Beginner Gun

[Thoraxe]

I'm new to paintball and was looking at gun packages on Amazon. I saw two that were really cheap and both got good reviews they were the VL Charger Multimode Paintball Player's Kit and the 32 Degrees Black ICON X Paintball Marker MEGA GUN SET. I'm trying to decide between them since the VL has full auto and burst but no front grip. I also know that most fields don't allow anything but semi auto. I heard that there was a tourney chip in the guns but didn't know how hard that was to use. I was wondering what you guys think would be better to get.

[Slinky17]

The "tourney chip" you're talking about is just the circuit board, all electronic guns have them. To be honest, I wouldn't recommend either of those. I'd say go for a Spyder VS1 or if you can find one still a WGP Superstock '05 which for a while were running for $130 (less than the VS1). What's your budget? That might help. But I'd stay steer clear (for the most part) of sub-$100 electros.

[Thoraxe]

Well I guess my budget would hopefully be less then $150 for all the stuff I'll need but those were just on sale for a really low price. How much do VS1s cost and could I get a cheap package with it in there? If not what would be a good set-up for preferably less than $150? I'm still a teenager so I'm on a tight budget.

[Slinky17]

Well, $150 is what VS1's go for on their own. Since this is probably your first gun I'd say get a mechanical gun. You'll learn more aspects of the game faster and not learn how to rely on your gun (which will just make you frustrated w/ the game when you encounter someone more experienced than you in a game). Plus, they're cheaper and the guns you mentioned in your original post don't actually shoot any faster in any of their modes than a good mech gun. Try looking into Tippmann guns or look on ebay for WGP Prostock '04's which can be found for less than $100 on their own. Also, make sure you save a large percentage of your budget for a mask; you don't want to skimp on those. That help any?

You can also go around looking for odd jobs in order to make more money. You'd be surprised at what people will pay you for.

[iliveforthis99]

I'd say your best best would to get a refurbed spyder sonix $40, vl revolution $35, jt flex 7 mask $40, empire '06 5 pod fast pack, $31, and a 20oz. tank $14. That all about $160 all off actionvillage.com and it's what i'd get.

[Thoraxe]

Ok well I found a re manufactured VS1 on actionvillage.com for $110 and a Sonix for $40. I would basically get the VS1 and a basic hopper and no pods or get the Sonix and go with iliveforthis's suggestions. Is it worth it to get the VS1 or can I be cheap and get the Sonix?

[Chickenmunga]

I put together a package here (http://www.pbreview.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4122737&postcount=15) , probably the best and lowest I could find. The mask can be interchanged with a Proto Switch EL for about the same price.

If you want a cheaper loader, you can do that too to bring the price down.

[Thoraxe]

Ok well now I'm looking more into a Syder Pilot ACS. Is this a good gun? I read lots of good reviews for it on this site. If it's good I might get it and a gold package from paintballinline.com. Do youguys think that would be a decent setup?

[Slinky17]

It's not too bad. My friend had one for a while. The only thing is that the bolt pin tends to fly out.

[Thoraxe]

But overall are they pretty good?

[Slinky17]

The VS1 is most likely better, but this is your first marker right? You should be fine w/ the Pilot.

[N0n3x1571n6]

Just a note here - Amazon is selling new Olive vs1s for 103.00 atm and the pilot is 99.99 to the best of my knowledge

[Thoraxe]

Yeah this is my first so then I'll probably get the Pilot but I have a few more questions.

1. What is the policy for guns that have more then just semiauto? I kinda know about tourny lock but I don't know if that's a hassle or anything to turn on and off.
2. I know this might be stupid but where would I fill a CO2 tank other than at a field?
3. Also do you think I would be alright with the Gold package upgrade with the Pilot from paintballonline.com? It doesn't have an electric hopper but I don't really plan on using anything but semiauto for the time being.

O and N0n3x1571n6, where did you see VS1s on amazon for $103? I didn't see any when I searched for them.

