Are High-end Guns Still Worth It?

► GET MERCH: www.pbrml.com/shop
► EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: / paintballruinedmylife
MY PAINTBALL GEAR
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Planet Eclipse Emek - pbrml.com/emek
HK Army Aerolite - pbrml.com/hk80
Virtue Spire V - pbrml.com/spirev
Carbon Zero Pro - pbrml.com/crbnzero
Infamous PRO Reflex - pbrml.com/infreflex
FOLLOW ME
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Instagram: / paintballruinedmylife
Reddit: / paintballruinedmylife
Facebook: / paintballruinedmylife
Facebook Group: / pbrml
TikTok / pbrml
Discord: / discord

[@dac152]

The Paintball industry isn't ready for this video

[@Raskkyy]

Honestly a lot of new players need to watch this video because when i was first starting out i thought higher priced guns made you “better” or they shot more accurate…2 years later i have 2 tm40’s,170r and a mini gs and honestly they all shoot very similar expect for the air efficiency and ergonomics i play the exact same with my mini gs (360$) then a do with my tm40 (1600$)

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

170r gang!

[@Raskkyy]

@@TheFloridaBikeVlogger amazing gun💯🔥 planet eclipse really shot themselves in the foot with that one

[@Bartman61911]

Back when I started was around the time of the etek 2 and in some cases back then yeah it was worth it if you were playing tourneys but after the etek 3 came out that was the end of the point of buying the high-end stuff.

[@DaemonDrummer33]

I recently just started buying and restoring some of my all time favorite "classic" markers instead of buying new. If you take your time with the search, you'll have a mid priced marker that shoots great and looks more unique than most anything being produced right now.

[@reignick1133]

As someone who owns a LOT of high end markers? No, shockingly. What matters is that what you have works well for you and that Players have *Fun.*

[@GottaBeAHero]

Exactly

[@OhSoGhost]

💯

[@artF36]

Important thing try many markers to choose the best for you.

[@MazzBCD]

Exactly why I haven't picked up my electronic markers in years. I have more fun with my Autocockers and Mags. Rocked out my Minimag last weekend.

[@marvinlee4887]

Started off with a Tippmann and some how managed my way up to the NXL in 2007. Returned after about 12 years off to play rec and the mech-10 man stuff. Back in the heyday, yes, the more expensive guns mattered because it was simply more reliable, better on paint and also faster (when speed mattered). Fast forward to today, spool guns are so refined now one could hit the field with a $400 Etha 3 and the only thing limiting your success would be your gun fighting and play making skills. What I see the more expensive guns offer is the maintenance process is more refined, efficiency and consistency improvements (pretty marginal from what I can see) and the guns are sleeker and materials used makes the guns feel better in your hands. Since the early 2000's, as the game evolved from the bushes and trees, fashion also became important factor of the game, which began the rise of colorful and flashy guns. The guns offered today, no matter the price point, are simply awesome.

[@DaxHewitt]

I love the way 2005 is referred to as back in the day. I stated in 1988 with a 10 shot splat master pistol that took 12g co2 bottle that lasted 20 shots. Moved to a Diablo pump when they came out then to a Bud Sniper pump, a bud auto cocker and finally an Angel and ultimately quit both tournament and rec playing in the sumer of 2000 . Seeing these new guns with screens and settings blows me away.

[@SRV24243]

Paintball was getting huge in 03-04. We had four years of glory and then 08 happened and welp.

[@mikeap1987]

@@SRV24243I started in the heyday around 2002. By 2010 none of my friends could afford to play and speedball fields started closing in Toronto area

[@tgafire87]

Back in 05’ I was playing on a team with a CCM Autococker. Bringing back good memories.

[@TheDprossie]

Your a real one! So happy to see the paintball world more accessible to more people!

