Moving on...and what's next?

[uscg4good]

Hi everyone. I'm new around here, but not new to paintball. Though it feels like it since I've not done it in a long time. I had a Tippmann 98 Custom, and lost it in the hurricane along with two cheaper markers that I let friends use. Anyhow, since I lost my Tippmann, I'm in the market for a new marker, and I've not played in two years. I'm not up to date on what's new and hot. What can you recommend as a good rec. marker?

[HurleyHero67]

If you're just into recball, look into picking up a refurbished Spyder Imagine from pbgear.com. It'll be significantly faster than your 98C was, but just as cheap. There hasn't been much change in the beginner's marker world since the 98C/Imagine, with the exception of the Smart Parts Ion which is a $260 marker that is nearly high-end right out of the box. You can look into that if you plan on playing any speedball.

[TheSpy11]

If you like the 98c, I would recommend its improvement - the Custom Pro.

[uscg4good]

Great suggestions. I was looking at the Spyder Fenix ACS, it is moderately priced. And I don't think I want another Tippmann. It worked fine for me while I had it, but I want to move to something better and a Tippmann reminds me too much of a field rental marker. I'm gonna check out this Imagine though. What are your thoughts on the Fenix ACS?

[TheSpy11]

The Fenix ACS is a usual overpriced Spyder. It really doesn't perform any better than the Imagine and costs a lot more. The problem with the Imagine though is that you want an improvement. The Imagine isn't really an improvement over the 98c - it's only faster. But with that speed comes a few problems. Spyders are prone to have little things go wrong and can chop like crazy even with a good loader. Usually the Imagine has to have some upgrades put on it just to perform decent.

This really leaves a good option. It's time for an electro-pneumatic. The ION is the cheapest choice. rcxpaintball has good deals on IONs here at pbr. Last I heard his price for an ION was $235. Add a fast loader and an HPA tank if you can afford it. Then you'll be pretty good to go. The ION is a much better gun than a Tippmann or Spyder. I don't think you would be disappointed.

[craig_74]

ions have been know to be great. new they are around 280 last i remember. a refurb spyder imagine would be a very cheap rec ball gun that preforms decent. if you are still into tippmanns, think about the custom pro. search on this site for guns. other low end guns to look into are spyder pilots and some pmi piranahs. check this site for reviews

[-Evilordie-]

Yeah man seriously, a ion is signifantly better than the spyders, it its a high end electro for cheap, and also it has exoskeletons (shells) that you can use, so say u break the shell you can just go to the sotre and buy one fore 30$ this makes it almost as tough as your custom 98 and only weighing 2.2 pounds (a heck of alot less that the 98) It is twice as good (mayb not twice but you ge tthe point) than any lower end marker. It's great, nice reg, O.K barrel, EYES=no ball breaks the only thing it doesnt have that a spyder has is a quik strip bolt, (this will make taking the gun apart just as hard as a 98 custom) but you can always buy a metal body later on to get easy access for your ion. Hope it helps

[Jr.]

u could get the ion now for about 200 or less sense resale is so horrible but i suggest a custom pro there good guns

[meetmrnewb]

u could get the ion now for about 200 or less sense resale is so horrible but i suggest a custom pro there good guns

If I was him, I would look more into a Spyder over a tippy especially if he wants an electronic.

Refurbished imagine ftw. :tup:

I would not reccomend an Ion for him. This happened to me and a few other people I know, so I'm sure there is a chance it will happen to him or he won't need the Ions speed.

A) You'll get more into speedball game types where you want a faster gun (I just bought a B2k2 and am already selling it to buy a shocker). Then you'll sell the Ion and lose money.

B) You'll not be interested in speedball and you'll play woods/recball all the time. You'll feel the Ions speed might be excess and you'll end up wasting your paint or just not needing the firepower.

For the price of just an Ion gun, you can get a refub'd Imagine + Tank/Mask/Revy. You wont ever need to shoot more than the Spyder's cap for recball and it is decent enough to play speedball until you pick up a sicker gat.

Anyway, welcome back to the sport. :tup:

[Jr.]

mech cocker or refurb imagine FTW

[senghing27]

bah humbug, the true newest gun thats out there mowing fools is the phantom. I mean 1 Ball per minute, mad skill...... and it comes with ramping /sarcasm
serioulsy get the phntom and pump up your skills

[wolfhawk46]

heh...It's not so much about teh speed on teh ion as it is about reliability and overall performance. The ion is on eof the most reliable and upgradable markers in the low end prices, giving you gigh-end performance for cheap. CAN YOU SAY REVOLUTIONARY!?

[papaintballer15]

i just wanna laugh over the ion being one of the most reliable guns. Considering its made of cheap parts easy to strip out, and its not like they have to only be lubed once every 5+ cases....

For a rec player, id suggest looking for a upped a-5.

[wolfhawk46]

actually...I only lube mine every 10,000 balls...heh...and for teh price vs performance...nothing can beat the ion, and only teh promaster can even get close :P

[papaintballer15]

so people who buy pimps for 300.. they dont even come close? ion needs ups, pimps dont.