Best Paintball Markers For Anyone From Beginners to Pro Players
Best Paintball Guns Reviewed 2022
It can be difficult to choose the right paintball gun for you with so many options available. Our team can help you make the right choice. We have compiled a list of the best paint ball guns on the market for 2022 based on our many years of field experience.
No matter if you’re a beginner or a pro, there’s a model for you. Our hands-on buyer’s guide highlights the differences between the models and styles. In our quick reference guide, we have divided the most popular and highly reviewed paintball markers into three categories: professional, intermediate, and beginner. We want to share our passion for paintball with everyone, and help you save money.
The most expensive paintball marker may not be the best for you. You have to consider your playing style and skill level. Speedball players will choose a model that is fast firing and has an autococker with a rapid-fire e-trigger. Woodsball players may prefer tactical or simulation paintball gear. Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 models on our list. For those who need a backup weapon, we have included our top picks for the best paintball pistols and the best paintball snipers. Play safe, have fun!
Best Paintball Markers of 2022
This entry-level model is a great introduction to the more tactical and realistic-looking Tippmann models. The Tippmann Cronus is a reimagining of the 98 custom. It has many improvements. This intermediate-level paintball gun can be outfitted with a removable barrel shield or stock for a unique look. This paintball gun has received overwhelmingly positive reviews and is well-known for its accuracy. The Tippmann Cronus is equipped with a rail system that allows you to attach various accessories such as lights, red dots, or grips. This marker is a great choice for intermediate and beginner players looking for a solid marker of high quality that will last.
Ideal for intermediate and beginner players looking for a versatile paintball marker at a great value price for their first paintball gun.
The Tippmann A5 is a big brother to the 98 …. on steroids! There are many options to make your Tippmann A5 look like a feared AK-47, tactical HK417, Spec ops MP5–SD, or any other paintball gun you choose. There are many combinations possible with the wide variety of barrels, magazines, and grips that you can choose from. It has a fire selector on the grip for safety. Additionally, It can fire up to 15 paintballs per second.
An upgraded electronic trigger supports both full-auto and single-shot firing modes, so you can swap the grip out. The A5 threaded bar, compatible with many other paintball guns, is another great feature. The Cyclone loading system is included with the A5, which allows for a smooth loading process and avoids any paint chopping. This makes the Tippman A5 a versatile mid-range package that is perfect for serious players. The Tippmann A5 is a popular Tippmann paintball marker for scenario players.
Ideal for intermediate players looking for the best paintball guns for their money. This paintball gun is perfect for players who want to strike a balance between performance and price. There are tons of accessories that can be added to it.
The Tippmann Project Salvo is one of our favorite paintball guns for indoor and woodsball. This marker is perfect for people who love simulation games and want a real gun. This paintball gun is a real beauty and draws compliments from all players.
The project salvo comes with a red dot sight, a collapse-able rear stock, and a front grip. This makes it very versatile for any game type. This paintball marker is a great choice for dominating the field. The accessories add a little weight to the paintball marker, which can be good or bad depending on your preferences. However, it enhances the simulation element. The barrel is longer and gives you better accuracy. Although it won’t shoot tight groups like Empire or Dye paintball markers, it’s accurate enough to be used for non-tournament play. The Tippmann Project Salvo is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a paintball gun that looks great and can kick some ass.
Ideal for intermediate to advanced players who are looking for a fun and high-quality paintball marker that looks great.
It would be an understatement to say that the 98 Custom is one the most sought-after paintball markers in the world. Its affordable price, reliability, and ease of use make it appealing to new buyers of the sport. This is what makes it different from other cheap paintball guns you’ll find at Walmart.
The universal Picatinny rails allow for optics such as a red dot sight to aid in reflex sharp target acquisition. This Tippmann marker is a reliable and trusted tool and one of the best markers for beginners that can be easily upgraded. It is the best mechanical paintball gun powered either by HPA or CO2. You can also add the popular flatline barrel to increase range and accuracy. This is one of the most well-known paintball marker in the entire world. Advanced players often keep their 98 custom in reserve. This is great for loaning to friends or helping to get them started with the sport.
Ideal for beginners looking for a starter paintball gun that offers tons of accessories to enhance and tweak their performance.
We found the Tippmann Stormer Tactical to be the best value for our money. The Stormer paintball marker is built on the Tippmann 98 custom design, which has been the #1 rental paintball gun for paintball parks for over 20 years. The Stormer uses the reliable Tippmann gas system, which is extremely consistent and reliable. Like our higher-end options, the gas that propels your paintballs flows through the grip. This is a huge plus. The Stormer comes with a safety feature (cross bolt/push-button style), sights (hint: these are optional as you can track the target by running your eyes down the barrel), and a handy removable vertical grip to aid in rapid-fire.
The Stormer is simple and reliable in design. There are many aftermarket accessories that you can purchase for this paintball gun so you can customize your experience. The barrel does the job but accuracy is what the designers should have been focusing on.
