Ever Wondered How To Buy Paintball Guns?

By Tim Osborn

You have made up your mind. It is time to buy a paintball gun.You begin your research and quickly find out there are so many choices and features. What does it all mean and what should you buy? This article will help narrow the choices.

One of the main things you should consider is where you are going to play. If playing at home or in the woods, you should note that the type of air you have access to is a key question. CO2 is relatively simple to obtain at local paintball stores or even at the local Walmart with a tank exchange stand. Compressed air is usually not so simple and if you plan to play mainly at home, it may be a good idea to stay away from paintball guns that use compressed air.

If your paintball gun choice is limited to using CO2 tanks, then you should stick with paintball guns that are happy using CO2. Care must be taken to choose paintball guns that are made to run on CO2. CO2 is a liquid gas and is damaging to paintball guns or paintball markers that are not made to handle the liquid. You could buy an expensive paintball gun and damage it beyond repair with just a few uses. We recommend sticking with good quality name brand paintball markers that are made to run on CO2.

If CO2 is your air, then we recommend using paintball markers that are designed to run on CO2. Spyder guns from the non-electric and budget conscious models would be the Spyder Victor, Xtra, Sonic. With a bigger budget moving up to the electronic, Spyder Pilot, Electra, VS1, VS2. Smart Parts has excellent mid range CO2 models designed to run on CO2. New technology and easy to maintain are the Smart Parts Vibe.

CO2 paintball guns with a military look are the Spyder MR1, MR2, MR3. Smart Parts has the SP1 model designed to run on CO2 and a military scenario look. New releases from Tippmann are the Tippmann Alpha Black Series. These paintball guns are loaded with features. Tippmann is the champion of CO2 military markers with several models in each series that will match your level of play and features you may desire. The main paintball gun series Tippmann manufactures are the Custom 98 Platinum Series, A5, X7 and all Tippmann paintball guns are backed with a 2 year warranty.

If you have access to compressed air for your paintball markers, then budget and features are where you need to focus your study. Paintball guns range in prices requiring you to spend a little or you can spend a lot. Generally those spending a lot are not recreational players. They are pros or soon to be pros that need to have the utmost in the competitive advantage. Why do the features cost so much? Putting the best features in the lightest paintball guns means high cost. Once you have high cost you severely limit the market. So paintball gun manufacturers have to pick a price point and try to apply the features necessary to make the sales. This is why you should decide what features are important to you when choosing a paintball gun.

One of the basic decisions is if you want an electronic paintball marker or not? Then, an extension of this is what kind of electronic firing modes and speed of firing are important. Single shot, 3-shot burst, semi-automatic, and fully automatic are some firing modes that are popular. Like adding new clubs to your golf bag, each added feature will add cost. There are some great values out there, so do your research and you will find many of the same features at lower price points.

The next consideration is what kind of player are you? Ease of maintenance can be a key to keeping a paintball gun performing at its best and lasting a long time. Choose paintball markers that are easily maintained, if you are not very mechanically inclined. The Smart Parts Guns are very easy to maintain as are the Tippmann Platinum Series with a split receiver. Be sure to use the proper lubricant recommended. If you have no fear, you can buy any paintball marker and learn how to maintain it. There are several help manuals and videos on manufacturer's websites. Youtube is also a great source for self maintaining paintball guns.

Paintball markers can usually be upgraded. However, some a lot more than most. A Tippmann X7 paintball marker can be upgraded in several ways. Triggers, barrels, sights, magazines, foregrips, stocks and more. The Tippmann X7 paintball marker can be changed from an M16 to an M36 with a few upgrades. If upgrading is important to you, please research your model of paintball marker to see what can be added after purchasing. For example, the Tippmann Alpha Black Series are very economical to buy. They are meant to be starter guns. You cannot upgrade a Tippmann Alpha Black Basic to an Egrip because they have not made an upgrade for it. Instead, Tippmann made the Egrip model inexpensive so that you would buy the paintball gun with the electronic upgrade in the first place.

While we have tried to enlighten you on your paintball gun choices, the reality is there are several makes and models, price ranges and features to choose from. First decide where you will play and the air system you should use. Then decide what features and looks are important to you. Then, get busy and research your potential paintball gun until you are comfortable with the price range, the features and value in that price range and if you will be able to maintain it or upgrade it while you own it. Then get out there and paint the other players!

About the Author:

Paintball is great fun whether you do it every day or once a year, having the right Paintball Gun for you is vital. Dealing with with a knowledgable Paintball Gun dealer will help you get the gun that is right for you.