I can't decide which marker.

[beeper]

I can't decide which marker to buy. I have played with Spyders, Model 98s, and an autococker. If I had the funds I would get a mag or another tourny grade marker. I don't want a 98, I don't like the feel. I like the Spyder but I can't decide If I want it. I have been looking at the Diablo Terminator T3, ACI Griffin, ACI F4 Illustrator. I will be playing in the winter as well as summer. I want a gun that will perform well on CO2 year round. I also need a few tips on how to make CO2 perform well in cold weather. IF you guys could help me out and tell me some pro and cons of each gun that would help a bunch.
Thanks a bunch
beeper

[VeNoM]

i had a shutter for my first gun and i loved it, i put a big shot on it and it was pretty accurate. i would say the best way to get your co2 tank to perform well would be, buy a small nitro tank, lol. you can pick up a small used one for like $50-$60. you could a basic 2-in-1 spyder compact a small nitro tank and a CP or lapco bigshot barrel and you'd have a nice marker ;)

[Codestar20]

Well with a Spyder you have an almost unlimited upgrade path. My Spyder is great and has never broke on me. I have seen a Diablo Termiator T3 and those a nice guns and take most Spyder parts. To help with CO2 in the winter i put a wool sock over the tank, and tape one of those hand warmers (those exposed to air and shake kind) to the tank to help the gas expand. Also what Spyder were you looking at?

[beeper]

I was looking at mostly the Xtra. If I got a spyder I would want to go LP. I really like the quick strip on the Inferno.

[in trauma]

have you thought about the Jt excellerator 3.0?

[beeper]

Yeah Kinda, but I really don't see any reason to go with it. Maybe you could inlighten me.

[in trauma]

i would take it over a spyder any day because

it is better looking and higher quality and not a bad price

i hav enever heard of constant problems like i do from spyders

week after week i go to the field and everyone with spyder has to sit out games cause there guns go down!

[beeper]

That is all about taking car of your gun. I am saying what features make it better than a spyder. Performance wise what advantages whould it have over a spyder.

[in trauma]

http://www.actionvillage.com/010-8501-1.html
the vert feed is a good advantage

http://www.pbreview.com/673/1/0/
see what owners have to say

[VeNoM]

ewwww i hate that gun! i dont know why, it just looks so cheap and cheezy i would WAY rather have a shutter than that gun. better looking is completely your opinion as i think that is about the ugliest gun i have ever seen. just looks very cheesy to me :rolleyes: sorry . . .

[beeper]

Yeah, I am not liking the gun much either. I not saying there is anything wrong with it, because I have never shot one, I am just saying I don't like it.

Well Have any of you guys ever shot an Inferno. The more I read on this gun the more I like it. Can you please help me out.

[bobwill]

All the markers in this price range have basically the same performance, and can have just about no upgrades that are truly unique.
I as a Tippmann user would point out that Bad Company recently lost a match because a Spyder Xtra went down on them, I'd hope they maintain their guns; I mean the guy that happened to is also one of the airsmiths I take my gun to for upgrades. However, as a paintball player I would also have to point out that this particular example was just because of grip frame screws. The gun worked, and the gripframe worked, they were just in two different pieces.
I don't know where I was going with that. :)
All in all just about all the markers between $100 - $250 are about the same. Anything that can be done to one of them can be done to just about all of them. Go with the one that you like the trigger feel, and balance to; oh yeah and don't get something that's going to be braking on you every game.
Really though, if you're looking at Xtras an Automag classic wouldn't be too much more expensive. I mean, I'm assuming you would be getting an aftermarket barrel regardless. Several websites have the classic for less than $250 anymore. Then, in about a year, you can put a Retro valve on it and have a truly great gun.

[VeNoM]

well i like the inferno, it has the top cocking and quick pull pin like my bushy does ;) . and its vert feed. its pretty nice, i just like spyders for first guns, i think they are great guns. thats probably because it was my first gun and i loved it though :rolleyes: but ya he is right they are all pretty much going to be the same, so just get one that looks and feels nice to YOU.

you probably could get a mag, but they dont like co2 and i (personal opinion) dont like mags much either . . . but it would be a step up from the blow backs. you can get a used for a pretty good price if you look . . .

[beeper]

bobwill, Thanks for the help. That was truly helpful. I never looked at the automag classic. Thanks for the help.

[ahhh_the_madnes]

ACK! Beeper!!! Your Avatar gets me every time!!!! I need to go take a cold shower;) .... Well my first and current gun is a spyder compact.... You might try just getting a compact and get a;

rear cocking bolt,
A nitro system (youl have enough money cause compacts are cheap)
A good regulator,
Low Pressure chamber,
12v Rev,
a Drop forward,
and a good barrel (boomstick or the like)

That would be a kick *** setup.. and the nitro would have you set if you wanted to get into a higher end gun... ... Or.. just save up a little bit more and go straight into the good shiat.

[ahhh_the_madnes]

mabey not the nitro cause that might put you over the top....

