OFFLINE

alot of people will say you need a speedball marker or a woodsball marker. paintball isent who got the best marker its how u can use it and what you can affored if you can only affored at 80 dallor marker get that. if you dont play alot look at a cheap marker. if your going play and get in the sport and dont know to play speedball or woodsball a tippmann 98 coustom is what you looking for the reason why i picked the 98 coustom is you can basicaly make it anything you want it can be a woodsball marker or speedball marker and you can save a lot of money with it insted of spending 500 to 1000 on a speedball marker. their is alot of upgrades and aftermarket parts of it. its a very relible marker it can last for along time if you have one and got problems you can call tippmann they can tell you what worng with it or you can ship it in to them to fix it and get it back in a week or less.

the point iam trying to get at is dosent matter how good the marker is no one going care if you got a 2 dallor marker on the field when you just going to have fun

if you playing paintball and it paying you then you looking at markers that are high end to use like egos to angles and more

OFFLINE

not every marker is a good marker though, there are markers that will break with ease, o rings that burst, if your new into the sport, and o rings burst, your going to think its broken. so not every marker is a good marker for anyone, everyone will have a marker that suits them, in almost every category possible: comfort/price/speed/size/weight/ability to modify/etc. dont buy something cheap because of the price, buy something that is going to suit your needs, something that is right for you. do your research on anything your going to buy, especially if its costing over $50, this economy is already filled with crap, dont keep buying their products, lets filter them out, buy quality over quantity or price. im not saying spend a fortune, but i am saying dont spend $80 on an entire setup and expect it to last

OFFLINE

It depends. Tippman 98's are very reliable. Most people don't like to use them because that is what most places use for standard rental. Remember, a game is only 20% gun. The other 80% is the player. I knew a guy who used a regular pistol and totally owned a kid with an A5. I personally don't enjoy minis like the axe, but it depends on the person. The only thing you really need to consider in my opinion, is if the gun is mechanical or electronic. I play a lot of woodsball and I would seriously hate to ruin an expensive gun by playing in the rain.

OFFLINE

I can agree with the original post and at the same time I highly disagree. A cheap intro gun is good for people who are just getting into the sport to get used to the sport and determine whether or not they want to stay in, but saying an 80$ gun will suffice for their paintball career is a fallacy that can cause for serious disappointment down the line. I have been in for 15 years and have owned a myriad of guns and I will not lie the 2 I have kept for 10 years are Tippmann 98C's, however, both of my Tippmann's are fully customized and there is very little I can do to them. I also have two BT-4 Combats, a Dangerous Power E1, and I am in the market for a Mokal Aura. As you can see by my list none of my guns are 500$ or 600$ guns, but none of the guns I play with are bone stock. I buy cheap and upgrade like crazy to compete with a more expensive market. A lower priced marker is a good place to start, but never to stay. To tell someone that a BT-4 will easily keep them in a game (even woods ball) against a Mini, or G4 is just silly. Even if the player on the other end isn't that good, firepower and speed can make a huge difference. But take the BT-4 and make it a Delta Elite, or similar package, and now you have a scenario where that cheap gun is now upgraded and will pace and match that Mini. Once the playing field is leveled, skill and field advantage become the remaining factors. So as I said, yes I agree, If you are new start cheap. It's never a good idea to drop 400 or 500$ on your first marker without experiencing a few different markers before hand. However, if you decide to stay in the sport, don't plan to stay at the bottom, if you do, you will be severely disappointed when your Gryphon (nothing against this gun, first one that popped in my head) gets you hosed time and time again.

OFFLINE

Originally Posted by Vinson Waldo:
I can agree with the original post and at the same time I highly disagree. A cheap intro gun is good for people who are just getting into the sport to get used to the sport and determine whether or not they want to stay in, but saying an 80$ gun will suffice for their paintball career is a fallacy that can cause for serious disappointment down the line. I have been in for 15 years and have owned a myriad of guns and I will not lie the 2 I have kept for 10 years are Tippmann 98C's, however, both of my Tippmann's are fully customized and there is very little I can do to them. I also have two BT-4 Combats, a Dangerous Power E1, and I am in the market for a Mokal Aura. As you can see by my list none of my guns are 500$ or 600$ guns, but none of the guns I play with are bone stock. I buy cheap and upgrade like crazy to compete with a more expensive market. A lower priced marker is a good place to start, but never to stay. To tell someone that a BT-4 will easily keep them in a game (even woods ball) against a Mini, or G4 is just silly. Even if the player on the other end isn't that good, firepower and speed can make a huge difference. But take the BT-4 and make it a Delta Elite, or similar package, and now you have a scenario where that cheap gun is now upgraded and will pace and match that Mini. Once the playing field is leveled, skill and field advantage become the remaining factors. So as I said, yes I agree, If you are new start cheap. It's never a good idea to drop 400 or 500$ on your first marker without experiencing a few different markers before hand. However, if you decide to stay in the sport, don't plan to stay at the bottom, if you do, you will be severely disappointed when your Gryphon (nothing against this gun, first one that popped in my head) gets you hosed time and time again.

                 ya i know alot of people will tell a new player to buy a 1000 dallor marker and the new person is going to say no way and he wont play and thats one thing that killing paintball and their a lot more that killing paintball. when paint ball first came out no one cared how cheap your marker was or anythng as long as you like the sport anyways and i do agree wth you too.

