Thinking about ditching mechanical...

[mmmoose]

Lately I've been a little discouraged about paintballing. Yesterday was my second time on the field, and I was really expecting my Tippmann A-5 to perform well. But everything pretty much went to hell, and I went home without taking a single person out. That's a grand total of ZERO people I've hit for the 6-8 hours of paintballing I've put in so far.

Two main things went wrong yesterday:

1. My recently purchased expensive-as-hell Tiberius 8 broke down after only 5-7 shots (at the chronograph, no less). I thought it would be interesting to ditch the idea of carrying pods and go straight for a sidearm. Except when your sidearm dies out on you you're pretty much SOL. I ran out of paintballs twice and had to call myself out on both occasions as a result.

2. The accuracy of my Tippmann A-5 was total crap. Everything is bone stock and brand new. But my shots went all over the place. I tried to tuck myself in and hold myself as steady as possible at the bunkers, and even taking my time aiming with the iron sights, but nothing helped one bit. Sadly the Tiberius 8 pistol was A LOT more accurate than my A-5... at least while it was working.

I know the first thing most people jump into when purchasing a paintball marker is a barrel upgrade. And I know a lot of people are going to suggest the same thing to me. But while I was checking out other players' markers (electronic), I started getting jealous. They seemed lighter and A LOT more accurate. These guys were picking people off left and right, without breaking a sweat.

The Tippmann A-5 isn't necessarily a heavy marker, but with an HPA tank hooked up (my stupid field didn't have CO2, so I couldn't use my 9oz pure energy tanks) it CAN be. I was still able to keep a steady stance and aim straight, but it eventually became very uncomfortable over time.

The double and rocking triggers some of these guys had also made me sort of jealous. I know the A-5 has a trigger kit, but it still doesn't look like it would be able to compete with some of the higher end speedball guns (not even close). And unfortunately because speedball is A LOT more popular in my area, I feel like I have to bite the bullet and get a marker that's better suited for it.

I've been drooling over the Spyder VS3 lately, but as a newbie I'm a little concerned about a few things:

1. Is it fragile?

2. Is it high maintenance?

3. Is it a lot more accurate stock?

4. Is it noticeably lighter than the A-5 (w/HPA tank)?

I still don't know whether I should make the jump from mechanical to electronic. I'm trying to talk myself out of it, but at the same time I can't help but wonder how much lighter, more comfortable, and more accurate these things can be. Any thought on what I should do?

I'd like to mention again that I'm really not that crazy about getting into barrel upgrades. It's more of an issue of whether the Spyder VS3 would be A LOT more comfortable and easier to use than the Tippmann A-5, for speedball. I'm sure that's probably a stupid question to ask, but if the VS3 is a low maintenance/reliable/extremely accurate/very light marker, than I'd be willing to make the jump to electronic.

[Mentalmonkey10]

I would ask to shoot a VS3 before buying one. Some people really like the rocking trigger frame, while others cant stand it.

I haven't used any VS series markers personally, but I have used many spyders. Spyders are generally easy to maintain and are fairly durable. I don't know about the stock barrel on them though. It will probably be a good amount lighter than the A5, but I don't know how by how much.

If you want to get into speedball, or just want a lighter, smaller, faster marker for woodsball, I would recomend selling or trading both the A5 and the pistol and looking at a Promaster/Lasoya Promaster, Ion, a VS 2 or 3 (depending on if you like the rocking frame), or possibly a used Timmy.

I wouldn't rely on the sites on your tippy. Sites arn't generally accurate on paintball markers unless you have a high end barrel and line the sites up perfectly, and still you would have to adjust your aim for drop. I recomend simply "learning" how to aim your marker naturally.

[Evil_Wayz]

The first three times I played paintball, I had a rental, didn't hit anyone.

If it takes too much time for you to use the iron sights on the A-5, don't. Walk your shots up. They go slow enough to see where you are shooting.

I have iron sights on my BT-4 and I haven't ever used them.

You are going to have to play and practice before you get any good. And adujst your A-5 til you get it shooting the way you want it. It can't be the marker, I took my friend out, a fellow Marine, with a bone stock A-5 and he gogged me three times once he got used to the marker.

Maybe a drop forward would help.

[JChan819]

If you're looking into a VS3, just a get a VS2. It's cheaper, and has a regular double trigger, not a Rocking Trigger. But with a VS, you'd need HPA.

VS2 if you're looking into a Spyder.

The VS2 is lighter than an A5, and should do you justice in speedball. Remember to buy an HPA tank and a decent loader, like the Egg 2. It will probably be the best budget choice for you if you want to play speedball.

Sorry if I'm jumping to different topics, but I'm sort of in a rush, and didn't get to read your post completely.

