What do you think would be the best gun for someone who is just starting out?

Someone who will play a mixture of different types (woodsball, speedball, ect.)?

I don't know what I will specifically get into so what would be a good multi-role gun, to put it in simpler terms?

How much money do you have to spend? There are some guns that are good for both woods and speed, but sometimes you shouldn't get that gun because of prices of everything added together. If you get a gun good for speed, you will most likely need a good hopper($100) as well as HPA(high pressure air) and those tanks can cost up to $200.

I would like to go w/co2 until I really get into it, on the gun I think the most I'd like to spend is $300 all together I think about $500-$600

Keep in mind its for someone just starting out in paintball in general not in a certain type of game

A couple great choices would be a tippmann 98 custom or tippmann a-5 due to their great dependibility...personally i would recommend the 98 custom to a beginner because the gun is a little cheaper with basically the same internals and it also offers all the same upgrades to allow the gun to grow with the player...plus i doubt as a new player youll really want to be field stripping and the 98c is so simple once its apart that a noob can figure it out.

**One of the most important parts** Pick a gun that you like...i.e. if u like the looks of an a-5 better ask if you can hold it and see how it feels...because it makes it alot more fun if you have your own gun that you like and are proud of...it makes it alot easier to really want to take care of it.

Just my thoughts...

ok, I will try to get up to the proshop, but its about 45min away so I don't get up there often, and soon as the weather gets better I'm going to go play a couple times, before I actually buy a gun.

As for the gun, I am really torn between the A-5 and 98c, cause I like the looks on both, 98c a little more cause the cyclone on the a-5 kind makes it ugly, though that is just my opnion

Plus I have two friends, one says a-5, his bro just got one at 8yrs old(I always knew his dad was an idiot, but come on an 8yr old with a paintball gun? its probably more for the dad though) anyway, my other friend has an old 98c, which was his brothers.

What are the chances of the cyclone feed breaking anyway?

At first should I just start with the stock gun or should I upgrade it right away w/a new barrel or response trigger ect.?

usafpilot07 wrote: I love how everyone refuses to suggest an Ion.  He can use CO2 w/ an anti-syphon kit, and he won't feel outgunned when he plays speedball, as he's already said he likes to play both.  You can get NIB Ions for around 150, a CO2 tank for like, 20, an AS kit for 10, and a Revvy/Halo for 30-70 bucks.  That way, he only pays 300, and can upgrade or buy a new gun later. $150 bucks is much better spent on an Ion.

I second this opinion, or suggest looking into a used older electro that might be CO2 compatible w/ anti siphon. He could also cough up the 65-75 bucks to buy a new 72/3000 PMI HPA tank.

usafpilot07 wrote: lacr1240 wrote: if ur a beginner i would go with a simple gun like the tippmann 98 custom or the custom pro cause its easy to handle and u can trick it out a little more than other guns for a good price in ur range. "Tricking out" a tippmann is more expensive that most guns, seeing as you have to give it a major firepower upgrade, instead of just upgrading a guns board.  Upgrades you buy for your tippmann, will not work on guns that you buy later on, unlike the regs, barrells, asa's, etc. that you could get for your Ion/Mini/Rail...

True,, "Tricking out" a Tippmann can be more expensive than with some other markers , but the advantage to getting a 98(or an A-5),, for instance would be "Versatility" it can be tricked out into just about any configuration that you can imagine ,on just about any budget from Shoestring to "UberL33t Bling-Bling" !! (and anywhere in between ) .

As to the comment that beginners should "Learn the game" , I agree , and with a stock 98 or A-5 , you wont have extreme firepower right out of the box , but he will have a marker capable of growing with him, as his skills increase !

 The beauty of this is,, as he tends to lean more to one style of play , Ie; speedball/Woodsball ,,, Tourney/Recreational , the marker can be customized to match the current needs slowly .... IMHO , this is better than having to ditch an Ion because it hit some limit of versatility and shell out Mo' money for another marker .

i say the 98 custom would be the best gun to start with. 

i started with this gun and still use it today just modifyed it a bit.  a halo hopper, vert expansion chamber, i got stocks and barrels to change the look at will, and still have the option to upgrade to the response trigger or egrip. 

its very easy to maintain and shoot.  i personally have never shot the a-5 and wish to buy an x7 but my favorite will always be my trusty tippmann 98 custom

usafpilot07 wrote: Are you saying he'd have to ditch an Ion before a tippmann?  Ion's, out of the box, are perfectly suited to both Woodsball and Speedball, which he has already said he wants to play both.  Tippmann's are not fast enough for him to become accustomed to speedball, and not become discouraged at always having the slowest gun on the field.  Believe you me, I love Tippmanns.  When I first started, you didn't just hop onto the speedball field, but times are different now.  Guns like the ION will replace the 98's and A-5s eventually, because people like a gun that is just as fast as the other, for the same price as a stock Tippmann.

You aren't going to win this argument b/c you are on the Tippmann Forum, although you are correct.

lt redneck wrote: i say the 98 custom would be the best gun to start with.  i started with this gun and still use it today just modifyed it a bit.  a halo hopper, vert expansion chamber, i got stocks and barrels to change the look at will, and still have the option to upgrade to the response trigger or egrip.  its very easy to maintain and shoot.  i personally have never shot the a-5 and wish to buy an x7 but my favorite will always be my trusty tippmann 98 custom

Yea, throwing this idea out there, if you have experience with a single begginer gun, perhaps you are not qualified/ experienced as to discuss which marker is the best choice.

usaf ,, true the Ion is faster out of the box , but speed  might want to be a secondary factor for somebody just beginning to get into the sport .

