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Tippmann a5??

E j

New Member
Mar 2, 2019
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Haha that's just put me back to square 1, hadn't factored that in to the cost, if I just went with "get something cheap and get out shooting it" would that be a bad decision? Rather than worrying about the model etc at the moment, I mean I'm not looking to buy me or invest a whole load of cash right now
 

scooby_doo

Born to be BUD
Jan 11, 2007
230
61
48
Liverpool
Where are you based? I have an old etek2 which needs a qev, if you can source one for it and pay shipping or collect the etek you can have the marker, only stipulation is when you move onto a newer marker try and find someone else just starting to pass it onto and don't sell it on.

Then you just need a hopper and air bottle
 
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BOD

The brotherhood
Aug 1, 2003
747
231
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YORK
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Haha that's just put me back to square 1, hadn't factored that in to the cost, if I just went with "get something cheap and get out shooting it" would that be a bad decision? Rather than worrying about the model etc at the moment, I mean I'm not looking to buy me or invest a whole load of cash right now
Buy something cheap and get out shooting is the perfect decision, 99% of all people starting paintballing replace their first gun within a year any way, get to some walkons and see what other people have and no doubt there'll be a few kind souls who will let you try stuff out. Unless you're going to go and play tournaments you don't really need an expensive latest release hopper to feed a speedball gun, there are plenty of 10-15 year old electric hoppers that are easily upto the job, knocking about in peoples cupboards that people quite often just give away. And as for an air bottle, usually the sites running walkons don't mind lending or renting you one for a day.
 
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BOD

The brotherhood
Aug 1, 2003
747
231
68
YORK
Visit site
Ah ok thanks for the insight I'm completely new at this! Is there any marker you suggest for a newbie? And where do I look for markers at that price!!??
I've no idea whats good for newbies these days, i don't keep up with what's available or newish, my most modern gun is a 2006 mac dev cyborg, which beats my other gun a 2004 aka viking by a couple of years. The £20 A5 i got by putting wanted adds sites like this and facebook pages, it was sold as a non working gun, £5 and several years experience of fixing site guns and it was shooting again.
 
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Tom

Tom
Nov 27, 2006
4,076
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Salisbury
www.TaskForceDelta.co.uk
There’s nothing wrong with you taking the a5, but it’s worth looking at options.

I still have my old X7, but it’s the ‘always reliable’ that I have used and chucked in the cupboard.
It’s only had any internal clean up by Tippmann tech, and the year before last was its worst state with a broken cocking handle and rust due to having been stored since sennybridge for many years.
Saved by tipmann tech again, with some parts swapped and a polish.


I would avoid co2. The cylinder is cheap, but the chances of you getting a fill at anywhere but a rental only site are slim.

For a cylinder you can still go cheap with a basic aluminium 3000psi air cylinder for £30 to £40 new
Even better is a fibre 4500psi cylinder, but that would set you back at £150 or more new. Save that until you have the experience to know what size fibre is the best fit for you physically and for style of play.

For a hopper unless you get a cyclone fed gun (a5, x7 etc) then you ideally want an electric hopper.
You can still use a cheap gravity hopper, or a ‘shelf’ gravity hopper would be a bit better.
An electric hopper can be sourced for not a lot of money such as a rotor or halo.

Spend as long as you are willing to do so researching and posting questions / options and you’ll gain classifieds access soon for an informed decision on a second hand bargain
 
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E j

New Member
Mar 2, 2019
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Thank you so much for all your advice guys you've cleared alot of things up for me and thank you @scooby_doo for your generous offer I may we'l take you up on that! With regards to the air bottle, if I were to buy one "out of test" how would I go about getting it tested?
 

Tom

Tom
Nov 27, 2006
4,076
1,210
198
Salisbury
www.TaskForceDelta.co.uk
Thank you so much for all your advice guys you've cleared alot of things up for me and thank you @scooby_doo for your generous offer I may we'l take you up on that! With regards to the air bottle, if I were to buy one "out of test" how would I go about getting it tested?
Idealy HPAC are the preferred testers in paintball. Trevor of HPAC can be found at a number of events, and a bottle can be handed to him for testing to be collected at a subsequent event.
Failing that then a local site or if you’re lucky a paintball shop may be able to sort out a test.
Each of these avoid the cost and difficulty of a suitable postage method.

The alternative is via a diving centre, they can either arrange testing or some are testers themselves
For a list check out IDEST:

https://www.sita.org.uk/idest/idest_members.php
 
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scooby_doo

Born to be BUD
Jan 11, 2007
230
61
48
Liverpool
One thing to remember about buying a used bottle is many have only a 15 year life so have a born date so don't get one with a really short life left.

If you want the etek pm me
 
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E j

New Member
Mar 2, 2019
16
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Right ok that makes sense so unless I can get a great deal on an out of test one I'm probably better off getting a new cheap one for now and dead ones are useless? Thank you again @scooby_doo like I say I may take you up on it, I'm enquiring about a full beginner setup but if that doesn't come off I'll definitely be giving you a shout you lovely human!
 

Tom

Tom
Nov 27, 2006
4,076
1,210
198
Salisbury
www.TaskForceDelta.co.uk
Right ok that makes sense so unless I can get a great deal on an out of test one I'm probably better off getting a new cheap one for now and dead ones are useless? Thank you again @scooby_doo like I say I may take you up on it, I'm enquiring about a full beginner setup but if that doesn't come off I'll definitely be giving you a shout you lovely human!
After the final death date they are paperweights

Normal fibre 4500psi cylinders have a 15 year maximum lifespan with the need for a test every 5 years

Aluminium 3000psi cylinders have an unlimited lifetime, and can be tested once every 10 years. Not everyone will accept use of a bottle past 5 years. And with the price of them new it’s not very viable to get them tested

Certain compact 3000psi cylinders are exempt from testing, such as a 13ci aluminium 3000psi cylinder ...... as long as they are visually good and you have no reason to suspect it


There is a new standard of 4500psi fibre cylinder. Those of the right design type have an unlimited lifespan, but are still subject to testing every 5 years

The above are the general standards, there are some differences, but mostly for older models
Check the stamps / labels for information on specific cylinders