Need help with first paintball gear!

[dohhhhh6]

Ok I talked to some guys online and they said go with a semi auto Spyder instead of a Tippman 98 custom. So I checked and here's what I've came up with.

http://store.yahoo.com/actionvillage/010-4065.html
One of the guys recommended the Kingman Spyder TL Plus to me so I said I'll check it out and it looks pretty good.

http://store.yahoo.com/actionvillage/010-4056.html
The Kingman Spyder Shutter looks a little better but is also more costly. Personally I rather go with this marker but then again I didn't get a recommendation for this one.

Now for the other stuff I know I need.

http://store.yahoo.com/actionvillage/020-4107.html
The nVader looks like a good and very usuable safety mask.

http://store.yahoo.com/actionvillage/014-9060-2.html
Personally I'll probably get the cheapest auto loader so I need a lot of advice in this category, or should I get a normal feeder since I will have semi auto marker not an electric one?

http://store.yahoo.com/actionvillage/030-0200.html
I need help in CO2 category also. So please gimme advice in this for like how many ounces should it be able to hold and etc.

I have no clue about the actual paintballs but I will say that I'll probably buy the cheap stuff at Sam's. Anyone have a problem with that?

Please inform me if I missed anything. I've posted this stuff in the newbie forums but gues what? No real help only 1 post! So I'm posting this here. Thanks for the help!

 

[Cube]

Originally posted by dohhhhh6
Now for the other stuff I know I need.

Phewee that's a lot of questions.

Right firstly and before anyone else says it you really shouldn't buy a marker without at least trying one out. They're a big investment and you don't want to start using one and find out you hate it.

Go to a shop get hands on and try firing one, failing that see if anyone's got on at your local site and ask if theyll show you it. Most 'ballers are only to happy to rave on about their marker to anyone who'll listen.

Masks, IMHO buy the best one you can, you just don't skimp on your safety gear. You want one that fits comfortably andhas a thermal lens to minimise fogging. IMHO the JT nVader is a good basic mask but lacks peripheral vision and bloody hurts to wear. My other half got one as a combo deal, and it was OK but she didn't feel comfortable in it and it took the edge off her day.

Again, try before you buy. Flex 7's and Proteus are top systems, costly but then you only have one set of eyes. Cut back, or wait a bit longer for your marker rather than your safety kit.

Feeder, Yup I'd go for a 12V revvy it's not worth creating paint soup witha non-agitated hopper with a semi auto and they're not that costly really, you could see if anyone is selling one 2nd hand 'cause they've upgraded to a Halo.

CO2 it does exactly what it says on the tin. 20oz cylinder holds safely 20oz of CO2 dunno how many shots that will give you it depends on the marker you buy. Look at getting 2 cylinders, one can be stabilising after filling whilst you're using the other. Search this site for many discussions on CO2 and air.

Cheap Paintballs.....wooaaahh there.....

These are the most expensive things you will buy long term and they will be the thing that makes or breaks your day. Buying the cheapest paint you can find is a bit of a false economy. To have a good time playng you want paint that will go straight(ish) burst on the target and not in your hopper or pods or barrel or infact anywhere but your target.

You want to find a good brand of paint that works well with your marker and stick with it. Severe, Draxxus, Zap to name but a few all have a wide range of paint to buy at different prices. Just don't assume cheapest is the best deal, ask around your local field at what people use there.

2000 paint at £50 that mostly wing or burst all the time is not as good an economy as 2000 paint at £65 that are pretty much perfect.

TBH and I know it's not always possible or cheap I suggest as a newbie you buy from a local paintball store/site store, that way you can get a load of advice, take your kit back if it has problems and generally get a feel for the game. I learnt loads just hanging around a store on a Saturday, but then I was lucky it wasn't too far away.

On-line is good, and often cheap but to a beginner there's a load of pitfalls and there's nothing like having somewhere to go to that will help you out with proper advice from people that know what they are selling.

Hope that helps a bit

 

[dr.strangelove]

For markers, the best thing to do is try before you buy. Lots of guys online will tell you that Spyders are marvels of reliability and great for a newbie. Still others will tell you to avoid the Spyders because they're less reliable than a Tippmann, and still others may tell you to get any number of different markers. What you need to do, is go to a local field and test fire as many markers as you can. If you don't have a nearby field or shop, then ask to try out your friends' markers (I'm assuming that it's safe to say that you either have a field close by, or friends who play or else you probably wouldn't be getting into the sport). However, if that is impossible, and you need online recommendations, I'd advise you to get the TL over the Shutter (actually, I'd advise you not to get a spyder, but like I said, there are many opinions). The TL peforms identically, it just isn't as pretty to look at. But since the TL is about $100 cheaper, it's worth not having a shiny finish and a chrome beavertail.

For the mask, as was said before, don't skimp. You have be able to see safely, cleary and comfortably out of it all day, so it's the last thing you want to cheap out on. I've got two Nvaders that I loan out to friends, and I can tell you that you will be alot happier spending 15 or 20 bucks more and getting the JT Spectre or Flex 7 (spectre is probably closer to your price range, it's cheaper than the Flex 7). Nvaders are a very narrow, very small mask, and not well padded. Try before you buy would be a good policy. Test out some masks and see which one fits you best, is most comfortable, and which one has the best peripheral vision.

You will definitely want to buy an agitated hopper. I would recommend what you are already looking, 12volt Revvy with Xboard. The Revvy will be more than fast enough for your spyder, or pretty much any other marker you upgrade to (unless you get into super expensive electros, but that will probably come at a much later date)

Co2 sizes are listed on the bottle, whatever it says, that's how much it will be able to hold. You would probably be best advised to get a 20oz tank with an anti-siphon tube installed (the anti-siphon tube will prevent liquid co2 from entering your marker, about $10 extra, but well worth it). A 20 oz should give you between 750-850 shots.

Buying cheap paintballs isn't necessarily a bad thing. I use $40 a case Zap with my Angel and I break far less paint than people who are using $75 a case Draxxus paint. I just got lucky though, most cheap paint is cheap for a reason. You will no doubt find dimples and blemishes in the balls, and more than likely, weak seams making them much more prone to break in your marker and in your barrel than a perfectly round ball with good seams would. If you just can't afford anything else, and you're forced to buy cheap paint, inspect if first. Have a look at each bag and see what kind of shape the balls are in. Make sure that they're not terribly dimpled, and take one out and see how brittle it is.

Be safe and have fun

 

[dohhhhh6]

Well you all have been a lot of help it's just that I want some background info type of stuff before I go to the store with buying a marker in mind. Like whne I bought my bass I actually bought something completely different from what I looked at. I just wanted get what I can from the internet. I won't buy a bad mask for sure since I've heard a lot about foggy lenses being extremely annoying and all. The main reason I'm looking at the Spyders is because of recommendation and price. But I will be absolutely sure to check out the used markers first. Thanks for the help.