I agree with the IONS...I mayself bought the SP-8 cause i'm a mil sim freak and (**Personal Preference WARNING****) I didn't like the tippmans dispite the bajillion +2 mods they have for mil sim parts. Seriously if you want a paintball gun to look like any other rifle/sub machine gun out there, get the tippman, maybe the A-5, depends on your budget.
On a side note I started out with spider, and I vaguely keep in touch with them but not near as much ( I love my SP-8) and i've seen/heard good things about thier emarkers (I started out with e-99 avant)

If I recommend anything, it's an electronic hopper. Shake an bake will make you think your gun sucks even if it's a slow firing gun-pumps not included-.
 

Oh I guess I should add since this for lack of better words that the SP-8 is an ION with a plastic exterior to make it look realistic which i've been told looks like A: The gun off halo (dunno which) or B: The gun off the DOOM movie.
At any rate for Mil-tech guns at good prices (not trying to steal thunder or shameless plug) check out
http://usmilitarygear.com/index.php
Great deals, great prices and you can get custom guns pre built if you don't want too. I will confess I've strayed from the original point of the post though, which is guns that don't suck and are cheap. The ones here aren't cheap, as you'll find when lookign for any mil-tech type marker.

Have fun and Goggles ON
 

Matt,

Thanks for the cool and very informative post, you know your gear!
 

just go to paintballgear.com (the best paintball site out there). Pick up a 98 custom. There awesome you can throw them in the dirt and blow the darn thing up with a tank and it would still function properly. There aweosm guns. I also like the Ions there pretty cool. You can buy a ICD promaster for that kind of money also. i have one and i love it its so fast its rediculus.



Thanks for the awesome blog paintballgirl =)


-Mark
 

You can go to www.pbnation.com and find used high-ends for $300... Thats where I get my gear
 

Tippmann 98 custom-

This should be everyone's first gun, whether it be for woodsball, or noobie tournament play. It's meant as a gun that doesnt need to be worked on, and will take a beating.

As you get better at paintball, there are definantly a lot of mods and add-ons for this gun, enabling it to stick with you for a good couple years.


Smart Parts Ion-

Essentially, this is an amazing gun for its price. I myself use it as a backup marker for tournament play, but it can also be outfitted for recball/woodsball. There are many upps for this marker, from boards to barrels. I use a blackheart board and a freak barrel, which makes it incredibly fast and accurate.

ACI Assassin-

A long time ago, i might have said this was the most amazing gun ever. Unfortunately, ACI has been slacking off for the past couple of years and their marker line has taken the fall. Ive seen this guns run into more problems than not, and with the stock barrel, you might as well not even look where youre shooting, because the paint isnt going to go where youre aiming.

Proto Matrix Rail-

For all the newbies, i recommend this gun to you. Basically, its a better version of the ion.

I wont go into detail, but i flat out say this is the best choice for anyone who has the money starting paintball.

On www.pbnation.com and www.actionvillage.com you can find some good deals on this marker, but make sure you have the essential gear such as a mask, hopper, and gas tank before you look for a good marker!

-Kevin "Sharp" Taylor
Bad Influence Paintball