act worth it?

Get a basic 98 and a better barrel. You can't go wrong with a basic 98.

Thnx guys. I appreciate the speedy replies.

Thank you, I'll take a look. My boys are big and kinda lanky. 5'10", 6', and 6'3". One of them is really an exchange student but I'll need an even number of guns regardless after he returns home next year.

You may be right, I get confused pretty easily. ; -) I thought the HPA was nitrogen??? Looks like I will have to do some more reading when I get home. (I'm taking a break from work to check out the forum).

You're correct, I do need to read more and thank for being patient with the noob questions.

Edited for math corrections :

Sorry in advance that this post is soooooo long.

Thanks for the link. (I'm home now and just got a chance to look a it.) Good info.

Where I work we refill small portable nitrogen tanks used to purge air conditioning systems and check them for leaks after we have worked on them before filling them with freon. Somebody there, I don't know who, built the refill station. It uses the large bottles to store N2. I hope to copy the design but make it more portable.

You're correct, they are very heavy. We have a shop with a chain-fall to aid in loading it into the back of my truck and plan on building a wooden cradle to secure it to the truck bed. I asked the gas dealer and he said that nitrogen can be laid down on it's side and used, some gasses cannot,(if they turn into liquid under high pressure you could get liquid instead of gas      e.g. CO2, or freon).

As far as the start up costs, you're correct again. It will be expensive but we may have some parts around the place that can be used that will save some coins. I worked construction for many years and saved a lot of junk ; - )   I have some friends that work with high pressure gauges and valves so I'm sure they can help me out. At least getting parts at costs.

I don't mind spending some money to save even more. 4 X $10 just for air every day we visit the local range will add up quickly. I have to buy the paint at the park, which is ok by me since the user fee is only a dollar a day, so every dollar I save helps when it is X 4. There were 5 of us that went Sunday and we stayed at the park for about 3 hours and shot 3500 balls.

This was copied from a tank selling site: Not sure if posting the business link was allowed here so it is left off.

"What tank should I get?  If your asking this question your probably new to the sport.  If you are getting your first gun set up, and just want a great tank to get you going, checkout our 48/3000 House brand compressed air paintball tank.  Its a little bit larger than a CO2 tank, and its thick, durable aluminum shell, is light weight and will provide years of service.  It also will typically yield about 500-800 shots per fill."

Economics: The tank rental is $55 (for 1 year) plus full bottle of gas $77 which by your link may be either 300 cu ft or 124 cu ft. Let's say it is 124cu ft just to be safe.

1 cu foot = 1728 cubic inches

48 cu inches = 500-800 shots

1728/48 = 36 X 124 X 500 = 2,232,,000 paint balls shot for $132 for the first year. I can't afford to buy that many paint balls!

Each refill of the 48 cu in tank would only cost 3 cents.

2,232,000 balls/500 = 4464 tank refills

$132 / 4464 refills = .0295 per tank x 10 tanks = 30 cents for 5000 balls.

To shoot 5000 balls every time we went would cost us 30 cents for all of us each visit instead of the $40.(I would get a smaller tank but that is the only size they have in 6K)

 If my math is correct, I don't see how I can't make out on this. This does not take into consideration the cost of the build or price of HPA tanks. There will also be losses on tank refills and leftover high pressure gas in the cylinder but 4464 tank refills is crazy! Even if there are only half of the refills that were calculated this still sounds feasible. By saving $39 every time we visit the range it shouldn't take long to get that money back. 10 trips is $390.

After shopping for HPA tanks, the 3000psi look a lot more affordable than the 4500psi tanks. They will need to be refilled more often but who cares if we can fill them up on the spot?

If some of my boys’ friends get into PB, which I expect they will because it is so addictive, then I can make them a deal refilling tanks and help recoup paint costs.

We will probably play a lot around the house. Our house is on 4 wooded acres just outside the city limits in a small rural town. (The range is 30 minutes away) My Father -in-law has a cabin and more acreage way out of town that we could use too. This is another reason for the need to have air available.

If I do proceed with this project I will document the build with photos in case anyone is interested.

My situation is different than most by having to pay for so many kids, if it was just me I doubt that I'd go to the trouble to do it. For the $ savings verses the potential cost, I don't see how I can afford not to go through with it.

Thanks also for the Ebay tip, I'm watching several of the auctions.

I researched the shoebox compressor but wasn't crazy about how long it took to charge a tank. It is pretty expensive too. It might be good for a single user, but not 4.

Please feel free to correct anything that I may have overlooked or just got wrong.


Edited by AXMRDR - 21 October 2010 at 11:36am

Thanks! I will need it.

You're correct. The guy at the gas bottle place is the one that recommended the 6K bottle. He has rented them out before for a paintballer but it was a few years back.

That is a great point. A 3000 psi tank would still get a full charge after the big cylinder dropped below 4500psi. That's another reason to choose the 3000 psi tank in addition to it being less expensive.

 I welcome any advice or tips if someone has experience with this.

Edited by AXMRDR - 21 October 2010 at 12:08pm

Hi welcome to the Boards. I am also a Father with a kid just getting into the sport. Let me give you a good piece of advise. If you are going to play at home. Buy a Chronograph. It will help you chrono your markers to the correct speed and keep the game safe for your kids and who ever shows up.

Second, Look into the new Gryphon Paintball players packs. For $99 Dollars you get a Marker, a Mask and a 9oz CO2 tank. The Marker uses the same internals of the model 98 so its time and game tested.

There is also a Carver One model that's all heavy duty Alluminum and can be upgarded. This is a part of the US Army line and one of my Favorite markers out there. The Carver one also retails for about $99.

Gryphon in Black


this is my Carver One;



Edited by Evil Elvis - 06 November 2010 at 9:52pm

i have been playin paintball since i was 6 and im 17 now and i have had a varity of guns. my favorite so far is the spiders but i  do have a 98 custom and two piranahas and for your style of play i would say the tippman would definetly work there shoot good and nice and not to fast so you dont have to worry bout the paintballs breakin. piranahas have the advantage of speed shooting though but if you got a longer barrle for the 98 i would go with the 98 for sure. in fact if your interested i would sell you mine and my piranahas if you wanted them cuz im happy with my spider e99

They have Pure Energy tanks on paintball discounters for $37!!!! Here's the link; this is the cheapest I've ever seen 48ci 3000psi tanks:
http://www.paintball-discounters.com/get_item_010519a_pe-basic-hpa-tank-48ci-3000-psi-aluminum.htm

Hope this helps you find some paintball tanks to use with your fill station!