Advice for a newb

[JackF]

Hi,

im looking to start playing paintball a bit more serious now but need advice on a marker and venues which hold tournys and training sessions if possible. i live in portsmouth and am only 16 so i was wondering are there any sites that are easy to get to by train and then catch a bus there or something all advice will be greatly appreciated. for a marker i thought about getting Proto SLG 09 or the ultra lite is that a good marker to purchase? i appreciated all feedback

Thanks

 

[Devrij]

Hi Jack, welcome to the forum. The SLG UL is a great marker to start up with on the tourney scene, although you could probably get more bang for your buck 2nd hand off here (or save cash on a 2nd hand SLG). My knowledge of public transport near portsmouth is rubbish so I'll let someone else answer that bit. If you want to go the second hand route I'd be hapy to offer any advice so just drop me a PM.

 

[PaintballWizard]

If you're looking to get into the walk-on / tourney scene then the slg is definitely a good choice and good bang for buck. If you don't mind getting someone else's old toot definitely go second-hand but you can still get a brand new UL SLG for £210 or a basic for £180 whatever you prefer.

Just remember though, unless you've already got them, you shouldn't limit your funds when it comes to goggles as what's the point of saving another £35 for your marker if you can't see? Proto Pro Axis goggles work well and if you do somehow find that you can fog them, you can just shove a fan in there.

Hope this helps!

 

[JackF]

What is a walk on? And would that gun be good for woodsball and speedball? Would you reccomend a hopper aswell? Does that gun have a double trigger aswell? And lastly does anyone know of any speedball sites aroung portsmouth or southampton because there's a few woodsballs but I don't know about speedball? Should I just start off by buying a marker and a anti fog mask?

Thanks for all your help

Jack

 

[Sid Sidgwick]

Hola Jack,

A walkon is where a site opens its doors to people who have their own kit, the price for a walkon is a fraction of the price normally playing on the site. Walkons are a great way to start out and pick up some like minded mates.

The UL SLG is good but check out the forum here for great 2nd hand bargains (especially Eteks/Egos and DM/PMs) Get a good mask as already said there are loads to chose from so either see what your local pb shop has or next time your at a site ask to try peoples if they have some. Hoppers get a cheap halo or reloader for £35 (ask Dave T on the forum as he normally has a few spares) and your sorted.

 

[PaintballWizard]

Right, forget a marker for a minute, buy some goggles - Completely ignore your marker until you've decided what goggles to get otherwise you'll end up chopping off 20-30 to put it towards a hopper or marker and this is not a good decision.

So Goggles first, my suggestion being proto pro axis (£55 or £30 second hand but i wouldn't suggest goggles second-hand (personal preference))

Then you could get down to a walkon and ask around, try stuff out. Most people will be happy for you to have a look and a little shoot.

Marker i'd suggest an slg as it is a great entry level electro-pneumatic marker which, combined with anyone that can move their arms and legs, will definitely outperform mechanical markers. (£180 for basic, £210 for UL or £100 second-hand (much cheaper if you don't mind something that someone else has 'done things to' )
You'll need a hopper to shoot (unless you want to load one ball at a time ) you'll probably be okay with a reloader 2 (£35 new £20 second hand) if that's all you can afford - that's what im using on my slg and it keeps up fine.
Pack (NXE packs are nice if you can afford them - very hard wearing. If not, skull packs are quite good value for money) £25 new i believe? £10-£15 second-hand.
HPA bottles, you could buy a discount one in various places for £40 + but some walkon sites allow you to rent bottles.

As for clothing, if money is no object then go out grab a set (proto 09 stuff is good value for money) or buy a second-hand jersey and put some thick trousers on (like i did)

Yeah, i've probably missed something but here's my suggestion as for gear.

If you're on a budget:

Proto pro axis goggles (£55 new)
SLG Basic/UL (£100/£120 second-hand)
Reloader 2 / something similar (£20 second-hand)
Skull Pack (£25 New)
HPA Bottle (See if your local walkon site allows you to rent, if not, go cheapest you can get (new i'd suggest though due to air being dangerous if mistreated and you don't know what the last owner has done to it))
Total: £210 + bottle (if required)


If you have a little more money:

Proto Pro Axis goggles (£55 New)
Proto Fan for goggles (£25 new)
SLG UL (£210 New - you'll have a warranty new)
Halo B (£40 Second-hand)
NXE Elevation pack (£35 new)
HPA Bottle (i'd still go £45)
Total: £410

So yeah, if you're on a budget, go for the top suggestion and build up and upgrade as and when you can. Remember, If you can't see you can't play (spend money on goggles) and if you can't afford to play it's pointless buying gear.


Sorry for such a long post, i hope this helps!

 

[JackF]

I only have a marker and a mask will I still be able to participate in walkons? And are they only held once a month?

 

[JackF]

I mean if I only have a marker and thanks for all the help guys really appreciate it

 

[PaintballWizard]

All depends on where you go. Some sites'll say you can rent gear other won't. Have you found a walk-on site near you yet as you'll just need to research a little. I wouldn't advise going without your own goggles though even if they let you rent some as you may be able to shoot people but if you can't see them it's pointless

Oh and yes, an slg is predominantly a speedball gun but theres nothing that says you can't take one to the woods. I do. Besides, you'd get dominated running a woodsball gun (usually mechanical) on a speedball field although it'd be rather entertaining to watch on youtube

 

[JackF]

There's a few sites around me which are ambush and camoflauge but I would like to try out speedball but I haven't been to ambush yet so I think they might. What is sup air? I should hopefully be going there when my mate can afford it I think I will get a mask straight away then purchase the gun is it hard to maintain aswell btw?


Thanks very much