I want to get into paintball

[Bachanomon92]

@ Bachanomon92
Warning: Lots of words. Good words, but lots of them.

Hokay. My original recommendation still stands. The Ben Tippmann BT-4 Combat. It's a rugged marker, easy to maintain for first-time owners, parts and accessories are common in any pro shop, and there's plenty of options to upgrade later, without having to shell out all at the beginning.

The BT-4 is compatible with all Tippmann Custom-98 accessories, and most Tippmann A-5 ones as well. Straight out of the box, you can use the gun interchangeably with CO2 and HPA. Now I know the C98 comes with a (cheap) mask and hopper, but not certain the BT's do. Gonna assume it doesn't. Also, most guns come with at least a basic condom (barrel condom, not the lubricated ribbed cherry scented kind). If the BT-4 doesn't, add at MOST, $5 to the total cost of gear. That being said...

BT-4 Combat - $170
47 Cubic Inch HPA Tank (Steel) - $80
Basic Hopper (200rnd) - $10
Basic [i]decent[/i] Mask - $70
Tank Fill Nipple Cover - $5
Basic Neck Guard - $10 (or less)
Barrel Squeegie - $10 (or less)
Gloves (basic) - $15
[b]Total[/b] - $370 [i]Canadian[/i]

Optional Extras:
Half-Decent Pod Pack (3-5 Pod) - $20
+ Dye brand Lock-Lid Pod - $6 ea
GXG Folding Gun Bag - $20

All that above, here's why it's there...
The gun's a no brainer. The tank, HPA tanks will run you at least $80-100 for even a small steel tank, but most ranges charge for each fill on a CO2 tank. A 20oz CO2 Tank will run you $20-35 just for the tank, and they come empty. My local range charges $7 for a 20oz fill ($5 on 9oz, you save on bigger tanks), most every place with HPA is free air fills. So while $35 beats $80, you only need to refill it six or seven times before the HPA ends up the cheaper choice. Don't go with a Carbon Fiber tank, those start around $200, plus you need a bottle cover or I guarantee you'll puncture/tear it, and once that happens, there's no fixing a burst tank. Save carbon fiber for if you really, REALLY get into the sport. Like, tournament play "into it".

Now the fill nipple cover, that's a no brainer that nobody mentions. A cheap plastic ($2) or metal ($5) cap that covers the fill nozzle/nipple of an HPA tank. Keeps grime out of your tank, thus out of your gun. Cheap out on this, you'll pay many times more than the five bucks it would have cost. The hopper, well every Walmart, Canadian Tire, and pretty much anywhere else that carries paintball anything, all stock the same one damned hopper. The Viewloader brand 200 round basic-as-shit plastic black thing. Five to ten bucks, it does the job. Balls jam up, won't drop, just shake the gun lightly, problem solved. Nearly idiot-proof. Only thing to watch for here is picking out one that doesn't have a lot of sharp mold flash (the excess plastic waste around the edges), as they can slice open your balls (paint or otherwise... ouch!) while in the hopper. Again, later, you can always upgrade to a better (electronic) hopper. The barrel squeegie and neck guard are also at Walmart, or any pro shop. The squeegie clears paint from the barrel if a ball is chopped/burst while firing. Most ranges have these on-site free to use, but one for home use to clean the gun, highly recommended. The neck guard, get hit in the neck or throat once... JUST once, and you'll know why this is not optional. Not listed above, I'd also recommend an athletic cup for any guys. Like the neck, take one shot, and you'll know why. Gloves of any kind are better than nothing. So long as it covers your knuckles, it will do. You never want to know what a paintball-split knuckle feels like the next day. "Pro" gloves will run you upwards of $80, but really, a cheap $10 pair I found at Walmart works just as good.

Now the most important piece last, the mask. You can find $25-50 masks at Walmart, Zellers, Canadian Tire... There are three good reasons why not to cheap out on a mask, why not to buy such things at a store like those above. First, is safety. Would you trust a dollar-store mask to stop a paintball? That's essentially what a cheap mask is, dollar-store plastic at a non-dollar-store price. Secondly, masks will chafe and itch until you fucking BLEED, unless you pick one that suits your head shape just right. Try them on at a pro shop, anywhere that doesn't carry demo masks and/or won't let you try one on, don't trust them. The mask should feel snug, and comfortable. If anything, ANYTHING about it bothers you, imagine how much more it will bug you while you're sweating bullets, and have been wearing it for two hours straight. Something with a chin-strap is a must, the top duckbill/cap piece is a must, being able to comfortably breathe in it is a DEFINITE must, and changeable lenses are a great idea. Which is the third reason not to cheap out... A great mask with replaceable lenses will go forever. When the lens is fried, replace it for $10-20 instead of replacing the whole mask. A good lens should last three or so years, anti-fog ones are ideal, tints and one-way vision are totally user preference. When it comes to finding a mask, shop around. Shop anywhere and everywhere you can get to, and try on everything you can. A good mask ranges from $70 to $300, there is no standardized pricing and no guarantee that the three hundred buck mask is actually any better quality than the ninety dollar one. I highly recommend that even before you buy the paintball gun, get the mask. That way you aren't blindsided if the only comfortable one is above your funding level.

