Can Anyone Recommend A Paintball Gun?

[TFin04]

E-mags Outdated? I can guarantee an E-mag is fully capable of shooting faster than 98% of the paintballers who play.

I didn't say they wouldn't shoot fast. They are outdated though, it is using technology from the early 90's still. Blow forward guns simply cannot compete with any tournament level gun out there.

I was an AGD certified tech for about 5 years. I know the guns inside and out. They are outdated, they are overpriced, they are not a good recommendation for a first gun. Try finding parts for one...

I played pro tournaments for years (Ever see PB on espn? I used to play for the team you see on there as Chicago Evil). Not once have I had an electronic failure where I would have used the Emag manual feature.

 

[tripletrash]

the autococker is technology from the 80's but id put it up against anything else. and I can +1 for the tinker/tweakability of autocockers. autocockers are the tinkerers dream. You can do all sorts of stuff from simply adjusting the timing, trigger pull or the spring weights, to replacing every part with high end after market parts. I love building custom guns, the market for non electro autocockers just isnt there any more. hell a stock automag aint a bad gun so how is the e-mag out dated?

 

[TFin04]

The valve on the Automags is one that was developed in 1991. It is not very consistant at all, and since it is also the last regulator in the line your mag will never be very consistant over the chrono.

They are heavy, about twice as heavy as any tournament level gun today.

Triggers are adjustable, but the circuit boards are not nearly as advanced as say, a Matrix or Intimidator. Those guns WILL shoot faster, simply based on their coding.

 

[zenheretic]

The valve on the Automags is one that was developed in 1991. It is not very consistant at all, and since it is also the last regulator in the line your mag will never be very consistant over the chrono.

They are heavy, about twice as heavy as any tournament level gun today.

Triggers are adjustable, but the circuit boards are not nearly as advanced as say, a Matrix or Intimidator. Those guns WILL shoot faster, simply based on their coding.

The latest valve was only released maybe 3 years ago...the X valve.
http://www.airgun.com/Products/xvalve.shtml I know because I bought one when it was first released. Yes it first came into being from a valve in the 90's based off a valve in the 80's...and it still works very well.

They can be heavy, as in my first post, that isn't always a disadvantage. You prefer light fine the latest body drops the weight significantly (used to be 4 lbs now 2lbs.) http://www.airgun.com/Products/ule_mainbody.shtml

You say the circuit is not as advanced as the Matrix and Intimidator. Are those entry level guns? How advanced does a board have to be if the system is already capable of shooting faster than most paintballers...especially a beginner?

You stated you were in the Pros...I bloody well hope you guys would not suffer any sort of circuit problems. I can only guess about the support you got from Tippman when you played for them. Joe Blow beginner might forget to charge his battery, what will he do then? Unlike the pros, most of us only get to play on weekends etc. I don't want my day ruined because my battery failed.

You mentioned parts. I checked the website, seems fully stocked for parts...I can concede you might not find a lot of parts at your local store, but anyone on this forum obviously has computer access so they can order easily. Frankly they don't need parts because they don't break down. You need a pack of O-rings no biggie there...

You mentioned consistancy at the chrono. I never had any probs adjusting my marker to the field specified chrono speeds, I don't really understand your issue with a consistant chrono. Even if some test exists that shows some model never varies more than 1/2 a foot per second...not sure how that matters for a beginner. In fact other than price, I'm not sure what most of you points have to do with a beginner. I see lots of 12 year old with $1500 markers so I don't see the price as a concern for many.

There are few markers that are better in every factor than an E-mag, there are few markers that will take the abuse of an E-mag, there are few markers that are as easy to maintain than an E-mag. So you played in the pros and hardly anyone ever used one...not surprising, they haven't been very popular since for ever.

Now if Joe Beginner keeps playing and some day works up to pro, he would probably move on to a different marker...especially if a company like Tippman sponsered him like you enjoyed. However if he just expects to play on weekends, if he just wants to buy one marker and not monkey with it much, if he wants one marker that can actually be a back up for itself, wants an easier barrel change/cleaning ability, and basically wants one marker that will grow with his skills, than he would be hard pressed to do better than an E-mag.

Funny your posts compare E-mags to tourney level markers for most of your arguements. Yet you say it is outdated. Tourney markers are usually top of the line, newest, latest, greatest. If it is outdated then all entry level marker would easily overshadow it, they don't. I think anything under pro level is well served with an E-mag. If you buy three moderate markers one after the other or one E-mag only you can decide which is a better path. Obvously we don't agree on which way to go. Personally I think you get what you pay for.

 

[canbkr]

WOW , All the guy was asking was for advise on a paintball gun,i don't think he meant to start an arguement on what's the best gun with the most advanced hardware.Quick suggestion,I was at walmart the other day and noticed that they had tippman paintball guns in the $200-$300 range,why not just purchase something like that and upgrade the parts on the gun as you go if desired? Seems pretty simple doesn't it?

 

[TFin04]

Zen it seems we aren't going to get anywhere with this.

In my experience of playing both walk on every weekend to playing on TV, as well as being certified to repair AGD guns, they are not very good.

If you have one you like, then so be it. In the big picture they are not the best choice, that's all I'm saying. I'm glad you found a gun you really like. It's like knives... You may not like linerlocks, the next guy might.

