The Switch

[Pacifist_Farmer]

Alright, I've been playing paintball for 9 years now, and except for a brief 2 year stint at speedball it has mostly been woods. Like most of us, I've hit another slump where it just aint doing it for me anymore. Usually I would just go buy another gun to mess around with and break, but not this time.

Its time for a switch, I'm going to move back to speedball ::my wallet cringes::.

This means my current hardware, odd collection of Mags, a spyder, and a tippman, won't cut it. I can use my classic RT as a backup gun, but it won't compete in the long run.

Heres what I'm looking at for a set up:

Dm4 or 5, as the prices come down
Halo B

I have a 4500psi 68ci tank that works great, and new mask and harness.

I have never used a spool valve marker, nor a marker that its took batteries. Electronics for me have only existed in hoppers, and warps.


The question:
What am I getting myself into?
What do I need to be aware of?
Any suggestions form owners of either gun/hopper, or just advice, for getting back into speedball?

Please bear in mind that I'm not new to the game, I just like to know exactly what I'm going to face with equipment I have never used before, in a game type I havent really played in years.

[FSU_Paintball]

First off, if your wallet is really cringing, you might consider looking for a 2k2 timmy... they're as low as $300 used these days and are just as fast as any new gun.

Personally, I'd consider getting a used 05 Proto as the prices come down. It's just as fast, and lighter than any DM4/5. And cheaper too... I'd expect to see them at $500 on the used market right about now.

Things to expect: expect to lube your matrix after every few cases. Be ready, buy extra o-ring kits. Expect to be shocked when you find everyone at the field shoots at least 15BPS with ramping. Expect things to be far faster than when you left; nearly all "really good" speedball players are in shape, fast fast fast, and athletic. Expect to need to make decisions and judgement calls in a split second during a game. The pace at which everything runs has gotten even faster.

And if you feel the need for a real rush, you might try Xball out.

[onedude36]

viking? reliable, even more so than my hypermag, which hates me, and never wants to work right. i just put some oil in the bolt area and asa and go.

Also, Id get a reloader b over a halo any day. They have always been consistant/durable/nonbreaking/and stuff when compared to other peoples halo, arround here at least.