The Tippmann 98 Custom Power Pack is always a good choice for beginners.

Reliability

Where do I find information?

Finding infromation about the reliability of paintball guns is fairly easy with a quick internet search. Try to get at least three different sources of information for each paintball gun you are considering purchasing. You can find out more information by visiting a paintball review website, such as pbreview.com, a paintball forum, like woodsballforum.com, or even many stores allow past customers to post their reviews. You may consider getting opinions from friends who have played paintball before.

Asking a paintball store for "the best paintball gun," is not always a good idea. To begin with "the best" is ALWAYS a matter of opinion. Also, the store is obviously looking to sell you something, so they might suggest higher priced options. Follow these few suggestions when asking a paintball store for their opinion:

• Give them your budget right up front.
• Tell them the experience of the player you are purchasing for.
• Be sure to mention additional equipment you have, especially if you don't have any yet.

Purchasing for an experienced player or beginner?

How to Make a Decision

When looking to purchase a new paintball gun, these five questions will become the decision makers. Be sure to ask all five to have accurate answers for each:

1. Who are you buying for?

You need to keep in mind the person you are buying the paintball gun for. Are you buying for yourself? Are you a parent purchasing for a son/daughter? Are you a beginner? Young or inexperienced players will be better off with a paintball gun that is fairly inexpensive but highly reliable, regardless of looks. They may not be able to make the necessary repairs if their paintball gun has a problem. A cheap paintball gun could be a waste of money, especially if not properly maintained, but an expensive one is a risk - it's not wise to spend $500 on a paintball gun only to determine they really don't like the sport "that much."

Deciding on your style/position is important!

2. What style/position do you want to play?

There are many different styles of play and as many different setups for your paintball gun. Will your style require an electronic trigger and loader to increase the rate of fire? Or will you plan on spending most of your time waiting for that "perfect shot," which would require greater accuracy? There are many paintball guns designed for specific styles/positions, but are usually more expensive since they will include the necessary upgrades for the look and function of that style. If you can't spend a lot, keep your style in mind and be sure to ask about possible upgrades (see #4 below).

Knowing your air source is a good idea!

3. What air source does the paintball gun require?

Any person new to paintball will immediately wonder what this question means, and why it matters. Paintball guns all operate on either CO2 or High Pressure Air (HPA). CO2 is the more common choice and most paintball guns will operate on CO2. Tippmann, Kingman Spyder, Tiberius Arms, Ariakon, Warsensor, BT Paintball, Brass Eagle, JT USA, WGP, and many others, all take CO2. However, some paintball guns require HPA to run properly and it is very important to know this. If a paintball gun, such as the Smart Parts Ion, was manufactured specifically for use with HPA, it will still fire on CO2 but could possibly damage your gun and void the manufacturer's warranty. Be sure to double check the product description and especially read the gun manual after ordering.

HPA will allow for a greater number of shots than a similar sized CO2 tank. HPA is also more consistent in its performance, because it is unnaffected by the weather like CO2, and is proving to be choice of more experienced paintball player's. However, HPA is also much more expensive, as the bottles can range in price from $70-$500 and require additional regulators, which can also become a bit pricey. A 20 oz. CO2 tank, on the other hand, can be purchased for around $30.

The Tippmann A5 is one of the most customizable paintball guns on the market.

4. What possible upgrades are available?

If you know the style/position you want to play, but have a limited budget, don't worry about it. If you research the possible upgrades for the paintball gun you are interested in you can slowly build your "dream" gun. Let's look at two examples of completely different styles of play.

Heavy Gunner: Someone who is considered a Heavy Gunner will carry lots of ammo and be capable of firing at an incredible speed. This person will want to choose a paintball gun that will have an electronic trigger upgrade available (or some kind of rapid fire trigger). They will also want to choose a nicer barrel and electronic loader to avoid breaking paintballs.

Sniper: A sniper will usually find a nice spot and wait for the prey to approach. Timing and accuracy are critical here, so upgrades will need to be chosen wisely. A nice, long barrel (from 16"-20") will be a good idea. Having a nice scope will help with aiming, and a solid buttstock will keep your paintball gun stable. Since fewer shots will be taken, a smaller gravity fed loader might be the way to go.

Continually building on these concepts with nicer upgrades will eventually turn that $140 gun into a slick piece of equipment. Be sure to thoroughly research the possible upgrades for your paintball gun before purchasing. If you buy a $60 paintball gun that has no options to upgrade later on, you will find that $60 simply sitting in your gear bag as a "backup."

The Tippmann A5 is a perfect example of great reliability and has an endless array of possible upgrades.

Check availability of parts for maintenance.

5. Are repair parts readily available?

Finally, you will need know if parts are available to make necessary repairs on your paintball gun. No matter what, sooner or later, basic repairs and maintenance will need to be done. It is always a good idea to have a basic parts kit with you whenever you go play.

There are far too many examples of "the great Ebay find!" Sometimes you may find a sweet looking paintball gun for a great price, but stop and think about it for a moment. Why is this on Ebay? Or why is this such a good deal? If it's really as sweet as it sounds, why is someone getting rid of it? Has this item been discontinued? If so, where will I get parts for it?

Don't take this the wrong way, there are great deals out there for people who really understand how to fix paintball guns. But if you are just starting out, or don't have the proper tools, it will end up being a nice looking paintball gun... and that's it - nice looking. So be sure that parts are readily available by doing the proper research.

After I've Purchased

The last and best piece of advice you will need to know is simple - read the manual! No matter what your selection or how reliable your paintball gun may be, if you neglect regular maintenance and upkeep, your paintball gun will malfunction. All paintball guns have o-rings to seal the air pressure, as well as moving parts that need to be properly lubed.

All paintball guns should come with a manual that will teach you how to do the regular maintenance and It is important that you read it!