[Ebonclaw]

I blame your paint for your accuracy problems more than anything else. Ensure that your paint matches your barrel and you are shooting good paint, not cheap crap that's been sitting on a wal-mart shelf for weeks. Even a stock barrel should put shots in a usable grouping if the paint is good and matches the barrel properly.
Having said that, A-5s are big, heavy, cumbersome guns. And you're very fortunate to be able to use HPA. Since you have access to HPA, I would reccomend looking into lower end electropnumatic markers, like the Ion and the Lasoya Promaster. Granted, you will have to buy a loader to keep up with these guns. Also consider the VS2, most experienced players regard the rocking trigger frame as a gimmick.
Spyders are well built, durable, and easy to maintain, as well as being somewhat lighter and faster. But they are restricted to mere blowback operation like your A-5. The VS line has greatly improved matters when it comes to blowback operation, but these guns are still considered vastly inferior to electropnumatic operation.
Electropnumatics are fast, light, quiet, and offer little to no recoil, as well as being very reliable guns. The flipside is they are a higher investment and require routine maintenence in order to keep their reliability in check. This usually involves dissassembling the gun and lubing the bolt every 2000 rounds or so, or before and after each time you go play. Some of these guns have very easy maintenence (pull a pin, slide the bolt out, lube, and replace) and others are more complex. Properly lubing an Ion takes about 15 minutes and requires complete dissassembly. You could do it faster I suppose, but I like to take my time and make sure I don't crossthread anything.
Spyders have very simple maintenence and take under a minute to lube properly, if that.
My first reccomendation would be to buy some good paint that matches your barrel well and see if that improves your accuracy. If you still feel like upgrading, feel free, but I'm thinking something isn't right to get what you described. Even terrible stock barrels are capable of putting a ball somewhat on target. The cold weather may be a factor in your problems, brittle paint often shoots poorly.

[mmmoose]

Thanks guys, keep the posts coming. I was also looking into a Proto PM6. Although more expensive, it seems slightly better than the VS3 from the reviews on here. I figured I could sell/return the Tiberius 8 ($240) and A-5 ($200) until I could afford one of the high-end Protos. I really dig their styling and I've heard nothing but good things about them.

[Ebonclaw]

Wow....a PM6 is a FAR cry from a Spyder. If you're under that kind of a budget, markers I might reccomend would be the Dangerous Power Fusion, the PM6 itself of course, E-tek Egos, and possibly the Invert Mini...just make sure you try one first, they are REALLY small guns.
Going with a Fusion would leave you with enough cash leftover to get a NICE loader, a decent pack, and a good HPA tank.

[Evil_Wayz]

Wow....a PM6 is a FAR cry from a Spyder. If you're under that kind of a budget, markers I might reccomend would be the Dangerous Power Fusion, the PM6 itself of course, E-tek Egos, and possibly the Invert Mini...just make sure you try one first, they are REALLY small guns.
Going with a Fusion would leave you with enough cash leftover to get a NICE loader, a decent pack, and a good HPA tank.

Wow that invert mini is TINY. I wonder what possessed them to make a marker so small?

[HungryHippo7735]

Wow that invert mini is TINY. I wonder what possessed them to make a marker so small?

makes for a smaller profile, which is a bonus fer speedball. it also helps fer the front players who go for the snake...crawling is a lot easier with a smaller marker.

[Mentalmonkey10]

Thanks guys, keep the posts coming. I was also looking into a Proto PM6. Although more expensive, it seems slightly better than the VS3 from the reviews on here. I figured I could sell/return the Tiberius 8 ($240) and A-5 ($200) until I could afford one of the high-end Protos. I really dig their styling and I've heard nothing but good things about them.

The VS3 dosn't even compare to the PM6. Sence you are going through the reviews, you might not want to be comparing the ratings of markers. The ratings are prety pointless unless you are comparing markers of the same time and of the same (or near) price. An example of why is that the WGP Black Magic has a 9.0 while the Spyder Xtra also has a 9.0. Even though they have the same rating, it dosn't mean that a mechanical blow-back even comes close to a high-end electric.

Anyways, if you are looking at the PM6, you should also think about the PMR (Rail), the DP Fusion, Invert Mini, the eTek Ego, Smart Parts Epiphany (which is basicly an uped ion), and some used Shockers. Buying used might be a good idea too, considering that you can get many markers for far under what they are selling for new.

Wow that invert mini is TINY. I wonder what possessed them to make a marker so small?

Most people want a small gun for speedball. Also, the Fusion is smaller than the Mini I think.

[iliveforthis99]

Wow that invert mini is TINY. I wonder what possessed them to make a marker so small?Cuz they could. Yeah if you're looking at a pm6 then get the spyders out of your mind. It isn't slightly better then the vs it's leaps and bounds better. Also look into fusion, rail, mini, and the timmys on firstcallpaintball.com

[mmmoose]

Well I think I'll be getting the Tiberius 8 repaired first. That's my highest priority now. Once that's done it'll be decision time on whether to sell everything and start all over. I may not, but if I do go with an electronic marker It would be between the Proto M6 and the Spyder VS3. I can't really decide. I wouldn't mind getting the M5 even, but I can't find them for sale brand new anywhere.

Anyway, just to recap on key features I'm looking for:

- Durability.
- Reliability.
- Low maintenance.
- MUST be very light.
- Easy to strip and clean.

I know the two markers are in completely different leagues of each other, and that the Proto would probably be the better choice. However I've heard about how some of the Matrix markers have frail wiring that can easily be destroyed during disassembly. And with the Spyder VS3 I've read how the grip cover doesn't sit flush unless you really get in there and rearrange the wiring.

So it seems they both have some quality issues. But what marker isn't perfect, right?

[Ebonclaw]

The Fusion. It's perfect. My next gun someday.

[Evil_Wayz]

Well I think I'll be getting the Tiberius 8 repaired first. That's my highest priority now. Once that's done it'll be decision time on whether to sell everything and start all over.


I'll buy that tac - 8 off you if it's broken or fixed.

[Ebonclaw]

Here's a good comparison. Think of the VS3 as...say.....a nice Camry. It'll get you where you need to go, and it'll do it a bit faster than some of the other cars on the road.
The PM6 is more like....a Porsche Carrera. It'll not only do the job as fast or faster than anything else out there, but it'll do it in style and performance. Shoot a Spyder VS3. Then go shoot the PM6. And then you'll realize you're comparing a Camry to a Porsche after the first three shots.

