Paintball marker?

[Ranger-#8 1]

I am starting to play paintball more often, and am looking into getting my own marker. I am looking to spend top $300, and that is pushing it. I found some coll moded spiders on ebay that are decent price, but I was wondering if anyone here has some good input on paintball.

[QandA 0]

Tippmann Custom 98, I got a 20oz tank, Mask, Barrell Plug and Tools, and free maintenance for $300 CAN brand new.

[vivaotravez12 0]

Spyders may seem like a bargain at the time, but try to find an alternative. Friends and I have had problem after problem with Spyders, if you're in it for the long haul, may be better to invest a bit more up front to save on repair costs and replacement parts down the line. Spyders are a decent gun though, many upgrades, but I guess you can say they break down quicker.

Take a look at paintballforum.com. Lot's of feedback on guns from users who know paintball as users here know hockey.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

Side note- I was looking at getting a really cheap gun to play with my friends. Are the pump guns worth my time?

[notorious#29 0]

I second the Tippmann 98, it will give you the best bang for your buck.

[Kirsch 1]

Ok the Tippmann is NOT what you want to buy.

Smart Parts recently came out with a new gun that essential functions the same as a $1000 for marker and they are putting it out for only $280. It gets 20 BPS (if of course you can pull the trigger that fast) but it also has ramping, which means you don't have to pull that fast. Ramping is when you reach a certain BPS (balls per second) the gun will automaticaly start firing its maximum rate of fire. Now this is entirely legal, and very awesome.

Also this gun has eyes. What eyes are are lasers that tells the board inside the gun that a ball is in the chamber, if there is won't load another. What that means is that you can't chop (broken balls in your chamber). It's nearly impossible.

This gun is amazing, and Smart Parts is nuts for releasing it for only $280. If I were you, I would definitely pick one up.

Oh, and yes I have tried multiple different markers including angels, impulses, shockers, autocockers, and tippmanns and the Smart Parts Ion is THE best marker for the money hands down.

EDIT: let me also add that Tippmanns, while they are tanks, have absolutely no resell value because everyone already has one. So if you want to upgrade to a better marker sometime, your Tippy won't get you any money in return.

[Ranger-#8 1]

Does it come with a decent barrel, or is that something that I should upgrade before other things?

[Kirsch 1]

Yeah stock barrels are never good. That is usually the first thing you will want to upgrade. Also if you plan on using CO2 your going to have to take it somewhere to put an anti-syphon tube in it. Otherwise you will screw the internals of the marker. Don't worry it's not expensive.

[Drewhunz 3]

Also, I would recommend using a remote line with an additional expansion chamber if you are going to use CO2. You don't want to get freeze up in an electric marker. The anti-siphon tube drastically reduces these chances, but adding the remote and an extra expansion chamber is some pretty good additional insurance. I would also recommend the smart parts. I liked to tinker back when I used to play paintball, so I tricked out my 'cocker.

[Jackal3688 0]

Be a man, play pump. Saying that, action markers makes a great pump gun with the illusion. It retails for $275. Go to www.actionmarkers.com and check it out, i promise you wont be disappointed. I have one and so do a few of my friends, and we love them. Plus, its a whole lot less to take care of. Everything about it is so simple, great marker.