Coming back to the paintball game

[nuborn]

Hi all, this is quite a lengthy post with maybe too many questions, sorry for that.

Story
I just had the idea to do a come back to this sport. I kinda screwed my left knee which leaves me sportsless (ski and tennis are now out of question). Anywho, I played PB for about 3 years but I've been away for like 10 years now and decided to read a bit to see what was new... oh my! Electronic markers? What happened to the days where you had to pump your marker to shot? Ha, well I guess every sport evolves in way.

I already have
I still have my old gear (a heavily used SL68, a tank that leaks, a mask, 1 glove as I can't find the other one it seems, etc). So I guess I'm pretty much SOL regarding equipment, other than my mask. So what I need is a marker, a loader, a air bottle and whatever else you might think of.

My budget is: about $300-$400
I was thinking of starting to play like everyone else (as a newbie) and grow from there, but my past experiences with rental equipment were so bad that I decided to buy myself a marker and the "stuff" that goes with it.

I play mainly
The idea is to be able to play indoor and outdoor and have fun. I will try different type of games and then decide which I preffer.

The features I want in my gun are
First and foremost, unexpensive. I also like to play any type of game, so something light would be preferred (I'm careful with my gear, so I do not need an undestructible tank-type marker). I'm not trigger happy (I have a really good aim) so something reliable and precise is preffered over BPS, I just HATE when balls break so I guess I have to go in electronic markers?. I'm kinda poor so there is no way in this world I can afford nitrogen. However, offering the ability to mod a bit if I ever feel like spending some money would be a plus (maybe I'll get a better job one of these days). Finally, I am definitely open to used gear.

Marker
Reading through the review, the SP Vibe seems a good choice, for $20 extra I can get the SP Ion, but I fear that I will have to invest so much $ in modding it to start having fun with it. I'm not too keen on the 98C for some reason, maybe because everyone renting a gun has that one? So that leaves me with not so many other options than the Kingman Spyder VS1.
- Any thoughts on that or suggestions for low $ markers?
- What is the difference between a SP Ion and SP Ion XE apart from $65?
- And what is the diff. between Spyder VS1 and VS2 ?

Barrel
This is where I start being confused: the SP Linear seems quite okay and inexpensive, but it has different types? Ion 14'', Ion 16'' Spyder this, Spyder that... What should I use as a barrel and what length?

Loader
No clue, but I really mean: no clue. I'm used to pump my marker so feeding was never an issue. What would be a fair choice? I'm not trigger happy but I don't want to be in a situation where I NEED to be triger happy and end up with empty shots... $160 for a loader? Come on, there must be something good for a third of that price no? How about that Reloader II or eVLution III?

Air system
I'm blind as a bat in this field. The only thing I remember on my SL68 is that the air tank was always in the way, was getting very cold quickly and was frigging heavy. I guess there are new technologies in that field as well? What kind of pressure should I look at? Isn't 48/3000 HPA overkill? What brand should I concentrate on?

Others
Laser sight? Is it useful or even fun? I'm not a bad shooter but if that thing is going to give me 5% more accuracy, I would mind spending some on that widget. are there any other accessories I should think of when shopping around for my kit?


All right, well whew! That was a long post... :)

[AmbushOrigin]

well your SL68 is still good, heck i know of atleast 5 ppl that still use them at the field. However id say you will need a new mask, if youve been out for 10 years the mask will no longer be allowed. Like vents and whipper snappers, paintball insurance no longer allows them to be used.

My personal suggestion
SP vibe or SP-1
Both small, light, moderatly fast,antichop bolt,and run well on co2. Also not very pricey.
Then id suggest a 20 oz or 2, and a ricochet apache (currently running in the 30-35 $ area)
Of course new mask, id suggest any of the Vforce,most of the JT's. Mask will run you like 30-90 depending on model.

So total youd be looking in the area of i'd say about...230-330ish

Which if you have 400 that would leave you enough money for a pod pack and pods, or a nice high quality barrel.

[iliveforthis99]

I have to agree with Ambush. I actually run my SP1 using the exact same setup and i find it very nice for such a low cost setup. Now about 48/3000 being overkill and sights. A 48/3000 tank is far from overkill, it's actually a pretty bad tank. They are all aluminum and weigh quite a bit from being on the big size. They also offer a small shot count compared to their size, they only get around 600-800 shots of a hot fill. If looking for a HPA tank a carbon fiber tank like a 68/4500 is you're wanting to look at. Even though there are different size tanks 68/45's are the most common size. So based off that a 68/45 tank even though it is bigger offers more shots without the weight increasing much at all. Laser sights might help a little but not enough to justify spending the money on. Paintballs don't fly straight enough for any form of sights to help. Playing and practice will help you get better at accuracy.

[nuborn]

Makes all sense thanks guys. I think that I will have to stick to either the Vibe or the SP1 since I have to cash out a good $70 for the mask. Ah well, we'll see how it goes from there.

[AmbushOrigin]

I'll be here if u have any questions :) the vibe and sp1 are great guns, cant go wrong for the price. Majority of my teammates use their sp1's over their upped NXT's now. I should have my SP1 probably tomorrow or wed. woot woot

[nuborn]

Thanks ambush. I found a Vibe for about 100 bucks, its seems pretty new but before I have it in my hands, I wont grin of joy.

