Buying a paintball marker is a very personal purchase for a paintball player. A person tends to take into consideration the type of game he or she plays, their skill level, and future upgrades they want to make.
For some, a pumpgun brings them back to the basics and is a challenging weapon to compete with. Those who tackle the techno-weapon go with an electronic marker, but they are pricey and have many intricate parts.
There are several different types of markers, all with their own pros and cons. When selecting the marker that is right for you, consider the following:
The ease of the marker's operation - you don't want something you can't handle, or something you aren't operating to its fullest capability.
Maintenance is something every paintballers should take into consideration when they purchase their marker. Simple markers with fewer parts can be relatively maintenance free. When you get into the more elaborate paintball weapons, they can have smaller parts, and more things can go wrong, or they may have to be replaced.
Reliability is a major factor in selecting the marker that is right for you. You don't want to be pinned down in a bunker with your weapon jammed. You also don't want pellets exploding in the chamber or the barrel. You want to make sure you aren't spending more time fixing your marker than enjoying it on the battlefield.
Most weapons are upgradeable, but choosing a marker that is improved easily and inexpensively is important. The efficiency and accuracy can be significantly improved.
So, the next step is choosing the type of weapon you are after. Three types of markers dominate the paintball world: Pumpguns, semi-automatics, and fully automatics.
Pumpguns
The pumpgun is the most basic of markers. This marker needs to be pumped every time you want to fire a pellet - this is also called manual chambering.
As the pump is pulled back, a pellet is dropped into the chamber and is set into the firing position. The trigger is squeezed and the sear, either drops, rotates or moves to release the hammer. The weight of the hammer triggers a spring that allows the CO2 into the chamber, propelling the pellet through the barrel.
Pumpguns are not as common as they should be. People look at the technology available and they want to go with the bigger, more expensive guns. What the pumpguns offer is an opportunity to learn accuracy and control with the weapon. It is consistent, inexpensive and efficient. Very few pellets and propellant are wasted because careful consideration must be taken with each shot.
Many experts will say that beginners should start with a pumpgun. The development of an accurate shot is extremely important. One paintball guru compared the use of a pumpgun and finding targets to that of a Navy Seal. The Seals call it 'sight acquisition' - you don't just aim, you 'crystallize' the shot in a millisecond. It forces you to learn to aim properly and effectively instead of spraying errant pellets all over the field.
Another aspect of the pumpgun is the reliability of the shot when you take aim. Most of the higher end markers are built to be in the style of a pistol, with the cartridge along the forearm. Most pumpguns are built with a butt-plate that is secured at the shoulder of the player. This stability is another advantage to making sure your overall shot is accurate. It fires more like a rifle and less like a handgun. As the saying goes, if the military thought handguns could win wars they would have never invented the rifle.
The only downfall of the pumpgun is how it compares with the rest of the marker world. Its manual chamber only allows one pellet to be dispensed at a time, where the semi-automatic fires each time the trigger is pulled and automatic weapons can burst three or more pellets at a time. A player with a pumpgun is no match for a player with an electronic weapon. But, it is safe to say many of the players adept at using the pumpgun are far more technically sound competitors.
Semi-Automatic
The semi-automatic weapon is the most popular weapon used in today's paintball world. The ability to fire on trigger contact quickly and accurately has lured many players into this marker.
When the trigger is pulled, the sear (which holds the bolt back) is pivoted out of the way, and the bolt thrusts ahead with the help of a pressurized spring, chambering a pellet. In most cases, the hammer is striking a valve as the bolt chambers the pellet, firing it from the barrel.
Any excess gas is pushed back on to the bolt, readying it for the process to begin again. This is called open-bolt, or blow-back.
Two types of semi-auto markers are on the market. They are: semi-pneumatic and electro-pneumatic. Both operate the same way, but the electro-pneumatic offers the player the luxury of anywhere from 3 to 26 firing modes, an onboard computer that tracks shots taken, how much gas left in the tank, and so on. Anything that has the computer on board comes with a hefty price tag, so consider that when purchasing this unit. Also, beware… many field won't allow the electronic models because of an unfair playing advantage.
Some semi-pneumatics can be upgraded to electro-pneumatic with aftermarket parts, but not all of them have this option. Consult your local gun shop for further details.
Though the semi-automatic weapon in general has very few cons, the majority of them are in the electro-pneumatic models. These markers are very expensive, ranging in price up to $1,300 dollars. They aren't very versatile as far as upgrades go. Because the electro-pneumatic marker is already at the top end as far as the electronics, you can't really go much further. Also, any upgrades that a player might want can be expensive because they will have to take it to a person qualified to make the changes to the electronics.
Automatic
A fully automatic weapon is just a souped up semi-automatic. The mechanism is the same, but it will continually fire as long as the trigger is depressed. Two different types of automatic markers are available: the electro-pneumatic and the gas-powered.
The electro-pneumatic has an onboard computer and a switch. The computer is programmable; it can fire single shots, bursts of 3 to 5 pellets or it can fire until the player releases the trigger.
This marker is very similar in make-up to the semi-automatic version, offering the same advantages and disadvantages.
The gas-powered marker again, is similar in its action in propelling a paintball, however it does only allow for single-shot or continuous fire.
Weapon Models
Here are some of the more popular markers in each of the categories, along with some of the pros and cons of each. The weapons here are good quality markers. If you drop below this level into markers that cost less and aren't proven weapons, they may spend more time on the workbench than in the field winning battles.
Pumpgun: Palmers Pursuit Shop Houndstooth
Around $350
Reliable and efficient
Easily field-strippable
Accurate
Good range
Soft trigger pull
Need a good squeegee because pellets won't go through if you have a burst pellet inside.
Some players find this model heavy
Components Concepts Inc. Phantom
Around $200
Good auto-trigger
Good stock barrel
Lightweight
Accurate
Easy to clean and maintain
Tippmann Model 98
Considered a good, solid marker
Purchased for under $150
Reliable under most conditions
A beginner's gun
Not as upgradeable as a Spyder
Should upgrade barrel
Not easily field strippable
Spyder Compact 2000
Under $100
Basic marker
Doesn't break down, because there are no extra features
Oil before and after each use
Should get barrel upgrade
Double trigger
Autococker 2000
Under $400
Fast and efficient
Lightweight
Easily upgradeable
A good stock marker
Not a beginner gun
Trigger takes time to get used to
Electro-pneumatics: WPD Angel LCD
Widely considered one of the best markers
Around $1,300
Fires upwards of 10 BPS
Accurate and efficient
On board computer
Keeps track of shots fired
Gas efficient
Switch between semi and fully automatic
Rapid firing results in quick depletion of pellets
Definitely not a beginner weapon
As you can see the variety of weapons and their features are wide-ranging. We've only scratched the surface in this portion of the book. Later on in the section on equipment, we will describe in some detail the basic upgrades and how to execute them.
Always keep in mind that despite the marker you choose to buy, there is no substitute for practice and experience. The gun does not make the man, the man makes the gun more effective. Your gun is only as good as the person behind it pulling the trigger. If you choose a weapon that is too high-tech, you won't be able to use it to it's fullest potential and the money you could have spent on upgrades for a more suitable model. If you are a 'newbie', don't go shell out $1,300 for an Angel just for appearance sake. You'll look silly to the others out on the field when they realize you don't know how to use it. Beginners should start out with a basic model (even a pumpgun), and learn to use that weapon effectively. They should also learn the upgrades available for their selected marker and learn how those changes can make their weapon better.
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