Newbie in need of advice.

[Scope]

Yeah.. that's right.. i'm a newb ((free headshots on the newb!!)). I haven't played my first game of paintball yet, but I plan on going soon with a group of my friends. I've already decided that if I do get into paintball ((which seems like a likely thing to happen)), that I am going to get a pump. Because, quite simply, pumps just kick. I've always played the 'sniper' in any game, and I don't see why I should changed now, plus pumps are cheaper, and sound like a more strategic fun way to play. But that brings me to my next question. What pump should I get? I've been checking out the Armson Pump, and it seems pretty nice, not to expensive. I would apreciate it if you guys would tell me any good guns, and any good acessories like scopes and stocks and what not that I could use on my gun.
-Peace.

[Ulnari]

The first pump I bought was a CCI Phantom. I still play with it now and don't have any plans of getting a different gun. Phantoms are high quality guns.

[Scope]

yeah, I hear alot of good things about Phantoms, do you think i should get any upgrades for it?

[zenmaster]

there are absolutely no real 'upgrades' associated w/the phantom, performance-wise... once you get your setup (grip, air system placement, GF/stock class, etc.) the gun's a done deal. you don't even need to change the barrel.
Not too sure on exactly what the gun's normal operating pressure range is, but since they're so fantastic w/12 grams, I'd figure they were in the ~850 psi range, and most inline regs aren't generally used to regulate that high up. But the gun tends to be fairly consistant anyway, so a regulated air setup isn't necessary, unless you live where it's very cold, you could probably run a preset 47 cui nitro on bottomline and be all good (not to mention getting funny looks from the other players).

I'd say get a phantom if you can afford it, since you won't need to buy a 'high end' pump in the future, it's a very worthwhile investment.

[Scope]

Thanx man. Umm, I was also wondering, is getting a scope or one of those red dot things really worth it? I hear really varying opinions. I don't really plan on playing speedball, i think woodland games and capture the flag and stuff like that would be alot more fun. So should i get a scope? I heard a 3/9 scope is all you'll need plus a little more.

[snipinhick]

sights for the most part are worthless. even though with the right barrel-paint match, trying to copute arc and distance is a pain in the nuggets, possible wasting that most important shot.

[zenmaster]

I wouldn't get a scope, since the magnification will far outdistance the practical range of your gun

red dot sights can be helpful, zero it out to maybe 35yds or so, some ppl like 'em, some don't. I couldn't STAND my adco red dot on my SC phantom, because it sat so high up, it threw my aim off, but on a semi-auto or grav feed pump, they work fine... if you can, ask a player at your field to try it out, or test fit it at the store to your gun to see if you can aim it well w/the sights

[Scope]

Thanx for the advice Zen. I'll look into getting a gun as soon as a play a few games with some rentals, just to make sure I love it as much as I think i will. ^_^ Anyway, the place i'm planning to go with my friends is SC Village. Anyone ever heard of it? It's like 100 acres and has a bunch of different kinds of fields. I was just wondering if anyone knew if it was a good place to go, it's located in california.. so, anyone ver heard of the place?

[freek133]

heard of it? it is a great place that is in alot of magazines related to paintball. im sure most everyone has heard of it. hope you have a blast:D

[Scope]

Yes, finally i seem to be having good luck in something! I nice PBall place near-by me, how convinient, eh? Anyway, I'll be going on christimas break ((so far away, yet so close!!)) because that's the only time that all my friends can go to ((they also want to p-ball for their first time)). I'll try to have a good time there, and I expect I will. I think they might only rent semi-autos, and no pumps ((how sad!)), atleast that is what i've heard.

[freek133]

i hope you have a blast when you go. christmas break, its going to be cold. once i played a night game about 4 days ago and man i tell you what is what freaking freezing but this will be in the day. bring an extra pair of pants and a long sleeve shirt! youll need it

[Scope]

Thanx, I'll remember to bring that it if it a cold day, plus, a few extra layers would never hurt when dispersing a blow from a paintball. I've been nagging my friends like a mad-man and we might actually be going sooner, like this weekened or the one after it. ^_^ must... play.... paintball... strength... leaving..body...

