any Paintballers here?

I

InfantryMyers

Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
185
well i haven't played Paintball untill my marker took a shit a few years back and i'm wanting to get back into it. I'm looking for a marker that can shoot fast, quietly and accurate at farther distances since i play mostly woodsball and scenario's. any suggestions? what marker do you use and how does it work for you?
 
Get yourself a Tiberius. I bought a t9.1 and it totally replaced my a5 for everything except heavy gunning. It can be a pistol or a long range sniper depending on how you configure it. It's worth every penny
 
I played religiously through high school and college but quit when we all got jobs.
My old tippman 98 was a boss for years. I added a nice 16 inch smart parts barrel...which haunted people from afar.
Tippman just makes great guns. All the crew i used to play with had older tippman 68 carbines that were still kickin' hard.
I haven't kept up with the latest paintball tech but i know it's like anything else...you get what you pay for.
 
I remember when I used a Tippmann... Made paintball less enjoyable.

I use a PE Etha and I play woods/scenario. Is it the best gun out there. No. Does it suit my needs. Yes. Would I recommend it. Yes.
 
strangely enough i've had pretty bad luck with Tippmann's dont think i'm gonna pick one up. that Tiberius seems i little out of my price range. i'd like to stay below $300 for now, may look at it a ways down the road. same with the Etha, its a little out of my current price range... if i get a marker around $300 i'm looking at $600 overall price which will probably be my max since i'm buying all new gear (not sure where i put my old stuff) anyone have experience with Dangerous Power? i've heard a couple of good things about the G4... but still looking, and taking all suggestions :thumbup:
 
I'd like to first address your criteria.

Yes, it's going to be a bit of a rant but I really enjoy discussing paintball.

Foremost, the concept of a fast shooting marker sort of died of quite a while back. This is mainly due to the fact that most fields don't allow full auto for rec play and those that do typically limit the shots per second to 13 or less for insurance reasons. Additionally, tournaments/scenarios have similar limits on shots per second regardless of what firing mode, i.e. semi, full, burst, ramping, etc. These days basically any electronic marker is capable of shooting 13 shots per second.

Secondly, sound signature varies upon the type of marker, two major types are poppet or spool valve. Poppets are generally louder, harsher on paint and have slightly more kick but have much better air efficiency. Spool valves generally have the opposite characteristics. Poppets are also a bit easier to maintain in my experience. Additionally, I'll add that tuning your marker can make is quieter but it's ideal to balance operating pressure/sound signature and efficiency, i.e. you can typically run a lower operating pressure however your efficiency will greatly suffer.

Lastly, the concept of Marker X being more accurate at a given distance than Marker Y is a highly disputed topic. Distance is affected by the velocity of the paintball as it leaves the barrel. So, given a proper barrel bore to paint bore match, a Tippmann 98 and a Dye DM13 shooting at 300fps will have identical distances from where the paintball leaves the barrel. There are some barrels that attempt to use backspin to get a further shot but it also greatly decreases the accuracy so it's really not worth the extra distance if the paintball isn't going to break on target. In my experience, shot to shot pressure consistency affects accuracy almost more than anything else; and this is why a high-end marker shoots better than a Tippmann 98. High quality paint will also have a noticeable difference in accuracy but most rec fields don't offer true high quality paint unless you're willing to pretty much get ripped off.

For anyone seriously looking to get into paintball I highly recommend the Empire Axe.

I currently shoot one and it's hands down the best value you can get. It keeps up with high end markers without a problem. I've shot $1000+ markers and they all just make me glad I have an Axe.
Keep in mind, it requires compressed air as CO2 will destroy the solenoid, so you'll need a compressed air tank (which are quite a bit more $ than a CO2 tank). And you'll need a decent electronic hopper such as an Empire Prophecy Z2, Dye Rotor, or Virtue Spire (which all run about $150-$180). Also, a good mask is arguably the most important piece of equipment since you won't be getting any of your shots on target if you can't see the target. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to a mask.

You need to consider how much cash you're willing to drop. If you let me know, I can give you a pretty good idea of what setup would be best.

I don't like calling people experts since there's always more to learn, but as far as knowledge of paintball gear goes, I'm pretty well versed.