[theJesus1]

The Fusion. It's perfect. My next gun someday.

I hate to go on about how much I like my fusion, but yes, it really cannot dissapoint. it has all of the attributes your looking for.

Really though, I think you should play with what you have a bit more, I mean after all, this was only your second time playing right? The stock a-5 barrel isn't spectacular, but just be sure to use some half decent paint and it shouldn't let you down. Just slow down a little bit, because you have only played twice and you already have two guns. Everyone has a bad experience sooner or later, so I just suggest playing around with your a-5 and tac 8 a bit more and then seeing where you want to go from there. Then if you really want to upgrade, consider a fusion, you absolutely cannot go wrong with one in my opinion.

also, to mental monkey, the fusion is bigger than the mini. I really dont think there's anything smaller than the mini right now.

[mmmoose]

Evil_Wayz,

Well it's not broken per se. I think the bolt is just stuck forward. I'm waiting until tomorrow so I can call up their tech support and hope they fix it, because I'm just not up to pulling it apart just yet. Can you believe the pistol stopped working after only five shots at the chronograph?!? It spent the rest of the day stored in my car, while the A-5 got all the attention.

My Tac-8 is otherwise completely spotless. If I do sell it I'll be including the Special Ops Paintball holster (black), an extra magazine, and I'll even throw in a 15-count Brass Eagle CO2 box in there, assuming they allow them to be shipped via ground. I have a fair price in my head as to how much I could sell it for, but I'd like to hear some offers first.

I'm just wondering out of curiosity what price are you looking for? I paid around $330 for all of this. I'd rather not sell it in its current state, because I don't want to sell it at a ridiculously low price (or be accused of sending a broken product). I just got the pistol as is from Special Ops Paintball, and the trigger crapped out on me under normal conditions.

[Evil_Wayz]

Evil_Wayz,


I'm just wondering out of curiosity what price are you looking for? I paid around $330 for all of this. I'd rather not sell it in its current state, because I don't want to sell it at a ridiculously low price (or be accused of sending a broken product). I just got the pistol as is from Special Ops Paintball, and the trigger crapped out on me under normal conditions.

If it works, we can work something out. If it doesn't, depending on how much Tiberius quotes me for repair work, between 120-180. Basically what you paid for it, minus what it is going to cost me to get it shipped form you, ship it to them and get it fixed. Just for the marker. I will give you current value for the mags and the holster. Nothing wrong with them.

I would like to have a broken one to work on so I can learn about the two working ones I have. That way if I screw something up, it doesn't matter.

I don't rip people off when they are down, don't worry.

PM me if you are interested. In all honesty I don't NEED another one, and I'd prefer you stick with it so the company stays in business, makes new products, and the price comes down.

[Reaper_de_Grim]

6-8 hours of paintball isn't very much. I think your problem is inexperience more so than an equipment problems. Also, no matter what marker you purchase you really need to upgrade the stock barrel with at least two more (small bore and medium bore) so you can match paint to barrel. Barrel upgrades are a simple must. Sites on a paintball marker are cosmetic. Thousands of articles have been written on the instability and inaccuracy of a spherical object filled with liquid fired at 200+ fps. The best you can hope for is probably at close range and possibly at long range.

As for what marker you need to buy... depends on what you like. The main things are research research research narrow down the attributes you think you will like and then to try and play a bit with any marker before you purchase it. There are as many opinions about what marker is best as there are markers.

[Ill_Captain]

Hold up, before you go out and start dropping money left and right theres a lot you can do with your current equipment.

For starters get a new barrel for the A-5. No offence to Tippmanns, but their stock barrel is terrible. Get a nice Custom Products Classic/One Peice barrel (make sure its threaded for A-5) and you'll be on your way to reaching out and touching someone.

As for the Tac-8 thing, I'm not familiar as to how it works, so can't help you there. But I'd say take it appart, see what you can personaly do; just remember where everything goes. Its not like you could break it any more :D.

[mmmoose]

DEAR GOD!!! I just got a glimpse of the Invert Mini. I gotta have one.

:love:

Hahah.... hmm let's see, 1.99 lbs versus the A-5's 3.5 lbs. Hmmm!!

It looks pretty accurate in the videos I've seen of it. What is it comparable to? I'd imagine that it would completely dominate my stock A-5.

I was also going to say that I was impressed with the Fusion, but after seeing the Mini it doesn't seem all that impressive anymore. Yooww...

:crazy:

[Lenny17]

A couple more thoughts to throw out there...

What type of HPA tank were you using? If it was a 48/3k aluminum tank, those things are heavy, and will weigh your marker down. A good fiber HPA tank is much lighter, and will get more shots (the 4.5k ones) as well.

I know you don't want to hear this as well - but at least try a new barrel. I bought a new barrel kit for my US-5, and the difference was incredible.

Also, 6-8 hours isn't that much paintball. My first day out (4 hours), I think I hit one person. I think. I'm not really sure. My second time out (6 hours) I know for certain I hit two people. But I was using a rental the first game, and a stock US-5 the next. My paintballs were all over the place, but I've read enough here to know that can happen if you have a bad paint/barrel match. So when I got home after my second time, I did the old barrel test, and the paintball just dropped right through my barrel. Turns out the field paint (marbellizers) needed the smallest back on my barrel kit. No wonder I couldn't shoot straight...

