-Tippman 98 C
-Flatline Barrel System / Quiet Riot 12" / SP Progressive 14"
-Dead On Paintball Powertube (I think it's aluminium)
-32 Degrees Hyperstar Bolt/Orange Howitzer Bolt
-Dark Horizon Titanium Hammer (Lite)
-Cyclone Feed System
-BT Folding Stock (hollow)
-Poished internals
-Maddmann & Trinity Spring Kits
-Red Dot/Holo Sight w/sight raiser
-Tippmann X7 Phenom (Electro-Mech hybrid model)
-Bad Karma Bolt
-Tippmann Straightline (Hammerhead)
-Apex Ready Lapco Big Shot 12" with Apex 1 tip
Recommended Upgrades:
None. Maybe a barrel if you plan on keeping it a while
Strengths:
Compact, lightweight, decent stock barrel
Weaknesses:
A little bit fiddly to strip, but nothing major.
Review:
If you're not fussed about milsim looks, this is definitely a superior entry level marker to the 98 in my opinion.
The 98 offers a multitude of upgrade paths and can fast become a black hole for money. I think many people, including myself have spent more than the 98's worth spending on in the the end. When I switched up to a Phenom, it cost me about half the price of what I'd spent on my 98 and was really twice the marker in every aspect apart from weight and balance.
The Gryphon is essentially a 98 inside; durable and dependable. The body is a tough polymer plastic as far as I know and will last well. The grip is excellent and the balance is nice. It's a great gun for fast games. It looks more like a 'sports' gun (Ion) than a milsim style such as an A5, X7, Tiberius, Armotech etc. model.
If you plan on playing paintball more, this is better solution than a 98. The barrel shares the same BT4/A5/X7/Phenom threading so all those barrels will work on this. You could carry that over to your next marker if you decide to later buy one of the above.
Expect every bit
Conclusion:
Probably the best entry level marker out there at the moment. Don't be tempted into overspending on a 98. This marker is very good. Exploit its lightness, simplicity and solid accuracy. If you paired a small, carbon fibre tank with it, you'll have a very light setup that will pay dividends when moving and snap shooting. It doesn't have a great rate of fire, but play tactically with this in mind and you'll reap its other advantages ;)