[@adm3991]

Back before covid blew up prices one of my favorite hobbies was buying broken markers and fixing them. What amazed me during this process is how they ususally werent really broken and how most of these markers that stayed in my collection have been trouble free since. The majority of paintball players in my experiance just dont clean their equipment or have no idea how to read a manual. I litterally just bought an Adrenaline Luxe at a reduced price that came with 2 extra adrenaline shocker asas and was sold as still having issues why.... Because there where wrong orings in the wrong spots on the bolt and in the regulator and the case of those leaking broken asa's they had sliced in half oring in one and the other was missinf the oring all together As for me why do I still buy new markers. Because i like to collect shiney things. Because otherwise i could have stopped with just my first two used markers after I bought a spyder new as my first marker ,my Adrenaline Impulse and my 2001 Black Magic with full CCM internals want to talk about reliabilty that Impulse has turned on every time i put a new battery in it for the last 19 years ive owned it (20 this december). Reliability is for the most part is in the hands of the owner and how they maintain the equipment. Obviously there are some outliers im looking at you Psychoballistics and your horrible chinesium knockoffs.

[@getongstarslevel8626]

Where did you buy guns from any one source?

[@gbone2636]

The rise of the mid price point is half the reason I'm considering getting back into paintball. When I played in the early/mid 2000's, it was exactly like you described. Either you dropped an absurd amount of money, or you were playing a tippman, maybe with some upgrades. I tried to go the automag route which was a mid price point offering and eventually it just stopped working, while my brother's tippmann pressed on. Paintball is too expensive and time consuming for the average person to justify spending even 1k on a base setup, but for $300 to $500, it's enough of an investment where it will make you want to use it, but not feel sick if you end up not playing enough.

[@8BWN]

This is exactly how I feel. I'm looking to get back into paintball with my GF. For under $1000, I can get 2 nice mechanical marker setups. And if we only play 8-10 times a year I'd feel like it'd be worth it.

[@Darksector88]

I actually had really good luck with my ICD Promaster but yeah, everything else in the mid price was terrible. After I went bob long, I was never going back lol.

[@azmc4940]

I have the Etha 3 and have also tried out different high-end guns from other players. I told them "yeah it's better" but really I didn't notice much of a difference except the weight and easier programming with the screen.

[@AaronLopez-wk4xv]

I love my etha 3 electric 🔥💪🏼 keeps up with all the other guns

[@riflemanm16a2]

I bought a used Etha 2 a few years ago, and the lack of a screen is a little annoying because I have to read the manual every time I want to change something. I’ve wondered if there’s even a reason to get an Etha 3 instead of a 2 since the only difference I can see is the quick release bolt. A used 170r might be the best bang for buck right now if the screen is necessary.

[@Hexecutable]

Etha 3 is all you need IMO... at this point every gun shoots relatively the same. Just paying for air efficiency and a screen with the 1000+ guns.

[@buckwilicker]

@@Hexecutable As someone who hasn't played since 2008, what is a good hopper to pair with the Etha 3? Does it matter? Back when I played electric hoppers were a luxury as were electronic markers. I used to play with a Tippmann A-5 and it's stock hopper, I'm really eyeing the Etha 3.

[@glasspancakes319]

So I'll add my 2cents here: I bought my Etha 3 in Dec. of 2022. It's a brilliant marker and I have very little, if any, problems with. I wish it had a screen for changing between modes but that's really not that big a deal. I used it every weekend for about 6 months before a teammate let me hold his M3+. The ergos on the M3+ were what convinced me to pick up my own DSR+, being that the grips are the same. My DSR+ is actually a little lighter than the Etha3 and I think that is owed to the all aluminum body. I know my wife was happier with the DSR+ when we went to play a scenario game a few months ago. To sum up, the DSR+ is lighter, feels better in my hand, the shot is a little smoother, and the all aluminum body makes custom anno's much easier than the Etha 3. But that's all just one man's opinion.

[@theburgercam]

always stoked when a new PBRML video drops!

