Ive been reading these forums for a while and just recently signed up.
I didnt come here to get flamed, so please, read carefully before replying!

I am introducing my girlfriend to paintball. I need some advice on a good entry level gun within the $200 range. I am a long time Tippmann veteran with an extremely moded 98 Custom, and even though me and most of my team sport Tippmanns, I think I want to venture outside of Tippy for her.
While I dont want to subject her to a cheap ass brass eagle or jt, I dont quite think she needs a Bob Long or and Angel... so I dont want to hear any hard headed comments, I want HONEST advice, I dont want you to tell me to get something becuase you have one and everyone else must suck because you pwn everyone with your ion. k.

NOW, lol. I have been looking a the Kingmann Spyder ePilot ACS, Smart Parts ION, and Tippmann Triumph eXT... and thinking maayyybeeee a 98 custom.

Spyder Pilot ACS- seems to be fairly customizable, reliable, great for entry player (I know most people on the feild dont sport these, so again, this is for my girlfriend who is just starting out). Best part, its only $100 What do you think?

ION- still decently priced at $164.. how customizable are these guys? Her favorite color is purple, can I get colored dropforwards/ gas through grips/ triggers/ barrels? AND, I know they accept barrel threads from quite a few other guns, can I use Kingmann Spyder threads on an ION? (theres a nice purple 14 inch barrel I can get if so).

Triumph- I was thinking about getting this one becuase I keep hearing you can get them for $30 and they are basicly a 98 custom pro redisigned for beginners. With 98 custom internals, and the expansion chamber and drop are built right into the design. Buuut... if I get one of these, i'd like it to be an e-trigger.. and I dont want to spend over $100, which is all I seem to find. This gun has an embarrasing design, Tippmann wont even put their name on it. It looks like a Brass Eagle Samurai.. which looks like a gaddamn sawzaw.. I also hear they are just as hard to take apart.. and there is simply not enough info or review on them.

98 custom- If I get this, I know I can find a purple drop, rubber grip, feed neck, and loader.. but ive never seen a purple barrel that fits Tippmann threads. And we'd have matching guns.. awww. But then i'd be spending a **edited** load of money and I already have a custom, it would be nice to have an e-trigger that way when she dont come out to play I can switch off, or when im not playing woodsball with the team I can take it to some speed-ball courses.

I also found this gun on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310023820411&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=021 - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&i tem=310023820411&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=021
Can anyone tell me what model WOR marker this is, and is it decent. Is it e-trigger? Worth the money if the bid dont go above $90? Where can I find one if I dont win the bid and decide this is the gun? (They dont have this one on xtremez or actionvillage)

SO, please give me your honest opinion, i'd really like to get the gun soon.
And if it helps save you time, I already have a mask and 20oz tank for her, so I dont need a package deal if its not necessary.

Thanks a million, -Jeremy

You might want to look into an older modeled  angel or  matrix. They are  heavier than new markers, but have a high ROF, and are basically tanks. Also, for the older angels at least maintenance is  easy.

As to the "cut the spring to adjust a spyders velocity"... if you can't get a spyder to chrono at the proper speed just go out and spend 3 dollars on a spring kit.

mrclownprince wrote: I seem to hear this "the ion is plastic" many , many , many times.    Before you repeat what everyone says. Do some research. The outer body is a plastic. everything else is metal.

Yeah, cheap metal.  I nearly cross-threaded the screws on the body when I put my Ion back together the first time. 

First off I just wnat to say congrats on getting you girl friend to give it a try. I cant get mine to even think about it.

Now I know a thing or too about the guns so here goes something:

Spyder Pliot: My cousin has one and we went to skirmish and it was so powerful they couldnt get it under 280Fps so they had to cut the spring. I dont know if you play with your friends or what but yea it happened and it sucked. Upgrades I think it is a little more complicated compared to 98s.

ION: Sad to say that I dont know too much about them but I do know that the are on the unreliable side because they kind of break easy. I dont know what does once agian I dont know too much but they do.

Truimph: These are GREAT for first timers. I have one and it comes with an EGrip but there are different models. I have the EXT version. I think its the most expensive and I got it for 80 bucks at walmart which included a mask, a hopper and a 9 oz C02 Tank. It has a carbon fiber barrel which is great since it does not expand or shink at all during weather changes. I would recommand this even though she might not like the look. It comes with a 11 inch barrel.

98 Custom: Its a good gun since you can upgrade easily and she learn to upgrade and think she fix anything on a paintball gun (like myself).

