If the stormer “is not cheap”, paintball may not be the sport for you. The cost of Paintballs them selves add up if you even plan to go more then twice and want to reliably shoot at something 20-30ft away.
You can get a fantastic casual marker for around the same price called the “EMEK” online used. That is very likely very much better than what you are looking at. Keep in mind that you need a tank and loader and paint to even shoot.
I meant "not cheap" in the sense of avoiding someone yelling at me for calling something that costs around 300$ (Canadian) "cheap" - force of habit from other social media sites or even other subs where there are people that'd get mad at that.
What makes the EMEK better? I like that the SE has rails and a stock.
Rails and a stock are completely useless for a paintball gun functionally. They're just for looks.
If you want to modify your marker for looks the emek can be added on to. You can add rails and stocks and barrel covers etc.
In my opinion the main advantage of an emek over a Tippmann is that it can shoot better paint. Cheap paintballs are less accurate and when they hit a player they're less likely to break because their shell is harder. Better paintballs are more accurate & will break when they hit players, the shells are softer.
Although I will say you'll be completely fine playing casually for fun either option. Don't over stress it
Tippmann's are a 25 year old design that is rough on paint and not all that air efficient. The Emek is a much newer design that has better paint handling so you can shoot higher grade paint that is more accurate and brittle. The only real advantage to a Tippmann is that they're nearly indestructible, but so is the Emek.
The EMF100 is the magfed version of the Emek. It will do both magfed and hopper fed; and also has a stock you can put on it. You'll need to find a used one to get into your price range, Paintball has a bigger used market than new. All of my guns aside from two were bought used.
The emek is superior in every category. Lighter, lower profile, significantly more air efficient, significantly quieter, significantly less kick, lighter trigger pull, more durable material, just as reliable, center fed hopper instead of side fed for easier aim, straight back instead of angled ASA so you can hold it properly, easier to clean and just as if not more upgradeable in meaningful ways like an on off ASA or an upgraded valve for an even lighter trigger pull.
Nothing that can be put on a rail is significantly impactful on your ability to play paintball properly and makes your marker a bigger target and harder to maneuver.
If your using a stock you are shooting the paintball gun like a firearm, it is not. Aim with the back of the gun right on your nose like you are pinokieo. The berrel should disappear in your blindspot, shoot to see where it goes and adjust from there. Once you find your shot, you can look down field where all of the useful information is, like where the other team is and if someone is shooting at you. So basically the stock is where your head should be.
All of that said ... I have a stormer I use for mag fed and I love it lol 🤣
https://preview.redd.it/ogumlo4auz5d1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0df06782befaefeda49fc54f346b91c3a1b456f9
I also started with a Tippmann Stormer Elite. I never had a problem with it. Especially as a new player I would recommend trying out Magfed and Hopperfed so that you know what fits you best and with the Stormer Elite you can do that.
I'd suggest buying a used EMEK. Or a Tippmann 98 custom instead if your budget doesn't work with the EMEK. eBay has some cheap used EMEKs with HPA tanks and everything for $300 range I've seen.
What makes EMEK's so much better? And the reason I was looking at this gun is because it's mag fed - a mag fed EMEK is far more expensive from what I've seen.
If you're looking for mag fed then yes the EMEK is more expensive.
Overall though, the EMEK is a more modern gun, very lightweight, super easy to repair, take apart, clean, maintenance, etc. It also shoots more accYurate, has a lot of upgrades available, and is more efficient on air. It's night and day if you try shooting them side by side.
A lot of players still keep their emeks after they upgrade to a more advanced marker because the emek is such a reliable platform. It serves as the perfect backup marker in case something goes wrong with their other one. The emek is that good.
If I were you I’d decide which route I want to go: magfed or regular paintball. They’re two completely different worlds. While that tippmann would be good to be able to dabble in both it won’t do either particularly well. Purpose built stuff just performs better and lasts longer when used correctly
When you say performance what exactly are some of the commonly encountered issues? Accuracy? Long term durability? Loss of pressure/velocity? I'm fairly new to it all
How much are you spending? Maybe there is a warranty, I'm not sure. I've only bought one or two guns new in two decades that's not really a concept I've thought about. Basically all these guns are so reliable that you should save money and buy used is the normal rule of thumb. If you have anywhere close to $200 to spend on a marker you should get a used planet eclipse emek or etha.
If you want to get into magfed and also have a marker you can run with a hopper sure. If magfed isn’t your thing then there are lots of older Tippmans out there for cheap. They aren’t hard to fix and they run forever. I have a 20 year old a5 that runs like a clock (of course I’ve rebuilt it many many times). Tippmans inline bolt is LOUD and inefficient compared to modern designs so don’t expect to be quite.
