How to Choose Your First Paintball Gun

Choosing a paintball gun, or marker as some folks refer to them, can be quite the daunting task if you're a beginner to the sport of paintball. After all, paintball markers are expensive and they can have a pretty big impact on how well or poorly you play the game of paintball. If you want to avoid the same mistakes many beginning paintballers have made before you read this article to discover some very important tips and questions you should ask yourself prior to buying your first paintball gun.

The best piece of advice I can give you prior to buying your first paintball marker is to play with as many different guns as possible from as many different manufacturers before making your decision. The more experience you have playing with different guns the better suited you will be for making a good decision based on your likes and dislikes.

Another good piece of advice is to seek out the advice and guidance from your fellow paintball enthusiasts. There are several websites and forums specifically for paintball and there are a lot of user reviews of various paintball guns on these sites that could really help you make a more informed purchasing decision. It's a good idea to seek out reviews online for any paintball guns you may be considering purchasing. Often this is a great way to find out what negatives that specific paintball marker may present or you just may find that you've already made a well informed decision and find nothing but positive reviews.

You should also ask yourself the following questions before buying your first paintball gun. Are you looking for a paintball marker that shoots out paintballs as fast as possible? Are you looking for a reliable paintball marker that will last you a long time? Do you want to spend as little as possible but still get a paintball marker that has some punch and power? Answering all of these questions will lead you down the path towards getting a paintball gun that fits what you're looking for rather then just buying something that looks pretty.

Finally when you're making your decision to buy your first paintball gun it's a good idea to create an overall budget for everything you're going to need to get started. At the very least you're going to need a good paintball mask that protects your eyes, ears and face and you're also going to need an air supply for your paintball marker as well as paintballs. This is why beginner paintball packages have become so popular in the paintball industry. It's a fast, quick and easy way for anyone to get started in the sport.

To summarize, play with as many paintball markers as possible and read as many paintball gun reviews from other paintballers by joining the most popular paintball websites and forums. Do this and really know what kind of paintball marker you're looking for and you're sure to be happy with your first paintball gun.

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Paintball Gun Stocks - Universal and Gun Specific

A paintball gun stock is a tactical upgrade many paintballers wish to add to their marker. It normally comes as the first upgrade, as many players see it as both an aesthetic and functional upgrade of the tactical kind.

When looking for one, you can find basically 2 types available for sale. These 2 include:

1. Universal Paintball Stock - a universal stock is one that is designed to fit all markers that have the standard 2 holes underneath the markers grip. If the screw holes are in a straight line then a universal stock will fit your marker.
2. Gun Specific Paintball Stock - a gun specific stock is made to fit your marker. Popular markers that are commonly used in both avenues of paintball (woods and speedball), often have upgrades such as stocks made specifically for them. Tippmann markers tend to have more options available, while speedball specific markers such as the Dangerous Power do not.

The type of marker you have will play an important role on which type of stock you purchase. While stocks are produced for markers that usually wouldn't be seen with a stock, such as the Angel and Smart Parts Ion, options usually are thin among other speedball markers. If that is the case then you will most certainly have to get a universal stock.

Within both categories above, there are 2 types of stocks that can be found. These include gas-through stocks, and non-gas-through stocks. Players that wish to keep their tank off of their marker for a lighter setup will want a gas-through stock, while those that want to keep the tank mounted on their marker will want a stock that comes with an integrated asa, or one that allows the asa to still be mounted.

If you have a marker that you cannot find a "gun specific" paintball gun stock for, then go with a universal one. You can find the best 2 options for sale here - universal paintball stock.

Advanced Paintball Gun - To End it Quick

Having the perfect paintball gun is a tough decision, and on the battlefield you need to be a champion. Coming in second place is just not the same as winning. As with any type sport, you need to take advantage of every advanced option that is available. The perfect paintball gun will give you that advantage. Being able to modify this gun for your style of paintball combat will increase your battle experience. Like most athletic equipment, many advancements have happened rapidly and the electric paintball gun is no exception.

