Seeking Advice

[RogueFactor]

I received a PM from a fellow PBL'er. It is often asked, so Id rather post it for others who might be in the same situation and to get responses from others than myself. The members name has been removed for privacy purposes, and the post slightly paraphrased.

Perhaps you could give a bit of advice. I'm getting back into paintball after a long absence and I am usuing my classic valved Lvl 7automag. Is there any upgrades I should look at doing or is the gun okay. The whole x valve thing sounds interesting.......but I was thinking it be more cost effective to try to get an rt. Anyway I will be playing a bit of a triple threat thing playing some tourneys, some scenario and recball but I really can't afford a different gun for each. Any advice would be great. Oh what are rt's going for these days and are the valves really that different from the x valves. Thanks for reading

[RogueFactor]

There are plenty of upgrades for mags that will put a dent in your pocketbook. Mech markers arent used much for tourney style play these days. But they work great for scenario and rec ball. E-mags and XMags will hold their own with every other electro out there.

Mech mags with the aluminum goods range from $350-$600. The lower end have mostly stock parts, the higher end mostly aftermarket parts. The parts range from feednecks, triggers, trigger frames, rails, bodies, etc.

[DevilMan]

You can get an RT/Emag valve for about 125... You can get an X Valve for 200....

You can lighten up the mag with a ULE body n such, but your rate of fire with a single trigger frame is gonna suck. So you can spend 50-80 on an Intelli or Benchmark frame.

For woods and rec ball.... Don't fret... The mag will be your long lost friend. Just keep him happy and he'll keep sending folks to the dead box. Learn to shoot and learn to play and it'll be a great day.

You can ask Rogue and ZMan... I've got TOOOOO MANY GUNS!!!! I brought alot out this weekend to play in case I didn't like the way my mag was shooting... Well she came out for the first game and didn't get put up til I was going home.

Couldn't be happier with her.

But as for upgrading your stuff....

I would swap out from the LVL 7 and get LVL 10 put in it... One of the only changes I would make. I'd get it set and tuned and let it rip.

Keep the mag as your rec/woods gun for just play.... And go get you an NME, a Mini, a PM6... You can get all of those for under 300 these days and they will keep up fine.

Yes having more than one gun can be expensive... I've got about 25-30.... I only shoot 2-3 each time I go out... I'm trying to thin the herd.... but at least I always have a back up in case my main one gets sick or if someone else's catches a bug....

So what it boils down to with me.... Get a nice hopper.... Get a good tank... Get 2 guns that will run fine with the hopper and the tank. If a gun goes down, swap out and keep playin... fix it later.

In time work up to have 2 complete set ups. 2 hoppers, 2 guns, 2 tanks... If you pop a burst disc or break a feedneck you have a backup.

;)

Hope it helps...

DM

[ajnin]

I would say add a level 10 bolt, and a double trigger frame.

Stay with your classic valve for awhile until you don't need to ask the "what should I do question". A classic valve will get you a decent rate of fire, better air efficiency, and still accept co2 if no air is around. I also find unless your shooting strings of paint your shot to shot accuracy is better with a classic valve.

Of course get a great hopper, and a compressed air tank.