[@fredybeans2433]

When I had my cs2 I tried my buddies etha 3 and was very very impressed. Same shot, same reliability, same everything. Only difference was the slightly less comfortable ergos which could be very subjective, and the lack of a screen. Which usually doesn’t get touched after setting the gun to 10.2. If you are getting into the sport I just recommend picking up a used 170r for 400 to 500. If you are scared to buy used buy an etha 3.

[@robbiepittman6919]

Still rocking a DM5 or DM6

[@jgreen406]

Used guns were always my answer. I'd probably prefer a used Geo4 to anything new right now. Loved your entrance @1:45 btw.

[@TattooedGQ]

Great video, I came up playing competitive paintball during the BPS wars. Luckily I was sponsored and was given an OG matrix and an Angel LCD to play with. These days im perfectly happy with my Etha2, its reliable and super low maintenance. I no longer feel the need to spend between 1-2K on a marker in order to not be out gunned (in rec ball these days, tourneys are long behind me haha).

[@bcwarlock4life]

I really needed and appreciated this video. I have an Etha 3 and have the mech frame too but was looking at 180Rs and other "higher" end markers. Seems like really the main difference will be how much I'm paying LOL! Thanks for keeping some dollars in my pocket!

[@BAGofTALENT]

Performance wise yes they will be basically the same but going from the Etha to something like a 170 or 180 gives you more than going from a 170 or 180 to a CS 3. You will get the aluminum body , screen ,color options and that feel of a nice solid gun that doesn't have that plastic fell . If just throwing paint Is your only concern then yea the Etha 3 will hold steady and get the job done for sure . It's a amazing marker .

[@tdotvy4579]

I just got smoked in a 3 man tournament by some dudes using empire axe’s. I have a tm40 and my teammates all have PE’s. It comes down to the players ultimately. And occasionally, the weather.

[@weekendwarriorsports4406]

The Axes are a true bang-for-buck marker. I have a good collection of markers, but prefer my OG Axe most often, even over the Syx (which I also love). Empire doesn't get enough love for their very good line-up of pew-pew machines.

[@tdotvy4579]

@@weekendwarriorsports4406 yeah they hurt too lol. Good reality check for me.

[@Carstoast]

high end might be coming ... to an end. the rate of diminishing returns is about to hit paintball extremely hard in the next few years.

[@reignick1133]

When I started playing in the 90's a high end marker was just a custom shop modified version of what everyone else was shooting. These days it's "whatever PE thinks they can get away with". The high end isn't going to die quietly.. the companies don't want it to.. Too much money to be made.

[@StreetArtist391]

I found a used M3+ for $800 and it only had 8,200 shots put through it. Super clean body and grips too. Shout out to CPX Bros Paintball for that awesome deal!

[@PaintballRuinedMyLife]

Nice work!

[@buickgrandnatty]

ive had hi end cockers forever, always loved the hands on mechanical feel, almost like they had a mind of their own that you needed to understand to be able to use capably, fast forward to when PE dropped the emek, i cant get over the weightlessness, the simplicity, and just overall indestructableness of them.

[@Drillbit993]

This question almost doesn’t matter anymore because the mid range market is gone. Everything in that range is 900 or more. And if you want an axe or etha, you’re still spending 100 bucks to get a decent hopper and a tank that’s worth anything. So many kids come to my field excited they got a mech spider knock off on Amazon and then it breaks after a day. Then their next option is more than twice the price

[@MrBottlecapBill]

The only problem with the spyders is nobody oils them so they blow orings. The format is almost unkillable other than maybe loose asas etc which a bit of blue lock tite can fix. So long as you avoid the electronic spyders........those are always iffy.

[@josephwaller4421]

It's also good to note that buying older high ends can be just as cost efficient, if not more efficient, than buying a new midrange marker.

