My wife just informed me that she wants to get our 3 children paintball guns for Christmas.  OK, no problem here except I know nothing about paintball guns.

 

Can anyone recommend what type of guns to get, should I get C02, compressed air (HPA I think it is called), do I need to get a high pressure compressor to fill them or can I use a scuba tank (which I thought you had to be certified in SCUBA to get filled anyway)?

 

Any info would be appreciated.  I did a search and couldn't find anything with enough information.

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

I have paintballed for years, played on a few teams and what not. You would first want ton know what type of paintball they are into.

 

I can give you three different catagories..

 

-Airball/Speedball.

-Woodsball/Scenario

-Mag fed...mag fed is a newer style ustilizing only mag fed paintball guns.

 

The concept in paintball is the same as any other hobby. BUY ONCE CRY ONCE. You need to find the balance between getting a good marker becuase they will play often or getting a cheaper marker that will still be reliable but not sit there if they play twice and give it up.

 

Here is a video explaining the difference between speedball and woodsball guns

 

Here is a video showing the difference between the types of paintball

 

here is a video of mag fed paintball which is pretty sweet. if I didnt already have speedball gear that i use ocassionally for woodsball, i would get the new Tiberius m4.

 

Also CO2 sucks ass and HPA is the way to go. Ill find some mor einfo for you and post it up.

 

here are some reliable companies that make good markers

 

Planet Eclipse

Dye

Tiberius arms

EmpireWhats your price range per gun? There is also some basic gear that is important to get. For example you dont want a shitty mask because it will fog up. When kids masks fog up they tend to want to rip them off during a game. This is a recipe for a paintball hitting your face at 300 fps....not fun.

 

Dont skimp on masks!

I just got into paintball myself a few months ago and it is a lot of fun.  as much fun as it is getting hit by a paintball does sting, I am 6'2" and weight 300lbs and I had welts on me for a week from being shot from 20 feet away.  From what I found in my research when buying a paintball gun is that the tippmann 98 and it's variants are good starter guns and very reliable.  As far as air goes stick with HPA, CO2 dries the rubber o-rings and requires them to be swapped out more often.  Any paintball store or field can fill your tank for around $5, some fill them for free if you are playing on their field.

-Mag fed...mag fed is a newer style ustilizing only mag fed paintball guns.

 

here is a video of mag fed paintball which is pretty sweet. if I didnt already have speedball gear that i use ocassionally for woodsball, i would get the new Tiberius m4.

 

 

Might as well play Airsoft instead...

A lot of the answers to your questions depend on what your budget is.  Paintball gear for 3 kids will add up QUICKLY.  Compressed air is better and more reliable than CO2, however it's more expensive.  I think one of the best places to start out is getting them markers from Tippmann.  They're great guns for the money, and are on the cheaper end of the spectrum.  If your kids want to upgrade later on, these will serve as good backup markers.

Go buy them Tippmann 98 Customs and a decent mask. Tippmann used to have package deals, I don't know if they still do. CO2 isn't the devil. The tanks are much cheaper, and you can't fill HPA on standard compressors. Also, HPA tanks need to be recertified after a few years (mine are all out of date). CO2 is only annoying in the cold, during the spring/summer/fall you will be fine. 

Tippmann currently has a $30 rebate for the 98 custom, alpha black, and project salvo guns

 

here is a video of mag fed paintball which is pretty sweet. if I didnt already have speedball gear that i use ocassionally for woodsball, i would get the new Tiberius m4.

 

 

I'm sorry, that just looks retarded though.  Most of those guys were carrying around WAY MORE gear than you'll ever need.  When I played, I carried: marker, compressed air tank, hopper, and four 140rd tubes.  I wore light cleats, camo pants, and an under armour shirt.  You don't need half the shit they were carrying around.

I'm sorry, that just looks retarded though.  Most of those guys were carrying around WAY MORE gear than you'll ever need.  When I played, I carried: marker, compressed air tank, hopper, and four 140rd tubes.  I wore light cleats, camo pants, and an under armour shirt.  You don't need half the shit they were carrying around.