OFFLINE

In terms of cheap and good markers for woodsball and speed ball, woodsball generally just get a 98C, they are simple and reliable.  I bit on the heavier side compared to others but its a great starter.  If your going to play speedball, you can get an electro for rather cheap but then have the high cost of HPA to worry about.  A way around this is just getting a basic spyder based marker.  I am a Tippmann fan but if your going to play speedball, grab a spyder based marker as it will be lighter and shorter helping your ability to snap shoot.  A lot of them come with an E-Trigger standard so the trigger pull will be much lighter and easier that a stock Tippmann and will allow you to keep up a lot better.

OFFLINE

I preach the same words of wisdom, people should get a cheap crappy gun to make sure they want to stay in to paintball, then get what THEY want. I try never to influence peoples decisions too much because then they lose their individuality to me. When they learn to be good with a marker that can't shoot a ball straight after 20 feet, imagine how well they would do with a marker that is super accurate. My recommendation for a first gun is probably going to have to be a vert feed style spyder of some sort.

Tippman is a very reliable marker, however, there are some things in its design that are flawed IMO (and in my opinion only, not everyone has the same qualms about its design as I do). For example, a side feed. When I hold my markers (which are all vert feed), I aim down the side of the barrel and hold my marker at an angle like such \ so as to tuck the hopper back behind the bunker I'm in and make myself as small a profile as I possibly can. With any side feed marker, you are very very vulnerable to hopper shots, and that lessens your chance of staying in the game. I understand some of you want to aim like you are shooting a real gun, but remember that its not a real gun, and as such there are different tactics to take into consideration.

I recommend a vert feed spyder because they are very very simple to break down and clean for a first marker, tank o-rings can pretty much go on everything, they are reliable, fast (for a low end marker), and have many many upgrades. And are found super cheap (the tippman can't fit into several of those categories). The vert feed will also allow you to work on tactics that will help you stay in the game better due to the smaller profile.

Also, forum hunt for HPA if you want it, tanks can be had for $30 shipped for the 48/3000 steelies. Many choose to upgrade to the carbon fiber tanks and dump the steel ones off for super cheap. Many places offer an all day air option for HPA, but not co2, and the cost I've generally found is, if not included in the entry fee, around $5 for all day air. Its a very good investment.

OFFLINE

i agree with matt cuz new players dont know if they like the sport when they first time play and some new players like to learn about stuff from paintball and how their paintball marker works is to own a cheap marker even a 40 dollar marker is good when i first started i had a brass eagle mardrul it wasn't great but it got me hook to paintball when it broken down and cant be fixed i was looking at markers to buy so i found a 98 custom for a good price and got it. the reason why i went to get tippmann is for the flatline barrel its the best thing they have for their markers and thats about it to own a tippmann marker  

OFFLINE

Hmm.....
I would say that instead of sponsoring the idea that a gun like a Tippmann 98 Custom is just as good as "a $1000 speedball marker", we instead say that depending on economic status and ability, ability to go to a field, level of dedication to the sport and not the activity, and willingness to make that sport a higher priority than most would warrant the difference in markers.

Tippmann 98s are great. They are dead reliable yes, but mine chopped like crazy, was not very accurate, was terrible on air, but then again so are all 98s. I played for about 1-1.5 years with that gun, put some upgrades on it, not for looks, but for actual functionality. Then I realized with the amount of playing I was doing, the want to play in Winter-time, and the aspects of markers out there, the Tippmann 98 had fulfilled its measure of use with my play style. I wanted to enter tournaments, I wanted to have something a bit lighter, I wanted better accuracy, and I wanted a smoother shot. NOW, I am not saying that I am one of those wimps "WAH, my tippmann is too heavy...", not so. I mean, if you've held and shot an actual firearm, you know what kind of weight would be hard to get used to, so the 98 is not a big deal. And even with the A5, nice gun, but not meant for those who truly want a marker which is veyr accurate, smooth soft shooting, quiet, or off-the-bat ready to be a competitive marker.
Therefore, I jumped to a Proto PMR. this gun cost me $140 from a local forum, and I bought a $80 68/4500 tank, which was already purchased no matter if I stayed with my 98 or not, and then I got a $15 Revvy. Now what does this equal out to? for $235 I had a rocking setup. On my 98 it was $160 from the Store, $60 for the Cyclone feed, $25 for the Stock, $20 for the barrel, $5 for the Cyclone larger hopper, $20 for a Co2 Tank putting me at $290. Really? SO luckily with eBay's help, I sold my 98 for $285, which was a miracle. That's the only time in my paintball trading and playing that I have lost money on a deal. $5 at that.
But the PMR was quiet, smooth, fast, little to no kick, and when I took it to a 26 hour scenario, it held up fantastically and was definitely amazing in action. Lemme just say, I traded a couple times, made some more deals, and went through quite a few guns in the next couple years. I can honestly say I've owned, or shot most types of guns, and I do know a bit about how they shoot. (After the PMR, I had a Dm6, Pm8, bob Long Protege, Pm8 again, Ego 08, Droid, Marq 7, Dm7, Protege again, and PMR Again, while getting a Check-It V2 Pump, Empire Traccer, then Tippmann Pro-Lite).