[zenmaster]

ooooh, SC village... I want to go to cali just to play there ^_^

plus, too, SoCal is pretty well known for it's stock class play, so a pump won't be on unfamiliar ground... should be fun

[Scope]

Everyone loves SoCal, unless you don't like having a grey sky of smog overhead of all times. :D Plus, there's all the hot girls etc. etc. I'm happy to hear that pump has a good following in CA, beause that is what i'm really intrested in, although.. i'm a little confused, what's the difference between a normal pump and a "stock play pump" ?

[snipinhick]

if you get into it, i can sell you a 9oz, right feed phantom with 14 inch. and a mask hopper and elbow for a bargin, the stuff is basicall brand new. PM if you ever get interested... good luck playing, hope you get a few kills and enjoy the experience.

[freek133]

how much you selling it for

[snipinhick]

i said pm me.... i dont' want to spam in this kids thread.

[Scope]

Thanx for being considerate and not spamming in my post, I really apreciate that. I bet the gun is really nice, but i don't really want to buy it off of someone. Maybe it's just me, but there's something that I find cool about having a gun that is all your own. ^_^ Anyway...i'm still trying to figure out the dif. between a pump marker and a stock marker...

[snipinhick]

ok, difference between pump and stock:

the gun runs off of 12 gram CO2's
the gun has a feed stick holding 20 or less balls instead of a hopper. i will get some pics then post.

[snipinhick]

im using the phantom for a example because its the easiest one i could find.

stock class:

[snipinhick]

gravity and CA

[snipinhick]

do you see the difference? i hope so.

[Scope]

umm, the only difference i see is that the bottom one has a diagonal tube, that i assume you put paintball it, and no visibile connectors for a tank of CO2 or anything of that sort.

[snipinhick]

on the gravity feed one, you screw the tank in the back, also called back bottle
on the stock class, there a little tube going to the VA, the thinkg the down tube is sticking into, thats where you put your little CO2 powerlets. you put your paintballs in that little tube on the top with the stock class.
with the gravity, you use a hopper.

[zenmaster]

on a stock class pump, the balls are all held in that tube that sits above the gun's body, behind the barrel and horizontally. Also, the skinny bit (angled down at the rear of the upper gun, or in the case of the lower gun, in front of the pistol grip) is a holder for a 12gram CO2 cartridge, the kind that pellet/BB guns use. You'll tend to get about 30 good velocity shots per cartridge, and you load the paint w/little tubes that hold ten balls each.

Gravity fed pumps just have a feed port (second pic, tube oriented vertically off of the body) where you attach a hopper (big lima bean looking thing on the top of most guns), which usually hold 200 balls, and your air system can be a constant air tank (9oz, 12oz, whatever, CO2).

Notice how the grav-fed pumps can hold more air and more paint? stock class play tends to be a little bit harder to do, since you're reloading paint nearly every tenth shot and reloading air every 30th. If you lose count, you can get messed up pretty bad hehe. The point to stock class play is to showcase (or really, really build) the skills of the player. Using you HEAD to play the game, and AIMING every shot is the key to doing well in stock play. Semiauto players have the luxury of throwing walls of paint if need be, to eliminate an opponent, give cover for a move, pin down a player, etc. When you play stock, it helps you to learn how, when, and where to move, along w/being a more accurate shot. You simply don't have the ability to shoot 3, 10, or 50 balls at a guy, hoping to nail him. You've got one or two.


bit of a disclaimer- stock play certainly isn't for everybody, and semiauto only players CAN learn to be excellent players playing their way; pump/stock play is just a handy tool to use to develop skills, and a hella fun (and CHEAP!) way to play once you get the hang of it ^_^ Most every stock player around would also tell you that nothing feels better than to tag one of those tricked semi toters in the gogs from across the field because they were leaning out

[Scope]

hmmm.. stock sounds like alotta fun actually. I might start off witha stock gun then, I know it will be hard, but what's the fun in paying a game that has no challenge? ^_^

[zenmaster]

that's the spirit!!! ^_^

and of course, the wonderful thing about phantoms is that regardless of which setup (grav feed, stock class) you buy initially, you can simply buy the additional parts to convert btwn the two later on.

