what marker to buy?

[Sage]

hi, i just started going paintballing and i'm intrested in buying my own marker. i've been looking at the JT Excellerator 3.5 but i dont no what im looking for really because im a noob. can any body recomend a decent markers for a beginner?

Cheers
sage

[Sage]

Any thing would be greatly appreciated here :o

[Lopez17]

I guess before we can make recommendations we probably should know what type of paintball you intend to play...tournament (hyperball type fields) or woodsball. What kind of price range are you shooting for and how often do you intend to play?

Without knowing that I'll kick out a few things to you. I'm going to assume that you don't have either CO2 or N2/Compressed Air or a loader. I will assume you can get your own mask. :-)

For a newbie entry level person there's many schools of thought. The most popular semi auto markers are probably Tippman 98's and Spyders (and the spyder clones...Pirhana, JT...etc.).

Tippmans are the timex of paintball they take a licking and keep on ticking. They're practically indestrucible. I've actually seen them run over by a car and work well. There's a reason that they're the rental gun of choice for most fields. The 98 is highly upgradable from adding drop forwards, to different stalks to loaders to reactive triggers, barrels etc. It runs well right out of the box and runs off of CO2. You can buy player packages with goggles, CO2 etc. at most any store. The model 98's big brother, the A5 is slighly more expensive (usually $140 for the 98 and $220+ for the A5) but also a great marker. These guns have a military feel to them but I recommend them because they're easy to clean, and work with. It's a straightforward marker, what you see is what you get in this Semi-Auto marker.

If that doesn't float your boat...Kingman's line of Spyder markers is also a good choice. Lots of newbies/beginners/first time players opt for a Spyder. I recommend an E-99 right out of the gate if you're going to go with a Spyder...as they're usually right in the same price range ($150ish). The E-99 and other hybrid electro's have settings for 3 and 6 shot burst, full auto (disallowed at most fields) and semi auto. The spyders have been known to be a little more finicky than the Tippmans but I've never had a problem with the ones that I let friends use. If you lube any gun right more often than not you're not going to have tons of issues (autocockers aside since they take more precision). If you go with a Spyder get one of the new Electric ones. It'll be worth your while. That's just my opinion though. The spyders IMHO are better for speedball fields, I think they tuck better in a bunker and have less forward length as you move around. I'll get some arguement here but that's my opinion. Spyders are great in the woods, but Tippmans are probably the king in that area. Spyders are also highly upgradable and there's many barrels you can get and mods you can make.

The third option I'll put out there is an automag. Used mags are relatively inexpensive. Automags are great guns, generally low maintenance (more than a Tippman or Spyder though) and can run off of CO2 or N2. Get a used mag from a local store or on Ebay. I'll let some other folks sing the praises of these great markers. They're worth the investment. I'd also put them on a level above Tippmans and Spyders for the sake of woodsball or tournament games. I think they're more consistent with the airflow and therefore more consistent shooting paint. Also, most used mags can be obtained with N2 tanks and upgrade barrels for $200-300.

My fourth option and the one, if you have the $$, is the one I might go with is a BKO. This marker is going to be a lot more effort in the maintenance department, but it's a great marker. Consistent and a true electro-pneumatic gun, unlike a spyder E-99. BKO's run around $255-270 and that doesn't include an N2 tank or a drop forward/ASA. Used ones on Ebay might. It's still a lot of bang for the buck and a good recommendation.

Now...you're going to need a loader. For spyders and tippmans, you should be fine with an Empire Reloader or a Viewloader Revy. If you go with an automag or BKO, the reloader or revvy is still a good choice but you can also get an EVO or Halo TSA. If you find you're going nuts on the trigger with your BKO, you could probably use a Halo B, but I think that's a supreme waste of $$ for a new player. I'd recommend a $45 motorized hopper...one of the lower level ones for you.

The bottom line is to go to a store or field if at all possible and test out a variety of markers and see which one feels right to you, your grip, stance, frame etc. Go with that one. Only you will know which marker is right for you.

Hope this helps!

[Rugrat]

Not to be a Jerk or anything but Sorry choosing a marker is something you must do your own as you'll be stuck with. Get a price range, look at your choices, ask about tech support in the forums, compare the features. That's about all the help I can give.

