Decisions on Collection

[jbtamu1011]

Ok experts. Currently I have a classic Automag and an 2k5 Prostock Autococker. I'm looking to acquire one more paintball gun to round out my collection of the biggest 3 companies around that time period that were considered the leading companies.

So, the question is.......what should I get? Angel? Timmy? Something else? I look to shoot them all for fun or play in rec games whenever they come up. I'm about the nostalgia and not so much of the current space guns. I like tinkering. Space guns can't be tinkered on like the late 90's and early 2000's stuff.

Thanks!

[Painthappy]

My take on starting collecting is to always go after the ones you wanted when you saw them, but couldn't afford them or didn't think having more than one was needed (foolish people )

For me, it was looking at the wall of paintball guns at my local store and wishing I could afford or own X or Y.

[jbtamu1011]

Very true!!!

[Jonnydread]

I would vote for a single trigger Angel, I feel like it perfectly encapsulates the late 90s/early 00s era and WDP was a biggun.

[jbtamu1011]

I've been looking at Angels, but parts are just about dead for those old ones. Automags and Cockers have stood the test of time.

[Jonnydread]

jbtamu1011 Definitely harder to source, but there are some techs still working on them and making parts for upkeep. While no one is making NEW parts per se, you can still find quite a bit. Are you sold on an electro? Looks like you already have two cool mechs, maybe round that out with a pump?

[jbtamu1011]

Jonnydread I am definitely not sold on an electro by any means. I could do a pump.

[Walker]

Phantom or SI Bushmaster

[JeeperCreeper]

Smart Parts Nasty Nerve. It's on my list, even though I usually play single shot and stock class. I know Smart Parts sucks, but at least now you won't be supporting them if you buy one.

[Melrosejedi]

Tough call as the industry ramped up in the 90’s and your stretching from the early days with a cocker and a mag. So clearly the phantom and vm 68 were key in the early years. Shoebox shocker and angel opened up the electro movement. The 2000’s brought companies like planet eclipse with all their goodies like the ego’s long run and the bob long timmy. So many but one more is a real hard choice as i dont think its just one more. As a pump player i would say the phantom has stood the test of time and is still kickin butt.

[Cdn_Cuda]

I would just caution you look into parts availability and ease to work on markers. Angels don’t have much if any support left, Timmies aren’t great either.

If you’re open to a pump that might be your best bet. Phantom would be a solid choice, but an argument could be made for a nice CCM like an S6. Still a ton of support for pumps and parts are a lot easier to get so you can keep your collection functional.

But if I was wall hanging some markers, a sweet Timmy would be top of the list. Just hated working on that platform.

[jbtamu1011]

CCM is out of my budget! Nice pumps but man......expensive. I do love phantoms if I can find a cheap enough one.

[nak81783]

Since you like to tinker, get a Tippmann 98, and then find a low pressure kit, response trigger kit, and e-trigger. Swap parts around for different play styles and feel. Feed it with an original Halo. Although, I’m not exactly sure on release dates for everything, it should be close.

[jbtamu1011]

This option definitely won't break the bank, which I'm trying not to do.

[Melrosejedi]

Heck I would put a spyder in the class of tough gun with the Tippman. New players had one or the other.

[Cdn_Cuda]

See if you can find a Kameleon 98 with the colour changing paint.

[Blackmagic71]

Not many people around here are fans, but an Impulse might be a good option. There are some pretty cool private label options, they’re generally not super expensive, and there is tons of parts availability.

[Jonnydread]

I don't know if it's so much folks aren't fans of the Impulse vs. fans of the Gardners, but I do agree that an Impulse would fit the bill for the time.

[jbtamu1011]

Funny, I just sold an Impulse that I fixed up from being a parts gun. It was nice! I did like it.

[glaman5266]

So many people lusted after Angels. That's a solid pick.
Bob Long was an industry fixture for many years. A Timmy would also be a good pick.
Parts support & price (the latter mainly for Timmies) would be my biggest concerns.

