Comments on: How to Choose a Paintball Gun

on 8/8/2006 I would recommend to any new players to go out with a friend first. Because some people cannot take the pain. If you ignore the pain, you will have so much more fun.

on 8/8/2006 Ported barrels -
Ported barrels have holes all around the barrel, usually at the very tip. Porting comes in all sorts of designs. What porting does is let the gas pushing the ball escape from behind the ball before it exit's the barrel, thus reducing the noise.

Rifled Barrels -
The Tippmann flatline is not a rifled barrel. It has a big curve in the barrel, and then straightens out, this is to give the ball backspin and give the ball more distance. Rifled barrels have tiny grooves inside the barrel, an example if this is HammerHead barrels and the Armson stealth. The tiny grooves inside the barrel make the paintball spin, and adds range, and accuracy to the paintball.

Choosing Co2, or Hpa-
Co2 is good to start out with, here are a few pro's and con's:
Pro: Cheap initial cost, readily available, fairly cheap
Con: Inconsistent, inefficient, harms your marker, shootdown (loss of velocity while shooting long strings of paint).

HPA is gold.
Pro: Consistent, no shootdown, cheap fills, good for your gun.
Con: High initial cost, sometimes hard to find a fill station.

on 8/8/2006 Spyders are OK guns, but they're awesome for their price. They're cheap and do OK on the field. The Spyder Imagine is the cheapest automatic marker and can be found at only $108.95 on many websites. The Electra is Spyder's most expensive marker, clocking in at $249.99 and $299.99 , but it does have the rocking trigger.
If you are willing to spend more than that, then look at some I recommend: Indian Creek BKO, Smart Parts Ion, Diablo Wrath, or Trilogy Pro. Smart Parts Ion is the best of the bunch though.

on 8/8/2006 As you go paint balling, have a good time, but never let fun get in the way of safety. If you have a barrel plug or barrel sock, always use it. If you do not, turn off your gun (marker) and take out the tank. You might think it is a little over board, but to many people think it's a horrible sport, and if you go out, you will see it is not. So go out and have fun.

on 8/8/2006 Well everyone wants to have fun when they play paintball, but you don't have to spend $1000 + on a marker. And if your not sure which marker
to buy, try Kingman Spyders. They're cheap and very good at the field. If you're a beginner, or you're just starting the sport, I would say you shouldn't have to spend more than $200 on all the paintball gear. Now I know it sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but after that it gets pretty cheap. All you should really need to spend after the initial equip is money on paint and Co2 refills.

But don't forget - safety first! I know many people that have gotten hurt playing this sport. Not because they were hit by the paint from the markers, but because they can't follow simple safety rules.

Here are few rules:
1. Always put on your goggles and mask when around paintball markers!
2. Have a barrel plug or a barrel bag on your marker when not in play.
3. Keep your gun facing the ground! I have been shot before (I work at a paintball field) by some kids that can't keep the barrel facing down and their finger off the trigger. Wait until it's time to play. Remember, tell yourself the gun is ALWAYS loaded.
4. Never look down the barrel of your marker! I have seen it happen. One kid is looking down the barrel because something goes wrong with his marker, another kid comes running up and hits the kid, he falls, his finger slips, and POW; he loses and eye.
5. Be very careful when un-screwing you Co2 tank. If it doesn't move, stop and go tell an adult before you get hurt.

Have fun and keep safe.

on 6/30/2006 Many people think that getting a giant barrel will let you snipe from the other side of the field. Don't listen to these people. As soon as you pass the 16-inch mark, more gas is being used to compensate for the drag. Not only that, but these barrels are very cumbersome.

Now, on to the ported barrel.
Do not get a barrel that has more than 4 inches of porting(holes that quiet the barrel). If you get a barrel with too much porting, you'll end up losing gas efficiency. So instead of 400 shots per tank, you might be getting 350. This is because you have to use more gas to propel the ball down the length of the barrel. I'll give you an example: If you roll a piece of paper so that it matches the size of your barrel, and you blow a paintball out of it, it'll go a good distance. If you poke a hole in that tube, it becomes harder to do that.