The first use of paintball guns in the early days was on cattle and other animals. Farmers would throw paint balls by hand to mark the particular animal he was aiming for. Can you imagine how excited the farmers must have been when these electric paintball guns hit the market? They probably enjoyed just shooting cows for the fun of it! I can not begin to calculate the speed at which a farmer could have thrown a paintball but I doubt if he could have come close to matching the 300 feet per second speeds that some paintball guns can produce.

The speed at which these paint balls can be hurled is amazing as well. Today's players use electro-pneumatic markers that are accurate and fast. This is an example of the excellent engineering that has gone into the product of these guns. A sport that is this popular and has grown this fast deserves the best equipment. It would be very exciting to see this as a team sport added to the Olympics! With new models that can efficiently shoot 1800 balls per 68 cu of air, some serous competition could be created.

Paintball matches are often themed, meaning they are accompanied by matching uniforms and they can be customized depending on how the players use them. Some of the features of this type battle are ammunition conservation, concealment, stocks and lenses to aid in long distance shots that might be used in the woods as a military setting. The participants wear camouflage to make the competition as if it were very real. Hide speed guns and professional class markers can be modified as to provide superior balance at lighter weights that create less tiring. Many extra parts such as the body, hopper, barrel, and tank can be separated and switched out for a better one, to suit a particular situation.

Every once in a while a game comes along that makes us say, "Wow", but the paintball game has really blown people away. Imagine setting up a Clint Eastwood style western and having the whole family involved. With just a little imagination you could end up spending hours playing and having fun with the family.

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Aiming For the Right Paintball Gun

There is a paintball gun, or "marker", for every style and level of play. Matching up with the gun that's right for you is a critical component of your paintball experience. Here we'll discuss the various types of guns and provide you with a step-by-step checklist to help you select the one that's right for you.

Today's competitive paintball gun traces its roots back to the forestry and farming industries of the seventies. The gas-powered guns were used to mark trees, trails and cattle. A few modifications for speed and safety gave us the first recreation paintball guns. They were conventional pump-action that needed to be cocked manually which lead to a painfully slow game. Guns needed to pick up the pace, so they evolved to auto-cocker guns, which greatly increased the rate-of-fire. Subsequent modifications have seen guns evolve further into automatic and semi-automatic categories. Specialized guns like sniper rifles and electronic guns have also hit the market.

No matter your playing style you'll want to consider the gun's accuracy, load speed, weight, rate of fire and gas usage as you evaluate what is right for you. For the more serious player semi-automatic and automatic guns are recommended for their highly sensitive triggers and their speed. Some automatic guns have been known to release 20 balls a second. But, if you're a paintball newbie, a cheaper gun you can upgrade and buy add-ons for down the line is a better choice.

As technology advances so do the bells and whistles on paintball guns as they move into electronic arena. These guns offer hair triggers, higher velocity with more accuracy, programmable firing modes and lower gas pressure setting. Taking it up a notch, some even have LCD panels for the serious competitor. But rest assured, you pay a pretty penny for all this technology.

The bottom line is you need a paintball gun that is reliable, rugged, and capable that suits your level of play. Here are some things to keep in mind as you set your sights on a gun:
1. Set your budget. Remember you will undoubtedly need to buy other protective gear also. Guns can range from $150 to thousands of dollars for custom made models.
2. Get a feel for what you like by playing with borrowed and rented guns.
3. Do some research. Ask paintball enthusiasts and shop owners what they recommend.
4. Checkout the reviews of various paintball guns on pbreview.com.
5. Decide what kind of gas delivery system you want - CO2 tanks or CO2 cartridges.
6. Decide what type of paintball loader is best for you.
7. Determine the length of barrel you want.
8. Price the guns you like both at a paintball store and online.
9. Pull the trigger and purchase your paintball gun. Familiarize yourself with it and above all have fun.

Perry regularly writes for ProlificPaintball.com, they carry such paintball equipment as Paintball Marker and the Tippmann A-5, as well as many other items from a variety of manufacturers.