New to paintball , completely new =].

[Mark C]

Welcome to the forums mate. Paintball sites have expenses and staff to pay and their money is made from paint as you said. You won't find a site that will let you bring your own paint on a normal day because they wouldn't make any money, it's just business sense. Many sites do walkons but you are still looking at £40 minimum and you'll require your own kit. Paintball is expensive, harsh reality dude.

I agree completly but as I'm getting a bit repetitive in saying I'm new but I don't want to dive in buying gear at £200 odds or w.e then find out the paint would kill me.

 

[AsylumDave]

I'd advise going to a few more punter days (name for normal paintball days for the public) with your mates (or on your own, you'll habe a laugh anyway just chat to randomers). Find out if you really are keen enough to want to start spending on your own kit. From there you can consider what is going to be financially viable. Either way though unless you get into a serious tournament team with sponsorship, its not something you'll be able to afford more than once or twice a month at 16.

 

[Mark C]

I'd advise going to a few more punter days (name for normal paintball days for the public) with your mates (or on your own, you'll habe a laugh anyway just chat to randomers). Find out if you really are keen enough to want to start spending on your own kit. From there you can consider what is going to be financially viable. Either way though unless you get into a serious tournament team with sponsorship, its not something you'll be able to afford more than once or twice a month at 16.

I am acctualy looking to play about once or twice a month. However I will be looking to get into the game more seriously when I get a job ect when i can get the gear if i still have a interest. The scotkart prices aint too bad but was just trying to understand a bit more on how these things stand. I guess I would be looking to get a few punter games as you call them but at the same time I'd like to play walkon although I don't have the gear =[.

you'll be happy to know I have a new question lol. For punter days could you go with about say 3 people and join with other players that go on that day because i'm really just getting all my concerns out the way before I phone up and go to these places.

 

[AsylumDave]

Good point you brought up. Job - Get one, it helps

Second point about joining other bookings, ofcourse, well most sites anyway! At ours we take anyone that wants to play aslong as we have sufficient numbers booked on the day to make it worth opening the site! Just give the site a ring and get you and your mates booked in.

 

[Mactoshdog]

get friendly with your local site staff.

at my local site, im fortunate enough to go to college with 2 of the staff, over time, got to know the rest of them, they got offerd paint at £30 a box for punter days

also get the chance to go down to tornys and other games, even though most of the time im busy or broke

 

[Mark C]

Just looking into it a bit more deeply on getting my own gear (i'm not acctualy looking to get it atm) but do places refill your co2 or w.e you use at the site your at? (i understand there may be a cost) and also would it be worth getting my own gear to play 1-2 a month? in the long run I see myself saving alot off of paintballs if I go to walkons only which is what I see myself doing but is spending say £150 (starting 2nd hand gear) worth it?

 

[thejackle]

when it come to filling bottles you need to find out what your site uses, air or co2 then find where you can get them filled, if there running walk on days, usually they will do refills for free on the day,

when it comes to buying kit its somthing youll have to way up for your circumstances,

for decent second hand gear your talking £300
marker 120
air bottle 40 3000psi
loader 40
mask 30
pants/jersy 40

then theres a case of paint 20-30 +15 green fee
knee, arm pads 20

I think it is worth it but I went to a torny first and watched for the day befor I bought anything, check and see whats around
welcome to paintball

 

[Mark C]

when it come to filling bottles you need to find out what your site uses, air or co2 then find where you can get them filled, if there running walk on days, usually they will do refills for free on the day,

when it comes to buying kit its somthing youll have to way up for your circumstances,

for decent second hand gear your talking £300
marker 120
air bottle 40 3000psi
loader 40
mask 30
pants/jersy 40

then theres a case of paint 20-30 +15 green fee
knee, arm pads 20

I think it is worth it but I went to a torny first and watched for the day befor I bought anything, check and see whats around
welcome to paintball

I may go to a few punter days as you all seem to call them but I am limited to places I can go because I can't drive grrr and paintball is ussualy in the middle of now-where. But I was talking about marker , hopper , mask and co2 i think it was for the 150. I mean I'm sure i need more experience before splashing out because my only experience have been delta force 2wice and that was all handled by the organisers. Now that its me and mabey a few of my m8s going i'm just looking more into it and finding its a very expensive sport =p.

Thanks for the help though i'm struggling to come up with more questions so it means you've all done a good job in your replies =p. Thanks again for the fast responses.

 

[onasilverbike]

Mark C

As has been pointed out above, and I'm sure you understand, sites have costs to cover, staff, rent, equipment, catering, insurance, rates, etc. etc. hence why they charge so much for paint.

Walkon days are an excellent way to get going if you are new to the game.

The single most important piece of kit is a decent set of goggles, your eyesight can not be replaced. After that, for walkons, you can use just about anything, from an old skool pump to the latest tournament marker. The choice is yours.

A second hand Tipmann or similar is a cheap way to get started, a 3K air system (or CO2 if your site uses this) some sites will lend you air/CO2 systems if you ask. Battle pack and a few pots. If you want to buy new, I can recomend LiPS (see their forum in the sponsors section) with service second to none.

You don't need all the shiney gear just to have fun, you can wear old clothes, or get some combats from a surplus store etc.

It would be worth your while ringing round the sites local to you to find out what they have on offer, you may even be able to pick up a job marshalling or some site work to help pay for it all.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jestar]

Mark C

I'm new to the paintballing scene too, having played a couple times localy as a normal punter and got chatting to the staff (helped that they drink in my pub) and they suggested i gave the trainning days they held a go.

If you find a venue near to you http://www.p8ntballer-forums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=62 that part of the forum should help, that could also be a way to go and if you ask very nicely I'm sure there will be a way to borrow/hire some kit from the organiser so your not going to have to fork out loads to get a feel for the game.

Also the classifieds on here are a very good place to pick up some well looked after 2nd hand kit.

Hope that helps.