But the most important thing is the paint-to-barrel match. If you have a barrel that's too wide for your paintballs, you might as well have 20 inches of porting. If the barrel is too narrow, the paintballs will break in the barrel.

on 6/30/2006 Many people believe that a pump gun is more accurate than a semi. This isn't necessarily true. The only reason people say this is because they inadvertently hold the marker with both hands at the back when using a semi. This dramatically decreases accuracy, because pulling the trigger will have a much bigger effect on where the barrel is aiming.

With a pump gun, you're forced to hold the marker in the correct position because of the pumping mechanism. If you were to hold a semi like you held a pump, you'll find that the accuracy of both is pretty much the same.

on 11/22/2005 To find the right marker (not called paint gun), you first need to find your budget. Check online stores and auctions to look for the guns you like that fit your budget. Next, decide what type of paint ball you will be playing: woodsball, speedball, or tournament. Each gun should be specified for a type of play. Remember that a longer barrel does not mean more accurate or longer distance. If a barrel is too long the ball will lose speed and go shorter. If it is a poorer quality, the barrel may be ported wrong or very cheap and it can be less accurate. Then research your aspired marker. Using Internet sites can tell you what other players had wrong or what worked with their markers. For the accessories, you should always get the same quality as your gun. If you get a Spyder, buy a CO2 and a non electric loader. If you buy an Angel, get a HPA/nitrogen tank and buy a loader that can keep up with it, like a Halo or an Empire reloader.

on 11/22/2005 If you're new to the sport, and you just like to shoot as much as possible, you should buy a smaller hopper. It will give you a smaller limit of paint, so you don't shoot as much. Later, when you've learned to limit the number of times you shoot, you can buy a bigger hopper.

on 11/22/2005 The only barrel that is rifled (as was called here) is a Tippman Flatline System, which only fits on Tippmans. They make the barrel no quieter, but actually considerably louder. If you want a quiet barrel, get a 12 inch whisper barrel or a ported barrel, which has holes at the end of the barrel to prevent turbulence from the air escaping ahead of the paintball, making it quieter and noticeably more accurate. As far as making you whole gun quieter, you might want to consider looking into CA, or nitrogen. if you need a higher ROF (rate of fire), nitrogen is pure air and doesn't need to expand, and also isn't affected by temperature. If you get a higher-end gun, you might want to look into getting a low pressure operation, and some anti-chop eyes. As with going pump, get a stock class marker, not a pump. Stock class runs on 10-15 round tubes and 12 gram cartridges that will give you anywhere from 20-60 consistent shots. On pump, you can use a 50-round pocket hopper and any size co2 tank you can fit on it, or a 13 ci/3000 psi nitrogen tank. Best of luck to all you beginners from Team Crazed Killers.

on 11/22/2005 Do not think that a barrel plug is enough. Most fields these days will not let you play without a barrel cover, more commonly known as a barrel condom. In fact, in some states fields are required to do this by law.

on 11/22/2005 When selecting barrels for your marker, you should try to find a rifled barrel. The spiraling inside helps spin the paintball, to give it a straighter path. It helps a lot with the accuracy of your shot.

on 11/22/2005 Instead of using a barrel plug (which can pop out if under enough pressure), you should use a barrel bag. It covers the outside of the barrel and loops over the back of the marker.

on 11/22/2005 Don't buy a gun that is not straight from the maker unless you buy it from a local store and even then, you still need to test it out. I bought a gun from the Internet and it worked fine until it broke on the day of my birthday. We took and got it fixed and now it works like a charm.

on 11/22/2005 Paintball guns are available in a variety of configurations. They include everything from bolt-action pistols to fully-automatic rifles.

One of the nice things about pump guns is that they generally have fewer moving parts, which makes them somewhat more reliable than a semi-auto. For example, dirt and broken paintballs are far less likely to cause a pump gun to malfunction than a semi-auto. Also, fewer moving parts typically means fewer mechanical problems.

