A little bit about markers…

So I put up this blog thinking I would have all the time in the world to jot down the ramblings in my head. Man, was I wrong. I know I am not “Mr. Important” in the paintball world, but there are so many things I would like to write about. Anyway, I have some time now. I think I will just ramble a little bit about my marker and why I use a particular brand. So, let’s get started…

Every now and then, I get the “why do you use that marker” look. Some people will think you are a fool for using a specific type of marker. This doesn’t just apply to mechanical markers either. I will start by saying that I don’t believe that the marker makes the player. Definitely not in the scenario world. I believe skill and use of strategy will go a long way. Have you ever seen a player do a lot of damage without a marker? I have. Have you ever seen a player do some real damage with a cheap pistol from Academy? I have. Really, each player should choose a marker based on their play style and tastes, regardless of what anyone thinks or their forum signature states. Forget the norm. I’ve shot many different types of markers. I’ve shot Macdev, Smart Parts, Tiberius Arms, Warsensor, Invert, BT, Tippmann, Bob Long, etc, etc. All are great markers. I don’t judge a player by the marker he or she uses. Everyone has their reasons for what they choose. Those reasons are theirs and theirs alone. As for me, I use a milsim-style marker.

My main squeeze is a Tipmman X7. Some might think that I use that marker to fit my “milsim” style or look. That is not the case. I want a marker that works well in any weather condition, requires little maintenance, doesn’t cost a fortune and can take a serious beating. I prefer to concentrate on scenario game tactics and not have to worry about my marker’s performance or functionality. When I get home from a long day of play, I don’t clean my marker. I don’t hold it and stare at it for hours, and I certainly don’t sleep with it. LOL. Don’t get me wrong, that’s ok if you do, I just don’t.

First and foremost, I play scenario paintball. I play rain or shine, mud or ice. It all works for me. Early in my paintball adventures, I saw countless players stop playing a scenario because of the weather. I knew I didn’t want to be like that. I don’t like the idea of paying X amount of dollars to have to sit on the sidelines. Luckily, my marker works in any weather condition. The simple, mechanical design makes this possible. I did have problems with the original A5 E-grip under wet conditions, but the X7 E-grip has been able to withstand such conditions. Even then, I have a stock Egrip for backup purposes. Just pop a couple of pins and drop that sucker in. The other thing is that this marker can take a beating and keep on keeping on. I don’t have to worry about damaging an expensive, $1000 marker. If I do damage it, it will be cheap, if not free, to repair it.

Another reason I like the X7 is the low maintenance factor. I rarely take the thing apart and clean it. I don’t really have time to strip the marker after each play. The marker is very reliable and requires little maintenance. When I get to a scenario game, I don’t want to worry about a non-working marker. This is not to say that they don’t break down. I know they do. But they are so simple to fix when they malfunction and they don’t require a lot of batteries. Plus, Tippmann customer services is incredible. Their turn-around time is amazing.

Another reason I like this marker is because it shoots well. Yes, that’s right. I know it does not shoot as well as other electro markers. But it does shoot very well. With a Python barrel kit, Lapco barrel and other minor upgrades, my X7 shoots quite accurately for a marker. It shoots fast too. Does it currently shoot 30 bps? No. But every field I play does not allow that. Yes, it does use more air than electro markers. But I really don’t shoot that much anyway. I enjoy trying to make shots count. That’s just my style. I usually have my Egrip set to semi-auto. But sometimes you need a little help and that’s when the other modes come into play. Of course, there really is nothing wrong with shooting a lot of paint as long as you don’t overshoot.

What about the weight of the marker? I hear about this a lot. Well, considering that my air tank is attached to my vest, my marker does not weigh much more than an electro marker with the tank on. Therefore, my marker is actually light in that sense. If I were to put 1000 different contraptions then I guess it could potentially weight a ton. Regardless, I love the feel and weight of the marker.

I am sure I am leaving something out. But in a nutshell, that is why I like my X7 so much.  On the other hand, to those who rock electros and play with good sportsmanship, my hats off to you!!

-Grinder out

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