jordanpischke wrote: I dont see why anyone would want to buy an x7. I have done both builders and the can look way better than the x7. You just get one of them shrouds on it and it looks sweet. I am going to buy a shroud for my 98 custom.

 The X7 builder is Faulty, many MANY of the X7 mods on the Tippmann Website, were and still are designed Wrong, the Ak47 shroud does not line up properly where it actually does on the X7, and many parts just don't look right on their builder, they need to update it and fix these problems.

 The X7 is much more easily modified than the A5, most A5 parts you have to order, yet parts for the X7 are available at any local paintball store, as long as you don't live in Alaska.. I have found no shortage of parts, +1 availability

Um, you can find A-5 parts at any paintball store -1 for being innaccurate.

Wasting money on purely cosmetic upgrades -1 for being fiscally irresponsible.

I could go on and list the things the X7 has perfected over the A5, like the user friendly design and EP cyclone, oh don't forget, us X7 owners always have to pull the "Selector fire switch" flag, your A5 don't have one of them

Both are relatively user friendly, -1 for making broad sweeping statements.

 If you want a reliable, strong, lasting All around paintball marker, the A5, if your a Milsim junky like many of us and can't stand having a gun that looks like anything else but your favorite fire arm, the X7 should be your choice.

If I wanted a reliable, long lasting milsim gun I would be one of the markers way more oriented for milsim, buy an SP-8 (still a better marker than the X-7) or take a nice, light, small, fast, and efficient marker, and put it into a milsim style body/ shroud/ cover.

-1 for choosing a gun based on its appearance.

 Also, the builders are very far apart, from personally holding each marker, using it testing it, finding its weaknesses and its strengths from your style of play, then judge it.

+1 Best advice so far.