Today, for the first time ever, I went paintballing with a few friends at Battle Creek (yeah, I know their website is terrible, maybe I should recommend a certain Massassian to them ). Since it was my first time going, I rented a gun, mask, 500 balls, and all day air for about $30.00. We ran out of balls, so 6 of us went in on a 2000 ball box for about $52.00.

In any case, I had oodles of fun today, and there was talk of making paintball excursions a regular occurance. If that is so, I think I would like to buy a gun and mask for my own use, so that I would only have to pay for field fees (including all day air) and paintballs (the facility is field paint only).

The rental guns were Tipmann M-98 Customs. You could tell they've been through a lot, but they still performed very well (except for one, but the girl using it got most of her money back). We had a couple of people bring their own guns, the prettiest one being a Tipmann M-98 with a custom barrel (don't know what kind, but it was interesting because it curved) and a remote so he could wear his air on his back.

As far as guns go, I'd like a compressed air weapon since we'll most likely be playing at Battle Creek every subsequent time (we're all college students from different towns, so we don't know anybody here with land). I don't mind semi-auto guns, and it may be that the field restricts fully autos. Not sure about 3 and 6 round bursts though. I looked at a couple of reviews, and found that the Tipmann M-98 and the A-5 were both good weapons, though the reviewers recommend changing the stock barrels. I liked the A-5 a little bit better becuase of excellent field stripping time compared to the M-98.

So, oh Massassians who paintball, if you have any compressed air gun recommendations, please send them this way. I'll exhibit great gratitude towards those that do.

Paintball is awesome.

But go with a Tippman Custom M-98. I've got one and it hasn't failed me yet, and it's pretty cheap now-a-days.

Making a big post here.. but I just wanted to make a post before more do


Ok I'm an ex-Paintball-freakazoid
Yup.. if your going to buy a gun - HPA! C02 is evil. The guns that can run it are crap for the most part, with the expection of Tippmann. Tippmanns will be shooting out ice chunks and still be working fine. They have a new Propane powered gun out, I havn't really heard alot about it but that might be something you want to look into as a casual player. Right now - Pump only. That's the one downside. Other than that... The propane will power 50,000 shots in a small canister. So.. like.. you never refill

But going on..
Two main choices:
Electric or Mechanical. Electric triggers will have a hair trigger, barely touch it and it will fire. And it will fire fast. Downside, duh. It's electric.
... and I'm out. Party time. More later!

I can't imagine an electric trigger and a highly compressed propane bottle in the same place could be a good thing.

The propane gun is mechanical since it's pump.

I think itd be interesting. But only if they use the propane as a controlled explosive, and shoot cannonball sized paintballs. And people would have to walk around carrying a cannon strapped to their stomach. Actually, screw propane, gunpowder would be better.

One of these days I'll get around to making a paint dagger/bayonet for close quarters

Yes please, that would be amazing.

(me if you didnt catch that hint >.>)

The propane gun is the Tippmann PC-3. 50 of them are/were released. It's not in full production at the moment. There seems to be some controversy over it considering propane is an explosive gas.

I researched the A-5 and M-98 some more, and I must say that I'm impressed with both. I like the A-5 a little more, though mods for the M-98 can make it practically identical to the A-5. It also has a significantly lower base price. However, the A-5 is much easier to field strip. I like the A-5s looks though. The resemblance to the HK MP5 is pretty neat. I'm torn. I'll just have to see how often our group decides to go, or if I can find another group that makes regular trips to the field.

Yeah, the design of the A5 was made to resemble the balance of the MP5. Most markers are rear-balanced due to the tank (or even with a remote they're not balanced), while the A5 balances perfectly.

Yeah, I'll probably end up using either a remote or a drop forward if I go for the M-98.

The curved barrel was probably a flatline barrel. It puts a backspin on the ball and makes it deadly accurate. My firend has one on his 98 Custom. Its crazy.

the tipman is a great starter gun, i would also reccomend a spider, their decently reliable and their electric. Both guns can be heavily modded so the more u get into it the more you can do to ur gun.

I own a Spyder (which I haven't used in a long while) and its been a great gun. I've heard good things about the Tippman guns as well. The Spyder is probably a little more economic, while the Tippman is better quality, but both are good guns.

I own an A-5, a M98 Custom, and a very old Spyder -- all are wonderful markers.

The A-5 is superior for fire rate and distance, stripping time, and I have yet to break a ball. While the M98 does all of these well, it's not quite as good as the A-5, although it is quite less expensive. If you do purchase either, I suggest you immediately upgrade to a flatline barrel and double trigger (in that order). I also like the response trigger, although many fields outlaw it.

The Spyder is also quite a decent, durable marker, although it only performs averagely, it still holds up like a champ.

NEVER PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC GUN or a gun with any electric components.

I've got an old Spyder myself, when I start playing regularly again I'm going to save up and get the AT4 (.68 cal M4 replica). I also prefer to use mechanical instead of electrical markers, they're more reliable in functionality.

The more I read about the A-5, the more I like it. I don't mind spending some extra money, so long as it's on a good marker that will last me a while. I plan on playing mainly woodsball and in some scenario games held by Battle Creek. Though I have yet to play it, from watching, speedball doesn't appeal to me as much as woodsball.

I had a couple of questions though:
Do you recommend the Tippmann flatline barrel, or one from a different manufacturer? How about the Tippmann sniper barrels?
If I were to install a response trigger, and then go to a field that outlawed it, how easy would it be to change back to the stock trigger? Is it something I could do on the field with a basic toolkit relatively quickly, or would I have to find a workshop that could do it?
I'll be using HPA most likely. Will I need any sort of regulator/extra tank accessories? Does the low pressure kit help anything?
Barrel condom or barrel plug? Do fields care which one you use?
On the A-5, would a remote line or a drop forward (typically) be more comfortable/better balanced?