[Slinky17]

Depends on the field, some of the fields I go to don't care about the mode.
Proshop.
Yes, but even w/ semi you'll need at least a Revvy to reduce chops.

[Thoraxe]

But what if they dont want anything but semi auto? What do they usually say/do?
And will I be alright with just the regular viewloader hopper for awhile?

[N0n3x1571n6]

http://www.amazon.com/Spyder-Electronic-Paintball-Marker-Olive/dp/B000QUTE56/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1195083605&sr=8-1 - click on olive for color - the price would then equal 103.00

[Thoraxe]

Ok well here's what I'm looking at:

Both Options:
Scott Voltage XP Paintball Mask $40
20 oz CO2 tank $15

Option 1:
VS1 $103
Viewloader gravity hopper $6

Option 2:
Pilot $70
Viewloader gravity hopper $6 OR An Electric hopper $30 and under

I've heard that a lot of cheaper electric hoppers are annoying because they run all the time though. I'm probably going with the pilot but I'm not sure. If you guys know of good cheap electric hoppers let me know. If not I'll get a gravity for now then get an eggy or Halo later.

[iliveforthis99]

Forget the mask Scotts are pretty awful, one thing you should never do is go cheap on your mask. With out one you'll find out how fast games can be ruined by a cheap non thermal mask. There's no point getting a vs1 if you're going to be using a grav hopper i'd either get at least a revi or a reloader 2 for it or get the pilot and get one of those loaders.

[Thoraxe]

Ok well I'm going pretty sure now that I'm getting the pilot and a gravity hopper. The only question I still have is what are the usual things that fields do if they don't let you use the multimodes on your gun. They wouldn't make me rent a gun or anything would they?

[Slinky17]

No way dude, they'd just make you keep it on semi. The only time tourney locks are used are in tournies (hence the name). And just go w/ a Revvy, they're only $35 at paintball-discounters.com.

[Thoraxe]

So basically they'll just say don't use anything but semi and if we catch you we'll make you sit out?

[nerdcore]

Sit out usually, some fields may send you home. It all depends on the field. But you don't need to use burst or full-auto modes anyway. Superfluous, if you ask me.

Really, for a beginner gun, like a first-paintball-gun-ever gun, i'd recommend a straight up mech, like the Spyder Victor, co2 tank & gravity hopper (standard $5 hoppers sold anywhere). That plus a good mask (Profilers are cheap now, relatively speaking) & your first case of paint would run less than $150.

Then, once you've done more research on electros, both low & high end, you can decide later what gun to move up to, especially since that gives you time to save up $$.

[Gun_boy123]

Tippmann 98 custom is the best beginner gun out there, you dont need to clean em and their durable

[Kung_fu_hippe]

My two cents.

Buy a new VS1, and either a Vforce vantage or flex 7 mask. Dye, Vforce, Empire, and JT are usually the most reliable brands.

After you have those, go onto pbnation and pick up a used hopper and tank. You could potentially save ALOT of money.
http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=2357840 hopper
http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=2436565 tank

Took me two minutes on pbnation to find these, so with a bit of looking, you might be able to find a better deal. (Though the price for the Co2 tanks is pretty damn good.)

As for the hopper in the above thread, I used the same model for my old school spyder pilot (one without acs.) It preformed as well as any revy in my opinion. Just the ball counter is absolutely useless, for it is not accurate at all.

[Slinky17]

Nerdcore restated what I said earlier about getting a mech. You should still look into that or there are some sites that have the Tippmann Triumph eXT for less than $50 brand new, and even though it's kinda ugly, at that price I'd take it. DON'T SKIMP ON THE MASK.

[iliveforthis99]

Tippmann 98 custom is the best beginner gun out there, you dont need to clean em and their durable
Not really anymore right now i'd say it's the vibe, evo/se, and vs1.

[Chickenmunga]

It doesn't matter what marker you own, they all need cleaning and care.

98's are still valid markers, but I think Iliveforthis99's point is, is that the 98 is not as versatile as the others he listed. The tippmann will be the slowest, but is still built like a brick outhouse.