So after a trip around the block with high-ends, I came full circle to playing pump, then to a Tippmann Pro-Lite(Which in my opinion is a better platform than the 98s, but preference is preference).
After coming full circle, and working a field this summer where all the guns were 98s, I will say this:
You cannot Run water through an Ego 08 and have it shoot same as before you ran the water through.
What is the point?
If you have the time, and want to put in the Effort, go ahead, buy that PM8. Lube it with DOW33 every weekend before play, and wipe down the bolt after you're done.
Pay for a HPA tank that won't freeze, won't get odd in cold weather, and will have more air at a lower weight and size than a C02 tank could provide.
Buy that Rotor, Prophecy, Vlocity, Halo B, whatever you want, and stick it on there. Don't worry "If" a ball will enter the chamber, it will.
Put forth the effort and money if you are going to compete, or be in a competitive environment.

If you play backyard ball with 4 friends wearing blue jeans, don't be an idiot. Don't buy a gun to put them to shame enough to drive them out of the sport.
DO NOT buy a nice expensive gun IF YOU CANT PAY FOR PLAYING AFTERWARDS.
A Cheaper gun, but playing is always more worth it.

Every weekend with a Tippmann is better than once a month with a Luxe.

OFFLINE

Originally Posted by Tristan Olav Torgersen:
Hmm.....
I would say that instead of sponsoring the idea that a gun like a Tippmann 98 Custom is just as good as "a $1000 speedball marker", we instead say that depending on economic status and ability, ability to go to a field, level of dedication to the sport and not the activity, and willingness to make that sport a higher priority than most would warrant the difference in markers.

Tippmann 98s are great. They are dead reliable yes, but mine chopped like crazy, was not very accurate, was terrible on air, but then again so are all 98s. I played for about 1-1.5 years with that gun, put some upgrades on it, not for looks, but for actual functionality. Then I realized with the amount of playing I was doing, the want to play in Winter-time, and the aspects of markers out there, the Tippmann 98 had fulfilled its measure of use with my play style. I wanted to enter tournaments, I wanted to have something a bit lighter, I wanted better accuracy, and I wanted a smoother shot. NOW, I am not saying that I am one of those wimps "WAH, my tippmann is too heavy...", not so. I mean, if you've held and shot an actual firearm, you know what kind of weight would be hard to get used to, so the 98 is not a big deal. And even with the A5, nice gun, but not meant for those who truly want a marker which is veyr accurate, smooth soft shooting, quiet, or off-the-bat ready to be a competitive marker.
Therefore, I jumped to a Proto PMR. this gun cost me $140 from a local forum, and I bought a $80 68/4500 tank, which was already purchased no matter if I stayed with my 98 or not, and then I got a $15 Revvy. Now what does this equal out to? for $235 I had a rocking setup. On my 98 it was $160 from the Store, $60 for the Cyclone feed, $25 for the Stock, $20 for the barrel, $5 for the Cyclone larger hopper, $20 for a Co2 Tank putting me at $290. Really? SO luckily with eBay's help, I sold my 98 for $285, which was a miracle. That's the only time in my paintball trading and playing that I have lost money on a deal. $5 at that.
But the PMR was quiet, smooth, fast, little to no kick, and when I took it to a 26 hour scenario, it held up fantastically and was definitely amazing in action. Lemme just say, I traded a couple times, made some more deals, and went through quite a few guns in the next couple years. I can honestly say I've owned, or shot most types of guns, and I do know a bit about how they shoot. (After the PMR, I had a Dm6, Pm8, bob Long Protege, Pm8 again, Ego 08, Droid, Marq 7, Dm7, Protege again, and PMR Again, while getting a Check-It V2 Pump, Empire Traccer, then Tippmann Pro-Lite).

