Complete beginner, any advice welcome please :)

[Rebel Tackleberry]

The JT Flex 8 full head protection can't be broken down to just masks. As has been said they get very hot in summer. The lenses in them are also a real pain to change. I would recommend spending money on good goggles from the start; something like Dye i4's, Proto Axis or E-vents are all worth looking at. If you can, try different ones for fit first. Everyone's head is different and what may fit perfectly and be of the utmost comfort on someone else may be horribly uncomfortable on you.

As for hopper, a Halo V35 would be a great budget hopper if bought second hand for around £35. If you can afford it though then go for a Dye Rotor from the start as you'll most probably want one one soon anyway.

If you buy second hand from here and UKScenario you can make that budget go further and get some better kit for your money. If you then upgrade at a later date then you'll probably find your kit retains most of it's used price rather than losing money on kit you bought brand new.

 

[SabreWolf]

JT Goggles

Check those out mate, i really wouldnt go for the full head gear, you will regret it lol

 

[basktm]

JT Goggles

Check those out mate, i really wouldnt go for the full head gear, you will regret it lol

ok m8 warning taken,

i will have a good look around, we have use full headsheilds 5-6 times on delta sites, had some issues, but we both think it was down to the cheap and beaten gear they use.

 

[Rat]

Hi Basktm

welcome to the wonderful world of paintball.

Regards buying a mask, the best bet is to pop down to your nearest store or "player day" here there would be a variety of masks to look at and try on.

then based on trying on, comfort etc etc would be the best one!!

remember you oly get one pair of eyes.

 

[basktm]

thanks m8, think im just going to dive in, buy some stuff and go from their, if i find it doesnt suit, then at games i will have more than a chance to try and find something that does.

A really big thanks to all that have posted, had loads of info and plenty to think about

 

[ShimmerShot]

In my personal opiniong, I found the Ion doesn't really do the trick if he is buying a new one without any modifications to it (it was also my first gun) as you will spend a shed load of cash upgrading it up, which by the time you have finished spending all that money you will have spent the equivelent to a mid ranged marker! throw in a bit of cash there from his christmas present and help himand yourself get an etek3 from planet eclipse they virtually require little or zero maintenance and have very good techs around the country, and buying new will ensure you the warrenty, if not im sure the older versions of the etek are still available on these forums or the older ego 05, 06 and 07's around the £200-250 mark.

Deff get yourself a good pair of goggles, you can always go down to a walk on day and ask people how their masks fit, and politly ask if you can just try them on, just to see what it does for you

Halo's, vlocitys and rotors are the tried and tested hoppers, most people will have them for sale on this forum, it shouldn't be too hard to find a cheap one around, parts are usually pretty easy to get hold offrom the above suppliers if you ever experiance difficulties!

Have you gotten yourself some air tanks? The standard size of 68ci (1.1L) tanks should go very well for yourself, the smaller 48ci (0.8L) tank may suit your sone if hes smaller, but obviously with the size you get less shots out of a tank of air. CO2 isn't reccomendedon the newer electrophnumatic markers as you may end up getting broken seals and o-rings.

Hope this helps. if you have any further questions please ask away

 

[basktm]

Thanks shimmer shot some great advise their, i did plan on getting a second hand ion from here, but didnt think any of the upgrades would be needed just yet.
The ion was going to be his starter and if everything went well then i would help him buy an etec or ego later and use the ion as a spare for us both.

i hadn't really thought about tanks

Roughly what are we talking with shots from tanks, i know all guns are different so dont expect an exact guess but some thing in the ball park would be handy, are we talking 500 or 1000 or 5000 shots from a tank ???

Also can or where to have these things refilled, or do you normally buy a big tank and refill from that yourself ???

Do they use the same type of tanks or air that scuba does (something i used to do and still have the tank and licence to fill it) or is it a special type i will need to hunt down ????

So many questions

 

[Rebel Tackleberry]

A general rule is 10 shots per cubic inch @ 3000psi or 15 shots per cubic inch @ 4500psi.

Therefore a 48cu (0.8L) 3000 psi steel bottle would be about 500 shots, whilst a 68cu (1.1L) 4500 psi fibre wrap bottle would be about 1000 shots.

More efficient markers can do anything from 1400-2000 shots from a 68cu (1.1L) 4500 psi bottle. Witha reasonably efficient marker and larger 92cu (1.5L) tank @ 4500 psi you could shoot around a case of paint on a single fill.

Yes it is High Pressure Air (HPA), the same as used in a dive cylinder.

You can get paintball bottles filled at games you attend. Some dive shops can fill them for you too but not all have the relevant fitting to go to a fill nipple on a paintball bottle. If you intend to do this then I'd recommend you buy your own fill station to ensure they can connect to a dive cylinder and fill you from there.

If you have your own dive cylinder then you can get a fill station and use this to fill your tanks. You need a 232 Bar cylinder/fill rig to fill a 3000 psi bottle and a 300 Bar cylinder/fill rig if you want to fill to just udner 4500 psi. you can fill a 3000 psi bottle from a 300 Bar set up but you have to be vigilant and careful not to overfill. Vice versa, you can fill a 4500 psi bottle from 232 Bar cylinder but obviously this is safer as you are a lower pressure than your bottle is tested for.

As you probably already know, getting a dive cylinder filled will cost around £3-£5. Most dive shops will charge you the same to fill a smaller paintball bottle as a bigger 3L/10L/12L dive cylinder.

 

[basktm]

thanks m8 thats great, quite surprised how few shots you get from a tank but any who i do have a 232 bar 12ltr dive bottle

thanks for that.

Yes my local dive shop, well haven't been and had a refill for a year or so now, but it was 2.50 for my 12 ltr tank, do sites charge about the same for the small marker tank refills ???

 

[Rebel Tackleberry]

If you are playing at a site then generally you get free air fills as part of your playing fee.