Hello im new to paintball

[Cooleocool]

well i just got into paintball with my dad and a few of his friends. I ordered a Tippmann 98 custom ACT pro player. I think i will have a blast with this hobby. Anyway i just wanted to say hi and if there where any upgrades i should get right away. I got a kit off of actionvillage and it comes with a 20oz co2 tank, 200 round hopper, goggles, belt with 5 pods, and cleaning and hardware supplies.

Anything i should change.

[Klim0009]

First welcome to the forum.
The first upgrade is a better barrel. I just got a Custom Products 16 inch one Piece. I love it, It is very accurate. JandJ Ceramic barrels are pretty good for the price you pay. They both are 30 bucks.

[Coenen]

I'll second that welcome and the sentiment on the barrel.

Stock barrels on most paintball markers are atrocious, so a barrel is always a good first upgrade. The Custom Products and J&J barrels are both excellent choices as well.

Really though, before you set about changing anything you should get a day or two playing with the stock marker under your belt. That'll give you a good feel for what, if anything you want to change. Some guys play with a gun bone stock and decide that it's good as is, which can save you a ton of cash on upgrades.

Klim, what bore size did you finally settle on for yours? Glad to hear you like it.

[Klim0009]

Klim, what bore size did you finally settle on for yours? Glad to hear you like it.[/QUOTE]

I went with what you said and over bored it and got a .693. I still went with a 16 inch though. I love this barrel, I use Monster Balls to shoot in the backyard so when I got it I put it on, grabed some Monsters and went outside. I was about 15 yards away and was hitting about a 2 inch spread with crappy paint and low air. This barrel is AMAZING.

[Corrupted355]

I very highly advise that you play a few games with it and decide for yourself what you want to add to it. Play a few games and find out what you feel it's deficient at. But I can tell you right now, the first things you're gonna want to get rid of are that mask and the barrel. Is this the one you got?
http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Hy6bwiLWHrSbRmrmjyNbaihwIR3EyhZWJRw=?Pro ductID=A3vAqArbiewAAAELwK6yvLAd#

If so, you should know that you're getting a Tippmann Custom Pro, not a Tippmann 98 Custom. The only difference is that the Custom Pro has a double trigger and what's called a "drop forward", whereas the 98C does not. Also, the one pictured there has a Response Trigger, which I don't think you'll be getting. A drop forward is just a piece of metal on the bottom of the grip that moves the tank closer to the front of the gun. It helps to shorten the already very long 98.

If you find you are skipping some shots, its because of the loader. An agitated one will help to eliminate any skipping. If later on, you intend on getting some sort of firepower upgrade (your options are going to be either an E-grip or a Response trigger, both of which have their pros and cons), you may want to hold off on the loader until you get your trigger upgrade of choice, since either will require a faster loader an just an agitated one. Your gun will be able to take more different types of loaders than any other gun, because it accepts both standard hoppers as well as the Tippmann Cyclone.

EDIT:
Man, I gotta learn to type faster.

[Coenen]

Yeah, if that's what you bought you might want a new mask like...now. Those single pane masks like that fog up easily, and are notorious for being uncomfortable and not terribly safe. I'd look into something a bit better like a JT or V-Force goggle system.

The rest of it should be serviceable for a new player.

[Cooleocool]

Ok wrong gun. My dad took to long to order so it was out of stock. Now i got the tippmann 98 custom ACT platinum pro player. I dont get the difference anyone want to tell me the difference

[Corrupted355]

http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=pvbcEScpkk7c028Zf88cuS3gGVmlGKaYpSM=?Pro ductID=J9XAqArbircAAAEZ_4x8NasN#
That one? This gun will perform exactly the same as the previous package, but it's much easier to pull apart and maintain, because it's a Tippmann Custom Pro Platinum.

The packages are the same, but you get this gun (http://tippmann.com/product_guide/markerDetails.aspx?categoryid=14) instead of this one (http://tippmann.com/product_guide/markerDetails.aspx?categoryid=2).

[Klim0009]

Basically the only difference between the 98 Custom and the Platinum is what Corrupted said its easier to take apart and they took some new ideas they had and put them on it. They also took some mods that people have been doing themselves and put them on.

[Crossfire426]

hey, welcome to the boards =p

to be honest though... the really first thing you need to get is a top of the line mask... It doesn't need to be expensive, but it has to feel comfortable and not fog...

even though it really has no effect on the gun, i think that the mask is the most important thing...
aside from the tippman of course =p
excuse the digression =p

[Curly Fry]

Mask>everything

Mask is by far the most important aspect of paintball, once you acquire a decent mask, then focus on getting a suitable gun

[super_pro]

Well i agree with the mask and also a cup but if u want upgrades I would just say if get a barrell or an expantion chamber niether really make much difference. The biggiest thing is to match the size of your paint to the size of your barrel. My brother has a 16" J&J but it worked only as good as the stock 11" barrel on the Tippmann 98 Custome Pro ACT barrel. I got a 16" Tiller. Its about the same profomance as the J&J and i payed 20$ for the Tiller.

[Crossfire426]

i have never worn a cup in pball... i should tho =p lol

i shot a guy in the balls once... he was a close friend... i felt soo bad... but it was hilarious! =p

[Cooleocool]

I have a quick question. If i where to get shot in the hopper what would i clean it with. Would rubbing alcohol work. Or would it stripp of the paint

[Klim0009]

Just use a wet cloth to clean it, thats all I use. You could use rubbing alcohol but it isnt necessary.

[Crossfire426]

all of the paint is water soluble. or at least they should be...

never use anything other than water or soap to wipe off the paint. Alcohol doesn't really effect the hopper since it is plastic, but i'm sure if you keep using it, it'll probably do some damage... i dono im taking a guess there since alcohol is somewhat acidic? i ono...