Paintballers....lookin for info

[Hawkeye]

Hey guys....I need some advice on paintball equipment.

My camp has an on site paintball arena and it seems like I'm the only guy not playing. I've been asked several times, but I have never played before.

What I am looking for is info on a good basic set up, gun, tanks, hopper, mask, etc..
What are the best CHEAPER guns? (don't want to spend $400 on a gun) I don't want something I'm going to have to replace if I get into it. I would rather have a gun that's upgradable. Now, I know nothing about paintball.

Is there a good place to goto online to learn about this stuff?

I've read that the ION by Smart Parts is a good gun, and may be able to be found for a cheap price. I am looking to get all the pieces I need to start playing for under $200 if possible. If I decide to upgrade from there so be it.
Explanations of the different tanks, and hoppers, types of guns would be great.


Any and all advice is welcome.

Thanks!

[94svtcobra]

tippmanns are good for the money

[pRojekt02GT]

Yeah agreed..I played with a tippman 98 for a while, loved it..pretty upgradeable too.

A buddy of mine had a Spyder Imagine(?I think thats the name..), it was a pretty cheap gun and it was nice too..I don't think he payed over a hundred bucks for it, new..i'd maybe borrow a gun from a friend and some gear if you could and see how you like it..Then i'd buy a gun and get my stuff..just my .02.

[MBH]

I stopped playing right around 2002, but I had an autococker that I eventually upgraded to an electronic autococker and that thing was freakishly nasty as far as what it could do. Way outta my league lol. But I'd look into a cocker if they're in the budget andyou have some aspirations to get good.

The market isn't the big price, it's the paint btw. Get a gun that will put the paint where you want it and you might end up saving some money in the long run?

[2001GTTT]

If you want cheap and reliable, Tippman 98 or Tippmann 98 custom, they are very basic guns, nothing special, but will get you through. For a hopper you definitely want an electric one that feeds the paint down into the gun, or else you will chop paint in the gun and it sucks to clean.

I worked for Smart Parts/All-American Paintball Park for 2 years, if you have specific Q's feel free to pm.

[Hawkeye]

Thanks guys for the responses. What about tanks? I know there are co2 and I think high pressure air? What should I be looking for?

Are there different type of paintballs?

[2001GTTT]

yes theres all different brands of paint....only a few brands are worth buying.

and as for tank size, i used 20oz tanks, they lasted a long long time, and they were c02, but lots of places used compressed air now, its better. I have alot of stuff I dont use anymore Id be willing to part with if your interested in some gear. let me know.

[OCRnotch]

My buddy runs a paintball store on ebay/local... He sells packages cheap..i bought one..I bought a Vibe gun(awesome) Mask, co2 tank and hopper cheapest i've seen anywhere. Just a thought for ya

[Hawkeye]

yes theres all different brands of paint....only a few brands are worth buying.

and as for tank size, i used 20oz tanks, they lasted a long long time, and they were c02, but lots of places used compressed air now, its better. I have alot of stuff I dont use anymore Id be willing to part with if your interested in some gear. let me know.

What brands? PM me with what you have. But again....being as I don't even know what I am looking at, or for that matter if I am going to like it, I want to keep it relatively cheap for now.

My buddy runs a paintball store on ebay/local... He sells packages cheap..i bought one..I bought a Vibe gun(awesome) Mask, co2 tank and hopper cheapest i've seen anywhere. Just a thought for ya

What's the site?


Thanks guys.

[2001GTTT]

im trying to remember....its been a couple years since I played. I wanna say smartparts brand for sure, then I think another good brand is Diablo?? Not positive tho. I'll loook thru all the stuff I have and let you know....i'll let it go cheap ive been out of the game for a long time.

[White5.0]

+1 for the tippman 98. great gun to start out with and can be found pretty cheap. i also highly suggest a neck protector to go along with your mask. i've been shot in the neck before without wearing one, not cool at all.

[KBCobra]

I gotta dig it up after work, but I have a Spyder E99. All black and chrome. Has a dipswitch from single, 3-shot burst, to full auto. Been used a a total on 8 times. Also have 2 20% tanks. I'll let it go cheap if your interested. Like I said, I'll dig it all up tonight and get you pictures. I'm in Penn Hills, not far from you. I'm right by the big S&T on saltsburg

[KBCobra]

I have the mask and hopper too. This is the exact gun

[pRojekt02GT]

i've been shot in the neck before without wearing one, not cool at all.

[RUTHLESS]

I have a tippman A-5 with an e-triger and a bunch of other stuff for sale. If you are interested send me a PM.

[steve-O]

Ive had every paintball gun there was. My current setup is just a Tippmann 98, electric hopper, nitro tank, and SmartParts All American barrel. Sure its not as accurate, light, or fast as the $800+ markers, but it is more reliable and takes more of a beating than anything else. With good paint matched to the barrel it never breaks a ball. It gets the job done, period.

[o4c0b|2a]

I just bought an NXT shocker a little while ago. I have an evolution autococker (Smart Parts sold them a few years back). The gun is solid blue, It has an 88ci 4500 psi tank, and a revolution loader (also blue to match). The tank I believe needs retested, but a lot of local places can do that for cheap. PM me if your interested, I'd cut a super low deal for all 3 pieces. It's a big loss on my part, I've tried to sell it on eBay, but all the know it all's claim its fake lol. I need it gone, gun was 1200 new. PM me and I'll get into more details about it. I'd sell all 3 pieces for less than 400. This gun isn't electronic, but it's a nice piece and people who've played for years would know about this gun.

[Hawkeye]

Thanks guys for all the responses. I am really trying to decide what type of gun to get. Right now I'm leaning toward an electronic with full/semi auto . I've had the chance to shoot a stock Tippman 98 and an Ion and all I can say is, no way I can go with a Tippman when an ION out shoots it easily. If any of you guys want to send me pics and prices of your gear, I will definately check them out. I am not looking to spend more than $200 right now as it will be a sparse hobby at best.

[04svtzx3]

it all depends on what you will be playing. I played on a amature team for 5 years and i'm pretty good.
If your doing woodsball like your average game where it is not face paced then the tippman 98 would be fine.

If you are getting into speedball and the more fast pased aggesssive ball then thats when you want to go electronic, Like the autocockers, impulse, shockers ect.

Its just all on what you want to play. If you need any help feel free to give me a shout