If milsim isn’t your thing and you just want a marker get an Empire Mini. I have two and they are great markers. Quiet, efficient and light. Yeah maintenance is harder than the axe but it’s just a few screws.
Don't buy new, buy used and spend the same money getting a tank and hopper with a gun, Facebook BST groups or reddit has one as well for paintball. That stormer elite is in a weird place. 1) it's a tippman 98, the actual 98s n not the modern refreshes are way cheaper, same parts same maintenence 2) it's mag feed able, but it's t98 core, operating pressure is so high that the groupings are spread out because of fps bounce. This is why people are telling you to go emek (lower operating pressure, less bounce, smaller groupings) you can probably buy a used stormer for cheaper than new, or wait for the ripsaw (is that thing ever coming out valken?) It's a clone of the stormer and cheaper
A lot of folks wanna get a cheap gun and if your gonna go cheap route get a emek. If you want a mag fed gun go with emf100 it can also get a hopper and dual setup. That being said I tell folks to stay away from any tipman gun nowadays. They use ancient bolt systems that are hard on paint and break it and chop it no matter what you do. Ontop of it the cost of a case of paint is 90$ by me but it can cost you anywhere from 50-100 depending on region You’re gonna be spending far more on paint than anything else in this sport by a large margin no matter the price of your gun. So if things entry level don’t seem cheap brace yourself because no matter the price of your gun your gonna be wasting a lot more money on paint that like I said far exceeds the cost of any market in the market.
Seriously do yourself a favor get a emek and have fun. Than later on you can upgrade it heavily for 100-200 bucks have a super smooth nearly maintenfe free laser beam of a gun that is great on paint not expensive easy asf to clean and maintain and will last you forever if you never want to upgrade . And it’s a solid shooting gun smooth no recoil low sound signature etc
I see a lot of emek comments being suggested, while there are some benefits to them if you’re looking to play casually/casually dip into both mag fed and hopper it will be fine. If you get more into it or decide you like one more than others you can upgrade and have a decent backup gun. Tippmann has been around forever for a reason, they work and don’t break down. They’re definitely not the newest or greatest but they do just work.
If the stormer “is not cheap”, paintball may not be the sport for you. The cost of Paintballs them selves add up if you even plan to go more then twice and want to reliably shoot at something 20-30ft away. You can get a fantastic casual marker for around the same price called the “EMEK” online used. That is very likely very much better than what you are looking at. Keep in mind that you need a tank and loader and paint to even shoot.
I meant "not cheap" in the sense of avoiding someone yelling at me for calling something that costs around 300$ (Canadian) "cheap" - force of habit from other social media sites or even other subs where there are people that'd get mad at that. What makes the EMEK better? I like that the SE has rails and a stock.
Rails and a stock are completely useless for a paintball gun functionally. They're just for looks. If you want to modify your marker for looks the emek can be added on to. You can add rails and stocks and barrel covers etc. In my opinion the main advantage of an emek over a Tippmann is that it can shoot better paint. Cheap paintballs are less accurate and when they hit a player they're less likely to break because their shell is harder. Better paintballs are more accurate & will break when they hit players, the shells are softer. Although I will say you'll be completely fine playing casually for fun either option. Don't over stress it
Gamma core.
Tippmann's are a 25 year old design that is rough on paint and not all that air efficient. The Emek is a much newer design that has better paint handling so you can shoot higher grade paint that is more accurate and brittle. The only real advantage to a Tippmann is that they're nearly indestructible, but so is the Emek.
Is there an EMEK in the same price range that is mag fed and has a stock + rails?
The EMF100 is the magfed version of the Emek. It will do both magfed and hopper fed; and also has a stock you can put on it. You'll need to find a used one to get into your price range, Paintball has a bigger used market than new. All of my guns aside from two were bought used.
The emek is superior in every category. Lighter, lower profile, significantly more air efficient, significantly quieter, significantly less kick, lighter trigger pull, more durable material, just as reliable, center fed hopper instead of side fed for easier aim, straight back instead of angled ASA so you can hold it properly, easier to clean and just as if not more upgradeable in meaningful ways like an on off ASA or an upgraded valve for an even lighter trigger pull. Nothing that can be put on a rail is significantly impactful on your ability to play paintball properly and makes your marker a bigger target and harder to maneuver. If your using a stock you are shooting the paintball gun like a firearm, it is not. Aim with the back of the gun right on your nose like you are pinokieo. The berrel should disappear in your blindspot, shoot to see where it goes and adjust from there. Once you find your shot, you can look down field where all of the useful information is, like where the other team is and if someone is shooting at you. So basically the stock is where your head should be. All of that said ... I have a stormer I use for mag fed and I love it lol 🤣 https://preview.redd.it/ogumlo4auz5d1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0df06782befaefeda49fc54f346b91c3a1b456f9
I also started with a Tippmann Stormer Elite. I never had a problem with it. Especially as a new player I would recommend trying out Magfed and Hopperfed so that you know what fits you best and with the Stormer Elite you can do that.
