The truth is: paintball guns can be very, very expensive. Anything under the price range of $100 is already classified as reasonably priced. This means that if you want to buy your own hardware, then you need some serious cash flow for investment. It should be noted that some paintball guns can be as expensive as $1,000 or more, especially if you add in customization costs.

The most common mistake that any person bitten by the paintball bug can make is to buy the first or cheapest marker (paintball gun) he or she can find, without looking or even considering other options first, or even thinking about his or her current skills as a marksman.

If you would like some tips on how to find the perfect marker for you, here are some tips you might want to go by.

Factor costs in your search, but never make this your first and final priority. Undeniably, price is a huge factor when it comes to buying paintball guns. But not because the price tag of your piece is rather hefty means that you will be the best marksman on the field. The opposite is true as well. Paintball games runs more on strategy and team work. True: marksmanship plays a critical role during the games; but a player without a strategy or a team to back him or her up on the field is almost always on the losing end.

Choose more based on marker specifications and try to match those specifications according to your level of skill. You can buy a really expensive gun but it may not be to your playing advantage. At the same time, you can buy an extensively used, second hand gun at a fraction of its cost at some online auction website and reach the top of your game.

Match your skill with the type of gun you want to carry. First, try to define what kind of marksman are you. Do you fare well in long distance shooting, using as little ammunition as possible? Are you an ace when it comes to ambush set ups? Do you have perfect eye, hand and leg coordination that makes running while shooting a breeze? Or, are you only beginning to work out your playing field kinks and you want to fire as much paintballs as you can before finally taking a hit?

The last description actually fits the profile of most novice players: the shoot-everything-that-moves-regardless-of-being-open-to-the-enemy player. There’s nothing wrong with this, especially if you are in this game to have some fun. But if you are hoping for a high powered sniper range electronic gun with the long barrel – simply because it looks cool and intimidating, then this weapon may not be exactly for you. Sniper guns are best for long distance targets, and you would need a lot of precision in order to fire on the enemy and not be found out.

Instead, try to find a semi automatic or full automatic or any gun with a high rate of fire (ROF.) This will make sure you can shoot off a lot of paintballs in a few seconds. A larger hopper also ensures you have all the ammo you would need.