If you are a first-timer, you need the best beginner paintball gun to fully enjoy this adrenaline-filled sport.
However, with many options in the market, it can be overwhelming to figure out the right paintball gear for your style. Fortunately, plenty of affordable paintball markers are out there, and that’s where we come in!
To make things easier for you as a first-time player, we’ve compiled this list of the best beginner paintball guns.
These guns are compact, lightweight, and easy for new players who want a safe way to test their interest in paintball game before investing more money.
Whether you want to become a pro or dip your toes into the world of paintball, these beginner-friendly guns will give you everything you need. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best beginner paintball guns available on the market today:
What Is The Best Beginner Paintball Gun?
Numerous products will work well for beginners, but the Tippmann Alpha Black Elite is the best. This paintball marker has a lot of accessories that make shooting easier for beginners with no battle experience.
It has an aluminum red dot sight that will make it easy for a player to aim rather than having to rely on their hand-eye coordination. It is easy to install and use and allows for a quick firing rate that improves elimination rates.
Comparison Table
The lightweight gun is easy to maneuver and allows you to move with the gun for hours which is important for woodsball. The LED on the gun is safe for your eyes, so you can have fun even when it is dark.
The realistic black anodize finish makes the Tippmann Alpha Black Elite look realistic for a more immersive experience.
The Best Beginner Paintball You Can Buy Today
1. Tippmann Cronus
(Editor’s choice)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: Tippmann
Rounds: 4 Air Gun Type: Co2 Frame material: Metal Barrel material: Aluminum Caliber: |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | + It has a semi-auto-firing mode
+It is lightweight and easy to maneuver +You can modify it for more functionality +Features an ergonomic grip for higher accuracy |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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It has a semi-auto firing mode. The Tippmann Cronus Paintball Marker Gun reloads itself with the rounds from the magazine as soon as you fire. This makes it work faster, and you can get more shots.
It has a composite and durable body. You don’t need to worry about breaking this gun since it is highly durable and will not break if you drop it. It can withstand scratches and high impacts for long service.
The vertical grip increases user control over the marker, which makes it more battle efficient. Additionally, you can modify the gun to add features that make it easier to use.
The downside to this best paintball gun is that it has a limited number of rounds. You get only 4 rounds which aren’t many considering that you are a beginner whose accuracy and skills might be lacking. You can spend extra to modify it for a higher capacity.
2. Tippmann Alpha Black Elite
(Best Overall)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: TRINITY
Rounds: N/A Air Gun Type: N/A Frame material: N/A Barrel material: Aluminum Caliber: |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | +Easy installation and use
+Accurate paintball gun +Flexible mounting +LED for higher accuracy |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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The Tippmann Alpha Black Elite has a black anodized finish, making it one of the most realistic paintball guns for beginners.
It has accessories that make it feel like a real gun which is important in creating an immersive woodsball experience.
It has a flexible mount to support the gun if you want to stay in one position without feeling the weight. The gun weighs about 5 ounces; thus, it is easy for paintball players to carry it and play for long hours.
It features a tactical aluminum red dot sight, making paintball look more like a video game. The red dot sight gives more accuracy and is easier for a beginner to aim with. It also has an LED to help mark targets on the field, especially in the dark.
One feature you would expect from such a high-tech paintball marker is night vision, but TRINITY didn’t include it.
Woodsball often goes on for more than a day, and Night Vision will give a player an edge at night or in dark buildings.
3. Planet Eclipse EMEK 100
(Best mechanical paintball)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: Planet Eclipse
Rounds: 100 Air Gun Type: Air Frame material: N/A Barrel material: N/A Caliber: 0.66 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | +It has a high round capacity
+It is PAL compatible +You don’t need tools to modify or assemble +Efficient firing mechanism |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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.The Planet Eclipse EMEK 100 mechanical paintball gun is another product in paintball industry that works excellently.
It has a 100-round capacity which makes it ideal for a newbie that doesn’t have that much accuracy.
Its PAL compatibility makes the gun perform more efficiently than its competitors. The PAL loader system provides a reliable and consistent feed of paintballs into your marker without using electronics.
