The best paintball buys for Christmas 2008: the best paintball guns and updates for the 2008 season
Got a paintball player on your list? Having trouble finding a gift that she’ll not only like but use all year long? The items below represent some of the ‘cream of the crop’ products of 2008. They are guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any paintball enthusiast.
US Army Alpha Black Tactical Paintball Gun – Alpha black was introduced this year. The woodsball crowd accepted him with open arms. A clear replica of an M16 rifle, the Alpha Black has the reliability and consistency of the legendary Tippmann name. Built on the 98 platform, the Alpha shares much of its internal design with the Tippmann 98 Custom. This pistol will be a huge hit in 2009. You will see many upgrades and parts coming to market as well. It’s a perfect gift for the military/paintball enthusiast looking to authenticate their game.
J&J Ceramic Barrels – Nothing new here. J&J ceramic barrels have been out for years. What makes them a constant fixture in the world of paintball? They are durable, accurate, and fairly priced. At around $35, they can outperform barrels for twice their cost. They are available on most threads in sizes ranging from 12 to 20 inches with an inside diameter of around 0.688. A J&J ceramic barrel is a great stocking stuffer for anyone looking to not only replace an original barrel, but also increase accuracy. The stealthy outer coating won’t reflect light, making it a perfect addition to any woodsman’s or arena fan’s paintball arsenal.
Tiberius T8 pistol – The T8 or Tac 8 was the first magazine fed paintball gun. Although it’s been around for years, it still reigns supreme among paintball players looking for a reliable gun. Over the years, more and more updates and plugins have been released. This allowed the T8 to be even more versatile. Items like the remote adapter and tool-less CO2 punch allowed the user different air options and ease of use. Tiberius Arms paintball guns are so popular that they even have their own following. A new T8 is perfect for any player looking for a reliable pistol for arena events or melee battles. Anyone who has researched paintball guns probably has a T8 at the top of their list.
Tippmann A5 E-Grip Hall Effect Selector Switch – External trigger mode selection has been disabled for a while. It was first introduced to the world of woodsball through the Tippmann X7 E-Grip. Now that same update is available to Tippmann A5 owners. The new E-Grip uses the Hall effect magnetic trigger assembly. This reduces the number of mechanical parts required to activate the sear for firing. There are five programmable shooting modes available. The external switch allows the user to switch between security, semi-automatic and custom programming mode. This feature is crucial when the player enters a different environment or the strategy on the field changes and requires a different shooting mode. This is a great gift for any Tippmann A5 owner. The new E-Grip is destined to be the number one update to the A5. This is a bold statement with the number of A5 upgrades available today.
Draxxus Nitrogen Tanks – Upgrading to a compressed air system is the next logical step for any beginner using standard CO2. Compressed air is easier in a paintball gun. Allows for better accuracy, consistency, and efficiency in almost any environment. Draxxus tanks are special in that they are smaller than most others on the market but still have the same firing capacity. Models are available in 45 and 68ci in the 4500 psi version. You can also choose between high and low outlet pressure. Another great feature of the Draxxus tank is the regulator. The regulators are quality units that can not only be rebuilt, but also converted to high or low pressure with a kit available from Draxxus. This prevents you from buying another tank just to accommodate a new gun that runs on a different pressure than your first marker. Most of the guns are powered by CO2 or compressed air. A Draxxus tank is perfect for anyone looking to get rid of the CO2 hiccups that cause so many problems in the field.
SP1 paintball gun – No 2008 holiday list would be complete without including a Smart Parts gun. The SP1 is in the spotlight this year. Ultra-low pressure means less kick, better efficiency and precision. This is only a fraction of the features that SP1 describes. Smart Parts learned with the Ion that taking tournament performance and giving it an entry-level price is a winning combination. The SP1 is another weapon that falls under the Smarts Parts winner’s arsenal. The outer shell is all stage with rails available for additional accessories like scopes, lasers, and flashlights. The aftermarket world has taken notice. Expect more upgrade parts for SP1 to hit the market. Perfect gift for first-time gamers or seasoned veterans!
This is just a short list of some of the most popular paintball items this holiday season. Buying a paintball gun for a new player is a gift that can be used for years to come. With paintball guns like the US Army Alpha Tactical, Tiberius Arms T8, and Smarts Parts SP1 available, the ‘Red Ryder’ may be a thing of the distant past!