Thanks.

[Edit]Also, I don't know very much about masks. What are the good manufacturers? How much should I expect to spend to get a quality mask? Are things like anti-fog coatings, fans, and directional hearing inserts just gimmicks, or do they actually help?

Speedball is hella fun.

As long as you aren't playing with a bunch of people who have full-auto guns and a million other mods. I played at a friends house with his cousins, and we had like 6 person teams with basic guns (the most I saw was a barrel mod) and 2 people even played pump. It was a LOT of fun, but I wouldn't want to play with anyone more serious than that.

Yeah, serious players really bring Paintball down. I hate them. Sort of like annoying MP videogamers.

The 98 is my personal favorite considering it's customization options. The A-5 doesn't seem as customizable to me, but I have been out of the loop for a while.

I never liked the spyder, but it's NOT a bad starter gun. I just didn't particularly prefer it.

I used tipman sniper barrels for the longest time. Then I tried a flatline barrel.

Oh my God.

If I were to suddenly switch back to paintball, I'd spend any amount of money for a flatline.

but then again, I like the realism aspect of airsoft so much more. Asthetics are important to me when I'm buying a 300 dollar gun. Paintball just didn't have the same effect for me. This ISN'T a "boo paintball" post. I like them both, but airsoft just suits me more.

Then again, I haven't really been playing EITHER for about a year. I get bored with it easily, considering I've basically got to camp the same spot the whole game. I move some, but not often because of my speed. Crippled paintballing is dangerous.

I prefer woodsball myself.

Barrel:

I would highly recommend the Tippmann Flatline. I have one installed on my A-5 right now. The flatline comes inlcuded with a flatline specific barrel cover, so use that. Be careful if you buy used. The Tippmann snipers are decent, but the backspin from the flatline is a wonderful addition to an already dangerous gun. You will have to adjust the amount of air pressure in the bolt if you use a flatline. It's somewhat particular. It takes getting used to.
It looks pretty sweet too. Intimidating.

Trigger:

Basically, the response trigger (R/T) is a small air piston that is mounted directly behind the trigger, inside the handle. For a trigger pull, the bolt fires one shot, and the excess air is used to push the bolt back into place, and the trigger springs put the trigger back in place, setting you up for the next shot. You have to release the trigger for the springs to be able to push the trigger back. With the piston, however, the excess air that pushed the bolt, rather being let out to escape, is channeled into the air piston, which pushes the trigger with great force, allowing you to continually grip the trigger and still allow it be pushed into place, giving a machine-gun like effect. It does not modify the actual trigger at all. The amount of air can be adjusted with a small screwdriver to give a stronger or weaker push to adjust to your deisred repeat rate and finger strength. Customize!

The response trigger is not so difficult to install/remove in and of istelf, but because it goes along with the trigger assembly, there are a lot of small parts and springs that are a pain to deal with in the field. It's easy if you have a small tool kit (needle nose pliers, small screwdrivers, etc) and a smooth work surface, but without them it can be quite a chore due to the small parts related with the trigger assembly. Also, working with the pressure system is never fun, especially when you want to go play a game with your friends and not deal with little pieces all over the lobby of the playing field.

Many fields do not allow it because it gives "full-auto" capability. If you dont need/want full auto, don't even worry about it. I hardly use it (I prefer two or three round quick bursts), but it does come in handy occasionally. It's also somewhat intimidating to go shooting 30 shots over 300 feet in 2 seconds because you have a flatline and a response trigger.

A double trigger is merely a finger trigger with space enough for two finers. Gives better grip and makes for faster shooting you learn to alternate fingers when firing.

Air System:

You don't *need* anything, although a regulator is very useful for HPA systems. Low pressure isn't even worth the money, especially if you have a remote. Buy multiple tanks and switch them out every few games.

I use a remote line, because I like a light-weight gun. A drop forward simply moves the center of gravity by "dropping forward" the wieght of the air tank. I like a remote because the tank is carried on my back. I have a ball hauler with space for two tanks and 4 ball pods, which is more than enough for any game I play. I don't fire very many shots. The remote allows me to use the gun more freely. Sometimes I will switch out the remote in favor of a straight attached tank between games, because pressing the butt of the tank against the shoulder help with aiming.

A word of warning, though: The A-5 uses a LOT of air, particularly if a R/T is used. Defiantely be prepared with extra tanks, or be ready to keep going for more air.

Mask:

I use a normal Scott mask. The only major things to consider with masks are weight, field of view, and facial coverage. Obviously, you want to protect your head, but you don't want a huge cumbersome mask that limits your view. It's mostly up to you which size and weight you like.

Fans and that stuff are crap. Just get some anti-fog spray and maybe a heat insert. If you are going to go cheap on one thing, make it the mask. They're all the same, basically. Just different shapes and weights. I like to wash my masks (I have 4, I usually end up loaning out 3) in the dishwasher WITH NO DETERGENT. The hot water cleans them well, but a detergent will scratch the lenses. Normal liquid soap is fine.



If you have any other questions, feel free to PM. I've been playing for 10 years now, and am more than happy to help.

Thanks Helle, I appreciate all the advice.

[QUOTE=Squirrel King]Making a big post here.. but I just wanted to make a post before more do


Ok I'm an ex-Paintball-freakazoid
Yup.. if your going to buy a gun - HPA! C02 is evil. The guns that can run it are crap for the most part, with the expection of Tippmann. [/QUOTE]

Not everyone can afford a $160 HPA tank. Not worth it in my opinion if you're just going to be playing some recball.

Anyways, I'd go with a Custom 98 for your first gun, cheap, efficient, and reliable. Just get an aftermarket barrel for it, because the stock one sucks.