The foregrip makes the gun easier to maneuver, especially with its lightweight. This is a great paintball gun for woodsball as you can carry it all day without fatigue. The single-piece compact frame also contributes to the gun’s user-friendliness and efficiency.
Maintenance is simple thanks to the toolless bolt removal system on the Planet Eclipse EMEK 100. Its custom 3-way mechanical valve improves power and efficiency to help you come up on top.
On/off ASAs are more convenient and user-friendly, but the Planet Eclipse EMEK doesn’t use them, so it can be problematic for amateurs.
4. Spyder Victor Semi-Auto Paintball marker
(Best beginner semi-automatic)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: Spyder
Rounds: 20 Air Gun Type: Co2 Frame material: Plastic Barrel material: Aluminum/steel Caliber: 0.177 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Air-efficient valve system
+Double finger trigger +Clamping feed neck +No slip rubber grip +It uses both CO2 and Compressed air |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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The Spyder Victor Semi-Auto paintball gun uses a 20 oz, tank to fire more than 1500 shots thanks to its EKO valve system. This air-efficient valve system saves air and saves you trips to the best paintball fill stations.
There are many finishes, but the anodized matte finish is the most popular as it camouflages with most environments.
The aluminum and plastic body and frame make the gun extremely durable, and you can use it for years with proper maintenance.
The feed neck has a high-impact polymer clamping to hold the loader in place even when the gun is upside down. This feature, along with the lightweight, makes the gun easier to move around.
The double-finger trigger allows you to use two fingers to fire faster with less exhaustion which is a big advantage.
The gun has a 20-round capacity which will be enough to dominate opponents with a little training.
You need to constantly tighten the screws on the gun as they get loose, especially after intense use.
5. JT ER2 Pump Pistol RTS
(Best entry-level marker pistol)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: JT
Rounds: 30 Air Gun Type: Co2 Frame material: Plastic Barrel material: Caliber: 0.68 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Considerable paintball capacity
+Amazing aesthetics +Anti chop technology +It comes with paintball pods, ER2 pump marker and air |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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The paintball pistol has a smooth pumping action that gives a nice firing experience. It features state-of-the-art anti-chop technology that ensures no chopping in the gun. Any beginner would have an amazing experience playing with this good paintball gun.
The paintball pistol also features safety systems like the ball stop mechanism and anti-double pump action. These features will prevent paint spillages and help the gun last longer.
With its impressive aesthetics, it’s not difficult to know why you’d want the gun to last. It has a 30-paintball capacity, enough for a beginner to have some fun before reloading.
The biggest concern with this paintball pistol is when you need to be stealthy. Like other pump paintball guns, when fired, it produces a rather loud bang, drawing attention to your location.
6. Azodin KAOS 3
(Best lightweight)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: Azodin
Rounds: 12 Air Gun Type: Co2 Frame material: Aluminum Barrel material: Aluminum Caliber: 0.68 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | + It features a double-finger trigger
+It has a honed barrel +Uses both CO2 and HPA tanks +Screw lock feed neck |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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The gun comes with a slim nylon double-finger trigger. Using two fingers allows you to fire faster, which will help you take advantage of the semi-auto features in the great gun.
The gun also features a 12-inch multiphase honed barrel for increased accuracy. As a beginner, you need all the help you can get, and this paintball marker has a design to help you move faster and shoot more accurately.
You can use CO2 and HPA tanks with the Azodin KAOS 3, but you will perform better with HPA. The screw lock feed neck ensures you can turn the gun upside down without the loader falling off.
Most customers complain about the Azodin KAOS 3’s performance, especially when handling paintballs.
It doesn’t shoot brittle paint well. There are often many paint breakages, and the performance deteriorates rapidly without proper maintenance.
7. U.S. Army Project Salvo .68 Caliber Paintball
(Best for realistic tactical experience)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: Tippmann
Rounds: 20 Air Gun Type: Spring piston Frame material: Barrel material: Stainless steel/ Aluminum Caliber: 0.68 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | +Picatinny rails for accessories
+Great for beginners and advanced players +Lightweight and maneuverable +Durable and compact build |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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This gun comes with a complete military look thanks to its four Picatinny rails for customization. You can add sights, scopes, and other accessories to make the game fun.
The marker features an 11-inch high-performance barrel, an in-line bolt system, and front and rear sights.
