How to Choose a Paintball Gun

Choosing to buy a paintball gun can be a difficult decision but by asking the right questions it can be made a lot easier. The first question you need to ask when choosing what paintball gun to buy is how much you can spend. That question is the most important question because it determines whether you can buy a high end gun or a low end gun. While the low end guns are great for beginners and can perform well when upgraded enough, if you know what you're doing a high end gun can be a much better performer.

The second question you need to ask yourself is whether you prefer mechanical or electric guns. The best way to figure this out is to go to a couple of fields and play with rentals, then if you get to know someone there with an electrical gun you can ask them if you could use it for a round. Mechanical guns are simpler and easier to diagnose problems with, while even the cheapest electrical guns provide high rates of fire and customizable fire modes.

Next you need to consider what upgrades different paintball guns need to perform to the best of their abilities. For example, a Tippmann just needs a good barrel and it is good enough to perform as expected. An electrical gun normally requires High Pressure Air (HPA) which can cost over $100, and a fast hopper which is another $100 dollar investment in order to reach expectations. Eventually you will want to upgrade your gun if you start out low end, and upgrading is much more expensive than buying high end originally. Low end does offer the benefit of allowing you to choose what upgrades you want, while high ends are cheaper in the end but require a larger upfront investment.

Another thing you need to consider is how you like to play. If you like to be very aggressive and sprint around the field, a small and light electronic gun would serve your purposes well. On the other hand, if you're a big guy and like to hang back and support your teammates, a bigger mechanical or electrical gun would probably be better. The best way to figure that out is to just play at paintball fields while renting guns.

Finally, you need to get out to fields and play with rentals and other people's guns. The best way to find out what you like is through experience with as many different paintball guns as you can use.

Sources:
Personal Experience