| You have made up your mind. It is time to buy a | | | | you are looking for. Are you a recreational player, or |
| paintball gun. You begin your research and quickly find | | | | are you playing competitively? There are several main |
| out there are so many choices and features. What | | | | features and so we will briefly explain some of these |
| does it all mean and what should you buy? This article | | | | popular features. |
| will help narrow the choices. | | | | One of the main features on the market is if a gun is |
| The first thing we usually ask people is where are you | | | | electronic or not. Electronic guns have modes that |
| going to play? Will you be playing on an organized field | | | | allow you to set the marker firing modes. Electronic |
| or will you be playing around your own land or a | | | | triggers or "egrips" often allow you to change the |
| friends land in the woods? The answer to this question | | | | paintball marker from single firing mode (one shot, one |
| will guide you to certain models of guns due to the air | | | | trigger pull) to 3-shot burst (one pull, 3 paintballs fired), to |
| supply. If you are going to play at an organized field, | | | | semi-auto (one pull, one shot to ramping up to auto if |
| they will have resources for compressed air or CO2. | | | | you pull the trigger within a set time period) to full auto( |
| The type of air you have access to, will lead you to | | | | one pull, multiple firing). There are various features that |
| choosing an applicable gun. | | | | help enable the gun to rapid fire such as anti-chop |
| If your paintball gun choice is limited to using CO2 | | | | systems (ACS), electronic eyes etc. The key statistic |
| tanks, then you should stick with paintball guns that are | | | | to key on is the balls per second or bps. |
| happy using CO2. Care must be taken to choose | | | | We like to ask if you are the type of person that likes |
| paintball guns that are made to run on CO2. CO2 is a | | | | to take things apart and rebuild them? Or are you |
| liquid gas and is damaging to paintball guns or paintball | | | | more likely to play, clean and put away until next time? |
| markers that are not made to handle the liquid. You | | | | If so, please buy a paintball gun that is easily |
| could buy an expensive paintball gun and damage it | | | | maintained. Smart Parts has some very easy guns to |
| beyond repair with just a few uses. We recommend | | | | maintain as are the new Tippmann Platinum Series |
| sticking with good quality name brand paintball markers | | | | paintball guns. Cleaning and lubricating your paintball |
| that are designed to run on CO2. | | | | guns is the key to longevity and happy ownership. If on |
| There are many models of CO2 paintball guns. The | | | | the other hand you like to tinker with your equipment, |
| main brand names are Spyder, Smart Parts and | | | | there should not be any limitation in your choice. There |
| Tippmann paintball guns. You can choose electronic or | | | | is plenty of help with manuals, manufacturer internet |
| non-electronic. Popular models of paintball guns are the | | | | sites, and help videos on Youtube. |
| Spyder Victor, Xtra, Sonic, Pilot, Electra, VS1, VS2, | | | | Another key consideration is upgradeability. Are there |
| Smart Parts Vibe. | | | | upgrades available for your model of paintball gun? Do |
| CO2 paintball guns with a military look are the Spyder | | | | you want to be able to upgrade it in the future? Most |
| MR1 and MR2. Smart Parts has the SP1 model | | | | people answer yes, as by nature we become bored |
| designed to run on CO2 and a military scenario look. | | | | of the same old thing everyday. Also, many of us like |
| New releases from Tippmann are the Tippmann Alpha | | | | paintball because of the military replica or scenario |
| Black Series. These paintball guns are packed with | | | | aspect of the paintball games. If this is you, then you |
| features at competitive prices. Tippmann also has its | | | | may want to be able to change your paintball gun |
| more rugged and upgradeable Platinum Series Custom | | | | from an M16 to an AK 47. Our suggestion for those of |
| 98, A5 and X7 paintball guns. They are all great brand | | | | you that want to have the maximum flexibility with |
| names backed with good warranties. | | | | military upgrades is the Tippmann X7 paintball gun. |
| We left the compressed air paintball guns until now | | | | This article was the beginning of the fun involved in |
| because generally the compressed air markers are a | | | | finding out what you really want and need. Decide on |
| little more expensive to a lot more expensive. Paintball | | | | the air you have access to and match your style and |
| guns range from the low $150's to close to $2000.00. | | | | type of play to the paintball guns you are interested in. |
| This is often where the range and choices on the | | | | Compare features and price ranges. Narrow in on |
| market confuse everyone. Simply stated, at this point it | | | | your choices and finally buy a paintball gun and take |
| is about features, price points and you get what you | | | | out your friend or enemy in style! |
| pay for. You really have to determine what it is that | | | | |