These make it more accurate, efficient, and user-friendly, which are all important qualities for a gun to be used by a beginner.
The Tippmann U.S Army Project Salvo .68 Cal is all Stainless steel and aluminum; thus, it guarantees durability and high performance.
The 20-round capacity paired with the high-performance system gives you considerable range and effectiveness in combat.
The sophistication of this gun is what makes it so good, but it can also be a problem when it comes to maintenance.
8. Planet Eclipse GTEK 170R Paintball Marker
(Best for mid-range shooting)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: Planet Eclipse
Rounds: 6 Air Gun Type: HPA Frame material: Metal Barrel material: Aluminum Caliber: 0.68 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Efficient, smooth, and quiet
+Horseless air transfer +Tool less detent access and breech sensor +Quick release bolt system |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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The Planet Eclipse GTEK 170R paintball marker is an amazing paintball gun that offers efficient, smooth, and quiet performance.
This is the perfect option when playing in a game that requires stealthy shots that will go unnoticed by opponents.
It features a quick-release bolt mechanism that makes it easier to open up for maintenance during games.
The horseless air transfer system makes this gin stand out from the competition as it appears more realistic.
All the important components of the gun are inside; therefore, it looks more aesthetically appealing from the outside. Despite this, it retains the Gtek’s ease of assembly and reliability in performance.
The firing mechanisms are particularly gentle on paintballs. This means you will not have to deal with paint spills as often as with other guns. You can use relatively cheaper paintballs without risking them breaking into the gun.
This design brings up a challenge since it limits the range of the Planet Eclipse GTEK 170R, and you have to be relatively close to the target for maximum accuracy.
9. GOG eNMEy Paintball Marker
(Best pneumatic gun)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: COG
Rounds: N/A Air Gun Type: HPA Frame material: Metal Barrel material: Aluminum Caliber: 0.68 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | +It has a semi-auto firing mode
+Simple maintenance +It features a clamping feed neck +Anti chop technology |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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This fully pneumatic gun has no hammer, mainspring, or batteries, but it is perfect for any beginner. It fires with the efficiency and precision of high-end electronic paintball guns and is a nice place to start.
It has a semi-automatic firing mode that will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger. The trigger is light and fully pneumatic; therefore, you can expect full responsiveness from it.
It has a bolt-out back design that allows for quick and easy maintenance, which is important for good arena performance.
It has a vertical feed breech and a clamping feed neck to ensure the gravity-fed gun is always ready to fire.
The anti-chop technology and aluminum barrel will take care of the paintballs in the chamber to reduce the risk of spillages. This is one of the best paintball guns under 250 dollars; you will love playing with it.
Most customers are satisfied with the gun’s performance, but the concerns are manufacturing flaws.
The gun might have a leak or missing parts, but these can be corrected or replaced depending on where you bought it.
10. Tippmann 98 Custom Paintball Marker
(Best for less maintenance)
| SPECIFICATIONS | Brand: Tippmann
Rounds: 200 Air Gun Type: Co2 Frame material: Metal Barrel material: Aluminum Caliber: 0.68 |
| TODAY’S TOP DEAL | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| REASONS TO BUY | + It comes with a paintball gun maintenance pack
+All aluminum for durability +Fully customizable +Uses CO2, Nitrogen, and Compressed air +Removable fore grip |
| REASONS TO AVOID |
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The Tippmann 98 Custom marker comes with a complimentary maintenance pack to help clean and maintain the gun.
The gun is easy to disassemble thanks to its bolt-out back system; therefore, it is easy to maintain and clean, which is crucial for longevity.
This semi-automatic paintball marker has an 8-inch quick-thread anodized barrel that is gentle on your paintballs. You can play for hours without it chopping even a single ball which makes the game more fun.
The gun’s compact body is all aluminum, making it more durable than other plastic products. It has a removable front grip that gives additional support if you want to fire the gun with two hands.
The gun is versatile, and you can add vertical tanks and expansion chambers. The Tippmann 98 custom is fully customizable to enhance performance. You can add scopes and other accessories to use the 200-round hopper better.
