Paintball handgun

Why do you want to get one?

If you want something interesting... that is a "pistol/ handgun", I suggest you get a PGP.

If you want to use it as a secondary, "backup" weapon... its a needless, costly, and wasteful purchase.

If you can spend for top of the line, the Tac 8 and it's clones are the way to go now that they have most of the bugs worked out.  If you want to go cheaper, my personal favorite is the Piranha USP. 

Piranha USP pros/cons/etc:

• Pros
• Reliability.
• The majority of over/under valved pistols have a magazine that feeds from spring pressure at the front of the magazine/gun to a chamber in the rear.
• In order minimize the amount of marker sticking out behind the handgrip it was necessary to miniaturize the bolt/hammer etc. to fit all the moving parts into less space.
• This leads to failures due to overcompression of springs and smaller/lighter parts having to handle the strain of firing.
• The USP has a magazine that feeds from spring pressure at the front to a chamber forward of the grip.
• This means that it uses the same proven full-size internals as any other mechanical Piranha.
• Ease of disassembly/reassembly.
• The USP can have all of the internals removed by pulling a single pin.
• While some other pistols are similar, none go back together as easily.
• The use of full size internals means that less spring pressure interferes with reassembly.  (The early PTs were noted for really having to compress the springs during reassembly.)
• The USP comes with a sear-release for ease of reassembly.
• Partially concealed operating action--the charging handle does not move back and forth at the rear of the marker; it's located along the sides of the body marker.
• Torque lever on the puncture knob for aiding in installation/removal of 12 grams.
• Effective ball detent--some other pistols aren't bad, but the PT based ones are notorious for allowing extra balls into the barrel while the marker is holstered.
• Ability to install a Piranha e-grip if wanted.  (Why, I don't know; but it can be done if someone wants to.)
• Barrel tip is threaded to take pipe fronts.
• Cons
• No sights.  (You could use the handle on the magazine feed spring, but it's not that effective.)
• Magazine.
• Is molded as part of frame. (Non-removable.)
• Top load style of magazine can lead to jammed balls when reloading.  (Most difficult magazine to reload quickly by far.)
• Stock barrel
• Machined from body. (No after-market barrels.)
• Approximate 4 1/2" length is insufficient for accuracy beyond 60-80 foot range.
• Stock grips are small and cheap.
• No mounting rails for accessories.
• No port to tap into the valve for direct air like most of the PTs and PT clones.
  
• Etc. Information
• Handle has metal screw inserts for ASA attachment.  (Don't know why, since you'd need some type of modified 12 gram adapter to run constant air and there is no good way to attach a hopper.)

With all the negatives I listed, you are probably wondering why I like this particular pistol as much as I do.  Having owned/used various PTs, PT clones and a Sidekick semi, this is by far the most reliable and consistent pistol of its type available.  My theory has always been if I only have 10 rounds I want to know that I will get to fire all of them effectively.  As for slow reloads; I figure if I'm in trouble and need more than 10 rounds right away, I'm probably hosed anyway.

As for using the pistol as a primary; I've done it several times and it is a lot of fun.  The more common pistols have one advantage over the Tac 8 types when playing those games; you can easily "top off" the magazine between paint exchanges.

Mack wrote: If you can spend for top of the line, the Tac 8 and it's clones are the way to go now that they have most of the bugs worked out.  If you want to go cheaper, my personal favorite is the Piranha USP.  Piranha USP pros/cons/etc: Pros Reliability. The majority of over/under valved pistols have a magazine that feeds from spring pressure at the front of the magazine/gun to a chamber in the rear. In order minimize the amount of marker sticking out behind the handgrip it was necessary to miniaturize the bolt/hammer etc. to fit all the moving parts into less space. This leads to failures due to overcompression of springs and smaller/lighter parts having to handle the strain of firing. The USP has a magazine that feeds from spring pressure at the front to a chamber forward of the grip. This means that it uses the same proven full-size internals as any other mechanical Piranha. Ease of disassembly/reassembly. The USP can have all of the internals removed by pulling a single pin. While some other pistols are similar, none go back together as easily. The use of full size internals means that less spring pressure interferes with reassembly.  (The early PTs were noted for really having to compress the springs during reassembly.) The USP comes with a sear-release for ease of reassembly. Partially concealed operating action--the charging handle does not move back and forth at the rear of the marker; it's located along the sides of the body marker. Torque lever on the puncture knob for aiding in installation/removal of 12 grams. Effective ball detent--some other pistols aren't bad, but the PT based ones are notorious for allowing extra balls into the barrel while the marker is holstered. Ability to install a Piranha e-grip if wanted.  (Why, I don't know; but it can be done if someone wants to.) Barrel tip is threaded to take pipe fronts. Cons No sights.  (You could use the handle on the magazine feed spring, but it's not that effective.) Magazine. Is molded as part of frame. (Non-removable.) Top load style of magazine can lead to jammed balls when reloading.  (Most difficult magazine to reload quickly by far.) Stock barrel Machined from body. (No after-market barrels.) Approximate 4 1/2" length is insufficient for accuracy beyond 60-80 foot range. Stock grips are small and cheap. No mounting rails for accessories. No port to tap into the valve for direct air like most of the PTs and PT clones. Etc. Information Handle has metal screw inserts for ASA attachment.  (Don't know why, since you'd need some type of modified 12 gram adapter to run constant air and there is no good way to attach a hopper.) With all the negatives I listed, you are probably wondering why I like this particular pistol as much as I do.  Having owned/used various PTs, PT clones and a Sidekick semi, this is by far the most reliable and consistent pistol of its type available.  My theory has always been if I only have 10 rounds I want to know that I will get to fire all of them effectively.  As for slow reloads; I figure if I'm in trouble and need more than 10 rounds right away, I'm probably hosed anyway. As for using the pistol as a primary; I've done it several times and it is a lot of fun.  The more common pistols have one advantage over the Tac 8 types when playing those games; you can easily "top off" the magazine between paint exchanges.

That looks like a great gun (USP), its also in my price range of $110 being max.

 

I just have a few more questions.

Whats its highest velocity?

Does it leak CO2 over an hour or so?

Where is a good place to buy it?

Is it durable?

Are there any other semi auto pistols that are good within my price range?

I do believe the PGP is a pump.

I mean the Tac 8 is probably the most interesting, expensive, needless pistol in existance. The problem mainly being... its a nice chunk of change and how often do you actually plan on playing with a pistol? Probably only occassionaly. My friend has one and never uses it.

The PGP can be found for alot cheaper, its an older gun, and itis a pump. All in all it has a certain uniqueness factor if used at a field that the Tac-8 doesn't have, and isn't being unique and doing something different part of why you would want a pistol (since they aren't exactly the most practical marker to use)?

Crossman 3357 FTMFW!

In the simplest terms possible, its a fricken sweet revolver from the 80's, and fires .50 cal rounds.