Tips in Choosing a Paintball Gun

The paintball and paintball gun, independent of any game rules or sporting equipment, were invented in the 1950s for a very practical purpose: to mark trees and cows for easy identification by foresters and ranchers. Today, most paintball guns are used for sport. Over 10 million Americans play paint ball every year; many more play paintball all over the world.

Without a paintball gun, of course, there is no game. Many models have proliferated over the 30 or so years that the sport has existed, so picking your first paintball gun is a task that deserves your full attention.

Paintball guns can cost anywhere from $100-$900. Naturally, the more features, the higher the price.

Especially if you are new to paintball, try every variety of gun that you can find. Rent or borrow them if you can. Choose the one that is easiest and most comfortable to use, whether it be an expensive Angel electropneumatic capable of firing 30 balls a second, or a relatively cheap Spyder Rodeo with its consistent air pressure and sensitive trigger.

If you are new to the sport, don't shy away from the less expensive guns. Just as a middle-aged lady who bikes to work doesn't need a three-thousand-dollar racing bike, you probably won't need a top-of-the-line gun unless and until you are ready for tournament play.

Paintball guns come in different sizes. So do the paintball loaders and the gas tanks. Bigger tanks and hoppers mean you can stay out longer, but they also mean a heavier gun. The gun should have a big enough hopper to allow you to defend yourself, but not be so heavy that it exhausts you.

Do not buy the first thing you see. Shop around. Evaluate. Research. Compare prices. When you have settled on the make and model of your paintball gun, continue shopping around until you find the best price.

Talk to your friends who play the sport, to instructors and coaches. Ask them which models they prefer and why. Find out what makes their favorites so good. The people who work at paintball shops can also help you.

Once you have your gun, practice, practice, practice! You don't want to fumble with the gun in the middle of a hot paintball game. Make sure you know how every part works, how to reload it, and the most convenient and comfortable way to hold it while running at top speed, careening out of the way of oncoming paintballs, and protecting your team's flag.