[@alanfranklin8301]

I just upgraded from my mini gs, and after looking at all guns at all prices ranges, I decided on the etha 3 due to the exact conclusion from this video. Thank you! All my friends have CS3's and TM40's 🤷

[@thegrafxguy1]

i use my Etha 3m and Etha 2 more than my 170r by far. i mean, yeah, they're advertisement pieces for the parts i make, but still. they're also super reliable, i don't have to worry about banging them around, and they shoot just fine!

[@Tampa_tom]

I got etha 2 and 170r too. The only difference I noticed is the 170 is slimmer so you can kind of aim easier. With the etha it takes the first shot to adjust on target

[@Ezduztube]

I sold my Luxe and have a Dangerous power G5 shoots great and not expensive .

[@youthinasia114]

I’ve been playing for 23 years and had a ton of guns.. cockers, timmy, angel, PE, lux and shocker and I still haven’t found that “perfect gun” that does it all. So I try and pick what feels right in the hand because they all shoot pretty well.

[@matthewhaskell2349]

Rocking the original dsr (fully modded except for the feed neck) and the only markers shot that compares is the LV1.6/2. I found no real additional value in the force, dls, cs2, etc. I would love to not have to use so many 9v batteries though. Have you looked into rechargeable batters lately?

[@jbdavis2933]

Yep. I’ve been saying this for a few years now. Got back into competitive play and picked up a shocker because I couldn’t justify the price of the others. I just want dependability and good ergonomics. I like a screen but I havnt changed a setting since I set it up. IMO, eyes and bore matching barrels have been the biggest upgrades to pb guns. We are/have reaching peak tech for markers.

[@sxavier8684]

I own a high end gun and it's worth every penny. Air gun designs: Automag 😅.

[@daryldavirro4237]

I had one back in the day and loved it. Looking to buy another one just for fun.

[@coreyhinojosa2801]

Can’t agree more! I have a fully inceptions designs upgraded emek and recently sold my FF Trix as it doesn’t shoot all that different. High end guns are statement pieces only. The resell market is crazy for all these private label markers, but most people keep their emek unless they’re leaving the sport. My worry is that PE and other manufacturers will try to continue their business model of phasing out parts for planned obsolescence instead of investing in a single platform. My hope is that the industry has major buy-in for the emek line and other “beginner” markers as they shoot as good as anything. Also praying that mechanical markers will take over the tournament scene as they are simpler and better than electro markers in my opinion

[@aaronl.9241]

I have been playing paintball on and off for 20 years and I have an Axe2.0 and an A-5 with some modifications to both. I feel that anything beyond $600 has severe diminishing returns. Spend your money how you want but my $500 Axe2.0 with a redline board and FreakXL barrel kit hangs just fine with the CS3s and Luxes of the world for 1/3 the price.

[@duffmanohno1446]

Back in mid/late 2000s my friend sent me a link for a 69$ autococker karnivore and we put a 30$ pump kit on it. I had more money in the stiffi barrel than the gun setup. It was a great time. Saved money on paint and had so much fun when you ran people with Bob longs and angel setups.

[@RedHairedTrev]

Excellent video! Most players won't pay full price for their high end markers. Their field or team will get them at cost. That's why there are so many marker reselling businesses - they buy the used high end markers from the tourney guys (who paid cost) and then they flip them (for below brand new price) to the players who aren't on decent teams. This video is great for the newer players or novice players who are just beginning to dip their toes into tourneyball. They are the ones who are tricked into thinking that they'll make the team or "be as good as the pros" if they buy the high end markers (brand new or used). Let's be honest though, the paintball industry is run by uneducated and unprofessional people who are out to scam players.

[@MNMinibike]

After playing tons of times, against people with way more expensive markers, ( I run an etha 3) all 3 games i played last weekend vs multiple m3+ and my team won every game, its not the marker, its the player.

[@BurninatorTheTrogdor]

When I was but a wee lad my dad and uncle played at SC Village in the 80s. We were young so we got smashed instantly. Fun fact about that place, look up Lethal Games. My dad and uncle were in that movie as extras getting shot, filmed there. Pretty cool memories.