To maximize your accuracy and performance, you might consider buying an aftermarket paintball barrel in the 14” range if you have the funds. This paintball gun uses CO2 so you can get an affordable air tank for as low as $40. The Proto Primo loader is a great option and will not cost a lot. Cronus Player Package is a great option if you’re looking for a complete package (paintballs excluded) that will get you started. It includes a tank, loader, pod pack, paintball pods, and goggles.
This is a great option for beginners who want to learn but don’t have the money.
Dye Rize paintball guns offer reliable options and premium features at a fair price. The Dye Matrix (DM Series), and Dye Proto paintball guns were highly regarded and considered to be the best paintball guns of 2004-2007. Although the Hyper 3 paintball marker features a consistent regulator, it also has an external hose which are technically fine but is less popular these days. The clamping feed neck will securely attach your loader to the gun. The barrel is 14 inches long and has a two-piece construction. The trigger can be adjusted, the grips are tacky, and this paintball gun uses anti-chop eyes. It uses a 4th gen eye pipe which is not perfect, but it’s better than trying to remove the barrel and clean it out during play. This paintball gun can fire 68-caliber paintballs. It also operates on compressed air and not co2, which is a bonus. This marker is excellent for intermediate players due to its proven design and heritage. However, advanced players might want to consider some of the other options we have outlined.
The debut of the Axe by Empire Paintball in 2011 shocked the paintball industry as well as the professional field. Empire Paintball redesigned the Axe based on the Empire (then Invert Mini) design. Empire added community-requested features to the gun. The industry was stunned when the Sacramento XSV and Chicago Infamous pro-paintball teams announced that they would be using the Axe markers on the professional field. This was the first time in paintball history. Pro teams would often shoot special, high-end paintball guns to gain an advantage over their competitors. Empire sent their pro teams to market a paintball marker that was high-quality and mid-range priced. The Axe paintball gun quickly proved to be more affordable than paintball markers costing twice as much. Although initially, people were skeptical, the Axe paintball markers proved to be more than capable.
Empire sent its product designers, R&D, and engineers to the pro-paintball events to troubleshoot, tech, and ultimately improve the existing winning platform. Empire Axe 2.0 was released in 2017. The paintball gun came complete with everything you could want, right out of the box.
The Planet Eclipse Etha 2 paintball gun is an incredible marker. These markers are extremely consistent thanks to the Gamma Core spool drive train. The gas-through grip design will keep the regulator hose from getting in the way. The stock barrel uses autococker threads for decent accuracy, but we would recommend upgrading it when possible. The clamping feed-neck secures your loader to your gun. The electronic trigger makes it easy to sling paintballs quickly and the push button bolt remover allows you to clean your marker between games without using a lot of tools. These markers are lightweight, quiet, and great to hold.
Best Sniper Paintball Guns
The 98 Custom is a great entry-level marker for snipers. It can withstand being dropped to the ground, dragged through dirt and mud, and almost any other possible scenario on a woodsball court. It’s also extremely reliable, with many accessories available for customization.
If you want to improve your rate of fire, you can upgrade the 98 Custom by adding a barrel, a buttstock, and a double trigger. If you want your 98 Custom to be a good paintball gun for sniping, you will need a mag-fed conversion set from a brand like Tacamo or Tippmann. The mag-fed conversion kit can transform the Tippmann’s 98 Custom into a mag-fed paintball gun capable of firing First Strike projectile rounds.
The Tippmann 98 custom also includes a split receiver design that allows for customization and maintenance as well as a Picatinny rail to allow for the installation of red dots, scopes, etc. A matte black finish resists impact and wear. You can also get an upgraded Tippmann 98 Custom with ACT Technology (Anti Chop Technology) to prevent paint from leaking into your gun’s breach.
The First Strike T15 was designed to look and work exactly like the AR-15.
The First Strike T15 paintball rifle is a great paintball sniper rifle. The magazine on the T15 can hold 20 regular paintballs and 19 First Strike projectile rounds, unlike the T9.1.
The FS15 also includes a lightweight, yet strong aluminum body, a handguard made of aluminum with multiple 7/8″ tac rails for mounting accessories, and an adapter that lets you easily change from magazine feed to hopper feed by twisting your barrel.
It comes out of the box with an adjustable stock and a 13/3000 HPA cartridge. You can no longer use a 12g CO2 cartridge as you could with the T9.
Best Paintball Pistols
Tippmann TiPX paintball pistol is a great addition to any arsenal. It comes with 3 magazines and 7 standard paintball ammunition, making it easy to reload.
The paintball gun is small and light, yet it feels real. To provide semi-automatic firing, small CO2 cartridges can be inserted under the barrel. You can attach accessories like laser sights to the barrel via a small rail under the barrel. This pistol is the most powerful paintball gun on the market. The TiPX sidearm is a top-rated choice because of its high-quality design by Tippmann and exceptional reliability.
The JT ER2 pump-action is an ideal option for casual players who are looking for a sidearm option. It’s a compact, handgun-style marker. The marker comes with three loaded tubes, each containing 10 0.50 caliber paintballs.
The ER2 fires with small CO2 containers. It comes with two of them straight out of the box. The ER2 is a much more powerful paintball gun than cheaper spring-powered pistols. This marker is smaller and more compact than the Tippman TiPX but costs a fraction as much. This marker is extremely easy to use and has a high build quality.