I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying a high-end electro. They are certainly nice markers, and a lot of people would love to have one. I'm more just saying to step back and make sure you are making the right decision.

[Ebonclaw]

Make sure that you hold a Mini before you decide on it. I also prefer my guns small, light, and fast, but when I first held a Mini, I wa like....WOW...is this too small? The foregrip also has a unique feel to it and requires you to hold the foregrip slightly differently. Some people like it, some people don't. It's a VERY small marker, the smallest and lightest I've held to date. And I would advise you study it carefully and learn the maintenence for it before you buy it, but it may be just the thing you're looking for. Marker maintenence on many modern high end guns isn't really bad and is relativly easy to learn. Truth be told, most damage done to high end markers is the result not of being unable to perform maintenence, but more often a crossthreading of a screw during reassembly of the gun or something similarly stupid. Anyway, I hoped I showed you a few good options.

[mmmoose]

Thank you, Ebonclaw. I've decided that it's pretty much down to a Fusion or Mini. Unfortunately none of the paintball shops in the area seem to be carrying the Mini, so I can't really get a feel for it. But considering I'm also a complete newbie to paintball, I'm really not used to the traditional style grips or triggers, so that may serve as an advantage to me.

From what I've seen and read, I love the looks, size, and weight of the Mini a lot. I want to say that I've already made my decision, but I'm reading some problems with chopping and faulty boards, so I'm a little nervous about that. However if it's only a matter of sending the marker to the company in for free warranty repairs etc. I wouldn't mind at all.

Mechanically the Mini seems a lot more simple in design, which theoretically translates to higher durability. I mean it's advertised as not having any tubing/wiring, so there's less things to break down/leak. I love the fact that there's no air tubing between the foregrip and trigger handle. That's the type of thing I'm looking for: compactness, accuracy, and simplicity.

So I guess it's simple and durable in theory, but I'd like some reassurance before putting over $400 down on purchasing one.

[Lenny17]

How far is King of Prussia from Baltimore? I think Outdoor Adventures (local shop) had a Mini in stock last time I was there. If you are really dying to get you hands on a couple different markers, they are more than happy to help you out.

I would give them a call before you drive down, but if you really want to hold a couple guns, it might be worth the trip.

[mmmoose]

I got a chance to handle the Proto Matrix Rail and Spyder VS3 at a local shop...

The PMR felt very cheap in my hands. I don't know, I really didn't like it. I love the styling of the Matrix series, but the trigger felt a little too cheap and loose for me. The rubber grip cover also had too much flex and didn't sit flush against the handle. I wasn't too happy with the construction of the gun overall.

The VS3 was a lot better, but its weight was more comparable to the A-5 (just a little lighter). So I don't really consider it that much of an improvement over what I have now. And once again the grip cover felt too flimsy and wouldn't sit flush. Although I've heard rearranging the internal wires would help.

So I've decided to go with the Invert Mini. I placed a preorder in with Action Village, since they don't have them in stock right now. Hopefully I'll be getting one with the 1.2 version board, since it's safe to assume that a new batch is coming in.

[Ebonclaw]

Right now, I think the Mini's biggest drawbacks are the facts that you cannot add any kind of drop or rail mount with the mini since the ASA goes straight into the gun. As a result, you better like how it feels, because it ain't changing! And at the current time, though I'm sure this will be rectified, there's not a huge ton of spare parts for it.
Having said that, it's a very simple gun internally to maintain, and has recieved high reviews. And it is stupid small.
The Fusion weighs a hair more at 2.5 pounds, but has the ability to easily accept different upgrades (rails, drops, new reg, etc) just like any other gun and is basically built around FASOR, which is a pretty proven system. The best thing I can say the Fusion has going for it right now is that Dangerous Power's customer service has been amazing in any case I've read.

[mmmoose]

Yeah I'm not a big fan of upgrades like drop forwards and rail mounts, to be honest. I don't know why some people think they're necessary. I mean the first marker I ever owned was the newer Spyder Xtra. I wasn't impressed with the stock drop forward. If anything I was bothered by the height increase. I find lower profiles to be more comfortable for me. Personal preference I guess...

Of course it would be great to have more spare parts available. That's probably the only thing that concerns me. Well, that and not many places would have much knowledge on how to repair the Inverse Mini. But given the fact that there are fewer parts to break hopefully translates to a more reliable electronic marker than most other brands. Or at least that's the theory behind it.

I thank you for pointing these things out, though. That's the type of feedback I want to hear.

[Ebonclaw]

Not all drops are as terrible as the Spyder Xtras. I too hate drops that increase your vertical profile needlessly. But, at the same time, the stock duckbill ASA on my Ion made the gun ridiculously long, it felt like shooting a rifle! I got a CP micro drop as it moved the tank forward, but not down hardly any and here's what I wound up with.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v720/Ebonclaw/DSCF0023.jpg

I should note the Fusion has been reviewed as a very reliable gun, as has the Mini. And the Mini comes in this SICK locking (that's right, locking) black aluminum storage case. In any event, I think either of these fine guns would be a good choice.

[mmmoose]

Yes, YES, YESSS!!!! I'm aware of the case. And the dog tags. And the nice spare parts kit with the plastic case. At $400 the whole package is nearly a steal! But shhh... don't tell that to the people that make 'em. I really hope they keep it that way, because right now I'm nervously waiting on Action Village's backorder.

:-(

Sorry Lenny17, I wasn't ignoring you. Yeah it was an aluminum HPA tank on my A-5. I certainly believe you that buying a better barrel would do the trick, but then there's nothing to solve the weight problem. And I've found the single trigger stock setup to be a little rough on the fingers through prolonged use.

