Are you looking for paintball equipment? Do you know how to choose between Tippman or Spyder? How do you even choose between the two?
As a newbie to paintball, you might have a lot of questions about paintball guns. In this post, you’ll learn the basics of paintball guns, what you have to look for before buying, and which is the better fit for you between Tippmann and Spyder. Ready to get to it? Begin reading our buying guide.
Types of Paintball Guns
Did you know that there is more than one kind of paintball gun? If you didn’t, then now you know that there is not just one type of gun. And the more you go try different paintball establishments, the more you get exposed to them. If you ever come across the word ‘marker’ here, it’s just another word for a paintball gun.
There are at least 10 different types of paintball guns, but for your ease of understanding, you’ll be reading about three of the most popular kinds – pistol, sniper rifle, and machine gun.
First, is the pistol. A pistol is one of the cheapest types of markers simply because they’re pretty basic and small. One pistol can cost as low as $30! However, just because they’re small doesn’t mean that they are the easiest to use. The thing about pistols is that they have a shorter size making it harder for the player to aim. If you’re a beginner, you might be itching for a pistol (which is always a familiar-looking gun) but you’ll have to work hard to be accurate with your shots.
The second is the sniper rifle. Playing sniper in a paintball game is one of the best positions to take because you’re going to be hiding in a lot of places. And because your gun is silent and accurate, it’s a perfect partner for when you have to aim from an unexpected position. Of course, this kind of “cool” gun comes with a price. Compared to the pistol, the cheapest sniper can cost as much as $200.
And then you have the machine gun. Now this you might be more familiar with given that they’re usually the guns you see in action movies. When it comes to paintball, a machine gun can mean a lot of things. Some people mean the M16 as a machine gun while some can mean it’s a tripod-standing machine gun. Of all the three types of markers mentioned here, the machine gun is the priciest and not recommended for beginners.
What to Look for in a Paintball Gun
When choosing a paintball gun (or a brand), you don’t just get the biggest model. If you’re a beginner, a bigger gun might not even be the best option for you. The same goes for the most expensive marker. Just because a marker is expensive doesn’t mean that it is reliable, durable, and ideal for your position in the game. You’d be surprised at how that barely works out. So how do you know what paintball gun is best for you? Here’s a buying guide.
1. Playing Style
What kind of player are you? If you haven’t figured it out yet, there are many types of players in paintball and you’ll notice this once you get on the field. There’s always someone who wants to hide and go stealth mode all the time, and there’s one who just loves shooting with a machine gun.
Obviously, there are other playing styles out there and each style will have a different technique in winning the game. Naturally, for these strategies to work, you need to have the right marker with you. For example, if you love being the quiet attacker who shoots from a far distance, then you definitely need a sniper rifle and not a pistol. If someone loves firing like crazy, then they’ll need a machine gun.
Before even picking a gun, you have to know what kind of player you are; it doesn’t go vice-versa. Your playing style precedes the kind of gun to get since your gun will just be instrumental to your strategy.
2. Weight
Why is weight important? Simple – you will carry your gun around. Even if you plan on getting a tripod gun to perch in a high position, you will still have to bring that gun there. If you can’t carry it, then your chances of staying safe in a high place aren’t going to be successful.
But other than the ease of carrying your gun around, there are other considerations in the weight of the marker. Most of the time, lighter guns like a pistol, a handgun, and an AK47, are easy to put accessories on. Because they’re already lightweight, you can put accessories that will help you improve your game. To be specific, you can bring with you a pair of bipods, a scope, and another barrel.
For sure, a bigger and a long gun is great equipment but they definitely hinder your mobility. You don’t even have to be an intermediate player to be able to carry a bigger gun – it doesn’t work like that. If you’re not good at moving around and carrying your marker, then it’s best you stick to a lightweight gun.
3. Budget
Paintball establishments will have a range of markers to choose from. Some come with your choice of marker for free, while some come with a rental fee for specific types of markers. If it’s the latter, then you definitely have to think about your budget now. Plus, if you ever plan to do paintball and prefer your own marker, then this is going to be handy.
How much does a marker cost anyway? On average, it can range from $30 – $400. That’s a wide range and you’ll find yourself being amazed at how many brands and styles to choose from.
When picking a marker based on your budget, it’s always best to weigh the pros and cons of those that fit your price range. Don’t try to go over your budget just to get a bigger gun that you can’t do justice to. You don’t want to waste money on a paintball gun that you can’t play well in.