Lastly, the optional bits...
This entirely depends on how your local ranges operate, but most places don't allow you to bring your own paintballs. You must buy theirs, either by the bag/case in the pro-shop, in package deals (ie 3hrs play and 300 balls for $X), or just "Per Hundred" prices. Depending on how much you go through in a game, and how they sell their paint, you may be inclined to buy paintball pods (tubes to store extra ammo). If, for instance, you are allowed to buy paint by the bag (500rnds) in the pro-shop, it will work out to MUCH cheaper than their per-hundred price (good bag, $25ish, per hundred, $10 and up). Can't go carrying a box or bag of ammo on the field, so pods it is. A pod-pack is literally a belt worn around the chest/waist, designed to hold X+Y number of pods. X being the number of proper pod holsters, Y being the number of other loose webbings to expand beyond the initial X number. A pod holds usually 140-160 balls, I mentioned above a specific make/model. The Dye brand lock-lid pods are terrific. They are easy to open, but lock down the lid so it can't just pop open by accident, scattering your expensive ammo all over the field. As most pod packs store pods upside down, locked lids are very VERY important. On that note, you want a pod pack that is vertical storage, not horizontal, and one with quick release bottoms, because it is near impossible to pull them out from the top while holding a paintball gun.

The other optional item, folding gun bag, is more about protecting your gear than anything. Yeah, you can toss it all in a duffel or backpack, but how long before you bend the barrel, damage the tank threads, or something else nasty? GXG's basic bags are literally a giant square when unfolded, you strap in the gun fully assembled (sans tank), tuck in the extras, and fold it in half (the two halves are rigid backed, it only folds in one place). Then, a zipper runs the perimeter of the bag, sealing it. Carry handles on the top, bob's your uncle.

As mentioned in the price list, all my prices were in Cannuckistan dollars. Exchange rates where they are today, it's roughly $300US. If you can't get all that for three hundred bucks locally, check the web. Most American PB stores ship free in the US, and traditionally, paintball products cost much less in US dollars than in Canadian, exchange rates included.[/QUOTE]

That's a mouthhful, but thanks though, I'll check it all out.

There is so much Tippman love on this site its getting kinda scary.

 

[One More Frag]

If you got the cash, buy the Tippmann A5. It's an excellent paintball marker with high accuracy. I have had mine for about a year now without any problems whatsoever. Woodsball is the way to go btw.

 

[bradley348]

STEP 1) Go in
STEP 2) point the end that shoots paint at the opposistion (or, ya know, your allies)
STEP 3) fire
STEP 4) ???
STEP 5) PROFIT

 

[Emerald Elf]

why dont you just go to the nearest paintballing place near you c how u like it and ask 4 advice they can prob give u some good deals on equitment 2

 

[Eternal_24]

There should be a place near you where you can go to play paintball and they will supply you with X amount of paintballs (the more paintballs the more money you spend), a paintball gun and some rather interesting environments where you can shoot total strangers for the lulz.

They often give discounts/bonus items if you go in a party of about 10 people so that's always a good idea. Just make sure you're not really trigger happy or you'll be out of ammo in no time.

 

[Nicky 3 Beaves]

Paintballing is fun but it hurts, but not as much as a bullet.
A good rifle is about 150 dollars, walmart carries accessories and paintballs and some cheap rifles.

 

[Sporadic chaos]

Tippmann markers are very good new players, they don't break down that easily and when they do they are easily fixed. Khell_Senne summed it up nicely though try looking on ebay for some of the items, you'd be surprised at some of the deals I've gotten on there.

 

[brodie21]

just go to dick's sporting goods, buy a regular tipmann, some co2, paint, a mask, and voila! paintball. and if you cant get your dicks of friends to tell you where to go to play, just hide in the bushes with the gun and wait for them to walk by.

 

[APPCRASH]

Do your research.
I read in your profile that you live in Miami. That almost limits you to speed ball, unless you start heading into back country Everglades. I'm not a big fan of wetlands but there might be some dryer thickets somewhere out there. I used to go to an indoor speed ball course around that area. I'm sure their are plenty of others. The best thing to do is go on a "Rental Trip." Google search the nearest place, and check to see if there are any tourneys or leagues. That way you know there will be people to play with. A good $5 rental fee and some paint balls will let you know if you want to commit.

It IS a social sport. Most of the people who own paint ball shops/arenas are middle aged guys who find humor in watching kids get shot, also they know how to make a buck. Talking with them is the best bet, they know their shit. If they can hook you, they know you will be a recurring costumer.

You don't need to spend several grand on paint ball. Hell, I play some speed ball leagues with a stock, completely unfuckingcostumized, tippman 98, and I still know how to bring the pain. Set a budget and let ebay do the work for you.