So after a trip around the block with high-ends, I came full circle to playing pump, then to a Tippmann Pro-Lite(Which in my opinion is a better platform than the 98s, but preference is preference).
After coming full circle, and working a field this summer where all the guns were 98s, I will say this:
You cannot Run water through an Ego 08 and have it shoot same as before you ran the water through.
What is the point?
If you have the time, and want to put in the Effort, go ahead, buy that PM8. Lube it with DOW33 every weekend before play, and wipe down the bolt after you're done.
Pay for a HPA tank that won't freeze, won't get odd in cold weather, and will have more air at a lower weight and size than a C02 tank could provide.
Buy that Rotor, Prophecy, Vlocity, Halo B, whatever you want, and stick it on there. Don't worry "If" a ball will enter the chamber, it will.
Put forth the effort and money if you are going to compete, or be in a competitive environment.

If you play backyard ball with 4 friends wearing blue jeans, don't be an idiot. Don't buy a gun to put them to shame enough to drive them out of the sport.
DO NOT buy a nice expensive gun IF YOU CANT PAY FOR PLAYING AFTERWARDS.
A Cheaper gun, but playing is always more worth it.

Every weekend with a Tippmann is better than once a month with a Luxe.

You have some nice points there.

One thing to note, a Tippmann can be accurate with a nice barrel but in general the stock barrel does not have the best accuracy due to the large bore barrel.  High end markers typically have a nice high quality barrel with them because it is a high end marker.  Tippmann is generally a low end marker so a low end barrel.  

To make a low end Tippmann shoot great, add a nice high end barrel.  Yes, Tippmanns tend to be money pits but they are great to build upon stating out.

OFFLINE

i never had a ball chop in my 98 and i had it for 4 years now it had no act in i just add the act in it this year and iam useing a flatline barrel which is why you want to own a tippmann

OFFLINE

Originally Posted by Philip Thomas John Marshall:
i never had a ball chop in my 98 and i had it for 4 years now it had no act in i just add the act in it this year and iam useing a flatline barrel which is why you want to own a tippmann

I'm sorry but the Flatline barrel is not a good reason to get a Tippmann.  While the flatline can be a nice barrel with a good amount of "tuning" the Apex is still superior and can be used on virtually any paintball marker.

OFFLINE

but a apex is a tip not a barrel the farthest shooting barrel is a flatline a apex is just a tip you add on a barrel. the flatline is more for a person who has the time to tune them when tuned their a great barrel to use i love moding markers insted of buying a marker pre done it takes out the fun uprgading markers and what paintball all about

OFFLINE

Originally Posted by Philip Thomas John Marshall:
but a apex is a tip not a barrel the farthest shooting barrel is a flatline a apex is just a tip you add on a barrel. the flatline is more for a person who has the time to tune them when tuned their a great barrel to use i love moding markers insted of buying a marker pre done it takes out the fun uprgading markers and what paintball all about

The Apex Tip comes on a barrel but can be adapted to use on other barrels easily if you have others you like.  The flatline can not come close to the maximum range of the Apex.

Not everyone wants a barrel and marker they have to keep tuned all the time and use the correct paint.  Not everyone can use the quality paints that the flatline requires due to FPO.  

The game of paintball is not there for the sole purpose just upgrading your equipment, its there for having fun and enjoying the sport.  Upgrading is something you can do on the side.

OFFLINE

Originally Posted by Steven Campbell:

Originally Posted by Philip Thomas John Marshall:
but a apex is a tip not a barrel the farthest shooting barrel is a flatline a apex is just a tip you add on a barrel. the flatline is more for a person who has the time to tune them when tuned their a great barrel to use i love moding markers insted of buying a marker pre done it takes out the fun uprgading markers and what paintball all about

The Apex Tip comes on a barrel but can be adapted to use on other barrels easily if you have others you like.  The flatline can not come close to the maximum range of the Apex.

Not everyone wants a barrel and marker they have to keep tuned all the time and use the correct paint.  Not everyone can use the quality paints that the flatline requires due to FPO.  

The game of paintball is not there for the sole purpose just upgrading your equipment, its there for having fun and enjoying the sport.  Upgrading is something you can do on the side.

if the apex shot farther then the flatline the paint wont break after 280 feet you be  lucky for a break i have 2 apex barrel new and old and 1 flatline barrel

my flatline i only tuned once cuz i have the new PS flatline that you tuned once and that it and i have it very zero in at 240 feet i can over lap paint all the time i know it will do 280 but that far out is risking breaks the apex i used they are the same as the flatline but if you play at some fields that have small holes in their building for sniping the apex wont go thour the holes i tryed but they are both good what you want them for i have use very cheap paint throu my flatline and had no breaks and plus am useing hpa whcih my psi are set at 750 psi. and my feet per sec is set at 253 i know the apex you can have set at 280fps and get the same range as a flatline.