Paintball

[ringer706]

Well, call it a very early mid-life crisis for me in paintball, but I suddenly have the urge to buy a pistol. Badly. But now I'm at a crossroad because I have no idea what I should be looking for in one. Any advice or good recommendation? As for my price range, anything equal or less than a springfed stroker. And heres a few one that caught my eye.

http://ramguns.com/index.asp?PageAct...WPROD&ProdID=3
Love the looks of it and the magazine idea.

http://www.tiberiusarms.com/
Like the concept and good things I've heard about it, but when I held one at a gun show, it seemed clumsy. (I have medium sized hands and it was big)

http://rap4.com/paintball/os/paintba...ol-p-1431.html
Looks good, like the drop out CO2 and cheap mags. from what I've seen.

http://palmer-pursuit.com/images/gun...ro-squall2.jpg
And of course the stroker, VERY SEXY and I could maybe afford, but it would clean me out for a while.

What'dya think?

[BLC_Misfire]

A couple of thoughts.

Some places will only let you use .68 cal paint. So anything that shoots .40 cal should be considered 'out.'

The type of 'magazines' that the T68 uses are, from what I've been told, tricky to use. People that I know that have pistols with similar types of mags, say it's actually easier to reload the mag on the marker.

I originally had the same thoughts about the feel of the TAG/Tiberious 8. Once I shot it though, it was dead on, shot fast and actually felt pretty natural.

Your concern over the cost of a PGP Stroker is not new. However, with the cost you get the assurance that you have one of the most durable, consistant, efficient and just plain cool pistols that are on the market. (Yes, I'm a member of those infected with Palmeritis. )

Here's what I've found with my purchases over the last few years. Every time I've tried to save money up front, I've been disappointed. While every time I suck it up on the up front cost, I end up being much happier with the results.

That said, I've wanted a Squall/MicroSquall for some time. Even more after having a Typhoon. If I do get a pistol any time soon, it will be a PPS or a T-8, of that I have no doubt. It will probably depend on how much money I actually have at the time.

[ringer706]

About the .43 cal gun, I don't mind the size of the paint and how some places might not allow it, because 90% of the time when I play, its out in the woods with friends. And when I do happen to go to the local field with a church group, family, etc, it's speedball-ish so not really a need for it with my Ion. But in the woods when run out of paint with my 98c, it'll be nice to have backup. That and there is a local metal supply shop by me that custom makes balls for ball bearings, so I'm thinkin about buyin an extra barrel and shooting at rabbits in the back. Plus the 50+ shops per 12g is a small, but good thing. Finally, since my uncle owns a Sig 226, and I've shot it, so long as it feels the same, I'll like it. As for the Tib-8, it's not that I don't trust your opinion on how it shoots, but until I get past just holding one and actually take it to the range, the feel of it outweighs everything else. Plus 50 bucks a clip gets pricy. Do want the stroker, but the whole money thing... Working 20hrs a week at minimum would take a while, but I'd go the distance if it was really worth it.

[Z50]

Do what you can to try out a Tib-8, they are a really neat gun, but the reloading may be a bit different. Palmer guns are instant classics, but beware; though they hold resale value, it is a good distance below initial cost and if you have a gun commissioned and decide that it is not everything you dreamed of, you will eat a big loss. I'd agree on looking past 40cal: unless you have a lot of friends that play with 40cal then you will have little else to do with the gun besides shooting trees in the back yard. The T68 looks exactly like a delta68 and I find it odd that they have so much hype for an over done concept, if you want a delta, get one that is nearly new from the classifieds and save your $$, Delta68s even have a lever changer. All the paint pistols on the market are far larger then you would think and until you get the chance to hold them you don’t have an accurate idea of what they are. Do your best to try as many of your options as possible.

[ringer706]

The one thing I wanted to know is if the .43 was good paint and if it was effective or not. If it's not, then I probably won't think of it. And with the palmers, I'm glad you told me about the resale thing because I play down in the dirt, and while it is super good looking, I don't know how chrome would do.

[Gabe]

The RAP Sig is 40 caliber so unless you play with guys that use RAP guns, you are at a huge disadvantage. The RAP sim guns have low effective range and the accuracy compared to regular paintball guns isnt very good either.

If you are wanting a cheap pistol (which from what I can tell you are) you are probably looking for a Zues or a PMI USP. From what I've heard the USP is very efficient, accurate, and overall the best bang for the buck in it's price range. If you're looking for a secondary and maybe a VERY occasional primary, these are the guns to look at.

If you want a GOOD pistol that can and should be used as a primary or used as a secondary to your Ion, look into the Tiberious 8 if you want a neato practical gun or the PGP stroker for a very practical gun that will last forever and have slightly better on-field performance than the Tib8.

Alas, it wasnt on your list of guns, but I feel obligated to mention the Sheridan PGP. It's been around FOREVER and for a good reason. It's bullet-proof, easy to use, and is a very fun to use and well performing gun. The kicker is that it's priced at $50 and up. Yes, it is a pump, but that's not a bad thing. Since you say you just play woodsball with your friends, it's lack of firepower is not a problem.

Good luck with whatever gun you decide on.

[nunrleft]

The Tiberious is actually a great pistol. A number of my teammates have them and absolutely fell in love with them. Great for a backup in woodsball and scenario games. Fits in the holster well without "tipping" like some of the stack tubes do. Actually very accurate at close range. Barrel swabbing in a breaze with the twist lock barrel. Closest thing to a real handgun from what I've seen. Price of the clips is high because they actually hold the 12 grams. You can actually remove the clip, reload it, and reinsert it without loosing pressure on the 12 gram. Very good concept.

[BLC_Misfire]

Don't worry about playing down in the dirt with a Palmers, the *nickel* will hold up just fine. And as long as you clean it well (easier to do than you'd think) you'll have no worries. As far as buying one new, I wouldn't unless you want the knowledge that the only people to shoot it before you are PPS staff.

Getting a used one will save you cash, and you'll be able to sell it for darn close to what you paid for it.

For cheap pistols, I have heard good things about the USP. Don't expect it to perform beyond it's price, but I hear that it's a good value.

[ringer706]

How about reloading the stroker, since it has no removable clip, is refilling the tube a pain while playing? Also, with what you said about the resale value, would it be easy to find a good one at a much lower than new price?

[knightmare96]

tib 8 simply is the best pistol available. Great point, and an amazing reload system obviously. I'll never use any of my old pistols again.