Pump guns cost a lot less. Even the difference in price between a high-end pump gun and an entry-level semi can be substantial.

For players on a really tight budget, a pump gun can also help to limit the amount of shooting they do each game and keep them from spending all of their money on paintballs.

On the down side, when compared to today's semi-autos, a pump gun has a very, very low rate of fire. This, in itself, can be a substantial disadvantage, particularly for newer players who are easily discouraged or intimidated.

Gaining skill as a player involves learning to shoot a paintball gun off-handed with a reasonable amount of accuracy. Unfortunately for the pump gun player, it's going to take him or her considerably longer to get the knack than it's going to take the player using a semi-auto.

Another disadvantage to the pump gun is that the shooter is often exposed more to incoming fire, particularly when he or she is firing off-handed.

One of the main advantages of the semi-automatic paintball gun is that it only takes one hand to operate, which means you can actually reload and keep shooting all at the same time. And because it only takes one hand to operate a semi-auto, it's easier to stay under cover and to avoid exposing yourself to enemy fire.

The ability to shoot a semi-automatic with either hand is much more easily mastered than it is with a pump gun.

On the minus side, it can cost a lot more to play with a semi. You tend to shoot more paint and to use more CO2.

Semi-autos that run on CO2 have other drawbacks. On a cold day, the shooter's vision is usually obscured by a thick white cloud each time the gun is fired.

If you're big on stealth and prefer sniping at the opposition, a pump gun might be the gun for you since pumps tend to be quieter and a little more accurate at longer ranges.

If you favor shooting from a prone position, then a semi-auto is the gun for you. Shooting a semi while lying on your belly is a cinch when compared to what it's like trying to cock and shoot a pump.

The basic configuration of the marker must be such that it feels right for you and fits your individual style of play. And the only way you'll truly be able to determine this is after you've handled it and used it to play a few games, which is something akin to 'test driving' a car.

If you decide to buy a pump gun, buy one with a breech lock. This feature helps to keep the operator from double-feeding, or pumping the gun twice without firing, which, matter-of-factly and in the heat of the moment, can often occur.

Alas, all paintball guns, sooner or later, will experience some ball breakage. Therefore, choose a gun that features breech cleaning, wherein paint goop is pulled out the front of the barrel, instead of pushing it into the gun.

The marker should have a velocity control so you can adjust the muzzle velocity for safe play. Also, for the sake of safety, it should have a trigger guard, which helps to guard against the accidental discharge of the marker. And even though the marker has a barrel plug, it should also have a mechanical safety.

The gun should allow for upgrades. Most guns being manufactured these days do, but it pays to be certain. Some features on the gun that you may want to upgrade include the trigger, the barrel, the bolt, the sights, and the power system. Guns with removable barrels are especially desirable because they allow you to vary the length of the barrel to match your environment.

Most markers are made for right-handed shooters. If you're a southpaw, consider purchasing a paintball gun that's ambidextrous, or at least one that can be reconfigured to accommodate a left-handed shooter.

Before you buy, find out who manufactured the gun and what sort of reputation they have when it comes to customer service. Also, take a long hard look at their warranty. It should at least cover the repair or replacement of any defective part for 180 days from the date of purchase. In my opinion, if a paintball gun manufacturer isn't willing to guarantee its workmanship for at least 6 months, you shouldn't take a chance on buying what they're selling.

Make sure the gun comes with a comprehensive owners manual, one which fully explains how to operate, disassemble, clean, lubricate, and reassemble the gun. A good manual will also contain troubleshooting tips, quality illustrations and a parts list, as well as the telephone number of the customer support hotline or the nearest authorized service center.

Finally, when choosing a paintball gun you must take into account the reasons why you play paintball. For the occasional backyard plinker and fair-weather player, a decent low-end marker will usually suffice. But for someone looking to join a tournament team and compete at the national level, only a high-end marker will do, typically a semi-auto. And typically only the best that money can buy.