I guess I could put another hundred or so dollars into making the A-5 more speedball friendly, but honestly would it be worth it? It'll still be a rather large and heavy marker in the end. I don't think it's not impossible, but personally I'd be willing to put the extra money down to get something more comfortable.

I do appreciate that you're trying to offer me some advice which would probably save me a ton of money. So I thank you for that. The whole process of buying and returning/selling my paintball equipment has been a huge headache so far, but in the end I think it'll be worth it. To give you an idea of what I've tried so far:

1. Spyder Xtra 2006
2. JT Tac-5
3. Tippmann A-5
4. Ariakon Overlord
5. Tiberius 8

Yes, I've actually tried and returned all of these products. Well with exception to the A-5 and Tiberius 8. I'm planning on selling the Tiberius to someone on here who expressed interest in it, once I get it back for warranty repairs. It's an excellent sidearm, but for speedball it's a hassle carrying two guns at once.

I think I'll be keeping the A-5 for a while. I'm not sure whether to keep it as a backup marker or not. Yeah, Tippmanns are rock solid. But at the same time I don't want it to sit around and gather dust. If I'm not broke in the end, I may keep it and go with your suggested upgrades as I earn more spending money.

[Ill_Captain]

I guess I could put another hundred or so dollars into making the A-5 more speedball friendly, but honestly would it be worth it? It'll still be a rather large and heavy marker in the end. I don't think it's not impossible, but personally I'd be willing to put the extra money down to get something more comfortable.


Naw, Tippmanns aren't really speeball oriented, no matter how much you put into them.

[Mentalmonkey10]

Jesus, you have paintballed twice and will have owned 6 markers?!

Anyways, like captain said, Tippys arn't good speedball guns in my oppinion. They are too long and heavy, but I would still keep it as a backup or a marker for someone to borrow.

[mmmoose]

Hahah... hard to believe, yeah. I've lost a ton of money in shipping expenses so far, but I don't regret it. I've learned a lot from each marker I've owned and handled. I have a better sense of what I like and what I don't like now.

The region I live in isn't exactly packed with well-stocked paintball shops. I only have access to minimum supplies: paintballs, pod harnesses, barrel condoms, masks, CO2/HPA tanks, a handful of Tippmanns/Spyders/Ions/etc.

I'm usually not this picky about buying anything, but I figured that since paintball is an expensive sport and markers usually aren't cheap that I damn well better have the one I'm completely happy with, right? I won't settle for less.

[Lenny17]

Sorry Lenny17, I wasn't ignoring you. Yeah it was an aluminum HPA tank on my A-5. I certainly believe you that buying a better barrel would do the trick, but then there's nothing to solve the weight problem. And I've found the single trigger stock setup to be a little rough on the fingers through prolonged use.

I guess I could put another hundred or so dollars into making the A-5 more speedball friendly, but honestly would it be worth it? It'll still be a rather large and heavy marker in the end. I don't think it's not impossible, but personally I'd be willing to put the extra money down to get something more comfortable.

I do appreciate that you're trying to offer me some advice which would probably save me a ton of money. So I thank you for that. The whole process of buying and returning/selling my paintball equipment has been a huge headache so far, but in the end I think it'll be worth it. To give you an idea of what I've tried so far:

1. Spyder Xtra 2006
2. JT Tac-5
3. Tippmann A-5
4. Ariakon Overlord
5. Tiberius 8

Yes, I've actually tried and returned all of these products. Well with exception to the A-5 and Tiberius 8. I'm planning on selling the Tiberius to someone on here who expressed interest in it, once I get it back for warranty repairs. It's an excellent sidearm, but for speedball it's a hassle carrying two guns at once.

I think I'll be keeping the A-5 for a while. I'm not sure whether to keep it as a backup marker or not. Yeah, Tippmanns are rock solid. But at the same time I don't want it to sit around and gather dust. If I'm not broke in the end, I may keep it and go with your suggested upgrades as I earn more spending money.

That's cool. It certainly seems like you've done your homework, and aren't just spending a lot of money just to say you have a cool gun. Someone was dry firing a mini at OA the other day, and it was SICK. :) I tend to be conservative with my paintball purchases because I just don't really have the budget. But really, it seems that you just went through the progression of trying a bunch of guns without all of that annoying sitting on the field thinking "this sucks". More power to you!

There is certainly a large part of me that was envious of the kid firing the Mini, especially as I was standing there being told that they didn't have the parts I needed for my Hammer. I would have loved to have thrown my pump to the wind, and walked out of there with a top-notch paint flinger.

And I will also go back to my theory that speedball and woodsball are two different games, and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the other. Using an A-5 for speedball? No wonder you wanted something else! I initially assumed you were primarily a woodsballer. :P

[mmmoose]

Hey don't get me wrong I'd LOVE to woodsball. I still plan to, but practically nobody does with the walk-on games I've been to. It's starting to get very annoying. I guess I'll eventually have to move on to a bigger field like Cobra Command or Lehigh Valley Paintball. But for now I'm just using my current field as a small testing ground for all these marker setups.

There are still quite a few things I love about the A-5 which no other marker can provide (or even come close):

- It's mechanical and can take MUCH more abuse than any electronic marker. I mean forget about playing in rain or snow with an electronic. With an electronic you're at the mercy of the weather.

- If your 9v battery runs dry during a game you're screwed also. Some fields earn a ton of money from selling batteries alone. But with the A-5 it's like, "Huh? Batteries? What are you smoking?"

