Finding the right paintball marker is never easy, especially if you are new to paintball and don’t know where to begin. I understand your position, because I’ve been there before as well. I made mistakes along the way and learned a lot, and that’s why I can help you make the right choice the first time.

Here are some questions you are probably asking; “How much do I need to spend?”, “Should I buy a standard marker, a semi-automatic marker, or an automatic marker?”, and “What brand names are good quality for entry level priced guns?”. These are great questions, and getting the answers to these questions will send you down the right path. Let’s address these questions one at a time and then you’ll be equipped with the knowledge needed to make the right decision.

“How much do I need to spend?”
Honestly you don’t need to spend a lot. Entry level standard markers, semi-auto markers, and fully-automatic markers range from $75 to $250. If you are truly a beginner & not playing in competitive matches, you can get away with a standard manual marker like one of the cheapest Spyders. If you are playing in matches, and playing with other semi-experienced players you may want to consider a semi or fully-auto marker. Tippmann & Spyder are very solid brand names for entry level semi and fully-auto markers. Some of the models to consider are; Spyder MR2, Spyder MR3, Spyder Electra, Spyder VS2, Spyder VS3, Tippmann A-5, Tippmann 98 Custom. All of those models range in price from $150 to $250 and will give you the marker you need to keep up with anyone at your local field.

“Should I buy a standard marker, a semi-automatic marker, or an automatic marker
This really depends on what you plan on doing with your marker. If you are young and just plan on getting used to the concept of shooting a paintball gun you can get away with a manual paintball marker. If you are going to be playing in any sort of a competitive atmosphere, you should get a semi or fully-automatic paintball marker.

“What brand names are good quality for entry level priced guns”
This is a tough question to answer because there are literally dozens of brand names out there. The thing you need to be careful about is that most of the low end brand names provide horrible performance and they are basically a complete waste of your money. For entry level paintball guns I recommend sticking with Spyder, Tippmann, and Smart Parts. All three of these brand names make entry level markers that are very solid and you can get great performance out of any of their products.

Well there you have it, everything you need to know to make a good decision on choosing the right entry level marker. Follow the above guidelines and you’ll get a solid performing marker for your money. You’ll be pleased when you take part in paintballing events in your area & see how well your marker performs.

Dave is an avid paintballer and part of the Paintball Pro Shoppe staff. Dave urges you to check out the new Paintball Discussion Forum at their web site. The Paintball Pro Shoppe offers a huge selection of paintball markers, and they are currently featuring the Quest Paintball Marker by First Endeavor Paintball. The Paintball Pro Shoppe offers great products, great service, and now a discussion forum for their visitors.