help with tippy for late christmas gift

[Ryf]

Ok my brother in law wants a tippmann, he has been borrowing one from his buddy to play woodsball with us. he also uses my trilogy when I'm at work, but he likes the tippy better.

His girlfriend , my wife and I are going in on a "late" christmas present. the loader is probably sub-par, but its within what scratch we 3 are willing to get into to do this for him.

first question, will the hopper be ok for a year or so? he's not a "ripper" of paint. I know he wants a cyclone eventually, but thats not in my budget.
we run Co2 only because all he playes woodsball, we both have straight co2 for our welders, so refills are "free".

second- is the custom pro-e a good choice?

Tippmann Custom Pro-E
Triumph SSL-200 Loader
a co2 bottle

[Corrupted355]

It'll be a solid performer, although a lot of Tippmann owners are not happy with their WAS boards, which is what you'll get with a Pro-E. It will be fine if he doesn't use it very often. The more he uses that WAS board, the more he's going to learn to hate it. Chances are decent that eventually he's going to want to move to an APE Rampage board. I don't expect you all to make that addition, since its a minimum of $70 on top of the Custom Pro.

The Custom Pro is widely renowned as one of the most solid and reliable paintguns in existence. There was once a claim that they were capable of being hit by a truck and still keep on ticking. I personally tested this claim, and I can tell you that the rumor is correct. After being run over with a pickup truck, the only damage it suffered was loosing the trigger guard.

[-Viper-]

It also depends on when you guys pick the Pro-E up because as Corrupted said, the WAS boards out right now do have problems with them from time to time. The older ones were just riddled with all kinds of flaws.

I recently talked to Tippmann at a scenario game and they said that they have a new version of the WAS board that has come out and is in the new markers. My board was beginning to have problems and they said to just send it in with a letter and it will be replaced with the new board.

The marker and everything is great to start out with and if he learns how to work the e-grip he should be prefectly fine. If he ever does have problems with the board, he can 1.) take it out or 2.) send it in to Tippmann for a replacement.

[Ryf]

I'll remember the ape rampage board, thnx for that, definitely out of our range though. you guys eased my tensions on thinking about spending all this money on everyones behalf, thanks.

I know we could have gotten other E-markers cheaper, but he's into tippy's, and Electronics, so why make it an OK gift when you can make it a great gift IMO. plus its cheaper to get it up front than to add it later from what I've seen. Thanks again for the info.

[OtisN89]

If I were you, I'd just get him an A-5. Its probably about the same price as a 98E and it has a cyclone so you don't need to buy that hopper, and with the money you save there you're more than half way to a APE E-Grip for the A-5.

[MisterMister]

Quick question, in dollars, what exactly is your overall budget?

[Ryf]

I wouldn't argue that with you, but in the past he said he wanted a 98 with an e grip, not a a-5 the pro was only a little more but it is still a 98, I didn't mention that before, he was pretty specific in the past about "the one of his dreams".

not fair I didn't tell you that. sorry

I just wanted to make sure the hopper would be ok for a while, I use the ssl-200 on my trilogy, and it works flawlessly, but thats not an e-grip, the rating seemed enough, I just want to give him something that is.....

A. what he wants (not the hopper not enough money for a cyclone as well)
b. will be a usable rig, not "perfection" but a darn good start
c. oh yeah, new

------------
we are around 240+/- without shipping, I've found 2 or 3 places I can do it for this in one order.

[MisterMister]

Ahem...

Quick question, in dollars, what exactly is your overall budget?

[Ryf]

now we were typing at the same time, hence me adding it back in as an edit rather than double posting, now I had to anyway

240+/- without shipping

[bvdave]

why dont you get him a custom 98 with Egrip and a Cyclone instead of the pro, then he can keep up with his etrigger and if he wants a double trigger or barrel he can get it himself,

[Ryf]

it was a $10 difference within budget for the pro, the cyclones I've seen are around $80+ the ssl-200 was $50, remember, its not ME buying it, its US, and the way its split there is only so much money to put in the pot this time of year (for one persons present...)

limits were set by those who don't get the internet shopping thing OR the heroin called paintball.

to them its a thing and a whatchamacallit......