- The cyclone technology is a pure genius invention that I wish more markers carried. But I guess Tippmann Pneumatics wouldn't be too happy about that. So now I'll have to deal with a huge electronic hopper buzzing in front of my face, which once again will be another thing running on batteries.

- Its design. I mean c'mon, it's based on the MP5K submachine gun. However... paintball has also taught me that design means jack when you can't hit anything. I suppose you could look good losing though. Many people were also commenting and drooling over my Tiberius 8. Too bad it never left my holster the entire time.

So it's those reasons I've mentioned why I'll try to keep the A-5, if I can manage to. Luckily the Mini is on backorder for 2 weeks, so I'll have some time to gather a nice egg nest of money to spend on a fiberglass tank and decent electronic hopper. I might give the A-5 another go at the field within the next week or two.

[Ebonclaw]

Hey don't get me wrong I'd LOVE to woodsball. I still plan to, but practically nobody does with the walk-on games I've been to. It's starting to get very annoying. I guess I'll eventually have to move on to a bigger field like Cobra Command or Lehigh Valley Paintball. But for now I'm just using my current field as a small testing ground for all these marker setups.

There are still quite a few things I love about the A-5 which no other marker can provide (or even come close):

- It's mechanical and can take MUCH more abuse than any electronic marker. I mean forget about playing in rain or snow with an electronic. With an electronic you're at the mercy of the weather.

- If your 9v battery runs dry during a game you're screwed also. Some fields earn a ton of money from selling batteries alone. But with the A-5 it's like, "Huh? Batteries? What are you smoking?"

- The cyclone technology is a pure genius invention that I wish more markers carried. But I guess Tippmann Pneumatics wouldn't be too happy about that. So now I'll have to deal with a huge electronic hopper buzzing in front of my face, which once again will be another thing running on batteries.

- Its design. I mean c'mon, it's based on the MP5K submachine gun. However... paintball has also taught me that design means jack when you can't hit anything. I suppose you could look good losing though. Many people were also commenting and drooling over my Tiberius 8. Too bad it never left my holster the entire time.

So it's those reasons I've mentioned why I'll try to keep the A-5, if I can manage to. Luckily the Mini is on backorder for 2 weeks, so I'll have some time to gather a nice egg nest of money to spend on a fiberglass tank and decent electronic hopper. I might give the A-5 another go at the field within the next week or two.


Don't feel too bad, here's some rebuttals:
1) Electronic markers normally handle just fine in rain. Think about it, the important part of the gun, the board, is inside the grip frame. And unless you're playing without grip panels on, there's no rain getting in through there, especially not since you ARE holding the gun by the grip, right? The only other ways to get to the board would be through the barrel and feedneck. And since there's a hopper sitting on top of your feedneck.....and the fact that air and paintballs are constantly coming out of the barrel...not to mention the fact that the rain STILL has to get past the AIRTIGHT bolt o-rings....that's why I've never had a problem with my Ion in the rain.

2) Go to Sam's club. Buy half a million 9V batteres for $20. Replace a battery after playing twice or so and you'll never have to worry about the issue.

3) The only reason the cyclone feed works is becuase it's a mechanical gun. Asking that thing to feed paint through an electropnumatic in a similar fashion would result in a blender. Literally. Not to mention, the forward profile of that hopper is BIG. In this case, the hopper is right for the gun because it's a mech and can't fire that fast.

4) Yeah...it is based off an Mp5....I'll give you that one.


I think if you've decided to go with the Mini, you'll be very happy with your purchase. It's stupid fast, stupid small, and stupid light. If you want to keep your setup as light as possible, I'll reccomend you consider purchasing a 45/4500 tank instead of the usal 68/4500.....the Mini is pretty efficient, so you should see a good 800 rounds or so at least before having to get more air, and if your field has all-day-air for a set fee, no biggie! The Mini will also be an ideal woodsball marker. Really, speedball markers go well into woodsball as a general rule, but woodsball markers don't always translate to good speedball markers, as they are often larger, weightier guns.
Also, the good news behind you buying a new loader is that it'll feed just about any gun you could possibly buy form here on out. Consider the HALO-B, Vlocity (which I think would be a bit too big personally) or maybe a Pulse, if you have the cash and accessability to one. I tried an egg on a Mini once, and HATED how far off balance the tiny gun seemed to be thrown. My Halo balanced very nicely. I seem to remember some website selling Halo-B's with rip drives installed for $90....thinking it was Actionvillage.
Anyhow, sounds like you have plenty of time to do your homework and read some care and feeding guides for the Mini.
The next time you take your A-5 out to the field though, examine how well the paint you're using fits the barrel and get back to us on how the accuracy and paint/bore match was that day.

[mmmoose]

Yeah, I was originally thinking about going with a Halo-B, but it actually received mediocre reviews on here. It's odd because I've heard so many great things about it.

I then read a suggestion, somewhere on here, on buying the Vlocity Jr for the Mini, which I think is a great fit. It also matches the 20 bps cap on the Mini. The only bad thing I've heard is that it eats 9v batteries and only has a 180 paintball capacity.

The Spyder Fasta (9v) also got some pretty good ratings. It has a higher capacity, however it looks like it doesn't look like it can go above 15 bps. So I won't be able to use the 20 bps setting on the Mini, which really isn't a big deal but still... I'd like to have that match.

Anyway I'm still trying to decide. I'm leaning more towards the Vlocity Jr, for its smaller size and higher potential feed rate.