I highly recommend checking out PBNation or TechPB Forums for more information.

Edit: Whoops, I just re-read your post where you said you were looking to spend $600 total.
 
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GOG paintball makes the SP1 now. Smart Parts technically went out of business.

The SP1 is actually one of the best scenario markers out there. I would still check out the Axe though.

Forgot to mention. Definitely check out the Youtube channel paintballtechpb. You'll be able to find in-depth reviews on pretty much any marker worth shooting and any gear worth using.
 
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MaxFactor said:
GOG paintball makes the SP1 now. Smart Parts technically went out of business.

The SP1 is actually one of the best scenario markers out there. I would still check out the Axe though.

Forgot to mention. Definitely check out the Youtube channel paintballtechpb. You'll be able to find in-depth reviews on pretty much any marker worth shooting and any gear worth using.
Click to expand...

ya the Axe is a little past my price at the moment, how is GOG? i haven't heard of them, they a good company? or will i have quality control issues?
 
I heard rumors of Smart parts going under, Thats terrible. there freak barrels were the best on the market and there markers were top notch. Id also suggest a Tiberius and Im sure you can pick one up used for around 300 if you look around, If not I also suggest the empire mini , Better to spend the extra bit of money then buy something cheap that will need fixing in the future . Also Ive been out of the game for a while, It seems empire has taken over, is this true? Looks like they bought a few other companies
 
Tiberius Arms with first strike conversion.

http://www.tiberiusarms.com/first-strike-paintball/

Haven't played in years, but if you want something that's actually innovative that isn't a banana barrel Tippman Flatline, checkout the first strike converted pistols (I did just say pistol as in, you load a magazine into it to reload). I think they also have rifles with the first strike conversion.
 
Tippman,

I rock a 98 custom, with a 20 inch J&J ceramic barrel and another 98 custom with a J&J ceramic 16 inch barrel and a cyclone feed system added.

I have stocks on both of them as well. They are great guns, the cyclone mounted on a 98 is a little fussy though. The 16 inch and 20 inch barrels are much quieter than the sock barrels. the 16 and 20 inch barrels add a ton of range to my guns and I can hit people much sooner than my friends can (who usually rent stock 98s)

If you are looking for more of a speedball style gun, the new tippman crossover is freaking awesome, I rented a demo gun for a day and freaking loved it. I am actually gonna be playing at the alternative sport in Blounteville, TN this weekend, which is where I rented the demo gun. I am planning on trying to trade my 2 98s for the the crossover, hopefully I can manage it.
 
It is too bad since Smart Parts was a huge part of paintball, however, they tried to sue a number of other manufacturers for alleged patent infringement so most people aren't all that sad about it. Fortunately, Empire Paintball now has the rights to almost all of their patents so the Freak Kit is still around. Additionally, Empire resurrected the Impulse under the JT label which was one of the last markers Smart Parts released (yeah Empire also bought JT). Empire also just released a pretty awesome new marker called the Vanquish but it's obnoxiously expensive.

Also, in regards to First Strike rounds; you need to bear in mind the fact that most fields will only allow field paint. That fact, in addition to the steep price ($40 per 100), has kept me from getting into first strike.

GOG G1 sounds like a pretty good bet for you InfantryMyers. Check out the paintballtechpb video review of the GOG G1 on youtube.
 
If you are looking for something modern and ergonomic Tippies aren't the way to go. The Axe is good so are GOG products they even make a retro non electro marker these days. That said there are tons of used tourney level guns available if you are handy. Some of my used favorites are Bob Long Intimidators, really easy to fix and once set up they hardly go down. I've gone through probably 25 high end guns over the 15 years of playing, including shockers, palmers, vikings etc..etc... and now that I play only a few times a year versus every weekend, I just keep a pair of Virtue boarded Razor Ions and a low end Trilogy pro autococker all of which which have proven to be bullet proof and require minimal maintenance.

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At least around the northeast woods play is different and not like the 90's when people played pball on weekends like a religion and the entire field had tourney guns. I wouldn't worry too much about the latest and greatest marker, a basic system is fine for playing walk ons.