[@DSplatter]

I remember playing on a speedball course with our woodsball kits (fairly upgraded Tipmann A5s) a few times at a field we weren’t familiar with against locals and doing pretty well.

[@dalelabell1895]

I think it comes down to where you are in your life. For me I'm 41 and have a Cs3. This will be my last marker. I will use it till I can not play anymore. I call it my retirement Marker.

[@craigkohler7095]

I agree! Just bought a 180 as my retirement marker! Lol Know it will last for years to come.

[@DirtyBG33]

just got a etha 3 instead of a 170r/180r. after weighing options and looking at how much i plan on playing, an etha 3 and a s63 barrel system is all i really need. its not like i constantly change firing modes and settings all the time so why do i need the nicer display? Very similar bolt system and features. i love the way it feels in my hands and its super lightweight. all the stuff i bought to have a full setup and some other stuff was about $1300. so buying an etha made it much more affordable vs almost $1600-$1800. idk... maybe after being in the sport, leaving for awhile, and getting back into it made it easier for me to settle on less. but the market and product changes made it so much easier to settle for the less.

[@sammellow6275]

i just bought a LV2 i havent play in over a decade ( im 30 ) i bought because i think its pretty historical you know being macroline free Ego. might get a emek as backup, love the vids man!

[@matthite4797]

In my opinion, so far only the Dye DAM and others that are similar is worthwhile for its versatility. It’s basically a DSR with mag and first strike capability AT THE SAME TIME. I’ve played it as a long sniper both mag and hopper. Extremely OP in it’s versatility. Currently have it set up as a snub nose pistol for indoor ranges during winter. I played the invert mini for ten years, which I still have, it’s 100% stock and it was great for $300. I went from the 98 custom, to the phenom, invert mini, and now the Dye DAM. I didn’t want another speedball gun because the mini is still great while yet the DAM performs similarly to the DSR. For the same price as a M3 you get the versatility to use first strikes and hopper fed at the same time. In the long run I think it saves money to have one marker that does it all. I wouldn’t spend 1K on a DSR or 1,600 for the M3 cause they’re all the same speed guns with exception for the screen.

[@verablack3137]

I use high end guns, just from a different era. I have 4 Shoebox Shockers, in various configurations and they are by far the most reliable marker I have ever used. Every few hundred thousand shots maybe replace o-rings in the Maxflo regulator and you are fine. I mean I did replace the board in most of them so that I could have a shot buffer and modern fire modes, but the one I have with an original turbo board still works just fine. If weight and efficiency aren't a concern then new markers are kinda worse, because I can put my tank and foregrip anywhere I want, and have left, right or vertical feed, single or double trigger, 90 degree or 45 frame, new markers ergos are fixed and I hate that. Also, the paint handling seems somehow better than any modern marker I have tried, I assume due to the lack of ball detents and lack of blowback up the feed tube.

[@Horsewrangler780]

So would it be better for someone to buy a $850 etha 3 or a etek 5 for $620 with a tank and hopper for a starter in paintball I'm very confused when it comes to them all. Mind you I also get a speed loader with the etha but not tank or anything else

[@moricito23]

I had the dynasty ION and it was my works horse for everything

[@johnnymac3826]

Planet Eclipse Ego 05 was $850 CDN taxes included and shot just as good as my Timmy Alias at $1600, other than the unique sound of the EGO. For me it always comes down to Ergos which leads to better handling and confidence on the paintball field. This is the only reason why I preferred my Timmy, The 45 degree grip angle with that nice palm hump shape was per gold.

[@PaintballRuinedMyLife]

Geez hell of a price difference, miss my Timmy days…

[@empirefan2023]

I am running a EGO LV1 that I bought new in 2014. Has around 300000 shots on the counter and runs pretty good. In 2014 she was worth the money imo cause the gun delivered some innovation. If I ever need a new gun before I retire from Paintball I think I will go with a used PE gun for around 600 bucks!