I've also looked at the Ricochet Apache as you suggested... where did you see that at $30? The cheapest I could find was way over $120!! I basically need something that feeds 11bps since the Vibe is capped anyways.

[EMPaint]

Does anyone know if proto is going to be coming out with an 09 model of the SLG because if they are I'm sure that the current SLG would at least drop in price a little bit putting closer to the same price range as the vibe or SP-1.

Anyways, even if they don't come out with a newer model the SLG is still not overly expensive. Ansgear has the SLG for $200 and some of the Empire Reloader B's for $63.45 (only the diamond ones though) or the ricochet apache which is $40 and they have a 68/4500 guerrilla air tank for $150. Which would put you slighty over your $400 budget by about $20 with the reloader B or right on with the apache. And yes the SLG does need HPA and not CO2.

[iliveforthis99]

Actionvillage.com has LED Apaches for $30. Proto is coming out with a '09 SLG. It now has a clamping feedneck, plastic UL frame, and aluminum UL trigger.

[AmbushOrigin]

^ AV for the apache's, shipping to canada i think is like 8-9 bucks.

[EMPaint]

Oh.... I just realized that my suggestion didn't have a mask included in it, sorry... Just ignore me :D:|:|:|

[CQB.Wardog]

Just some advice from an old dude who's been there 10 years ago too.

I guess I'm pretty much SOL regarding equipment, other than my mask.

Can I highly recommend getting a new mask? 10 years ago the stuff was pretty good, but you can do so much better now. And if you're looking on the cheap, $20 for the entry level V-forces. Done. $60 for "pro level" Profilers. Goggles are cheap these days.

- And what is the diff. between Spyder VS1 and VS2 ?

Don't bother with Spyders. They're still the cheap lightweight blowback they've always been. Buy a real gun. Not much into SP stuff, I'm still a Tippy kinda guy. But I also like guns I can run over with a tank and be fine. I see you like the Vibe, and I hope it works for ya. No clue on these tho, Like I said not my thing.

What should I use as a barrel and what length?

12", tops. Less and you lose control, more and you waste air. Some guys like an 8", but that's for people who can't play trees right.

Loaders. check E-bay for used Halos or something. YOu don't need top of the line if you're not gonna shoot that fast. I've got my old 'mag and I'm still rockin' the Revvy on it.

What kind of pressure should I look at? Isn't 48/3000 HPA overkill? What brand should I concentrate on?

Anything nitro is good. Better consistency, and a lot easier to fill. 68 CI is the best size/volume ratio, and it's what I use on my Tippy. 3000 is also a standard, 4500 is good because you can always under fill it for pressure and be fine. Many times at a commercial field I've taken the 3K fill to avoid the long line for 45's.

Also don't snub the steel tanks, they're a bit heavier but they're also cheaper and work just as well.

Laser sight? Is it useful or even fun?

Save your money. The sight out-performs the munition. Plus laser sights can damage eyes. Guns have them because odds are if you're pointing a gun at someone you don't care if you damage their eyes if you have to pull the trigger. If you need a sight, $15 for a red dot, done. Most players shoot by feel tho, they just walk their fire into target.

Longer answers for a long post. And a few days out, I figured it's not necroposting yet.

[nuborn]

I figured it's not necroposting yet.

Haha!


Well if anyone is interested in a follow up on this, I got my stuff used from a guy who wanted out of paintball. I got pretty much everything and it looks in good shape. This is what I got for $200:

Dye long sleeve shirt
JT pants
V-Force Profiler (lens has to be changed... badly)
Roller-blade knee and elbow protectors
20oz & 12oz CO2 (anti-syphon installed)
VL Evlution 2
SP Progressive barrel
Empire harness with 5 pods

And then for an extra $20, I got the Spyder Pilot ACS marker. Seems fine a part from the stryker rubber bumper that needs to be changed. I'm not too crazy about that gun as it seems to be quite a pain to clean. I guess we'll see how it goes, if I don't like it, I'll just buy a diff. marker.

All in all, I think I got myself a good deal. Is it the best? No. Is it a good entry point? I think it is... At least, I look like someone who already played rather than hitting the fields with a pair of jeans and a golf shirt :cool:

I bought myself a neck protector, a pair of gloves, goggle lens and a clamping feedneck. I just can't wait to go back and get shot at!

Thanks all for your help, it was greatly appreciated.

[iliveforthis99]

I believe it's Dye not Die and it's feedneck not neckfeeder.

[nuborn]

I believe it's Dye not Die and it's feedneck not neckfeeder.


meh... I just showed my total noobness

[nuborn]

Just like a newb, I'm discovering many things. Today, I discovered that CO2 tanks have a max span of life... The ones I got in that kit expired 3 months ago and the guy at the refill tank wouldn't allow me to either play or refill those.

So I got myself alum. HPA bottle. I'm running low on funds so I had to consider going carbon only once the time comes for a better marker.

That thing is HUGE, I'm used to CO2 12oz bottles... I heard there are lines (remotes?) that you can have to plug your arker and have that tank on your back. Does it worth it?

[iliveforthis99]

You would have saved some money just getting a new CO2 tank instead of the aluminum HPA tank. A 20oz. tank gives you about the same number of shots as a 68/45 HPA tank on a good day. IMO i would never use a remote line on a gun that doesn't have a stock. I use one with my SP1 and since the gun has a stock it works out very well. However though i prefer to use the tank as a sort of stock, i find having no tank makes for an unbalanced and uncomfortable setup.