| Do you hate your first paintball gun? Oh dear, | | | | from?As far as the rules go, the mask is the |
| where did it all go so wrong? Well here are a few | | | | crucial bit of paintball equipment, since without it |
| possibilities, and all of them are avoidable.Rushing | | | | you cannot enter the field of play. However, |
| to purchase after too little time on the fieldToo | | | | many first time buyers forget to buy a mask, or |
| many first time buyers of cheap paintball guns | | | | to budget for one. As a result, they end up with a |
| rush into buying a paintball gun without having | | | | cheap mask, one which fogs up and is really |
| spent enough time playing the game to know | | | | uncomfortable. Keep in mind that you are going to |
| how to judge a paintball gun. Further, they don't | | | | be wearing this thing all day. If you have to keep |
| really know what sort of player they are, or what | | | | taking it off every 20 minutes to adjust it for |
| sort of game they like to play. Only once you | | | | comfort you will be risking your eyesight from a |
| have been playing a while, will you know how to | | | | paintball. If a referee sees you he/she might send |
| spot a good gun, and what sort of gun will suit | | | | you out of the games for good. So budget for a |
| your game. Crucially, you will also have had some | | | | good comfortable mask that will not fog up.Yeah I |
| experience of bad rental guns, perhaps even | | | | upgraded the barrel! 21 inches!It's a well known |
| terrible rental guns, but the up-side is that you | | | | that replacing the barrel that comes with your |
| won't own any of them!The rental equipment at | | | | average cheap paintball gun (known as the stock |
| the field of play is universally poor, but it is what | | | | barrel) will improve its performance. Knowing this, |
| you should be using the first few times you play. | | | | many first time buyers mistakenly go for length |
| Don't focus on the gun; focus on the basic tactics | | | | when they buy a new barrel (known as an |
| of the game. Then once you have played a few | | | | aftermarket barrel). '21 inches, yeah that must be |
| times, borrow a cheap paintball gun from a friend | | | | a good one. Size matters, doesn't it?' Well yes it |
| for a game. How is it better? Why is it better? | | | | does, but in this case small is beautiful. Don't go |
| What do you really like about it? What don't you | | | | above 14 inches, any longer and performance will |
| like about it?Not doing sufficient (any) researchBy | | | | suffer.Buying a high maintenance gunAs a new |
| borrowing a friend's gun and taking it for a field | | | | player, the last thing you need is a gun that needs |
| test you are performing the most important part | | | | constant oiling, or tweaking with tools in the field. |
| of research. You are learning what a cheap | | | | You need a gun that will just work consistently, |
| paintball gun can do in your hands and you are | | | | no frills, no fuss, leaving you free to concentrate |
| assessing it. But so many first time buyers of | | | | on learning the game. Good cheap paintball guns |
| cheap paintball guns just rush out and buy without | | | | will just get on with the job, and adjustment of |
| doing any research at all. Within as short a time | | | | them in the field, for example changing velocity, |
| as a week they can be regretting their haste.Only | | | | will be easy. Similarly, a good cheap paintball gun |
| then does the first time buyer get on the internet | | | | will be easy and quick to clean.I'm new here, so I |
| to read up on their subject. They visit content | | | | figured I'd get the best gun availableFor better or |
| websites devoted to paintball guns, they read | | | | for worse, paintball has got a bit of attitude. |
| reviews, visit paintball forums and within as little as | | | | There are few things that irk experienced players |
| a few hours on the right sites they know where | | | | more than the sight of a clueless new payer |
| they went wrong, and what they should have | | | | ambling around the field carrying state of the art, |
| done. They learn that there are so many cheap | | | | top of the range hardware. Yeah I know, they |
| paintball guns out there, and only some of them | | | | are only jealous, and they probably dream about |
| are good guns. They learn that paintball guns are | | | | owning your gun.But there is also a serious point |
| technical products, with a fair bit of variation and | | | | to make here about maintenance. A good cheap |
| range. Unfortunately, for many the knowledge | | | | paintball gun will have the performance and |
| comes too late. They are out of pocket, and out | | | | durability advantages of an expensive gun but |
| on the field of play carrying a blunderbuss when | | | | none of the advanced features--which only an |
| they should be carrying an assault rifle.Yeah, but it | | | | experience player will be able to really take |
| looks greatIt's bright metallic blue, or red, or | | | | advantage of. A good cheap paintball gun will also |
| yellow, or orange or any other colour that gives | | | | be very easy to take apart, clean, and |
| your position away in a wood as easily as if you | | | | reassemble. Contrast this with many expensive |
| had lit a fire. Choosing your paintball gun solely or | | | | guns which can be a real maintenance headache |
| primarily on the basis of looks is a very bad idea. | | | | for someone unfamiliar with paintball guns. Taking |
| Never judge a gun buy its looks. Some nice | | | | it apart is easy, putting it back together is the |
| looking guns are rubbish. Buy the gun because it is | | | | hard part, and expensive paintball guns tend to |
| a good gun when judged against a reasoned | | | | come with big but not necessarily clear manuals. |
| criteria: because it will last, will help you win games, | | | | You could be looking at highly complex schematics |
| be reliable etc. If it looks good, great, but keep in | | | | wondering how life got so complicated.So keep |
| mind that if you want to stay hidden, 'black and | | | | things simple. Buy a good cheap paintball gun, and |
| matt is where it's at'. The gun should blend into | | | | then concentrate on the playing. Learn the tactics, |
| the surroundings, and not give your position | | | | and learn about yourself as a player. Meanwhile, |
| away.Really? So where do I get the mask | | | | you'll be cleaning your basic gun in no time at all. |