Playing pump, got worked pretty hard. Time for semi?

[JeepDVLZ45]

Get a single shot hand load instead. Play with that a few games and your pump will feel like ! And you’ll be fine 🤣

I hear you. I’m of the mindset of keep playing pump and get used to it.

I used to run my phantom in private games with a group of guys who (most) had electros at full ramp. It SUCKED…for a long time. I got steamrolled most games that year. If I got an elimination or two a day I was stoked. But I’m a much better pump player because of it.

I picked up some semi’s (even an electro) and I hated playing with them. They’re all nice markers and shoot beautifully, but they’re like driving an a car with an automatic transmission and yet you move been driving a 5-speed, and I found myself back with my pumps. (But that’s just me)

One thing that helped me was I’d try to stick just behind a couple electro players on my team. They usually get up close and make a lot of noise throwing strings of paint. The pump guy isn’t as intimidating and sorta of “disappears” in those scenarios. It allows you to move a little better, or take that extra second or two to get your shot off, or even a follow up.

[Grendel]

Have fun, play the style you like that works with the venue and your wants at the time you are playing. I prefer pump but I have no issue breaking something else out if I think it will be fun. The goal is to have fun however that may be.

[Jonnydread]

Pump has a steep learning curve, but the payoff is deliciously worth it.

If you want something in-between, put an angled stick feed on a mech. You get a boost in speed capabilities, but still have a greatly reduced load. Then an open class pump with a hopper will feel like a quick pivot step.

[Magageddon]

I love playing pump, but I've been playing regularly for almost 10 years so I've got a lot of experience. Biggest advise I can give is learn snap shooting, its very useful and once you have it down and start landing shots its very satisfying. Small profile is also a plus, I run a 50 round app hopper when I play, put a dye lock lid on one for more user friendliness/cool points. I love my pumps, but every once and a while your gonna have that scumbag show up who just laces everybody and gives zero fucks about indiscriminately lighting people up, so having a sleeper in the car is what I do, can be a mech, electro, whatever your comfortable using and it definitely evens the playing field for me

[Meleager7]

Switching to an autococker might be a good compromise. It's not so fast that you're going to light up any newb up too badly, but fast enough to hang in there against electros ( in woodsball, maybe not on the speedball field).

Heck, if you were craving pump play so badly, you could even crank your LPR down to zero, and work the back block yourself to simulate a pump !

But yeah, RAZRBAKK advice to just keep both options in your gear bag and play it by ear the day of, is the most practical advice

[AnarchicArctic]

As others have stated, solid pump play is all about snap shooting while presenting as little of a target as possible. This is especially true against players throwing high rates of fire. Training that muscle memory takes time and practice and a lot of welts. If you’ve got the time and desire, stick with it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and just want to have fun, get a semi.
Stickfed semi is a great intro to pump play. You can work on those snap shots while still having the ability to rip off a quick string if you’re in trouble.

Some of us weirdos have successfully run single shot against mech and electro. Absolute school of hard knocks there. But remember how you play is just as important as how you shoot. Don’t pop out of the same spot in the bunker every time. Learn the field. Which bunkers provide the best angles and shot opportunities. Use the attrition to your advantage as a pump player. Start slow, let the mechs and electros on your team draw fire. As battles rage people get tunnel vision. Try to get the drop on those guys. Be as mobile as you can. Digging in with limited firepower is usually a trip to the dead box.

Whether you stick with pump or push to semi, good luck out there and have fun.

[Jonnydread]

Single shot vs. semi requires a lot of self control, or a lot of willingness to just fuckin send it. Most of the successes I've had have required me running someone down when they least expect it, but I also have gotten shot to hell more often than not. So fun

[pablo4429]

Thanks for all the feedback, all. This has been the second time I played since my storied return haha 🙄

I think I will give it a time or two more to see if my skills dust off or if they have just evaporated all together. Unfortunately, I was the only pump I saw there all day.

Everyone has given me good enough reasons to start looking for semis though...so thank you? Perhaps an etha 4m or an older ego if I am confident I can find parts if they die. The idea of the fancy modern mech really draws me though.

I will say, it seems like the sport hasn't changed a whole lot since I left in the late 2000s regarding equipment. Things have been refined a bit but no major sea changes.

