Paintball Guns

Why is my paintball gun chopping balls? A paintball gun chops balls when the bolt closes on a paintball that has not fully dropped into the breech. The five common causes are a slow gravity-feed hopper, dead or disabled eyes on an electronic marker, fragile or oversized paint, a damaged bolt or breech, and rate of fire that exceeds what your hopper can keep up with. Most chops are fixed in under five minutes once you identify the cause. ...

What is the best paintball mask for glasses? The best paintball mask for glasses wearers is the JT ProFlex. Its soft, flexible lower and ear pieces create extra internal space that accommodates most glasses frames without pressure points. The high-set foam sits above the frame line, and the mask has worked reliably for glasses-wearing players for decades. Wearing glasses under a paintball mask creates two problems: fit and fog. A mask with too little internal volume crushes your frames against your temples, and a mask with poor ventilation fogs both the lens and your glasses. Every mask on this list solves the fit problem. The fog problem takes a bit of extra work, which we cover below. ...

What is the best paintball setup for each budget? The best paintball setup depends on how much you want to spend. At $300, a Tippmann Cronus and HK Army HSTL mask get you on the field with reliable gear. At $500, the Planet Eclipse EMEK 100 and Virtue VIO Ascend deliver performance that rivals setups twice the price. At $1,000, the Planet Eclipse Etha 3, Dye i5, and Ninja SL2 carbon fiber tank form a tournament-ready package with nothing left to upgrade. ...

Should you buy the Planet Eclipse Emek or the Etha 2? The Emek is a mechanical marker that costs around $280 to $316. The Etha 2 is an electronic marker that costs around $400 to $430. Both run the same Gamma Core bolt system, so shot quality and reliability are nearly identical. The real difference comes down to firing modes: the Emek is semi-auto only, while the Etha 2 offers ramping, burst, and full-auto through its electronic board. Buy the Emek if you want simplicity, a lower price, and mechanical-only play. Buy the Etha 2 if you want electronic firing modes and anti-chop eyes. ...

Who makes the best paintball guns? Planet Eclipse makes the best paintball guns overall: Planet Eclipse markers lead the industry in reliability, engineering consistency, and performance from the mid-range Etha 3 up through the flagship CS3. Dye, SP Shocker, and DLX round out the top tier, with each brand excelling in different areas of the market. For specific model picks at every price point, see our best paintball guns guide. The Best Paintball Gun Brands, Ranked 1. Planet Eclipse Planet Eclipse CS3 Check Amazon Price Affiliate link Planet Eclipse sits at the top and it is not particularly close. Their engineering consistency across the entire lineup is unmatched. The CS3 is arguably the best tournament marker ever made, the Geo4 remains a workhorse at every level of competitive play, and the Etha 3 gives mid-range buyers a marker that punches well above its price. ...

What are the best paintball pants? The best paintball pants are the Bunkerkings V2 Supreme. The V2 Supreme features quadruple-stitched knee pads, an athletic fit with full range of motion, and a removable crotch pad for competitive players who need maximum protection and durability. If you are still putting together your loadout, check out our full guide on what to wear to play paintball for a head-to-toe breakdown. Bunkerkings V2 Supreme Bunkerkings V2 Supreme Pants Check Amazon Price Affiliate link The Bunkerkings V2 Supreme pants are a top-tier option built for competitive players who spend serious time on the field. They feature an athletic fit that sits close to the body without restricting airflow or movement. The waist uses dual elastic adjusters with a velcro-fly closure, giving you up to five inches of adjustment within each size. For the rest of the Bunker Kings lineup including the Supreme harness and CMD jersey, see our brand hub. ...

What is the best paintball gun for beginners? The best beginner paintball gun is the Planet Eclipse Emek 100. The Emek’s Gamma Core bolt system delivers smooth, reliable performance with virtually zero maintenance. Budget players should consider the Tippmann Cronus at under $130. If you are still learning how the sport works, start with our guide on how to play paintball before you invest in gear. What to Look for in a Beginner Paintball Gun Before diving into specific markers, it helps to understand what separates a good beginner gun from a bad one. You do not need the fanciest electronics or the lightest carbon fiber body. You need something that works every time you pull the trigger and does not punish you for being new to maintenance. ...

What is the best paintball hopper? The best paintball hopper is the Dye Rotor LT-R. The LT-R feeds 30-plus balls per second with minimal jams, runs on three AA batteries for over 80,000 shots, and breaks down without tools in under a minute. Electronic vs Gravity Fed Hoppers Gravity fed hoppers are the simplest design. Paintballs sit in a shell and rely on gravity to drop into the feed neck. No batteries, no motors, no moving parts. That makes them cheap, lightweight, and nearly indestructible. The tradeoff is speed. Gravity hoppers feed around 8 to 10 balls per second, which is fine for mechanical markers but nowhere near fast enough for electronic guns. ...

What is the best paintball mask? The best paintball mask is the Dye i5. The i5’s dual-pane thermal lens resists fog in nearly every climate, the e.VOKE system lets you swap lenses in seconds, and the GSR Pro Strap distributes pressure evenly for all-day comfort. Dye i5 Dye i5 Check Amazon Price Affiliate link The Dye i5 has held its place at the top of the market for years, and nothing about that has changed. Its e.VOKE two-stage lens change system lets you swap lenses in seconds without tools. The dual-pane thermal lens resists fog in nearly every climate, and the field of vision is wide enough that you rarely feel boxed in. ...

What is the best pump paintball gun? The best pump paintball gun is the CCI Phantom. The Phantom has been in production since 1987 and remains the most iconic, modular pump marker ever made, with Nelson-valve simplicity and endless configuration options. For a smoother Autococker-based alternative, the Empire Sniper is the best all-around pick. If you are still deciding between marker types, read our breakdown of the three types of paintball guns first. Already know you want a pump? Keep reading. ...