My personal pick would be a Tippmann Pro Carbine. It encapsulates the best parts of the 68 Carbine & ProLite and is arguably the best paintgun Tippmann ever made. Quality steel, CVX valve, reliable design. All things that kept Tippmann atop the low-end and rental markets, which is the bread & butter of this game.

[Myrkul]

I don't even really think it's arguable. Pro-Carbine is definitely the peak of Tippmann. They don't break the bank and still shoot excellently. With very minimal work you can hide a freak back under the Tippmann foregrip/shroud too 😉

[JeeperCreeper]

Also PGP 2k

[JeepDVLZ45]

A fully customized, single-shot PGP2K 😉

[Tarsun2]

heres my take on it.
Angles are classics weather there are still parts or not. Angel was arguably the pinnacle of paintball back then. (or at least their reputation dictates as much). everyone remembers Angels and almost all of us have stories about the 1st time seeing one or playing with one...
in the Angel circle though, there are classics, collectables, and holy grails. any old Angel will do to round out a collection but, in the Angle-sphere there are garbage Angels and there are Angels to lust after.

much of the same can be said for Bob Long markers. they too are ICONIC. any old BL will do but again, in the BL-sphere there are many different models, "cuts", and team markers. some are more desirable than others.

if you want a challenge and take your time to find/collect, what about the the Raven Primal. One of the few FASOR markers around. FEP Quest were also just so cool too. or a minty fresh BL Millennium. Or a Viking/Excalibur.

or just get what you think is cool. if youre "into paintball" and you think a marker is cool, chances are most other people will share your opinion. Jay Leno had a quote like this about cars and car collecting.

[jbtamu1011]

That’s some great advice. Thanks!

[jbtamu1011]

I'm leaning towards an electro. Maybe an Impulse. Some I have gotten offers from there are three I'm liking most so far. I'd like some input. Cash Money Imp or Rat Imp or Strange Imp?

[Myrkul]

I'm leaning towards an electro. Maybe an Impulse. Some I have gotten offers from there are two I'm liking most so far. I'd like some input. Cash Money Imp or Rat Imp?

If you are leaning impulse, I would just go with an ICD Bushmaster 2000. The are extremely similar, but the bushmaster is smaller, lighter, and came out in 1998, two years before the impulse did, and comes stock with an LPR. If you get the Bob Long Version, the Defiant, it has autococker barrel threads. They are very inexpensive, very easy to work on, tons of tinkering options, and shoot absolutely fantastic. The OG Vaporworks is still operational and still makes and sells chaos boards and wiring harnesses for them too.

Aftermarket parts can still be found relatively easily on Facebook, and with just a little elbow grease they can be tuned to handle crazy small modern paint excellently.

Here are a few defiants I cleaned up a while back, and IMO they have held up great and are the perfect marker from the era.

The first one has all the Vapor Mods from back in the day, including the valve and eyes, the second is blind. Neither of them break any paint and both of them absolutely rip.

Here is a shooting video of the defiant set at 10 BPS semi so it was field legal. Field paint was rolling through 0.675 inserts that day and there wasn't a single break when working this thing.

https://youtu.be/p8AzBlw24nE?si=9D5o7ejhs9dvIdQ7

[jbtamu1011]

Myrkul what about the ICD Promaster? Same category? I'm not familiar with the ICD line.

[Myrkul]

The Pro-master is a ways later in the ICD line up. Still really good guns and very similar to the bushmaster, they all have eyes and autococker threaded barrels, and they loose the bottom tray too.

I've never been that into them honestly. They were a little late to the game for what they were, and the milling/finish isn't as nice as the earlier B2Ks and Defiants, and they loose some of the "magic". You also have to deal with tubing inside the gun and barb fittings. None of that on the OG B2Ks/Defiants, all the plumbing is run through the body milling. A lot of of B2k parts like LPRs, Bolts, and Valves still work in them though.

[jbtamu1011]

Alrighty guys. Thanks for all the advice, comments and suggestions!!! I found me a pretty cool Adrenaline Impulse!!