[camoman5000]

Rugrat pinpointed it. To make the best buy, do research on your own, look around, pay attention to peoples opinions on different markers, look at different stores, whether it be online or stores you go to. But, to answer your question-

Spyder- standard blowback, reliable, can be madly upgraded

Tippmann-standard blowback,reliable,can be madly upgraded

I suggest either of these brands, they won't let you down, because JT's markers are questionable. Go with a Spyder of Tippmann, both good guns, you won't be dissapointed

[tippi98custom]

id go tippmann i have one now and they're a tough marker i haven't done anything to mine but why do you think a lot of fields use them as rentals? becuase they're tough!anyways if you want to buy one you could buy mine im more into the tournement/airball games and need a better marker so im gettin a impulse there's a link in my sig if you want to check it out if you disagree with the prices we can negotiate

[paintballer42o]

Originally posted by Rugrat
Not to be a Jerk or anything but Sorry choosing a marker is something you must do your own as you'll be stuck with. Get a price range, look at your choices, ask about tech support in the forums, compare the features. That's about all the help I can give.
Actually thats a good thing to do, choose your own gun. Whatever feels right for you.

[Inverse]

well ill just give u my input here about what u said, do NOT buy a 3.5 or the excellarators, i dont have jt or nething but it has alot of problems ull run into with them. The chips and battery thing mess up, guns bolt gets jammed alot and u have to fields strip it many times in a game to fix it and it chops like mad, mine even lit on fire lol but i can explain that one

[Sage]

thanks for all the advice, and thanks for pointing out the obvious. i think i will wait a while before i i get propably involved with paintballing.

cheers
Sage

[p8ntball1016]

Originally posted by paintballer42o

Actually thats a good thing to do, choose your own gun. Whatever feels right for you.


yeah dont let anyone else choose your gun

[Tippy98 Psycho]

yeah is say go with the tippmann 98 custom because it is vey customizable. just look at my setup. i have a pic but this is before the trigger job and rocket cock....

[HurleyHero67]

:o all this tippy talk.... get a used mag..tippy doesnt come close...

[Ice]

Well. You'll have to chose you're own. And from the looks of it, Lopez kind of layed everything out for you. However, I'd like to add a few points.

-Automags. These, for the most part, are more of a highend marker. But buying used, brings the price down to a reasonable price for a new player. I would suggest this is you don't think you will have to much money to get a better gun later on. Please refer to Airgun Designs forum here: http://www.pbreview.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=60 and read through the stickies and such. Maybe not all of the stickies, but enough to give you an idea of what kind of marker this is.

Next on the list is Spyders.

-Spyders. Kingman as a spyder in almost any category for you. From mechanical spyders costing $50 (Compact 2000) to E-frame spyders ranging from $75 (Esprit, price may be a alittle off) to the AMG which is kingmans top-of-the-line marker. With E-frame markers such as the E-99, Imagine, a Flash in between. Check out kingman's forum for more info.
http://www.pbreview.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=67

The other thing to mention is that Automags don't run very well on Co2. So you might have to fork out a bit more money for a nitro tank (although the nitro tank is a lot better then co2)

I think that is it...
-Ice

[HurleyHero67]

Originally posted by Ice

The other thing to mention is that Automags don't run very well on Co2. So you might have to fork out a bit more money for a nitro tank (although the nitro tank is a lot better then co2)
-Ice
Palmer stabilzer, expansion chamber, if not remote, if not anti-siphon :)

But if you can afford it get a nitro tank, it will save you a lot of trouble :).

[Dancing racoon]

If your looking for a durable reliable gun for cheap get a tippmann if your looking for a higher end durable reliable gun go for an automag but if you do you will need to purchase a Nitro tank

[evan123]

tippman is a good gun for a newb.

spyders are very easy once you get to know the internals

[HurleyHero67]

Originally posted by Dancing racoon
but if you do you will need to purchase a Nitro tank
:o I've already said it in this thread, you dont have to run classic mags on nitro. It is recommended. If you have a nice expansion chamber, a stabilizer, anti-siphon, remote, any of those things will make your mag run fine on co2 for a while.

[Dancing racoon]

Originally posted by HurleyHero67
:o all this tippy talk.... get a used mag..tippy doesnt come close... :nod: