Before I make a rash decision...

[Mentality]

Been paintballing for 5 years , maybe 3-4 times a year and I decided that the time to buy a marker has come. Looking around the tippman 98 seems like the best choice for a beginner but I wanted to make sure I was making the right choice.

My main concern is can a beginner with NO knowledge of maintaining a paintball marker, keep his gun working? Im worried itll break and I wont have a clue how to fix it. What level of maintanance is required to keep this babies shooting? Do they come pre-built or do I have to put it together myself? Where do you guys buy your markers from?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[cubby]

i'm no expert but i think a tippman 98 will be fine for woodsball but you need something with a bit more punch for torneys.

i'd get one from fat bob's http://www.fatbobspaintball.co.uk/ or get a second hand one

[Mentality]

Apprecaite the advice

Could you give me anymore on the maintanance of these guns? Is there a good chance itll break and i wont know how to fix it? How much work will I have to do to keep it running?

Cheers in advance

[Mr. Longbeard]

Fixing gats will be required as they do go pear shaped, however with a manual, simple tools and patience they can all be easily done, and if you have a problem you can't fix chances are some one at an event or on a forum will be able o help you through or show you haw to fix it.

[Scoobydoo]

I found Tippys to be relatively easy to maintain although the clamshell design ie gun splits in 2 halves I found to be a pain. Ions are a good bet as starter markers because nearly everyone on here has had one so plenty of knowledge and tips about, also spares are easy to come by and maintainance is easy. Just my opinion.;)

[left of centre]

Depends of course on what style of play you are interested. Crawling around in the mud lends itself to a Tippmann, more open field and speedball play favours an Ion. At my walk-on I still find that some Ion owners struggle with maintenance and will defer to an old hand. (You're not really that old Danny!)

A Tippman, however is very straightforward. The manufacturer provides schematic drawings and instructions on maintenance in the box and its also pretty easy to understand how it works once you've opened it up.

What I will say is if you are going to play walk-ons you will find yourself coming up against some experienced players with very fast guns. You might be better off looking at a Tippmann A-5 which has a much higher rate of fire than the 98 and has loads of support through upgrades and forums full of players with suggestions on how to modify the gun to get the best performance.

The 98 is upgradable but you are starting further back than with the A5. There are also loads of A-5s on this an other UK forums up for second hand sale.

[The Crimson King]

if you're gonna do any type of walkon on i'd recomand an ion straight away. as long as you read the manual, you should have no problems with it. when it comes down to it, a tipmann 98 won't get more balls per second than a site gun (unless it's upgraded= spending more £), nor will it be more reliable (i don't think anything is more sturdy than an inferno:p ). the ion however is fast to begin with, reliable, more air efficient, and is easily upgrade-able with cheaper products... if how-ever, you are going to stick to rental days, playing with other people on normal days, then i'd recomend one of the cheap begginer cockers.

[boca]

not being off but if you go to a walk on with a tippman98 your going to have a pretty poor day. if you plan on sticking to paintball spend some coin and get a decent gat, after all you will see what others have and go get 1 anyway.

[Mentality]

Really appreicate the response guys.

Can anyone link me to a particular ion that would be good for beginners? My price range is really £300 max including hopper and gas canister thing (air). Cheers guys

[Trigger Happy]

I have an X7 and it suits me even though a thorough break down to clean it leaves a pile of nearly 50 bits and pieces (including scews). Others I have played with have a vast range of markers like ION or A-5 etc. A marker who someone thinks is the best may be crap to someone else. You are going to use it, so get one you like. If you like the marker you use when you play at a venue, buy one of those. If anything, I have learnt that X7 add ons and spares are not that cheap and at the minute, hard to come by.

Anyway, if you think I'm talking bullshit, well, I am a newbie with the 'near weekly bug (play nearly every week) and I also have a lot to learn.