4. Accuracy in Shooting
One of the most important considerations in choosing a paintball gun is shooting accuracy. Even if your aim is superb, if your gun is not built to be the best in accuracy, then there’s still a chance that you miss your shot. The same goes if your gun isn’t built to be consistent.
So what is the marker that is the most accurate or most consistent among the pack? There’s no one answer for that, but those with a longer barrel will definitely be more accurate. This is why a sniper rifle is often chosen for precision purposes.
Here’s a tip: if your priority is accuracy and consistency, look for a marker that the military uses in their training. There’s bound to be one available in the paintball establishment or there’s one that you can always buy online. Tippman, in fact, has a few of these markers that the military uses for their practice.
5. Upgrades and Accessories
Do you plan on making paintball a hobby? If you are, then it’s going to be wise to look for a marker that allows upgrades. Upgrades will help improve your game especially in terms of accuracy and consistency. Unfortunately, if you want a lighter marker than what you already have, there’s not a lot of upgrades you can do to change the weight.
And while you’re at it, you might also want to see if the marker is compatible with the accessories you’re eyeing. Of course, the marker will always be the first priority and not its accessories. However, there are some accessories that can be helpful in improving your overall game.
6. Mechanism
Last, but not least, is the mechanism. A lot of people overlook this important decision because they focus so much on the type of gun than the mechanism involved with it. However, deciding on the mechanism of your gum will also be crucial in winning your game and aligning with the type of strategy you play.
What are the types of mechanism? For paintball guns, it’s two – mechanical and electro-pneumatic. Mechanical paintball guns are what you will often see in paintball establishments. They’re kind of the default type of mechanism for commercial use. Why? They’re cheaper and easier to maintain. The downside to this is that it doesn’t have a lot of accuracy and efficiency. It uses a lot of gas so the velocity of the paintballs won’t be that high when it’s shot.
On the other hand, you have the electro-pneumatic. Yes, you guessed it, it’s definitely a lot more improved than the mechanical gun. It has a higher consistency and it’s efficient in using gas. However, this is more expensive and you won’t often find this in paintball establishments.
Tippmann vs. Spyder: Which is Better?
Both the Tippman and the Spyder are great options for a beginner. However, which one should you choose? Which brand makes better paintball guns? Here is a comparison.
1. Efficiency and Accuracy
Which maker is the more efficient? Is it Tippman or Spyder? In terms of both efficiency and accuracy, Tippman is slightly better at these than Spyder. Because of its built, design, and mechanism, it is able to produce a more efficient gun – one that even beginners can use for winning a game. Why else would the military use this brand as their go-to practice guns?
That doesn’t mean that Spyder isn’t any good though. Spyder has an average efficiency and accuracy, but other users claim that it ranks better than Tippman. For things like this, it is up to the user to decide since you have your preferences at play as well.
2. Weight Distribution
If there is one brand that has mastered weight distribution, it’s Spyder. For a mid-range marker, it has excellent design and the weight is equally distributed all throughout the gun. As a beginner, you’ll love how light it is and you’ll notice the recoil isn’t too hard.
The Tippman isn’t that far off on weight distribution either. The weight is evenly distributed all throughout, but if you have to compare it alongside Spyder, the latter still has the upper hand on this.
3. Velocity
Is velocity more important than accuracy? No, but it’s definitely something that you have to give a lot of consideration, too. Of course, in any game of paintball, you want your ball to reach their opponent. When their mechanism is built to product a high velocity on the ball, then it can go to farther distances before it plops down to the floor.
Fortunately, both Tippman and Spyder are made for efficiency which allows to give the maximum velocity on the paintballs.
4. Upgrades and Accessories
Of course, as you’ve read above, upgrades and accessories can be very useful if you know which ones to put on your marker. For this one, Tippman gets a point since most, if not all, of their markers are made to be upgradable. This makes it a good starter choice because you will might want to upgrade it as you go and buying a new paintball gun without maximizing your first one can be a waste.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the Spyder since it’s not upgradable. If you buy one of its models, then you must be sure of the model you want so that you don’t feel bad for not being able to upgrade it.
Conclusion
Overall, both Tippman and Spyder are great brands for getting your markers. They’re both popular because of their quality and their ease of use for both beginners and intermediate players alike. They’re also of great quality. But if you’re looking for a marker that has upgrades, you’re better off with Tippman. On the other hand, if it’s less recoil and a better weight distribution you prefer, then the Spyder is the right choice.