  Once upgrades are considered , I believe the A5 and 98 custom (including the Pro and ACT) can be upgraded performance-wise and cosmetically to match or surpass the potential of an Ion . Allowing for personal preferences , I think Tippmann offers more versatility for somebody that plays recreationally .

Yea, throwing this idea out there, if you have experience with a single begginer gun, perhaps you are not qualified/ experienced as to discuss which marker is the best choice.

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i own a couple guns and have shot many different types. both electrical and mechanic.  ok  i forgot to add that part in my bad.  sure i havent shot any bob long guns but i have shot many guns from $20 spyders to ions but for my price range and style of play i have chose to stick with the 98 custom.  IMO the 98 custom has the ability to perform right along with the higher end markers. 

dont get me wrong im not saying that its better then them and i know there are way better guns out there but for a beginner tippmann is just a better choice.  it fits everyones budget, it upgrades easily and on the same budget.

Lots a good info here, I see, getting a little intense I see. Seems to me it will be a hard decision, I think I'll play some more before I decide, plus I think I found a place where you can rent and shoot differnet guns, though I'm not sure yet

keep the info coming y'all

Yea, if you can try out different kinds it will help you decide what you feel most comfortable using.

Other possibilities for guns that will outperform a Tippmann in the same price range are:

New (although I think they just stopped making them so also used): Promasters and Lasoya Promasters (w/ Lasoya being the better gun).

WGP Autocockers (new)

Used WDP Angels (LED, LCD, and occasionally you might find an IR3 in the price range).

Used DMLCDs and other older matrixes.

Used old shockers, or impulses and nerves (also used).

Used Freestyles (2004 Generation II or 2005... must have an HE bolt).

and the list goes on.

While I would say Freestyles and Autocockers are amazing guns, they can be finicky or easily screwed up by people who haven't used them before.

An older used electro like the Angels and Matrixes (DMLCDs, etc) are probably your best bet as they require very little maintenance, can be found reaonably cheap and achiev a high ROF. If you can find a nerve in the price range it is also a good choice. Also newer Promasters and Lasoya Promasters fall in to this category and would be mich lighter but a little more maintenance intensive than an older Angel.

Angel = a little oil every few cases/ Promaster = strip and lube like every other marker.

After that would follow used markers like older shockers or impulses.

If you don't mind having a marker some people think is a little more complicated or needs a little more maintenance, get a Freestyle or even an autococker...great guns.

Do not however go and listen to the numerous posts about "get a tippmann, you can upgrade it, and I've owned one for the longest time", "tippmanns are goods for woods and if you out $$ into them you can do speedball as well", etc.

There is no specific marker for a specific manner of play (woodsball vs speedball), people that think that are simply arrogant. Electro guns are extremely reliable, low maintenance, with better performance and durable, that is why they are used so often.

Simply put by buying an electro like USAF and myself stated, you will have a faster, lighter, more air efficient, smaller marker with better performance, than if you bought a Tippmann. Sure you could upgrade a tippmann to try and make it perform like a higher end gun, but that is not cost effective. Even then the electros can be upgraded as much as the tippmann. Getting the tippmann is just a poor choice.

ION!  ION! ION!  That is your best option for the best beginner gun possible. 

and people who think that speed isn't a big concern for new players, after my second day on the speedball field i went and ordered an e-trigger for my custom pro.  speed is improtant to me in speedball.  and it can be important in woods a lot to.

I believe developing playing skills would be of interest to a new player , But hey what do I know ?

I've owned and played with paintball markers since the 80's (most members of this forum werent even a twinkle in their daddy's eyes then  )

I currently own 4 markers , a 98 Custom (Highly modified and shoots 15 BPS , mechanical trigger and all )

an SL-68 II , it shoots 3 BPS on a good day , and its my favorite to take out in open play indoor speedball games

A Prostock cocker , only ups on it are the freak barrel and trigger work

and last , but not least a Spyder Fenix , electronic , Nice marker , but just as heavy as the 98 Custom .

Over the years , I've had markers from the PGP and bushmasters .

What I have experienced over time , is even with the fastest markers ,if a person doesnt have the necessary skills to utilize it , they will be frustrated and disappointed . and like so many I see , begin on a quest for the perfect marker when all they really needed to do was learn to use what they had to its fullest .

I'm not diss'n Ions , or speedballers , or anything for that matter , just stating some simple observations....

The skill sets in both styles of games are very similar , snap shooting , posting up , movement , strategy , communication , team work just to name a few , and to be honest , while there is only one mention of shooting , that too is a basic skill that must be learned , Ya cant buy learning from a box or upgrade kit !!

Funny you mentioned Snapshooting as relative to supporting any discussion relative to BPS of a marker,,,, as I understand it , snapshooting is quickly moving out from cover enough to place a few rounds and get back in before any opposition has time to react to your move , most any marker can serve that purpose quite well , even at 15 BPS ,  2 or 3 rounds can be fired in a fraction of a second .

Adequately is a relative term , and one that I am afraid the debate over will continue well into the forseeable future , oweing to the "Schools of thought " on it

I have no problems with anybody buying whatever they want , I made a recommendation as to my thoughts on his question , and so have you and numerous others . It since has spiraled down into an arguement of who's choice is better and why .

I still believe Skills carry more weight on ANY field than marker capability alone , what good is a marker that'll shoot 30 BPS if you cant use it to its potential ? , for that matter what good is a marker that can shoot 12-15 BPS ? See my point ? Skill sets are more difficult to develop than say dropping in an E-grip or whatever , and even after the Electronics are installed , its still the same finger pulling the trigger , with the same brain directing that finger . Any more on the subject is just Partisan bickering over who's "Train of thought" is MOST correct . I never said speed was a bad thing , Knowing how to use it effectively is BETTER !!