball will greatly reduce accuracy and the fun you will have during the game. Invest in a squee-gee so if you run into that chopped ball, you can quickly clear your barrel and participate throughout the game.

With all that being said, paintball is very fun! I love it, but it is a little bit expensive. Forest ball is the cheapest way to go since the level of sneaking around is higher than the amount of shooting that you'll do. But expect a 3-5 hour event to take 2000 balls (or a case) if you're going to be trigger happy. I preferred playing Sup-Air style (the bunkers are weighted down inflatables) but you could easily run through 3-6 cases depending on what position you play and how much paint you shoot.

Good luck, be safe, and have fun.
 

Freshgeardude

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2006
4,506
0
76
cheap spyders are complete shit. they dont shoot far nor fast. for your price range, look on ebay for a used tippman. any tipman is great. make sure u get a big co2 tank, a good mask, and a good hopper (holds paint balls)
 

Chooie

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 1999
2,266
4
81
why get a tippman 98 when that's what they give you as rentals?

+1. Most field rental guns are durable and accurate enough; it is the supporting gear (mask, hopper, tank) that leaves you wanting. By buying your own quality stuff to use with the rental you are ahead of the curve if you ever decide to buy your own gun... and if you decide you don't like the game, well, as I mentioned earlier, paintball has a strong secondary market for gear - you can easily resell the gear and recoup most of your money... although if you're buying an airsoft gun as well, you might want to keep the mask.

PS - watch this if you've got a few minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WskV0QDIIg
 
Last edited:

JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
8,223
842
136
Nothing tipmann unless you want to be laughed at.

Bump your price range up to about 350 and look for something electric. Make sure to use nitrous, rather than CO2 as well.
 

AnMig

Golden Member
Nov 7, 2000
1,760
3
81
First gun was a Entry level spyder, love this gun, still my back up gun. Reliable, easy to clean. Think of it as a revolver nice and simple.

Current gun is Tippman A-5, with Flatline barrel. probably my last gun as it serves all my needs, selectable auto fire, built in cyclone feeder so no need for aftermarket hoppers.

We mostly play woodsball so this serves my purpose. If you are playing on an actual field then you want something small light and puts out a lot of balls, as you will be running around a lot, as opposed to woodsball where you kind of sneak around people.

Love the flat line barrel for woodsball as it does give you the range advantage.

Most important equipment is the mask, get yourself a good one with a fan if possible. Nothing sucks more than fogging up first 15 min of a match. Fan is also a plus if you wear glasses.

good luck and play safe
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
Some really good advice so far, thanks guys

I think I will go the mask and loader first route, and upgrade budget for gun a little to $300, or maybe wait to buy and just rent the gun the first time. I'll definitely get a mask with a fan, as I wear glasses and I bet those will fog up enough by themselves.
 
Last edited:

Chooie

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 1999
2,266
4
81
Yeah, the fan is great if you wear glasses, but for the most part, good goggles don't need a fan except in the worst circumstances (think south Florida). I've dealt with ANS gear in the past and been completely satisfied, which is why I linked stuff for you from their site. You will not find better prices in a pro shop or at a field than you will on the internet... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't support your local field and shop if they know what they are doing. If they come at you like a used car salesman then just walk away and buy online... but if they take the time to explain features and benefits of each gun you consider then it would be worth the extra money to have someone local that you can turn to if you have a serious problem.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
LOL, laughed at for having a Tippmann? There's nothing wrong with the guns Tippmann makes, unless you're some elitist doucheface who thinks anything but expensive electronic guns are garbage. This is even more true for the OP who is (was) playing his first fricking game.

Anyway, hopefully you rented a gun, OP. Unless you liked it a lot and now play as a hobby often, haha.
 
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