| 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 the |
| 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 to 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 made to run on CO2. | | | | guns is the key to longevity and happy ownership. If on |
| If CO2 is your air, then we recommend using paintball | | | | the other hand you like to tinker with your equipment, |
| markers that are designed to run on CO2. Spyder | | | | there should not be any limitation in your choice. There |
| guns from the non-electric and budget conscious | | | | is plenty of help with manuals, manufacturer internet |
| models would be the Spyder Victor, Xtra, Sonic. With | | | | sites, and help videos on Youtube. |
| a bigger budget moving up to the electronic, Spyder | | | | Paintball gun upgrades are the next question. Are you |
| Pilot, Electra, VS1, VS2. Smart Parts has excellent mid | | | | going to make a one time purchase for recreational |
| range CO2 models designed to run on CO2. New | | | | play? Or are you going to be adding equipment as |
| technology and easy to maintain are the Smart Parts | | | | your skills improve. Frankly, it is fun and keeps the |
| Vibe. | | | | sport fresh to add new ways to improve your paintball |
| Staying with CO2 and a military feel are the Spyder | | | | gun. Do some research and see what upgrades are |
| MR1, MR2, MR3. Smart Parts has the SP1 a new | | | | available for the particular model of paintball gun you |
| release with excellent features and easy to maintain. | | | | are considering purchasing. The most upgradeable |
| The king of all military releases are the Tippmann | | | | paintball marker is the Tippmann X7 with many replica |
| paintball markers. There are so many to choose from | | | | looks and feel. You can change back and forth with |
| and many are customizable. The low price points are | | | | this paintball gun. It won't be cheap but you won't get |
| Tippmann Alpha Black series of paintball guns. | | | | bored! |
| Considering the budget you will move up from the | | | | While we have tried to enlighten you on your paintball |
| Tippmann Alpha Black to the Tippmann, 98 Custom | | | | gun choices, the reality is there are several makes and |
| Platinum, A5, X7 Series paintball markers. All are | | | | models, price ranges and features to choose from. |
| excellent choices for CO2 run markers. | | | | First decide where you will play and the air system |
| We left the compressed air paintball guns until now | | | | you should use. Then decide what features and looks |
| because generally the compressed air markers are a | | | | are important to you. Then, get busy and research |
| little more expensive to a lot more expensive. Paintball | | | | your potential paintball gun until you are comfortable |
| guns range from the low $150's to close to $2000.00. | | | | with the price range, the features and value in that |
| This is often where the range and choices on the | | | | price range and if you will be able to maintain it or |
| market confuse everyone. Simply stated, at this point it | | | | upgrade it while you own it. Then get out there and |
| is about features, price points and you get what you | | | | paint the other players! |
| pay for. You really have to determine what it is that | | | | |