So, if you buy the grav feed phantom, buy the stock breech and 12gram quick changer later on for stock, or buy the stock at first, and get a grav feed breech and constant air tank for later
that way, you get to play both types of pump game

honestly though, my suggestion is to try regular pump play first, then work the stock game into it... the learning curve will be a little more managable

[Scope]

yes, I agree, the learnign curve does seem rather steep but, I figure if I can get good at stock play, then the other types of play will come along alot easier. I don't know which one i'll play yet, I geuss it all just depends on how i'm feeling when i buy the gun. ^_^

[zenmaster]

right on! unswayed by the pitfalls of stock class play ^_^

One thing that might ease your learning, would be to pick up a small CO2 tank (3.5 oz), that's plenty of air, but you don't need to count your shots for air reloads, so there's less hassle (and field litter from spent 12grams).

once you can hold your own while playing stock class, you might not even want a semiauto... but if you do, the others have to really watch out for you, you'll be a serious threat ^_^

[Scope]

I don't think I'll ever want an semi-auto or one of those horrendously expensive electric guns. Really, with the electric guns it's like your not even playing a game anymore, more like your waging a war. Geeze. I plan to stick with pump because sniping has always been what I've loved and been intrested in. And I know pumps have the best accuracy and range out of all the classes of guns. ^_^

[zenmaster]

well, electros *CAN* be very fun to play w/... it's really intoxicating to see how fast you can unload paint... had an angel, and it was nice, but really, for ANY walk-on rec play, I think they're completely unnecessary.

full-on tourney play is another story though... those extra few balls you can get out might make the difference btwn "you or him" (although, I *AM* a very firm believer in the fact that a gun can't completely make up for lack of game)

[Scope]

Yes, i agree that the idea of being able t o coat everything infront of you in paint is very apealing but, i would perfer a strategic more meaningful win. And i will agree that spending a couple of thousand dollars for rec play is totally insane, but, for a tourney i can understand because your playing for money and all. But, let's say i have a stock gun, so after i take every shot I have to tilt the gun enough for the ball to load in, pump, and then fire? or is it less or more complicated then that?

[snipinhick]

well, im trading my phantom for a traccer converted into a cocker, its cheap and i will be buying a minni pump soon. lol i have found that pump has made me more conservite with paint, wish me the best for my guns lol.

[zenmaster]

you pretty much got it ^_^
hold pump back, tilt gun so the ball will feed, then pump forward, level gun and shoot/aim/look pretty
it's not complicated, you just can't shoot really fast w/o a LOT of practice

[Scope]

ic just checking to make sure all my practicing before i get a gun won't go to waste ^_^ LOL, i find myself pumping an invisible gun alot when i'm not thinking... help! i'm obsessed!!!

[snipinhick]

really, i found that my hand-eye cordination is better then most folk, i just put the back bottle 12 gram container on my shoulder and aim down the barrel, when using stock class, this works better then other thing i tryed. I can shoot faster then rock and cock too.

[Scope]

thanx, i'll keep that tip in mind. Ok, keep the stock of the gun against the shoulder, fire, hold the pump back, tilt the gun sideways to let the paintball in, pull the pump back, aim, and fire again.. repeat.. ^_^

[Neovette75]

I am just really gtting into paintball and wordering if i should get a pump gun. i see you recomend a Phantom. Are there any good snipper pump 'guns that i could get? Thanx

[zenmaster]

you really can't go wrong w/a phantom if you can afford it, there's absolutely no need for the aftermarket when it comes to that gun. WGP's sniper is another popular gun, since it takes most all of the cocker's parts, and can easily be converted to semiauto (by buying cocker parts).

if you're looking at entry level, the trracers, et al, are nice, well priced nelson based pump guns (just like the phantom), and are a great way to get into pump play. just be sure to try and buy a model that has an adjustable bolt for velocity