I'm just trying to make the best of it. plus get him the most marker for the money.

---------added here-----------
its really hard to explain to wives and girlfriends that just $40 more dollars (after $240 plus shipping) is just the thing, I get it.... but the unending question is,"is it enough to start with and pretty much what he wants?"..

I love the guy, not lying to my wife over it. is there a better hopper within the budget?

[MisterMister]

Okay, so let me try to get the "rules" down (if I end it with a ?, that means I'm not 100% sure)...

1. ~$240 shipped total budget.
2. MUST be a 98C.
3. MUST have an e-grip?
4. Must only run C02
5. Must include marker, tank, & hopper in total cost?

Anything I am missing as a "must" here? I am just trying to define the rules which I must play by when making my decision as to what to suggest. Please feel free to correct or add to anything I just said.

[Ryf]

well, it seems you get the idea, no-one wants to give him "almost ready"

he wants a e-grip correct, not a r/t
he wants a 98C correct
woodsball, we'd have to go 40+minutes to get to a Dicks sporting goods, this is the "sticks" so yeah, Co2 because its "free" for us, but Co2 tanks can be tossed onto a marker purchase at many sites pretty well 50% off (a pmi 20 oz for $15 on one place for example)

I'm not trying to complicate it, I'm pretty well at the end of my ropes as far as getting it for him, but if they do it won't be near as "well off"...

can you say,"oh look, Ryf is crazy, heres a hopper for $5....."

By the way, thanks for letting me vent that lil bit there.... AND Thanks for your help guys

I've pryed and pulled to get $240 +shipping..... before it was $200 WITH shipping so it has to stop somewhere according to them, apparently this is where that is.

[bvdave]

actually, if he wants a cyclone down the road anyways, what i would reccommend is picking up an Archon Hopper (recently rebranded as Tacamo ARC loader)

it feeds 12 bps on gravity with no batteries and costs about 10 bucks. its not as fast as the ssl but its dirt cheep and will do "ok" for now untill he picks up his cyclone, then yoru not throwing money that will be lost soon anyways, he cant rip with an ssl anyways, he just needs to keep it a bit lower untill he gets the money for his own cyclone

[supermario98]

I have the ssl200 and it's awesome! one battery lasts very long time and it feeds very well.

So if you're concerned with getting him all that, and your wife and his gf don't want to spend too much, just take whatever they are willing to chip in and pay the rest yourself.. that's how i see it

[Ryf]

actually, if he wants a cyclone down the road anyways, what i would reccommend is picking up an Archon Hopper (recently rebranded as Tacamo ARC loader)

it feeds 12 bps on gravity with no batteries and costs about 10 bucks. its not as fast as the ssl but its dirt cheep and will do "ok" for now untill he picks up his cyclone, then yoru not throwing money that will be lost soon anyways, he cant rip with an ssl anyways, he just needs to keep it a bit lower untill he gets the money for his own cyclone

hmm, that might do well on my trilogy comp as well for a spare, or as an only... nice tip, that definitely opens doors for me in terms of "amount spent" as well as overall budget.. thats great advise

I have the ssl200 and it's awesome! one battery lasts very long time and it feeds very well.

So if you're concerned with getting him all that, and your wife and his gf don't want to spend too much, just take whatever they are willing to chip in and pay the rest yourself.. that's how i see it

I've read the reviews on pbreview and they all say basically what you are, it works well and its good to go. the problem with paying the rest myself (for more than the ssl-200) is that requires the wifes agreement since whats hers is hers and whats mine is hers too, and that always includes money. getting my wife on board was hard after I bought my trilogy comp for $80 delivered with a vl-200 (granted I've spent much much more than that again since on it in my ssl-200, trigger frame, 2 tanks, and a mask, but thats not her view of it)
its soooo much harder to justify things to people who don't get it... sorry for rant #2

[MisterMister]

Thats really too bad about those rules. There is a SUPER deal going on right now since Dye went and repriced the Proto Matrix Rail at $249.95!
The PMR and the 98C are LIGHTYEARS apart in performance, weight, and just about everything else. But you slso have to use C02, so it moot.