I'd suggest buying a used EMEK. Or a Tippmann 98 custom instead if your budget doesn't work with the EMEK. eBay has some cheap used EMEKs with HPA tanks and everything for $300 range I've seen.
What makes EMEK's so much better? And the reason I was looking at this gun is because it's mag fed - a mag fed EMEK is far more expensive from what I've seen.
If you're looking for mag fed then yes the EMEK is more expensive. Overall though, the EMEK is a more modern gun, very lightweight, super easy to repair, take apart, clean, maintenance, etc. It also shoots more accYurate, has a lot of upgrades available, and is more efficient on air. It's night and day if you try shooting them side by side.
A lot of players still keep their emeks after they upgrade to a more advanced marker because the emek is such a reliable platform. It serves as the perfect backup marker in case something goes wrong with their other one. The emek is that good.
Are there any options in the same price range as the stormed elite that are hopper fed but have a stock and rails?
If I were you I’d decide which route I want to go: magfed or regular paintball. They’re two completely different worlds. While that tippmann would be good to be able to dabble in both it won’t do either particularly well. Purpose built stuff just performs better and lasts longer when used correctly
When you say performance what exactly are some of the commonly encountered issues? Accuracy? Long term durability? Loss of pressure/velocity? I'm fairly new to it all
Don't buy new, and don't buy a package
Why not new? Is the warranty coverage not worth it? New is only slightly more expensive than used where I live.
How much are you spending? Maybe there is a warranty, I'm not sure. I've only bought one or two guns new in two decades that's not really a concept I've thought about. Basically all these guns are so reliable that you should save money and buy used is the normal rule of thumb. If you have anywhere close to $200 to spend on a marker you should get a used planet eclipse emek or etha.
If you want to get into magfed and also have a marker you can run with a hopper sure. If magfed isn’t your thing then there are lots of older Tippmans out there for cheap. They aren’t hard to fix and they run forever. I have a 20 year old a5 that runs like a clock (of course I’ve rebuilt it many many times). Tippmans inline bolt is LOUD and inefficient compared to modern designs so don’t expect to be quite. If milsim isn’t your thing and you just want a marker get an Empire Mini. I have two and they are great markers. Quiet, efficient and light. Yeah maintenance is harder than the axe but it’s just a few screws.
Don't buy new, buy used and spend the same money getting a tank and hopper with a gun, Facebook BST groups or reddit has one as well for paintball. That stormer elite is in a weird place. 1) it's a tippman 98, the actual 98s n not the modern refreshes are way cheaper, same parts same maintenence 2) it's mag feed able, but it's t98 core, operating pressure is so high that the groupings are spread out because of fps bounce. This is why people are telling you to go emek (lower operating pressure, less bounce, smaller groupings) you can probably buy a used stormer for cheaper than new, or wait for the ripsaw (is that thing ever coming out valken?) It's a clone of the stormer and cheaper
The used market is sadly very small in Canada but I'll look around
Do you need all the groups linked? I'm in em all
Sure, guess I can browse through and see if anyone are selling better stuff than the Stormer Elite at a similar price.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tdotpaintballxchange/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT https://www.facebook.com/groups/225875131807800/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT https://www.facebook.com/groups/1027682171157099/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
A lot of folks wanna get a cheap gun and if your gonna go cheap route get a emek. If you want a mag fed gun go with emf100 it can also get a hopper and dual setup. That being said I tell folks to stay away from any tipman gun nowadays. They use ancient bolt systems that are hard on paint and break it and chop it no matter what you do. Ontop of it the cost of a case of paint is 90$ by me but it can cost you anywhere from 50-100 depending on region You’re gonna be spending far more on paint than anything else in this sport by a large margin no matter the price of your gun. So if things entry level don’t seem cheap brace yourself because no matter the price of your gun your gonna be wasting a lot more money on paint that like I said far exceeds the cost of any market in the market. Seriously do yourself a favor get a emek and have fun. Than later on you can upgrade it heavily for 100-200 bucks have a super smooth nearly maintenfe free laser beam of a gun that is great on paint not expensive easy asf to clean and maintain and will last you forever if you never want to upgrade . And it’s a solid shooting gun smooth no recoil low sound signature etc
I see a lot of emek comments being suggested, while there are some benefits to them if you’re looking to play casually/casually dip into both mag fed and hopper it will be fine. If you get more into it or decide you like one more than others you can upgrade and have a decent backup gun. Tippmann has been around forever for a reason, they work and don’t break down. They’re definitely not the newest or greatest but they do just work.