 

i agree with you. The video was merely to show an example of mag fed. Way to much mall ninja shit going on there. but then again, i dont play mag fed so i dont have that type of gear. I use the same marker i have used for 6 years, Dye DM8. I used it for speedball when i used to play and now i use it for woodsball as well. The only difference in gear for me is a vest for scenario games which allows me to have a larger HPA tank on my back with a remote line going to the marker, also helps distribute the weight of the paint between ym shoulders and back if I want to carry more pain then usual.. In larger scenario games it allows me to not have to go back and refill air for a while, more playing time.

Thanks everyone, as for my budget I guess it is flexible, was hoping for around $150 or so per gun, no budget for the accessories since I didn't know what else we needed beyond a mask.

 

After looking at the videos it looks like speedball most closely resembles what they play now.

i would strongly suggest NOT getting a tippy 98 for speedball,. This is not me being a douche its me speaking from experience. i can suggest some better options. here are some items you need to play...

 

Painbtall gun

HPA tank

paintball hopper

paint pods

paint pod pack

paintball mask

Cleats optional but i always wore them

 

This may be a better option for starting markers...

http://www.discountpaintball.com/D3FY-Sports-D3S-Paintball-Gun-Black-Grey-With-Tadao-Board_p_9493.html

 

This is a quality mask for the price. I have used this model for a few years and like it very much

http://www.discountpaintball.com/Proto-Axis-Pro-Goggles--Black_p_6596.html

 

This type of pack is good for multiple types of play

http://www.discountpaintball.com/Empire-2012-React-Breed-Paintball-Harness-47--Woodland-Camo_p_6905.html

 

I use this.....

http://www.discountpaintball.com/Dye-Rotor-Paintball-Loader--Olive-Black_p_8251.html

You do not have to spend that much but that is a quality hopper. You can go for something cheaper, keep in mind you can only shoot as fast as your hopper can feed. So if you are getting a tippman you can use a "gravity fed hopper".....Hopper is a very important piece of equipment

 

 

I would not recommend skimping on an HPA tank. If you do you will end up with a heavy steel tank. the more expensive ones are carbon fiber. Ninja is a great company

http://www.discountpaintball.com/Ninja-Paintball-50-ci-4500-psi-Carbon-Fiber-Compressed-Air-Tank-Black_p_4138.html

 

This is a standard pod...

http://www.discountpaintball.com/Discount-Paintball-140-Round-Pod--Black_p_5850.html

 

Again, the balance is between how much you want to spend and how much paintball your kids will play. Some people end up going out with mediocre gear and get smoked, that turns them off to the sport. That is what you DONT want to happen. 

 

Same as any other hobby. Feel free to PM about any specific item you are looking at and I will do my best to give you some info on it.

I used to own and operate paintball fields and played speedball nationally. Feel free to PM me and I will provide my phone number and we can chat. Depending on your location, I can probably put you in touch with a reputable dealer near you.

i agree with you. The video was merely to show an example of mag fed. Way to much mall ninja shit going on there. but then again, i dont play mag fed so i dont have that type of gear. I use the same marker i have used for 6 years, Dye DM8. I used it for speedball when i used to play and now i use it for woodsball as well. The only difference in gear for me is a vest for scenario games which allows me to have a larger HPA tank on my back with a remote line going to the marker, also helps distribute the weight of the paint between ym shoulders and back if I want to carry more pain then usual.. In larger scenario games it allows me to not have to go back and refill air for a while, more playing time.

I used a SP Ion, then upgraded to a SP Shocker.  I personally enjoyed the Ion more though.  I had about $400 into it, with a Halo hopper, and Dye 68/4500 tank.  I miss playing paintball a lot, however I have a partially torn ACL from it.  It's a young mans game, and even at 25 I'm just too old for it.

Absolutely, ion was solid. I used to sand and paint the bodies back in the day, different designs and stuff. Bondo worked really well on them

Ions?! Shoebox Shockers?!?! God, I still hate those scumbags at smart parts even though the freak barrels were the best.

