Newbie looking to take this up properly!

[jj.24]

Hi Guys,

So I used to post on this forum about 3 or 4 years ago when I was in my early 20's. I always wanted to start playing but the money side put me off.

I've now established myself in my career, have a decent reliable car and free time that I can now devote to a Hobby which brings me back and this time looking to go at it properly.

I visited SKIRMISH (my local) in Billericay, Essex to enquire about a part-time Marshalling job to learn more about tactics etc but they didn't have anything going at the moment which blows but who knows maybe soon right? Even started hammering it at the gym so I'm fitter and more agile on the field!

I'm based in Essex and looking to get introduced to some players/teams/fields in the East Anglia region. Ideally I'd like to rent some kit to have a go and get a feel for it away from the chuggy rented guns and woodland scenarios.

MAYHEM in Romford/London area quoted me £540 for a marker, hopper, can, mask, pants and I think Jersey... Sadly cant remember what the marker was but I thought that was still rather a lot to start with. Maybe I need a marker from a couple years ago to get me started, my buget is about £250 for a marker, bits and a mask to start having a 'pop' so to speak.

If anyone's interested in helping me on my adventure (like introduce me and take me under a wing) That would be cool please PM me, or if anyone can offer some advice (I am researching old posts btw) that would be cool also.

So yeh, it's good to be back and I feel like a lump of clay just waiting to be moulded into a speedball machine!!! LOL

Cheers,
James

 

[Hammie]

got that mate lookin for £150 u get a free hopper too

this is capable of 17 balls a second and can be turned down to 10 balls per second so it is tourny legal and i have all the original bits out of the box like the fire chamber inserts and the barrel sock.

sorry bout the date mods if you want a new one let me know

 

[goldenelite0]

If you wanted to go for a sporty speedball type of gun then your going to have to go second hand if you want all the kit for only £250. If you cherry pick you could spend the £250 on just a gun and mask then rent the rest. A proto SLG is £178 plus £50 for Vents Avatar goggles (You won't need to buy a mask again!) £228...? Then the last £22 or a bit more could get you some cheap kit to get you going. Whatever you don't have you could possibly rent from the paintball site, they will always have spare bits. I wouldn't worry about trousers and Jerseys so much, they're expensive and don't do anything much unless your into sliding and diving.

At the end of the day all the guns are the same and the only thing your paying for is extras. A metal tube is a metal tube and it comes down more to player skill than equipment advantage. I'd go for a nice cheap gun (buying new gets you legal warranty too!) then if paintballing really grabs you then save up for your next gun, something more flashy and with lights.

 

[goldenelite0]

Also do you know the difference between punter and walkon days? Because the difference in pricing is massive.

 

[xDansomee]

Well... I'll post what I helped him with in a PM, so if any one else needs help they can see this:

Hey Dan,

Thats really cool of you, cheers dude.
Can yuo recommend anywhere good to start? I know the MAYHEM KNIGHTS where I went at the weekend are a team but they were very "OH LOOK AT THIS NOOB TRYING TO TALK TO US COZ WE'RE COOL".

Can you offer me some advice real quick, I notice on AMAZON theres a starter kit for about £120 which is a Dynasty brand. Marker, hopper, mask, barrell plug and squegee... excuse my bluntness but is that a pile of poo?

Is it better to just say to hell with it and spend £250 on a gun and mask and then find a place to play or try and get in with a group and pay to borrow some kit on the days?

Cheers
James

Right mate,

Usually the paintball stuff on amazon is pretty rubbish...

I would recommend making a post in the 'Wanted' section of this forum, stating what you need etc.

At the moment, I've spend around £120 on kit, and technically... I could play tourney. There really is no point going and buying some expensive starter package etc, well, here's what I use:

Smart Parts Ion
21" Tac Barrel
3000 PSI Tank
Standard Grav Hopper (DW Im upgrading).
Some cheap playing gear from justpaintball.

--------------------

The guys on this forum are really cool guys, im sure if you asked nicely, and looked around you could get yourself a woodsball, or tourney grade kit for a fraction of the price mate.

Although, if I were you, I wouldn't buy new... As you could spend out £200 on an Ion, and when you go to sell it for an upgrade, your only going to get £40 for it... So you may aswell just buy a second hand one for £40 - £80, like I did.

-----------------

Now... for fields.

I play at a place in royston called Apocalyspe Paintball, i've only been there twice, tbh... But they have both been my personal best experiences in paintball.

From what I can work out, judging on the place you play, you are about an hour from Apocalypse, which is the same in my case... Im just north, and your south of it.

The guys are incredibly friendly, and everyone will be willing to help you out with anything you need (well, paintball related anyway ). And the prices are great too. You pay £10 for a life time membership, and from then on you pay a £10 green fee, and £30 for a box of paint (2k balls). From prior experience, 2k paint will last usually between 1 and 2 days of play, so it really works out to be £20 or so a session!

If I were you, i'd take a trip down to Apocalyspe and have a chat with the guys. Although, I don't think i'll be down there until the new year sometime... Well, I might be this weekend, but im not sure. But that will be it until next Jan.

Well then... I hope i've covered most of your questions And if you need any more help, or have any other questions, again... Just pop me a PM, hit me up on MSN, or text me.

-Dan.

 

[onasilverbike]

LiPS is always a good place to start looking for gear and probably the best place to buy it too. Always worth giving them a call, a lot of stuff never gets on the website. They are the closest retail store (off site) to London/Essex and will tailor a package to your needs rather than lump you with stuff they're trying to get rid of, all at a good price too.

Call Jon or Chris on 01707 325007 and if you want to drive up there then go armed with cakes or biscuits for a warmer welcome

 

[AdmiwalWabbit]

Royston is an awesome place I have been there a few times and it's really good. the only fault I found was the food. was meant to be a big ass BBQ but turned out to be cheap sarnies and a donut lol.

 

[arg1271]

decide what sort of paintball you want to play, woodsball, tourney or both, have a look at the classifieds on here, you could pick yourself up a perfectly decent setup and save £££'s off new.

 

[jj.24]

Cheers for all the help guys, I've been speaking to some of the members trying to sort out some kit so I'l sure I'll be up and running in no time

 

[SimonGiles]

The Coalition Paintball Club is meeting on 24th January in Tonbridge, Kent.

The club is aimed at new players wanting to start playing regular paintball.

Let me know if you want more information about what we do, ...