Paintball

[Orpackrat]

Don't get an A-5, it's really not worth it! It's just a 98 Custom with a motor hopper (and $150 more)!

With a $300 budget, don't get the A-5. Personally what I would do it get a Tippmann 98 Custom used on Ebay, you can usually get a nice one with some mods for around $100. Instead of an electric hopper, get a cyclone feed (buy used to save money) and get the vortex ratchet and lighting rod upgrade (gives the capability of 25-30bps with longer life). The cyclone feed system allows for larger hoppers such as 450 and 600 round hoppers if thats what you need. Next I would get the response trigger (air assisted firing adjustable to 1-15bps). The cyclone feed and response trigger I got used for $90 new is about $120, the lightning rod and vortex ratchet is usually found between $50 and $60. Depending of if the gun bought used had a new barrel (not stock) get an expansion chamber, remote, Dishka (enhances the sound of the marker, scares the opposition, have had surrenders just from the sound), or new barrel or even a combination of them or something else with the remaining budget. I have found that 15bps is more than enough firepower.

[turbohacker]

Get a viewloader like mine, not the greatest gun but it is a good gun. It also dosnt cost much- 60$ at sport chalet. check out all the mods ive done to mine.

Rebound switch, paintjob, polished internals,aniti chop bolt

[demilus]

Well, if you're interested in my 98, it's ready to play, right after it is bought. I also forgot to add that the trigger has a much lighter pull because I used a pen spring instead of the stock one. There's probably more, but I'm just forgetting it. Oh yeah, it shoots about 14 bps now.

[Hubb]

Tippmann 98 is one of the best to start with. I've had mine for more than 5 years and it has been drowned, covered in mud, and ran over with a car and still plays. Also, it is one of the most customizable markers so it can be used for speedball or woodsball.

An A-5 is a good marker, but a 98 is a better choice for starters.

Something else you may want to do is check with the local fields and see what others are using. Most fields allow walk-ons and rent markers. Speak with some of the more experienced players and learn as much as you can. They can give you pointers on the best equipment and markers to use, but take note that no two fields are the same so what may work on one field may not work on the other.

[noname]

Thank you, hubb017! Great first post, and actually contributing to the forum and using great spelling and grammar! I encourage you to stay here at Spudfiles and keep contributing.

[goathunter]

Yes the undeniably second most popular marker ever made(first being the splatmaster,sorry tippman but you can't beat the classics).I too have the stories of unbreakable 98's.I had a kid throw my 98 in a mud puddle don't know how long it was sitting in there but it was fully submerged and covered.
I wiped it off, unscrewed the tank added some oil,screwed the tank back on, and shot it through; then went out and played.The gun still works like champ.I personally think if anything that clay/mud may have polished the insides

But i'm still a fan of the RT. I hate the stupid electronics.I always end up bonus balling myself in the foot getting the barrel bag off.

[noname]

Forgot to mention how indestructible they are, thanks for reminding me, Goathunter.
Funny story about me falling over:
Well, there was this one fort with a tower in it, that you could climb into it and shoot out. It was my second time ever paintballing and I was quite a noob. I stayed in the tower and got shot from the open back.
The next time, I thought I was going to do the same thing, so when the ref yelled 3,2,1, GOGOGO! I yelled, "To the tower!" and abrubtly tripped over a root, fell on my face, and smashed my gun against a rock.
The gun was undamaged and I was in a bit of pain but I got over it.

[Hubb]

As I mentioned earlier, mine was ran over with a car. It was left on top of my buddy's pickup and we had to go to the hardware store to pick up a part for the CO2 fill station. He noticed in his mirror that it fell off. When we turned around to pick it up, we watched it get creamed by another car. The stock barrel broke at the ports and the ASA was bent. After about 10 minutes of working on it, the pieces were replaced and I was in the game.

So, frankrede, if you are looking for a paintball marker built like a tank, a Tippmann 98 is the way to go.

[NoXi]

I am one of those people who hates Ions with a passion, but not because SmartParts made it. It costs $299 and only shoots 17 bps. I got a Spyder Pilot ACS '05 for $115 brand new, and it shoots 20 bps. You have to pry the grip up to change firing modes on the Ion, but with the Spyder, you just have to press a button. The only good thing about Ions is that they use LP air, so you get more shots per tank. A Spyder Pilot is an excellent starter gun if you want to get into speedball, but an A-5 or X7 is probably your best choice for woodsball.

more like 199. Your best bet is spyder vs2. It can shoot fast and is better than an ion. it can take co2 so it is cheaper. Its like 250 i think? Dont get an autococker. Its to much of an hassle. Your going to have to time it and everything. You can play pump also but dont play stock class. You will hate it. You are going to have to be more skilled to play stock class. If you are going to play pump, go get a maverick, sl-68II, sterling, or a phantom. But vs2 is the gun for your money. You can also buy a tank and a mask with the money left over.

[PVC Arsenal 17]

My Trracer/Maverick:

[paaiyan]

Tell me, does the scope really make that much of a difference?

[PVC Arsenal 17]

Red dot? Yes. Scope? No.

[beebs111]

its kinda hard to see the 45 on the hopper, i would imagine a red dot would be incredibly useful for quick aiming, i wish i could put one on my spyder but.....

[paaiyan]

Oh, didn't realize it was a red dot. Projected or internal?

[pyromanic13]

just so you know paintball will be a complete waste of your money if you don't plan on playing frequently.

for 300? umm get a stock ion off ebay for cheap, a steel 3000 psi HPA tank, and a force feed hopper with the remaining money

the ion allows to to play while you upgrade (if you chose to do so) a fully upgraded ion can have very similar capabilities compared to the more expensive guns.