Ideal for beginners and intermediate players looking to shoot paintball pistols at targets.
If you are looking for a high-quality replica that can be used on the paintball field, the Umarex T4E TR50 Revolver is a great choice. This paintball pistol is a combination of the classic revolver’s look and double action, as well as compatibility with 0.50-caliber paintball rounds.
The paintball revolver weighs in at 726g and has a lightweight polymer and metal construction.
The T4E TR50 will behave differently than conventional paintball pistols. This is something to be aware of before you make a purchase. Although it might feel awkward to fire at first, practice will help you become more comfortable.
You will need to spend some time getting used to the trigger and firing action. This will ensure that you get precise results every time. The TR50 is not a replica of any existing firearm. This might disappoint purists who are looking for an authentic replica.
It combines the traditional shape of a revolver and a modern aesthetic to make it more compatible with other paintball markers.
The T4E Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2 M2 HSA package is sure to attract the attention of more passionate paintballers. This semi-automatic paintball arm features a number of top-quality features that will dramatically increase your performance. This reliable pistol offers a lot of bang for the buck thanks to its CO2 and BlowBack mechanisms.
This pistol has a high level of build quality. You will have a reliable pistol that can withstand repeated use.
Although the exterior housing is made of a polymer material it is durable and well-finished. It also reduces the pistol’s overall weight.
Ultimate Paintball Buyers Guide
You are probably looking for a new paintball gun if you’ve read this far. We hope you found our top recommendations useful in highlighting some of your best options. You won’t be disappointed by any of these models, that’s for certain.
For more information to narrow down your options, read on! When it comes to choosing paintball guns, there are three main factors: price, experience, and preferred playstyle.
If you are only playing casually or if it is your first time out on the field, a top-of-the-line paintball gun is not necessary. If you’re a serious player, but still use a cheap marker from 5 years ago, you might benefit from upgrading to a better model.
Woodsball Paintball Guns
You will need a longer-range paintball gun and a stock to increase accuracy in long-range shootouts like when you play woodsball (field combat) or are scurrying about outdoors between trees. The Tippmann 98 Custom is a great option for beginners and those who want to maximize their dollar value. The extended barrel allows for greater range and a red dot sight makes it a reliable woodsball marker.
Speedball Markers
Speedball is all about accuracy. However, speedball requires you to be able to throw paintballs quickly. The Empire Axe is a great paintball gun that can handle any speedball situation. It is easy to get cover and angles to fire at your enemy team with their compact designs and adjustable firing modes. The Empire Axe, out of all models tested, was the most accurate and best choice for pro-level paintball gear. You will get more shots from higher-end electronic paintball guns that use HPA, which is important when you can fire off hundreds of balls per round.
Milsim and RecBall Paintball Guns
RecBall fans who love indoors with bunkers or structures might prefer something smaller, perhaps with a stock to increase stability for tight corners. The Cronus and 98 Custom are great options depending on your budget. Recball brings together elements from all types of games, making it really enjoyable. Milsim’s tactical nature and woodsball are combined with speedball’s smaller arenas and cover-based shooting. This is a great paintball game for beginners and a good way to introduce them to speedball.
Milsim players want to have the hardest war or tactical simulation possible so you’ll often see them sporting realistic paintball guns such as the Project Salvo. Milsim players have the best-looking paintball markers and gear. You can use tactical equipment or more specific equipment like a sniper paintball gun that has a very long barrel and a scope. Or setups that are more rushing style setups that feature shorter markers. This allows for faster movement and mobility.
What is better: Electronic or mechanical paintball guns?
You can choose between an electro-pneumatic or mechanical firing system when choosing a marker. Electronic paintball markers use less propellant because they fire with a 9v battery and not extra gas. Electronic trigger systems allow for both burst firing and fully automated firing modes. They also increase single-shot firing speed. A gun with fewer moving parts will also have higher accuracy and less recoil during firing. Electronic grips/trigger systems are popular among serious paintball players.
There are certain advantages to using a mechanical paintball marker. They are generally cheaper, easier to use and maintain. They are easy to disassemble and clean as all the moving parts are made of metal. You won’t have to worry about batteries, electronics, or wires. This can make it easier for beginners to play. Sometimes simplicity is better!
Avoid cheap paintball gear and always wear a mask!
The majority of cheap models are not worth the money in terms of performance, value, or durability. Many companies are trying to make a profit by selling low-quality, cheap paintball guns to capitalize on the boom in the paintball market. We fully support the high-quality standards set by Empire, Dye, and Spyder. They will work efficiently each time you go out on the field. A faulty paintball gun can ruin an amazing day of paintball.
Do not waste your money on paintball guns that don’t last, or can’t cut paint consistently. Instead, you could be dominating your opponent every time you step onto a field.
Wear a paintball mask every time you go on the field. It is a requirement in every game you play, and it is common sense. We recommend a mask made of high-quality materials that aren’t easily ruined by fogging or require constant adjustment. This is an action sport, with high-velocity projectiles.
Best Masks
Best Hoppers