Sunday, September 23, 2007

The Equipment of the Infamous

Recently I have been giving more and more advice on what equipment to buy. I like giving advice to people who have the same playing style as mine but sometimes I can’t help but butt into an argument involving people saying that they a-5 is the best gun for _______ or that a phantom can play every position. I’ll tell people that I don’t trust high ends in the rain, and that sometimes I’d much rather just use my a-5 for fun. Normally the responses to this type of advice is “If you owned a Tippmann, Pump, or High End you would feel differently” I think its time to come clean after playing more times that I can begin to think about I’ve narrowed my marker selection down to 3 markers… my A-5, my Phantom, and my Marq 7 and they all have their disadvantages and advantages so I’ll take some time to talk about paintball marker theory and why I shoot what I do.

To start off I am a believer that there are six main categories of paintball markers Pump, Pistols Low Mech, High Mech, and Low Electro, High Electro. I know there are high end pumps and that the high Mech market is dwindling but that’s just how I feel. Now I also feel that its impossible for a low end base (such as an a-5 or ION) to ever become a high end marker. So I don’t care how much money you spend on your ION and especially you’re a-5 it will always be a low end marker. How do I determine which markers are high and low end? By how it performs, materials, weight, and brand name DOES count.

But I personally feel that you can limit it to four categories Pump, Pistols, Mech, and Electros. I also feel that the pistol category is completely worthless unless your using it as a primary for fun, its just more weight to carry IN CASE your marker malfunctions. So with that in mind I own one marker from every category….

Tippmann A-5


The Tippmann a-5 is a very popular and versatile marker, and also my first paintball marker. This sucker is a tank I could throw it around, jump on it, and run through trees and it still shoots. However I can do the same thing with other markers. I have upgraded it a ton and to be honest it probably cost me almost as much as my Marq 7 (since I wasn’t sponsored at the time) so looking back I think it makes more sense to buy a high end marker and save the money / time.

As you can see I threw a stock on it and a palmers stab to help with accuracy but to be honest I rarely use the stock and it is the only part of the marker that has every broken. I do like the double trigger as it reduces finger fatigue. Right now I consider the a-5 my backup marker the only reason I would use it as a primary is if I knew I was going to be doing a ton of sneaking as its better camouflaged.

Pros: Durable, easy to paint, many aftermarket parts, can use CO2

Cons: Heavy, Not very efficient

CSC Phantom: VSC


The Phantom is another popular marker however not very versatile. It can be set up to play a variety of ways but in my opinion why use a pump if your not going to play stock class. The reason I like this marker so much is because its so small and adds a challenge to the game. If I’m going to go walk onto a field I normally will switch to the phantom if the challenge is just not there or if I simply want to better myself. That’s right guys, I own a phantom and understand that its more challenging and love it. However that brings me to my biggest con, I can never sweep the floor with the phantom its just not made for that type of play. The phantom is good for fun, but not for competition play it’s a handicap.


The biggest down side is you need to buy all new equipment to use pump and can’t just show up with a pump gun and switch to semi mid day, you need to bring both. However playing pump is a good way to help your game if your don’t want to travel to find better players.

Pros: Light, Very maneuverable, improves skill, fun

Cons: Pump, New Equipment Needed, a handicap

Bob Long: Marq 7

The Bob Long Marq 7 is an amazing high end gun. While its new and hasn’t reached the status of the intimidator, matrix or the ego its on its way. This gun can shoot fast, its light, and incredibly efficient. The tac-one may be quieter and slightly lighter but a dagger should be more than willing to give up that for the ability to shoot much quicker and get more than 100 shots out of a tank. The biggest con with this marker is that I just shoot more paint because it shoots faster, however I also play better. Also since I shoot more its not uncommon for me to be weighed down by more paint. Nevertheless after shooting a true high end its easy to tell why you paid the extra 500$. Now while the Marq needs to be lubed once a week regardless of play all you need to do is unscrew one Allen screw in the back and push the whole gun out. Wipe off the old lube and throw new lube on. It usually takes me no more than 10 minutes.

Pros: Light, shoots fast, quick to maintain

Cons: Expensive, needs to be lubed once a week regardless of play

So here you have it people, the equipment of the Infamous, the alchemist, of Bielerga. As you can see I shoot a mech, a pump, and a high end all the major food groups. So next time you hear me babbling on about how I think high ends are better than pumps please don’t tell me I’ve never played with a high end or a pump, because well…. I do.