Absolutely, ion was solid. I used to sand and paint the bodies back in the day, different designs and stuff. Bondo worked really well on them

Yep. Back in the day, it was a hard gun to beat in that price range.  I'm super jealous of your DM8 though.  Dye was ALWAYS my favorite paintball company, by far.  Their compressed air tanks were second to none.  I was never lucky enough to shoot one of their markers though.

theres a memeber who owned a paintball shop/airsoft shop that is closing selling off inventory on NJ Guns for Sale page on FB don't know if anything he just post is of any interest to anyone.

I used to play like 20 year's ago I had a Tipman VM. Someplace in my garage I still have a, Spartan pump sniper with optics, 68 AutoMag, and an MiniMag they were the top end guns back then. But I'm sure completely outdated and obsolete these days. I had a nitrogen backpack with a hose that fed the gun instead of CO2. Worked better back then too. But I haven't seen the stuff since I bought my house over a decade ago.

 

I used to play like 20 year's ago I had a Tipman VM. Someplace in my garage I still have a, Spartan pump sniper with optics, 68 AutoMag, and an MiniMag they were the top end guns back then. But I'm sure completely outdated and obsolete these days. I had a nitrogen backpack with a hose that fed the gun instead of CO2. Worked better back then too. But I haven't seen the stuff since I bought my house over a decade ago.

Minimag and automag were ahead of there time. I remember being jealous of m friends automag when I first got my spider Electra.

Minimag and automag were ahead of there time. I remember being jealous of m friends automag when I first got my spider Electra.

Yeah and they were extremely expensive I remember working all summer at 16, saving everything I made to by the 68 classic. That gun was about $600 just for the marker in the Early to mid 90's. Definitely the Ferrari's of paint markers back in the day.

 

What NJ store is being sold off?

 

I too have an Automag. I like it. I want to get an X-Valve and a ULE frame to replace the POS DT frame I have on there now. A few years back I finally acquired my holy grail, a Tippmann Factory F/A, but I have yet to use it in a game.

Minimag and automag were ahead of there time. I remember being jealous of m friends automag when I first got my spider Electra.

I think that anyone who had a Kingman was jealous of anyone who didn't have a Kingman  Don't worry, I was in that boat too

I think that anyone who had a Kingman was jealous of anyone who didn't have a Kingman Don't worry, I was in that boat too

Hahaha indeed. Thought I was the shit after I ditched the spyder and got a ICD promaster. After that I discovered dye and it was over

What NJ store is being sold off?

 

I too have an Automag. I like it. I want to get an X-Valve and a ULE frame to replace the POS DT frame I have on there now. A few years back I finally acquired my holy grail, a Tippmann Factory F/A, but I have yet to use it in a game.

heres his last post, he's located in Bridgewater and inventory is in Union thats all i know

 

Category Brand Model Color ASKING Airsoft GunUmarexElite Force IWI Tavor 21 ELITE tan/black $225.00