The Tippmann 98 custom is compatible with compressed air, CO2, and nitrogen. The biggest concern with this gun is that you might get it with defects or missing parts. Amazon will give you a replacement, but you should be aware of it.
Why You Need The Best Beginner Paintball Gun
There are a variety of reasons why you may want to buy the best beginner paintball gun. For some, it’s simply a matter of wanting the best possible quality and performance from your weapon.
Beginner paintball guns are less sophisticated and easy to use, and this will give you an easy time while trying out the game.
And, if you’re looking to get into the sport but don’t know if you are cut for it, beginners’ paintball guns are a great place to start.
Most of them are affordable yet reliable, so you don’t spend a fortune on a sport you may never like after your first play.
How To Choose The Best Beginner Paintball Gun
Choosing the right paintball gun for you is a big decision. As a beginner, you want to ensure that you don’t end up with a gun that is too complicated to learn and heavy to carry around.
You also want to ensure that the gun doesn’t have too many moving parts, so it’s easy to maintain. Here are a few things that you need to keep in mind when choosing your first paintball gun:
Feeding mechanism
There are two common feeding mechanisms in paintball guns; magfed and hopper. Hopper feeding mechanism is common and liked by many because of their high holding capacity.
They can hold up to 200 paintballs, enough to keep you going for a while before you have to refill. On the other hand, magfed is a new technology that is becoming popular by the day because it gives you a realistic feel and looks of a real gun.
One downside of the magfed mechanism is that they hold very few paintballs of up to 20. So if you are a beginner, choosing a paintball with a hopper is advisable, as you will have a lot of room to practice your skills and accuracy.
How often are you going to use it?
There are two kinds of paintballers, those who play weekly and those who play once in a blue moon.
If you plan on playing regularly, it will make sense to invest in high-end sniper paintball guns that are obviously going to cost you more.
On the other hand, if you are going to make paintball a once-in-a-while game, you’d rather invest in a cheap yet reliable and functional paintball gun.
Ultimately, you want to invest in a product that will give you value for your money, spend more on something you will be using regularly, and vice versa.
Electronic vs. Mechanical
You can choose between an electronic or mechanical marker as a beginner, but mechanical markers are ideal.
This is because, with every trigger you pull, one shot is fired, which is good for training as there will be less wastage of balls.
Additionally, mechanical guns are cheaper and less sophisticated, thus requiring little maintenance.
On the other hand, electronic markers are more advanced with many features that, in turn, make them more expensive. If you are looking for the most accurate paintball gun, choose one that is electronic.
Additionally, the maintenance is high and often will require an electronic loader to keep up with the high firing rate.
As a first-timer, mechanical guns are recommended. But if you are a beginner who has played for some time and wants to move to the next level, electronic guns are your ideal choice.
Co2 vs. HPA
Well, this is a crucial one as some fields are restrictive as they can either allow only Co2, HPA, or both.
So before you buy your gun as a beginner, make sure that you know the rules of the paintball field you are planning on playing on.
Budget
Budget is always a big factor when it comes to purchasing guns on the market. It can be difficult to determine the best paintball gun for your budget without doing some research; luckily for you, we’ve done the footwork for you.
You need to decide how much you are willing to spend and whether or not you can afford it. You need to take into account the style of the gun; as a beginner, you shouldn’t go straight to guns meant for professionals.
Personal preference
Everyone has his/her own preference and style. As a beginner, you can choose between a tactical style and a speedball gun.
Speedball-style paintball pistols/ markers are generally less complicated, easier to use, and cheap; think of them as basic paintball guns.
On the other hand, tactical-style markers are now the deal. They look real and are ideal for those who want a realistic experience of using a real gun. But it comes with a high price tag and also requires frequent maintenance.
Bottom Line
When it comes to paintball, even the best beginner paintball gun won’t help you if you don’t know how to use it.
But that doesn’t mean you need to be a paintball pro to start playing. You just need to do some research to land an ideal gun for your style.
It’s also important for a beginner to ensure that the paintball gun that he/she will buy is right for him/her. This means that you should select a paintball gun that’s easy to use, lightweight, and comfortable enough so that you can play comfortably without getting tired.
The best way to figure out which type of paintball gun is best for you is to find a partner or friend who’s already well-versed in the game or an expert in the field. And we are experts!
