What is it that draws you to a particular marker.

[Tinybear]

For me it’s always been about reliability, simplicity, and clean simple lines. I have always preferred single tube markers. Additionally I have a preference for a solid feel in the hands and good single triggers.

So for me classic stainless steel lvl7 AutoMags we’re and are always my thing. They epitomized everything I look for in a marker. I have yet to try anything I prefer.

On the pump side I have always favoured Nelson’s for much same reasons mentioned above.

How bout all of you. What is it that draws you to any particular marker/design?

[Memornix]

I generally like to own and tinker with all the markers that were "high end" when I started playing in the early 90's so that would include cockers, mags, snipers, line SI bushmasters, ghosts, buzzards etc.

That being said, those markers rarely get any play. My main marker to play with is a sniper 2 which just feels right from 30 years of use. Other than the sniper, I mainly now look to play with markers that can only lead to shenanigans. Bolt actions, pneumatic assists or anything else off the wall that is going to be fun rather I do well with them or not.

[XEMON]

Play style, interesting/odd/different/weird design and "tinkerability" are always strong points to consider ...

I like to mess with the markers and look inside ... But I usually go for my SSR for FSR and Sheridan for pump ...
But I've been venturing into the world of semi lately, sucked in by my Vector 😅

[euangelion]

Reliability/ease of maintenance, looks/style, and ability to customize. Not necessarily in that order all the time.

Sometimes you can find a marker that checks each box, but it can look like a brick if I know it'll work more often than not coming out of the bag.

[Ghille-Man]

"Do I own that type/style of marker?"

I like to collect but I enjoy the variety of markers I own not so much a single one.

[autococker04]

I like whatever I don’t have. If I own it, I usually don’t want it anymore.

[Pumpytrilly1]

Mainly older guns I remember from videos or magazines, and parts availability. I love fixing and learning about older guns. Mainly 1990s to 2010 era guns interest me.

[Cdn_Cuda]

I like the mechanical feel and operation. Something that goes click-clack like a cocker or sniper. They’re like driving an old car. Makes noises, isn’t the smoothest or most efficient by puts a smile on your face. It’s even prone to random break downs, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

[Dusty Bottoms]

For me it’s always been about reliability, simplicity, and clean simple lines. I have always preferred single tube markers. Additionally I have a preference for a solid feel in the hands and good single triggers.

I'm mostly drawn to mags for the same reasons as you. They're a simple, well thought out design that's easy to shoot well, and I've always had good luck tuning and building them without any real hickups over the years. I've always liked compact firearms as well as paintball markers, especially pistols and sub machine guns, so something like a Minimag or RT Classic has the perfect size, weight and form factor for me. I pick one up and it just feels right. Nostalgia is also a big part of it, and it's just fun shooting the mags I couldn't afford as a kid. I saw mags as high end when I was young and shooting Tippmann's, and I still do today. Thankfully, AGD is still in business, although at a much smaller scale than it's glory days, and spare parts are still available. Alot of other older markers aren't as lucky.

[vijil]

If it doesn't have a splash anno, I'm interested. Splash annos are what you use to hide the lines of an ugly marker, or to tragically obscure the lines of a pretty marker. So many gorgeous guns are ruined. It's like painting camo on a diamond. Just no.

But seriously, overall design quality and user friendliness. I don't care for the finer points of marker engineering, I just want a tank that works and is ideally as lightweight as possible, and ideally requires no tools for maintenance. I'm 100% a player, not a tinkerer.

That's what made me a PE fan for many years. Still am.

[Chuck E Ducky]

For competitive play it’s all about reliability. I don’t need markers that talk or hoppers that tell me when to reload. It needs to work 100% of the time. I’m 100% Function over Form (unless I can have both)

Rec its all about being fun to shoot. I collect a lot of Stock Class and pump markers. I like unique markers as long as they work. Reliability is the biggest determining factor when I chose a marker. But at the same time I’m a sucker for the classics like cockers. Mainly because of the sound they make when you shoot em.

Then there’s the I couldn’t afford it at the time and now I can markers. Having the disposable income I do now allows me to get the stuff I always wanted but couldn’t as a kid.

I also need to own one of every paintball play style. Even Magfed. Something I haven’t played in years. But I got a bad ass one just in case I guess. Fear of being left out maybe or not being able to play an event due to equipment is never a factor for me.

[RAZRBAKK]

I have pared down my collection to guns that I can actually hit something with. I will never forget the first time I picked up a sheridan and couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Some guns just don't jive with me.

I played a lot of speedball when I first started, so centerfeed, tank, and hopper have always felt very comfortable. I played with an SL66 and later a G6r for the vast majority of that time. Always enjoyed centerfeed snipers as well. Not to say that's the only setup I like. My pirate sheridan doesn't miss.

This past weekend I took out a new Automag build and it was perfect.

[Jonnydread]

For me it's generally in this order of priority:

1. Feel. How a gun feels and shoots in the hand takes the cake for me. I don't care how aesthetically pleasing, lightweight or consistent over the chrono a gun is if it doesn't feel right. I include effectiveness of line-of-sight here as well, hence why I love my Super Stocker (offset left SC feed) compared to my Alley Cat (powerfeed hopper right).
2. Modularity. Being able to run a gun open/stock, electro/mech/pump and so on is a nice feature. I love stick feed, but I don't always love using 12g so having options on a single platform is a big sell for me.
3. Uniqueness. I like being weird, I like standing out. I have a great Phantom that shoots kitty titties, but I find myself not using it as much as some of my of my more bizarre guns.

After that it's really just up to the play style. Magfed for magfed, SC for SC, pump for pump and so on. On open play days without anything special I tend to bring 1 OC pump, 1 SC pump and a semi, but more often than not I'll shoot the SC pump cause that's where my muscle memory lies.

[RAZRBAKK]

+1 for modularity. My 3 main shooters all function as open class/stockclass or springfed.

[Rusty Brass]

Stupidity.
Considering the number of unusable/unworkable guns I have in my collection it'd be a lie to answer any other way.

[ChuckLove]

Feel / Ergonomics are the biggest factor for me. I've tried guns that most people rave about (Luxes/CS1/Etc.) but they just don't feel right in my hands. Typically thinner, light weight stuff fits my fancy. For instance the G6r is my favorite electronic and the Shocker CVO (XLS) is my favorite mechanical. It can also come down to little things like tank reg nipples and gauges being vertically positioned so they don't dig into my wrists. I used to be concerned with shot quality but I typically don't notice that while playing. Hands down my favorite guns to play with are the snipers I put together.

[Jonnydread]

There is something wildly satisfying about shooting a sniper that you pieced together and tuned yourself.

[ChuckLove]

@Johnnydread Built Not Bought like hotrod guys like to say. I often ask myself why I play with anything else.