Paintball Gun Eclipse Geo 3 Midnight $800.00

Paintball Gun Eclipse Geo 3 Embers2 $800.00

Paintball Gun Eclipse Etha w/ upgrade Blue/Black $300.00

Paintball Gun Eclipse Etek 4 LT Black $350.00

Paintball Gun Eclipse Etek 4 AM Red/BLK $400.00

Paintball Gun Spyder MR5 semi auto with DLS $175.00

Paintball Gun Spyder E-MR5 SOLD

Paintball Gun Spyder Hammer 7 with DLC $75.00

Paintball Gun Empire BT-4 Combat Slice $90.00

Paintball Gun Empire AXE Dust Black $400.00

Paintball Gun Dangerous Power G5 Brown $280.00

Paintball Gun Dangerous Power E1 Blue $150.00

Paintball Gun Tippman A-5 with e-grip Black $225.00

Paintball Gun GOG Paintball eXTCy Black/Titanium $175.00

Paintball Gun MacDev Drone Camo Jungle $450.00

Goggle Empire E-Flex Goggle Black $80.00

Loader Empire Prophecy Z2 -Digi Camo $140.00

Loader Virtue Spire Black $120.00

Loader Virute Spire Black/Red $120.00

Loader Acc Virtue Spire-Crown Speed FeedBlack $35.00

Loader Acc Virtue Spire-Crown Speed Feed Blue $35.00

Tank Tippman 48ci 3000psi HPA Black $35.00

Tank Ninja Dura45ci CF PRO SLP 300 Black $125.00

Parts Tippman X-7 Universal parts kit $7.00

Trigger Tippman A-5 Double Trigger Kit $12.00

Fabric Banner Planet Eclipse Large “e” logo black w/ green $15.00

Fabric Banner Planet Eclipse Large Geo logo Blue $10.00

Fabric Banner Planet Eclipse Large Ego logo gray/red $10.00

Fabric Banner Luxe Luxe logo small size $5.00

Fabric Banner GOG Paintball GOG logo tan /small $5.00

Fabric Banner GI Sportz GI Sportz logo red large $10.00

 

wow many those are sick prices, if i wasnt buying ammo and guns all the time, id be all over one of those eteks

OP.  If you're willing to spend the money, the Tippmann A5 with E trigger is a great buy.  There are several benefits to this marker.  First, due to the design of the marker, you don't need to invest in a hopper, regardless of whether they decide to stick to woodsball or speedball.  Second, this is a GREAT marker, that will last essentially as long as they decide to play paintball...it's very reliable.  Third, because of the E trigger, they can be competitive in both woodsball and speedball (at least entry level) with this marker.

 

If you go this route, you will need to purchase some kind of tank, masks, and some kind of pod system to carry around extra paintballs.  This gun will run just fine on CO2 if you wish to save a couple bucks for now.  If you look around for a decent mask, and get some entry level pod systems, you could have all three of your boys playing paintball for about $1,000.  Paintball is an expensive sport.  Trust me when I say that to have three boys playing paintball with a marker of this quality, for an initial investment of $1,000, is pretty damn good.

 

ETA.  I didn't see the Tippmann 48ci/3000psi HPA tanks.  These tanks will be a tad heavier than CO2, but will be a little bit better for the gun, and will be more reliable in the winter time.  At $35, they will only be about $10 more per tank than CO2 tanks.

OP.  If you're willing to spend the money, the Tippmann A5 with E trigger is a great buy.  There are several benefits to this marker.  First, due to the design of the marker, you don't need to invest in a hopper, regardless of whether they decide to stick to woodsball or speedball.  Second, this is a GREAT marker, that will last essentially as long as they decide to play paintball...it's very reliable.  Third, because of the E trigger, they can be competitive in both woodsball and speedball (at least entry level) with this marker.

 

If you go this route, you will need to purchase some kind of tank, masks, and some kind of pod system to carry around extra paintballs.  This gun will run just fine on CO2 if you wish to save a couple bucks for now.  If you look around for a decent mask, and get some entry level pod systems, you could have all three of your boys playing paintball for about $1,000.  Paintball is an expensive sport.  Trust me when I say that to have three boys playing paintball with a marker of this quality, for an initial investment of $1,000, is pretty damn good.

 

ETA.  I didn't see the Tippmann 48ci/3000psi HPA tanks.  These tanks will be a tad heavier than CO2, but will be a little bit better for the gun, and will be more reliable in the winter time.  At $35, they will only be about $10 more per tank than CO2 tanks.

Vjf- thanks for the info, one correction, not 3 boys, 2 girls and 1 boy (LOL).  But my girls are tough, no worries here!

Vjf- thanks for the info, one correction, not 3 boys, 2 girls and 1 boy (LOL).  But my girls are tough, no worries here!

I'm sorry.  Well that changes EVERYTHING lol.  My only suggestion is that once you figure out everything you decide to get your children, post the setups (and prices) here.  Those with experience can ensure that everything you're looking at is compatible, sufficient enough, and also not overkill.  Expensive equipment is great, but how you play the game matters a hell of a lot more.