Well said WARMONGER83

I would save money for my Tippmann. Pistols are good in weight and size, but they are inaccurate (as said above), useless (as said above) only holds about 10 shots!!, needs a Co2 change way too often. are you looking for a backup gun? Well if u r, then get a gun besides a hand gun!!!!

zeus

If you really need more accessories for your 98 Custom I would say do that first, because what's a backup sidearm without a decent primary gun?

However, if you want to go the other route, get a PGP. Forget the PTXtreme! Forget the Delta .68! The PGP will save you much more $$ and fustration. Plus, the PGP is more accurate and durable.

On the other hand, if you absolutely NEED a semi pistol, get the Zeus G2+! It costs around $125 but it is worth every cent. Whatever you decide to do, DO NOT settle for the PTXtreme or Delta .68!

Most importantly, I hope you make the right decision that you will later on benefit from! Happy 'ballin!

Had a Sidekick Semi-sent it back due to velocity variation problems.

Had a PT Extreme-modified the heck out of it (replaced mainspring, fixed valve, made own ball detent, added aftermarket barrel, upgraded sights, fixed valve again, added dual 12g system, fixed valve another time, modified velocity adjuster, modified magazine, fixed valve one more time) then I sold it.

Lessons learned:  (Keep in mind these are only my personal opinions based on my experience.)

I really didn't need a pistol.  That said, I will get another one eventually just for the fun of it.  When I first got it my plan was it would be for close range surprises.  I used to crawl a lot on the field to get eliminations.  (Sneak in close, fire one shot per elimination, then leave.)  While doing this I encountered several situations where a pistol would have been handy.  Usually these were situations where members of the other team passed near me, but not in my field of fire, due to a combination of factors such as marker length and the cover/concealment I was using.  In these situations I thought it would be handy to have a pistol that I could just snake out of the holster and fire easily in any direction if necessary.  Once I bought the PT this opportunity never presented itself again.  (Murphy's law probably has something to do with that.)  I did use the pistol by itself for three separate games.  I did fairly well twice and ended up being chased around a large bush by a little kid while I was trying to reload the other time.  He did eliminate me on the fifth or sixth lap by the way, but it was still fun.

I recommend a pistol with an enclosed CO2 chamber and an O-ring equipped cap.  If the 12 gram doesn't seat correctly, the chamber should still hold pressure.  Additionally, I wasted a lot of 12 grams because of my adjustable quick release on the PT.  12 grams come in slightly different sizes and you don't always realize that one won't fit until after you've pierced it.  Also the "adjustable" part of the quick release didn't stay adjusted where I wanted it and caused me to waste 12 grams. 

I recommend a removable barrel, but only because they are easier to clean.

I do not recommend an aftermarket barrel.  I considered my PT to be only for emergency use at close range when I bought it.  The after market barrel I bought for it was unimpressive and upon reflection I did not need it.

When I get another pistol, the only upgrade I will consider will be handgrips.  If it is an emergency (which is what it would be purchased for) I sure as heck don't want to drop it when I need it most.

Make sure the sights don't interfere with quickly getting it out of the holster.  (The stock PT front sight was bad for this.  It was also higher than the rear sight which meant when the sights were properly aligned on target I was shooting the ground.)

Practice with it; and I don't just mean standing target practice.  I recommend not using the sights at all.  Shoot the pistol enough that you can just point and pull the trigger and the paint breaks where you want.  Practice drawing from every conceivable position (standing, kneeling, crawling, etc) and shooting in every possible direction until you can draw and hit any target within 15 feet without even having to think about it.  I suggest practicing from all positions so you have a chance in worst case scenarios.  I picked 15 feet for two reasons; because the tactical pistol instruction I went through identified that as the average range for most pistol encounters and also because as others have mentioned, most paintball pistols are not all that accurate.

One last thought.  In the cover I usually chose to play in, opponents beyond 15-20 feet aren't likely to notice me.  I would be ready with the pistol if I couldn't get my 98 on target without attracting attention, but I wouldn't fire unless I had to.  It's better to let your target get a little farther away, then get a better position on them with the 200 rounds available in your primary marker.

Oh yeah.  Have fun.

warmonger83 wrote: the reason i dont think you should get a pistol is that they are largely useless in normal play. think about it, compaired to a normal marker, a pistol is inacurate, doesnt hold that many shots, and needs co2 changes too often. if you are looking for a backup gun, you might as well buy another 98

agreed, except u should get more stuff for ur 98, not get a new 1

It holds 10balls, so you get to shoot 2 loads per co2 cartridge, I usually use it as a backup, but have played with it as main, you have to make every shot count, it is great to see peoples faces when you mark them in one shot!!

I'm getting either a Delta .68 for Christmas, or, if not, I'll buy the new Ariakon pistol. I've played in maps where a pistol would be much more convenient than a flatlined, stocked 98. I can fight with a weapon that size in any terrain in a pinch, but my local field, for instance, has a maze with 8 foot walls where something as small and versatile as a pistol is a big benefit... Plus there's a lot of intimidation value in carrying a sidearm. ;)

Get a FLATLINE!!!!!!!!!!!

                     At first I didn't think it would be worth it but it has made it 100% more accurate and it has twice the range

this isnt an idea!

and you dont need a pistol, if he is far away, use your tippmann; if he is medium range... use your tippmann, but now it gets tricky... if he is close... use your tippmann...

I personally have a Pirrana USP Pistol.  I think its great, it has good accuracy and range, and came with a holster package for a little over $100.  Now I haven't tried any other pistols before and I am sure others are good too.