[Chuck E Ducky]

2nd time out in 10 years. Ah stick with it man. It don’t hurt to grab an Emek for days you want to sling some paint. The 3M is a great choice too. But you don’t have to spend a lot with Planet Eclipse to get a top tier shooting marker. They all shoot great. I wouldn’t give up on the pump tho.

[Daltech]

Learning the field is second to learning a solid snap shot. I get to the point where I’m the scumbag just running down the other team with a DYE DSR, so I switch down to a 2K3 autococker to give me a handycap. This happens mostly when I learn a weak spot in the field bunkers, or when the other team isn’t as skilled/aggressive/motivated. Sometimes it feels like paintball is like going to the gym, or basketball court in the park. Sometimes, sometimes, no matter what, I get lit up no matter what.

I was playing with a first timer last weekend and he just stood up when hit and proceeded to get 3 balls in the neck. He took it well, but I didn’t get a chance to tell him that’s pretty much as bad as it gets. If you can take that, it’s all glory from then on.

If you want something nicer with a mech trigger, you could go gtek m170R, DSR+ mech, or CS2 mech. Those are all above $500, probably $700-$800.

[Criticalhammer]

Shoot a boat anchor 68 Automag. After some time you will begin dreaming about using the pump.

[Chuck E Ducky]

here is a used 3M

https://www.mcarterbrown.com/forum/buy-sell-trade/mechanical-semi-autos/389038-etha-3m

[Chuck E Ducky]

MAP is $399 right.

[Dauntless152]

I’ll do 340 of someone wants it lol.
Pump is the best though . I honestly became a great player while sticking to pump. Learned to conserve , shoot 50 rounds or less . So now, when I use semi, a whole hopper last me like four games lol

[Chuck E Ducky]

I run 50s on my emek when I do shoot it. It’s Phantom light with a 17ci off the back. That’s how I set my wife’s emek up to.

[FredMnkyDad10]

Last two times I played I brought my viking, micromag and double barrel pump. About the first half of the day I switched between the viking and micromag. I then pulled out the pump, thinking I will go between the pump and micromag for the second half. I played the rest of the day with the pump.

Yeah you have to for sure be sneakier and pick your shots. Make sure you not leaving yourself open, leaving arm or leg out. Most of that you should be doing during any play anyway. Using electro or mech I was not one to shoot wild/fast, unless doing cover fire. Still picked my shots. Both times I bought a box of paint, and ended up giving two bags away at the end of the day.

Yes I would say pump takes time. But I did have fun using it.

[alpha_q_up]

If you have Instagram shoot @worrboyz or @filthymcnasty75 a follow I belive they play Velocity every now and then, they're cool people and I have no doubt in my they'll roll pumps with ya.
If you're willing to travel, SoCal Stock put on events every now and then at Backyard/Jungle/Hollywood Sports/Ambush that is strictly mech, pump, or stock class based, I dont know when their next outing is but it's always fun playing all pump games

[RedLeaderSB]

SoCal stock is great. Best way to play is private group.

[Chuck E Ducky]

If you are close hook up with these guys. They have a really great group. It just takes practice stick with it, it’s worth it.

[zinger565]

I try to play pump like 25% of the time, and split the remainder between mech and modern electro. Luckily there's a few locals who play pump as well, but otherwise it's against solid tourney players.

Takes time, but it's fun when you're able to one-ball someone, and with my mechs I'm more than able to hold my own. I find most of my playing mistakes happen whether I play pump, mech, or ramping electro

[glaman5266]

When I first picked up a good pump I frequently played against electros. That was not always fun. But I learned a lot & can hold my own in less serious games. Like a couple others in this thread, I often can't make up for the equipment limitations but I'm good enough to go down fighting.

For the record, I currently play mech ~90% of the time & can hold my own against electros. Haven't used an electro for a game in two years. I play pump mainly against rentals/newbies, in super casual games or if I'm short on cash.

[Brokeass_baller]

I mean, I prefer mechanical (and have since I started in 1998), and I still get worked pretty hard. So... Maybe I just suck at paintball? And maybe you do too. Lol. Just keep playing. As long as you're having fun, then it's worth it.