Overal I recommand the Truimph but sooner or later I think she will want to upgrade to a new gun. But it might be a 98 custom or maye the new one that came out. Or a Custom Pro.

Have you thought of just spray painting a paintball gun purple?

Here are some sights to check out

http://www.paintball-discounters.com/ - http://www.paintball-discounters.com/

http://www.zephyrpaintball.com/ - http://www.zephyrpaintball.com/

http://www.anythingxtreme.com/Paintball-C745.aspx - http://www.anythingxtreme.com/Paintball-C745.aspx

Happy Hunting.

Spyder ACS: Costs $100 dollars new, and is a sear tripper. It will shoot faster than Tippmann markers for less money. As for springs being cut. Yes sometimes out of the box the spring does not allow the velocity to be adjusted to the desired velocity. This is solved by buying a 5 dollar spring kit (which contains springs with varying tensions).

Triumph: Plastic, lack of upgrades... it usses mdoel 98 internals so its decently reliable... but they really aren't the best possible purchase. I really have no idea who buys them?

98 Custom: Reliable, upgrades, Tippmanns tend to cost more than competing entry level brands due to branding (aka name recognition). If you want a tippmann,... you are better off looking at BT and PCS markers.

Ion: It is plastic/composite.... gives a good ROF for very little money (less than before). However, it is not as nice as other electropnuematics or mechanicals within the same price range. Also stripping one of these down after a day of play is time consuming (and annoying as can be). The newer model has the bolt come out the back for easier maintanence, but then you can't get the 160 dollar clearance ion models. If you find one cheap I think you can upgrade the Ion body to the newer one for 60 dollars (I think I saw on action village).

My suggestions:

Indian Creek Designs Promaster:

While ICD is nolonger making paintball markers they still provide warranty service. Parts can still be found from ICD directly or Vaporworks. They are a superior electropnuematic marker to the Ion, and cost less ($140 dollars at Action Village).

WGP Autococker:

Nice as a mechanical or electropneumatic. You would have to buy one used, and they aren't any more complicated than any other marker... you just have to become familiar with them

AGD Automag

Small mechanical, also very nice and reliable.

Angel LCD/LED/IR3; Bob Long Intimidator:

Buying a used high end gun that is about 8-4 years old can net you great saving,... and you still have an extremely easy to maintain marker with a high ROF. It will be heavier than newer high end markers,... but not much different than some of the bulky mechanical low end markers still in production (or what some people do to their markers... tippmann +milsim = ridiculous weight).

mrclownprince wrote: thejudge wrote: Not gonna lie... stick with the Tippmann.  The triumph is supposed to be decent but is all plastic and a pain to field strip if you had to.  The Ion is also plastic and loses value very quickly... plus alot of people here will agree Smart Parts doesnt have the best service record.  I am simply not a fan of spyders either.  That is just me though.  Now to the Tippmann.  The 98c, as you know, is a rock and will take any abuse you can throw at it.  As for the barrel and color a little sand paper and spray paint will get you any color you could want.  Also there is the Autococker line.  If you can find a used trilogy or prosock those would be good guns too.  The trilogy (post 01 I believe) is timed from the factory and is one of the easist markers I have ever cared for.  PLus all you really need it maybe a new bolt (delrin) and of course a new barrel.  Then you are all set.  I reccommend seeing if you can get ahold of some of the guns you listed either for her to try or just go to the proshop and let her hold them.  Whichever one she is more comfortable with would be your best bet. I seem to hear this "the ion is plastic" many , many , many times.    Before you repeat what everyone says. Do some research. The outer body is a plastic. everything else is metal. the gripframe, firing chamber, bolt, solinoid. Triumph and Tippmann 98 are essentially the same. The tippmann 98 though is much more durable. Every autococker is timed from the factory. I'd agree with spyders not a big fan of. Mostly because of the velocity problems they have on C02 operation. The tippmann doesn't need a spring to be cut to achieve safe velocity operation.

So sorry... next time I will specify The outside is all plastic and a pain int the you know what to field strip.  Yes the inside is metal but I have also never seen a marker that is not metal on the inside so i figured it was a given.   And I wouldnt buy an Ion for that same reason along withthe fact that I just dont like them. Amd I have done some research on it... in fact I stripped one that a friend bought so I have seen the whole marker, inside and out.

Just buy her a 98 Custom. Hell, paint it purple for her if she wants a purple gun.