Cheapest usable markers

[Quickling]

Few people at work just tried paintball and loved it but are tight on cash to buy their own gear.

It got me thinking of scooping up some old "marker lots" from eBay and seeing if I could get a few running to just give them.

Should I just cop out and grab tippmann 98s? Or would it be nicer (looks, shooting, future upgrades) if I went the spyder route?

And gear has some 48/3k HPA tanks for $25 to get them covered.

[Ecapnation]

Nobody wants used model 98's

I can't give them away so great starting point lol

[Ecapnation]

So you'll pay for all the rusted and corroded ones?

Because we don't even bother gassing them up they get ripped apart and put into the steel/brass/aluminum scrap buckets

[markdem]

The crustier the better! Especially if it still has a paintball lodged in the barrel and corroded the bolt shut with blue/green slime. Its like popping a zit. Satisfying

[The Great Equalizer]

markdem I feel that. I like a good restoration.

[JeepDVLZ45]

Make sure they remember: Yea, it costs $ to get into paintball, but it costs more to PLAY paintball.

Put stick feeds on everything, 12g changers, and play outlaw (if you can).

Spending $50 on a couple extra parts will pay for itself pretty quick with $20 field fees and $65 cases of paint.

Even playing at fields, try to set them up with limited paint, makes that paint last a lot longer (I might shoot a bag a day now)

just food for thought. I’ve been VERY strapped for cash before…$80 to to play paintball was rarely in the cards…$20 for a bag of paint and a couple rogue 12grams is a much different story

[JeepDVLZ45]

Now…back to your ACTUAL question….spyder or Tippman….either would be cheap and easy.

I’d actually slightly lean Spyder, I think they’re a little easier to get barrel kits for, they’re easy to maintain, parts everywhere and you could convert them to pump if you wanted.

That said, it’s hard to f-up a 98 even if you try.

Either should be sub $50 each

[autococker04]

If you’re playing at a field, I’d say get them to buy masks and use rentals. It’s more fun to play with a beat old rental gun with a mask you can see out of than anything top of the line while using a cheap foggy mask.

[mueller]

+1 get useable masks as priority --- THEN worry about markers. Unless your field has amazing rental masks.

I'd play with a rental gun any day of the week -- in fact I do, I swap guns with renters often just to show that it's not all about the gun.
I'd never use my field's rental masks.

[Seajay]

+1 to the mask and rental idea. Lot's of fields have more than just 98's as rentals, and that would let your friends potentially try some different options.
Any serious newbie though I suggest the EMEK as a first purchase. It just works and gives a great experience.

The old shooters can be a great savings... assuming they will fix up cheaply. If you've already got the parts its not a big deal, but all those parts to fix them up can add up quick.

[Trbo323]

+1 more on the masks first idea

Good mask + rental marker = fun day
Terrible mask + any marker = bad day

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[JeeperCreeper]

Dont buy cheap markers with intentions on upgrades down the road, as most Spyders and Tippmanns are going to cost a lot to get minimal gains.

I'd say if your local field rents Emeks, go try those out. Emeks can be had for whatever you might spend on upgrades you might dump into a Spyder.

Definitely masks. Thermal lenses are key.

[Daltech]

Buy 5 of these. priced to sell.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234550969149?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1QqjEC_ITSa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=fgBI51UmSzi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Chuck E Ducky]

^That’s a dam good call^

[Trbo323]

Buy 5 of these. priced to sell.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23455096914...mis&media=COPY

That would be a halfway decent starter mask

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[Quickling]

I gave them all the "buy a new mask right away" talk even before they played the first time. Sent them links to ansgear with the vforce grill sale.

My only issue with rentals is how crappy the local fields keep them. They are just disgusting and coated in old paint with uncleaned barrels. One of them had to go through a few guns before he got one that worked. After that things were smoothish.

I figured of I could get each of these guys a $50 gun, replace all the seals and clean it up, they would just have to worry about entry and paint for the first year.

I found some salvation army type sales to bid on, I'll see where it goes.

[autococker04]

In that case, used spyders or tippmans would be a great way to get them fully hooked.

If you put a WTB ad up on here looking for blowbacks, you’ll likely get swamped with *<$50 options

[Daltech]

If everyone’s playing with a Cronus then it’s game on. I’d suggest staying away from lots of maintenance and repair work. There’s 2 reasons all the rental guns suck. Players abuse the crap out of em not on purpose but by lack of experience, and employees don’t put in the time to properly repair and maintain them. Only just enough to make it cycle is done.

Shoot, thinking out loud here, maybe the field will sell you a 5 pack of old markers? Reach out to local fields maybe they will want to get rid of some or have a deal. Maybe not, but worth a phone call.

[nak81783]

That would be a halfway decent starter mask

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Starter mask? I've been using Spectra's for over two decades. Granted, the newer ones need a little love to make them on par with the older ones, but they're still great masks. I take out the upper rivets (free spare set), cut notches in the ear pieces, and superglue high density foam on the inside of the ears. Only thing keeping them from being like the older ones at that point is the newer ears don't go up quite as high (and there's no olive option). I'd still be using my originals if I hadn't sold all my gear for a 2 year hiatus during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The foam and strap basically lasts forever if you remove the lens and rivets from the mask and soak it in hot water and Dawn dish soap for a few minutes, rinse it out, and let it dry in front of a fan overnight after every day of play.

[nak81783]

My only issue with rentals is how crappy the local fields keep them. They are just disgusting and coated in old paint with uncleaned barrels.

If I take a rental group to the field, I have them all get there early to get their gear. I then inspect every marker, clean and get new detents as necessary, and chrono them. Sometimes a new tank and/or mainspring is/are required to hit a respectable velocity.

[drewkroeker]

Prior testing can mean the difference between a good day and a disappointing day. I like your style.

[Number six]

Spyders are easier to maintain, simply because they're not clamshell. Both Spyders and 98c's are excellent beginner markers, though. If you do go the Spyder route, clones are typically not compatible. Spyder be Spyder.