 

[Kohai999]

I am personally thinking of getting a Tippman A-5...I currently have a Benjamin-Sheridan VM-68. Not a bad gun, certainly playable, but I would like better accuracy, lighter weight, and more overall robustness in the areas of bolt, and ball detents.

I play everything (we go for private groups at Velocity paintball park, in Ramona, CA), but prefer woodsball and the big cable spool fields. We shoot about 200-300 balls per game, so I can easily run 1,000 paintballs out of the marker in a day of playing.

I would like your opinion with regards to this marker.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[DGG]

A Tipper 98. Get one and you will make every shot count!

 

[zenheretic]

WOW , All the guy was asking was for advise on a paintball gun,i don't think he meant to start an arguement on what's the best gun with the most advanced hardware.Quick suggestion,I was at walmart the other day and noticed that they had tippman paintball guns in the $200-$300 range,why not just purchase something like that and upgrade the parts on the gun as you go if desired? Seems pretty simple doesn't it?

Hi Canbkr, the gentlemen who asked received many good tips, so we merely moved onto a related topic. Obviously Mr. TFin and I have differing views, but personally I didn't feel it was an argument. I'm not mad, and I rather doubt he is either. I laid out an opinion, he refuted, we point/counterpointed for awhile. We both stepped away amicably.

For the record, I doubt an E-mag is the most advanced, I'm sure TFin and I can agree on that. Like I said in my longest winded post, I feel it is a great gun for most levels.

Keep your head down and and your balls straight.

 

[TFin04]

I am personally thinking of getting a Tippman A-5...I currently have a Benjamin-Sheridan VM-68. Not a bad gun, certainly playable, but I would like better accuracy, lighter weight, and more overall robustness in the areas of bolt, and ball detents.

I play everything (we go for private groups at Velocity paintball park, in Ramona, CA), but prefer woodsball and the big cable spool fields. We shoot about 200-300 balls per game, so I can easily run 1,000 paintballs out of the marker in a day of playing.

I would like your opinion with regards to this marker.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

The A5 is about the best gun in it's price range. It is extremely reliable (just oil it every now and then, which is very simple).

You are going to need a new barrel with any gun you purchase in that price range. Custom Products and J&J both make really nice barrels for under $50.

I would also recommend an E-Grip, making the gun electronic. You can be shooting 13 balls per second ropes for less than $500.

Any other upgrades besides these two will not make any performance difference. If you like the looks of an item, buy it. Don't buy any of the aftermarket bolts or anything like that, they aren't worth it.

I used to shoot an A5 in the pro events when I played for Tippmann Effect. The only mods I had:

J&J Barrel
E-Grip
Double Trigger

'Tis all ya need!

 

[canbkr]

Hi Canbkr, the gentlemen who asked received many good tips, so we merely moved onto a related topic. Obviously Mr. TFin and I have differing views, but personally I didn't feel it was an argument. I'm not mad, and I rather doubt he is either. I laid out an opinion, he refuted, we point/counterpointed for awhile. We both stepped away amicably.

I guess i just mistook the way the conversation was going as an arguement over different paint ball guns (when it was more of a debate of oppinions on the issue),sorry for that:foot: .I will have to agree that he did get quite a bit of usefull info on the topic :thumbup:

 

[Kohai999]

You are going to need a new barrel with any gun you purchase in that price range. Custom Products and J&J both make really nice barrels for under $50.

I would also recommend an E-Grip, making the gun electronic. You can be shooting 13 balls per second ropes for less than $500.

What about the Tippman Flatline Barrel? It is available with many packages online.

Why the E-Grip, rather than the standard Response trigger?

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, both prior, and now.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[tripletrash]

I definitlyu second j&j barrels, custom products( I have a full set small medium and larg), and also look for a lapco auto spirit and big shot(auto is for small paint big is for.. uhh big.). I cant see why a electro trigger or 13 bps are neccicary for non tourny play. I play very often with a phantom stock class gun, wich is a pump, and it only holds 10-15 balls and 30 balls worth of air. If you just want to play get a simi auto, if you wanna feel like a god get a stock class. I have run half the field only to get there and find I have no air! then you have to move up and "barrel tag" someone or surrender them. at my field if you touch someone with your barrel they are out. gotta be fast and not be afraid to get a few bruises when you get cought out. also takes the "spray and pray" out of it which is ok because a stock phantom is very accurat, and I have gon shot for shot while snapshooting with many tourny ready .

 

[TFin04]

What about the Tippman Flatline Barrel? It is available with many packages online.

Why the E-Grip, rather than the standard Response trigger?

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, both prior, and now.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

The flatline barrel shoots farther. It does not shoot accurate. It is loud, heavy, hard to clean, and breaks paint quite often. Simply put, they are a gimmick. Barrel kits are also a gimmick. Look for a .691 or .693 (J&J and CP both make those sizes). That barrel will shoot almost any paint you can find without issue.

The RT Trigger is very hard to tune. It is also either semi auto or full auto, no inbetween. It actually reduces rate of fire when on semi auto, where as an egrip will increase rate of fire on any mode.

You don't "need" an egrip, and yes you "can" play with a pump gun. It is much more fun to at least have the cabability of shooting fast with no effort. The egrip provides that. You only want to shoot 15 balls in a game? Set it on semi and only pull the trigger 15 times. You want to shoot 1000? Set it on semi and paint everything you see yellow.

You will be amazed at the performance w/ an egrip though. No misfeeds, no paint breakage (with a good barrel), just ropes of paint flying at the bad guys.