PS Azodins are fairly bullet proof there is a complete set up on ebay with goggles HP tank, revy and I think invert goggles for $260 total I'm not familiar with the goggles but the rest of the setup is decent. I would go out and play with that setup on a personal level. Ultimately it's not the equipment, it's the player. Most of the woodsball games that I've played the past few years has had mostly beginner players. People who refuse to move if you put a few paintballs against whatever they are hiding behind. So it's not that hard for you to get into position to tag them with a shot.
 
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wow, i've got alot of markers to look at... i really like the look of the GOG G1 though, how does it perform? and is the Blackheart worth the extra money, and what does it do?
 
has anyone else got to try the tippman crossover?

what are your opinions on it?

I loved playing with it, but I had just changed over from a tippman 98
 
I haven't used the Tippmann Crossover but haven't heard great things about them, and that's coming from someone who sells them (although not many have actually sold). Tippmann certainly has its loyal followers but I'll be completely honest, I'm not one of them. If you're not a competitive player and don't like putting a lot of time into maintaining your gear, a Tippmann will shoot paint and may work for you but you won't catch me recommending them when IMHO there are far better options in the same price bracket.

I would highly recommend avoiding sights on paintball markers. If anything, they're just for looks (no pun intended). I understand that people like the tactical appearance but in actual use the sights give no advantage. The best way to aim is to sight down either side of the barrel.

Check out this youtube review of the SP1 which is the same as the G1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6NbIPQLxWY. I know it's long but Mike touches on every aspect of the marker and also speaks briefly about using sights and the advantage/practicality of having a center feed opposed to a side feed. He also mentions that the G1 comes with the same regulator as the Luxe, which I didn't realize and is pretty awesome. Also, I'm pretty sure the blackheart is well worth it for the anti-chop eyes, not to mention all of the adjustment options it has.
 
$600 overall, hmmm. Good call on Tippmann by the way, their really best for rentals and not much else due to performance. I'm going to read this thread and write things as I see them.

First, Dangerous Power makes a decent spool valved marker, but I had trouble with my G3 way to often to trust. And both my G3 and G4 froze up in the cold temperatures, forcing me to sell them.

Second, Smart Parts turned to GOG, and I do like their GOG G1 and Envy. At your price, I'd recommend them. My Vibe (previous version of the Envy) is a sweet marker, and doesn't chop paint in the least. Shoots smooth, and efficiency is ok. The company itself and its policies are... not so hot though.

Third, everything MaxFactor said except the Axe I agree with. He nailed the shot distance argument perfectly.

Fourth, Tiberius are really for those that like to sit and "snipe" from a distance. Its a playing style that isn't for everyone.

Fifth, Azodins are like a Tippmann, except stacked tube blow back (think Spyder without the leaks). Entry level, huge bang, and fun to run around with but not really the best option.

Sixth, I agree with Max again on the sights, paintball guns are not accurate enough to need one and with a mask its way to hard; Riser or no riser. However, the G1 has a convertible feedneck, so you could offset it to the left or right for a sight if desired.

Blackheart, Max nailed it again. :thumbup: Though you'll have to ensure the eye's are clean.


As far as my opinion, I'm staying out of the marker recommendations, but will say this. Don't skimp on the gear (which you probably know).

Your mask will make or break your day, it must have thermal lenses and comfortable. If you have to drive an hour to a store, DO IT so you can try some on. Then price check before buying.

Your tank should be HPA for a decent marker. For scenarios, get a full size like the 68/4500, and a cover to help protect your $130 plus tank.

Get a comfortable pod pack and several pods, depending on how much paint you put out. At my favorite field, it sucks running half a mile to the set up area.

Get a electronic hopper, a gravity is a misery machine. The Invert Too is great for $50.

Sore knees? Elbows? Get pads.

Barrel, depending on the temperature, your local paint will tend to be very large or very small. Buy a barrel that fits better than the standard stock .690's. Research overbore / underbore on your own time if you really get into it again.

Expect for this to come over $300 right here, leaving about $250 for your marker. It's a lot, but I screwed around with 40 to 50 markers before I realized that the marker was the last thing I should focus on. Enjoy!
 
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