[supermario98]

Why compare a high end electronic marker with a tippy?
I don't have much paintballing experience, only started early this year.. but i don't get people that bring a speedball marker to a to a 4acre field?
It's like comparing a Accord and a M3. I drive a honda, but they're not in the same class to be compared.

Btw Ions are very cheap now too, can get one on ebay for 165 with shipping. (just the marker)

[bvdave]

the tacamo ARC (archon) loader works awsome on tippmanns and bt-4 markers but you dont want to use it on a cocker (itll still work better then a reg gravity by FAR if thats what your using now)

but its designed around a blowback with a bit of kick and air trying to blow paintballs up into the hopper like most all bb markers do, the way it works is it takes the energy of the marker blowing the ball up into the hopper to load the next ball with 2 arching (hence the name tacamo arc) feeding tubes, its kind of hard to explain but it works quite well. since cockers dont bace that blowback it wont function as well, still far superior to a reg gravity hopper but not a full 12 bps eithor

if you dont know what im talking about take a tippmann or bt or spyder marker and put 2 balls in the feedneck with no hopper. fire the marker and it will fire the first ball and you will see teh second ball pop up into the air about 1-2 feet.


http://pballandmore.com/ebay/pballandmore/archon-200-new-hopper/s1.gif

[Ryf]

bvdave- love the description, get the idea, I'll stick with my own ssl-200 then.

supermario98 - the ion is one marker I have discussed with him in the past, (I've been passively talking paint ball with him for a year or more) he's always made it pretty clear it seemed like those were projects to be worked on, not an out of the box marker for him (he feels the same about cockers and spyders though)

MisterMister - he's always been clear it was a 98 style in his future, good bad or indifferent I do respect his right to want what he wants. I posted this here in Tippmann Forum to make sure the marker hopper combo was adequate more than anything else, not to have suggestions on whats not a tippy. I'm know you are legitimately trying to help, but you are kinda drawing it off topic.

Otis98 (suggested the a-5, thx) - I went with him to Dicks today just to see what he gravitated towards, and he was there fingering the 98 the whole time, I asked him about the a-5 body they had, he was indifferent. he was hoping they might have E in stock to buy (but they never do, why I chose there)

I didn't think it matters, but it might be important to note, I'm 28, he's 31, so its not a kid and he does know whats what. he's able to decide what he wants. I appreciate the heads up on the WAS board issues and the APE upgrade he may need. good info. He wants a woods ball gun, neither of us have stepped onto a speedball field in years. He's a rough and aggressive player, so something tough and well made are important to him.

--------------------added------------------------
I think I got what info I needed, I appreciate all your guys help. I'm sorry if I appear unappreciative in some ways, thats not the case, I am more than a little frustrated with the restraints of the deal and the whole thing at this point. unfortunately I'm left with a great feeling of "if only" on many of the details.

I am sorry if I came across as rude. just because I'm already annoyed and not as open to humor and sarcasm doesn't mean I shouldn't keep my mouth shut when asking for help. I had a time to think about it wanted to say I'm sorry.

I am really appreciative of all the help, info and alternatives offered.

[bvdave]

oh I almost forgot, Tippmann is also offering a $20 rebate promo on the custom 98 markers ATM ending Jan 15th, a promo called "you play we pay" when you get him this tippmann ask the place you buy it form if they carry the coupons,

unfortunatly this doesnt help your up front $ buying it but maybe he can put it towards his cyclone fund :)

[MisterMister]

As for that Archon hopper, I can attest to it working as far as the blowback thing is concerned. That was the very first hopper I used on my BT4 which had a blowback issue (where balls would shoot back up into the hopper creating misfires). This hopper fixed that 100%. As far as the speed goes, I couldnt tell you. I did give it to my friend who has a Spyder. He is pretty quick with that thing and the hopper keeps up with him every time.