As for the tank, yeah 45/4500 sounds the best. I'll be saving up for a fiberglass tank (Crossfire). It wouldn't make sense to buy an aluminum one if I've got such a light paintball marker.

[Ebonclaw]

Well, just for reference, I've owned two HALO-Bs, and never had a lick of trouble with either of them, they've been great loaders. They don't like dark shelled paint however, but since I never shoot dark shelled paint....
Despite the Fasta's reviews, I'm hesitant to reccomend it. Maybe it's because of all the hype Kingman surrounds their products with. Granted I've never used one, but like I said, I'm familiar with Kingman hyping their products to be much better than they actually are so......
The Vlocity Jr's capacity of 180 balls is actually pretty decent. I mean, your normal high speed loaders typically hold about 160, so I don't see the capacity being a concern. As far as the battery issue.....remember that Sam's club place I told you about? Yeah, problem solved.
It's always prefereable to have a loader that feeds faster than your gun can shoot, since few loaders are capable of feeding perfectly consistently once the hopper starts to empty. And, like aformentioned, most of the time manufactueres like to hype thier products. Examples being hoppers that claim feed rates of 35 BPS.......that's only under ideal conditions when all the planets are aligned right.

[mmmoose]

I've narrowed my choice of hoppers/loaders down to two: eVLution "Egg" 3 or VLocity Jr. Both are made by the same company and both of them seem to get similar reviews. Either people absolutely LOVE them and give them incredible ratings, or they absolutely hate them. There is no in between.

Personally I love the looks of the Egg 3. It's nice and low on the marker. I absolutely hate high hoppers. Unfortunately the VLocity Jr seems to be on the high side. The Egg 3 is obviously bigger, but it's offset more towards the back of the marker. I can imagine this making tucking into bunkers much easier.

The Egg 3 also has a higher capacity, which I suppose matters more for a newb like me who would rather spend less time reloading. To my knowledge, however, both of these hoppers are battery hogs. But as it was already mentioned I guess that's a non-issue if I get a large pack of batteries from Sam's/Costco.

The only real drawback I see for the Egg 3 is its durability. I think that's where the VLocity Jr really shines. I've heard stories about how the Egg 3's shell is fragile (which I guess adds to the irony of its shape). However I'm not the type of person to go diving and rolling around in the fields.

I'd like to hear some thoughts from people who have tried or owned both hoppers, to get a better idea of which would be better for me. Although I'm praising the Egg 3 a lot, I'd definitely consider the VLocity Jr if it turns out to be a much better hopper. But from what I'm reading in the reviews it's VERY close.

Comparison information I'm looking for are:

- Battery Efficiency
- Ease of Use
- Noise Level
- Durability
- Reliability

[JChan819]

Well, I personally think the VLocity Jr. is lower than the Egg 3. You could always cut the feedneck down to your liking.

I also think that the Jr. will use more batteries because not only does it use the eye system, but the motor's always using tension on the ball stack. This could be solved with an aftermarket board, I believe. The Egg 3's battery life should be better than the Jr.

The Egg's design, in my opinion, puts the feedneck in jepoardy(spelling). The extra length and stress created by the weight and inertia of moving around don't help any when thinking about durability. But that's just me. Reloading the Egg may also be a problem until you get used to it.

The obvious choice for battery efficiency is the Egg. The motor isn't always creating tension.

Ease of use should also go to the Egg. It's just a one flip switch, and bam! It's on!

Durability and Reliability, I believe, should go to the Jr. It's shell, from what I've read is pretty strong, and I haven't heard of any problems with it breaking and such.

Noise with Jr., ehhh. It's always making a little buzzing noise, which can get annoying. You can purchase an aftermarket board for it, though. I believe it's the Gangstar board or the Lucky chip (forgot the name.

:-D

[ltsnipes13]

Hey Man I'm, sorry for your paintball experiance going to hell.... But just practice and you'll learn to enjoy it (i only read page one...) Also Dont get a Vs3 cause the rocking trigger is not allowed on most fields, i perfer an ion or Vs2 or even a pmr. Also yes the vs3 with hpa is lighter than a tippmann. Hope this helps...

-Edson

[mmmoose]

If I haven't said it already... thank you so much, guys, you've all been a big help. :-)

I read through the reviews over and over... and over again, and I'm thinking that maybe the eVLution 3 might be a better choice overall. I'm a little nervous about how it's more fragile, but I guess I'll be careful not to do anything stupid. I'll keep an eye out for other hoppers within a similar price range/style as well. Thanks again!

[Mentalmonkey10]

No problem with the help, that's what we do. :)

My friends and I have had a total of 4 Halo B's and none of us have ever had a problem with any of them. Of the 2 Eggy 2's though, both had the speed button break off and I had my lid break 3 times so far. I also dispise how you reload Eggs and that they are back heavy, but that's just me. I don't know if they fixed the problems with the 2's.:| I recomend choosing between the Halo B, vLocity (or Jr.), and the pulse.

Before buying a tank, try it on your marker. You might hate how close a 45 brings your marker to you.

[jax]

The life cycle of noobs generally goes something like this.
1st time out is fun. You don't do great but you don't do bad.
2nd time out you get your head shot off and can't do anything right.
3rd time out you play more conservatively and start to learn teamwork.
4th time out you really start to settle in and pick on noobs.
5th time out you truly become addicted...
50th time out you spend more time getting lit up because you are teaching noobs to play better...

You should really play some more before you buy a new gun. Really. You should.