[bobwill]

Well, PMI has some aluminum Nitro tanks for as cheap as $80. Get that and the gun, and hold off on any further upgrades for a month or two. Besides, I'm not too big a fan of upgrading a gun before you shoot it anyway. Of course those things weigh a ton! The compact seems to be a nice little gun though, I haven't shot one. A friend's boyfriend has a 2 in 1, and he can't hit the broadside of a barn at twenty feet! But, he has the stock barrel on it, and shoots Brass Eagle paint, and I don't know how good a shot he is; and I've never used it. I don't think he even has an anti-syphon in the tank.

I didn't really think about CO2, Automags really don't like CO2 that much. A Palmer Stabilzer would stand a chance at taking care of that, but it would definately drive up the total cost by about $80 after shipping, and it's not guaranteed to work that well. If you could afford a 68 ci fiberwrapped PMI or Crossfire or just about anybody except for a Bulldog this might be the way to go, but you probably will want to go Nitro within a month of getting the gun. You also need to get a bottom line for it which is another $25 or so. :(

[ciaran.mooney]

I would suggest getting an Automag 68 p/f second hand. Try and find one with some "stars" left on it. They are usually in good condition - those things are built like bricks. They will take a lot of punishment AGD have a very good customer support. Also they work great stock, only upgrade would be a AGD valve, and a barrel.

Mags work fine on CO2 they were designed to use it, only thing you have to do is use a remote system, anti-syphon (those two dont mix!!) x-chamber.

Next choice would be a Tippman C, also built like bricks. And have those drop-in kits.

[bobwill]

I guess it's just the Automag RT, which is the only type I have any experience with that doesn't like CO2 and keep freezing up. Of course that's just the high rate of fire.

[bobwill]

Are you looking to save money in the long run, or in the sort run???
For me there is a big difference. I'm still in college, so my thoughts are "I'll wait until I'm a milliionaire before I buy that." :) Well, the way I see it, there are two paths you could take, and they're fairly similar.

moderate initial investment:
buy a cheap gun to use for six months or so such as a Spyder Compact.
spend as little on upgrades as possible, only get things you view as necessary for your style of play.
Get a freak barrel system.
I like the freak for a few reasons. First, it's an accurate barrel with the multiple inserts to match just about any paint you'll find. Second, with the different bases you can keep your freak and just buy new bases for a new gun. Second, now that the freak junior is out you can buy it with one insert, base and front for less than $100 and buy other inserts as you need them.
6 months to a year from now, buy a Nitro tank.
6 months to a year from that, start looking into a new gun such as an automag or a cocker and a base for your freak.
buy a nice regulator and whatever else the gun needs to run low pressure, of course mags take an input pressure of 800, so you don't need a reg for that.
Now start looking into Retro-valves for the Mag or upgrades for the cocker, or looking for an Electro Pnumatic gun. Of course, I was talking to some guys yesterday and NPPL rules still allow Automag RTs, so you can achieve a ROF about equal to electro pnumatics but still be able to use the RT in tournies.
That's why I love the Automag right now. :)
IMHO Airgun Designs had a great idea changing their warranties and initiating the "punchcard" system for warranty work. It allows guys like us to atleast hope to get mags.
Oh, and no, anti-syphons don't get along with remotes. :D

[bobwill]

Oh, I don't yet own a Mag, but I've read just about everything I could in anticipation of getting one, and I have played with and against Automag RTs.
You can even find pdfs of the instruction manual and warranty info on www.airgun.com

[ciaran.mooney]

Doesnt any one else think RT's look ugly? With all that useless metal crap on them? Is it speed ball camo or summin?

[bobwill]

First, I like the way it looks. :) I mean come on, atleast it stands out. :)
This reminds me of something my dad told me when I was a kid, a joke about car designers, something like "It takes a lot of work to make an ugly car. If you design a car that has nothing to stand out from the pack then you end up with a car that is plain or in the worst case homely. However, to make a car that is truly ugly you have to design a car that will be beautiful, and fail."

I know he read that somewhere but I don't know where.

[elTwitcho]

Personally I really like the looks of the RT. IMO opinion it looks far better than the RT Pro (Polished metal is way cooler than black teflon coating) but only the RT Pro come in vert feed. That and it takes alot of skill and practice to use an RT. Alot of people get carried away on the trigger, shortstroke and get soup.

[beeper]

Right now I am trying to save money. I have cash to spend, but I am only a rec player and don't need an expensive gun. I just want a good reliable marker that will get me through without breaking down all the time and that will be fair when compared to other markers. Thanks for the help.

[bobwill]

Well, according to www.paintballgunreview.com the Piranha Pro TS does extremely well out of the box but it's $215.

[beeper]

Well I have pretty much narrowed it down to the Diablo Inferno and the Spyder Xtra. My question is to those of you who own the Xtra and Inferno, how is the trigger pull on both of them? Thanks for the help.
beeper