I like the mini but it doesn't feel as good as my Timmy. Could I get used to the mini? Oh yes I could. Its really is that nice. Its small, smooth feeling, and fast. Do I prefer my Timmy. Yup. It feels solid in my hands. It is a little larger but just as fast. Very consistant and very very reliable. Not to mention very easy to maintain and grease. I play with a guy that has 3 shockers and 3 timmys. He prefers his shocker. I also play with guys that have minis and dm5s. One prefers his Dm5 and the other his mini. I also play with quite a few guys that won't play with anything but their A-5s. They are quite good on the speedball field with them. Quite good. They have tried all of our guns multiple times and still prefer their A-5s. Yes they have the money to buy what they want. You should see the money they have in their A-5s.
See where I'm going with this? Its like this thread. Everyone has an opinion and a favorite gun. It comes down to what "feels good" to you. If you want me to spend your money then send it to me. Otherwise I suggest getting more comfortable before making a major purchase. In the end paintball is all about comfort and confidence. The reason I bring that up is it is opinionated. I seriously doubt you can go wrong with any of the suggestions but do you want to want a new gun in 2 months? You can buy used Timmy, Shockers, etc for about $400. Each has different pros and cons. You may want to stick with your A-5. A-5s are great for senerios. You can make them look very realistic. I can use a stock spyder or 98 custom and still play better than alot of people with ions and shockers. They shoot alot. I shoot alot. The gun doesn't change that part. Mainting any EP is alot more involved than a blowback. It is more expensive to fix if you blow a noid or something like that. Boards aren't cheap either. There are more things to screw up. Some poeple don't like to work on things. Some do. This will help determine which gun is right for you also.

Upgrading to another gun will not fix basic fundimental paintball skills. Alot of people are very accurate while practicing out of a game. As soon as the get in the game they can not hit the broad side of a barn. That has nothing to do with the gun. Using good paint makes a huge difference. If your gun is not shooting as accurate then you need to learn to use your team to move up closer. ALWAYS make sure the inside of your barrel is clean when shots start going crazy. The more you play the better you will get.

I have played on and off for 12 years. Paintball is like any sport. Sometime you feel invisible and you blast people all day. Somedays you get blasted and can't do anything right (this is typically from poor teamwork). The more you play the better you will get. If you have only played twice you still have alot of improving to do. Knowing the skills and using the skills properly under stress are two different things. Learning to cope with the adrenaline rush is hard to do.

All that being said, I do agree that upgrading from an A-5 is a smart move IF you don't want a realistic looking senerio gun. Ep guns are more consistant when rapid firing. Being able to shoot faster will not make you a better player. It can actually make you a worse player because you start to depend on this. It will make a good player better. You should start with a carbon tank. You can always use this on a new gun. Play a couple of more times with the A-5. Shoot every gun you come across. Most people will gladly let you shoot their gun. Then decide what your next move should. If you hadn't already bought the A-5 I personally would have said to avoid it. But since you already have it, then enjoy it.

[mmmoose]

You make some excellent points, jax. For the most part I agree with what you've written. I feel no regret in regards to buying and returning the many markers I've tried out. I think that's part of the learning process of finding out what you like and what you don't like.

I understand that the marker doesn't make a skilled player. However certain traits of each marker can definitely have adverse effects on your personal performance at the field. Size, weight, and balance are the biggest ones that come to mind with me personally.

I actually didn't do bad at all on my second time at the field. The only real reasons why I was taken out was...

A) I had run out of paintballs twice that day because I didn't have any pods.

B) My teammates would distract me by barking out commands, which would often result in the timely splat to the goggles in mid-sentence.

C) And the frustration of having poor inaccuracy and deciding to rush forward rambo style.

Prior to that day I was watching some online instructional videos on how to tuck into bunkers and hold the marker correctly. It helped out A LOT. But even with my body hidden and gun glued to my hands and arms rock solid, my inaccuracy was crap.

I had so many open shots against my opponents it wasn't even funny. Unfortunately that didn't do me a lick of good if my shots were all over the place. The A-5 was completely stock out of the box, with my velocity set to around 270-280.

I'd also like to talk about verbal communication on the side. A lot of people seem to emphasize this as the ultimate winning strategy. I don't know if I agree with that 100%. It tends to be more of a distraction when people shout across the field to me. I usually have to turn or lean to interpret what they're saying, and it's usually that time when I get hit. There are proper times where one should yell and warn their teammates, but for the most part I prefer the quietness.

Of course that doesn't mean I don't play with teamwork in mind. It's always been very easy for me to pick up on what my teammates are doing in my surroundings, and being able to adjust my tactics accordingly. If I see someone trying to advance, I provide cover fire. If I've got a bunker beside me with a teammate that's snapshooting, I cover for him when he tucks back in (we take turns).

This requires NO communication for me. I see what situation they're in and I act accordingly. The shouting back and forth just gets annoying for me, and is probably half the reason why I end up getting distracted and shot up. Just about the only time I need to talk to someone is in the beginning, to see which bunker everybody is headed.

I don't know what else to say. I'm hoping a lighter and smaller marker will help me keep my mind off of marker troubles and focus more on the game itself. Hopefully next time I'll actually be able to hit something.

[mmmoose]

Just a small update... I finally purchased a hopper and decided to go with the Pulse. It was expensive as hell, on top of being rare from the lawsuit, but hopefully it'll be worth it.

;)

[JChan819]

Great choice. Great choice, moose.

[PTE. O'Hearn]

Wow, that was an amazing choice.