[@DRchachaaaaa]

i was new to the sport last year and realized this immediately. probably easier for someone to see this whos new.

[@TheCityWokGuy]

🔥🔵🔥 DM5 MENTIONED 🔥🔵🔥

[@AZjesse1]

I traded my geo 4 for a cs3 because I wanted something closer to the feel of a geo 3.5 but I think I will have my cs3 for awhile unless planet eclipse comes out with something even closer to the geo 3.5. Having shot a decent amount of high end markers, they all some what feel the same to me it just comes down to personal preference.

[@SA8TER21]

I still rock alot of marker from the 2000s they all are useally pretty cheap now and still shoot great. =]

[@beefwellington480]

Imo alot the high end guns these days are used as a flex. Most of them use a copy of the same bolt with minor differences to avoid copyright infrigment. The design of paintball markers has pretty much hit its peak, for better or worse.

[@electricbullshark765]

Sp ion was the quietest paintball gun i ever owned. Absolute ninja. As for the prices of marker, i remember in the 05' era, every year the high end companies would re release their guns as new models. It was like car dealerships do. Dye dm 5,6,7, etc.

[@DbootRJ]

Bought a brand new Etha 3 at World Cup and played with it this past Sunday. Shot no different than previous high-end guns owned ball on ball accuracy out of the box.

[@heisman01]

Quality has been the biggest change, as someone who started in 03. I bought a cs2 in 2017 and its had zero issues since day one.

[@jaybinning2890]

I think it's great! Paintball marker technology is clearly reaching maturity, which means pretty much any mid to high end marker from the past half decade or so can compete against the best markers. When I first started playing, if you could only afford a couple hundred dollars of gear, your options were a Spyder or a Tippman. If you were willing to pay about 5x, you bought yourself a HUGE advantage with an Angel. Now that advantage is maybe a few percent in performance, and mostly just convince and reliability features, which if you're a casual player, isn't too much of a concern.

[@daniellaurion17]

Has a rec player that only plays three or four times a year now. I agree 100%, that being said. I've never really been a high end guy, my nicest guns where a wgp autococker, etek3 and a PM 6. I mostly use a KP3 pump and Tippmann 98 these days. I've got 3 98s that I've got maybe 100 bucks tied up in.

[@KermitTheFrogman]

Kp3 with the auto trigger is so much fun!

[@danielnelan8698]

Machining differences matter too. Took my amp out yesterday to a pretty muddy day, the grips and asa let in quit a bit of mud and moisture, so much so that my air transfer oring in the ASA was covered in and absorbed a fair amount of mud, causing a leak. I’ve never had mud make it’s way into the asa/frame gap on my cs2 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@PaintballRuinedMyLife]

There for sure a difference in brands, no doubt PE still on top.

[@littletweeter1327]

Even if I played tournaments I still don’t see a reason why I’d buy anything more than a etha3. Or used, a dsr+ or 180r. The flagship markers just have nothing going for them other than prestige or bragging rights

[@iii_impulse_xxx4351]

something that i also find interesting is that most high end paintball guns especially twister and project guns, cost more than high end firearms 💀

[@jeffydollmer]

I feel ya! I played a lot in HS/ college from ‘03 to 2010. Every thing was so high end luxury. I had an Ion and a new DM07, DM’s were just “sexier” but did basically same things! Now that I got a son might get back into rec ball. As you mentioned, what’s a good marker for that $500 spot ?

[@wagfinpis]

I had an Ion and played with like 4 other ones, those things couldn't shoot full field distance like other guns could. I had to shoot in 4 to 6 ball bursts too so the regulator could shoot all the balls with the same amount of force. The Ion did not keep up unless you got close to who you were shooting.

[@justalpha9138]

I myself am all mechanical all day. I see time and time again electronic markers failing on people for x reasons, and they just cost SO much money upfront. Not to mention how much paint you'll use!! Sure the fire power is great, but you BURN through ammo like CRAZY. With my T-15, I only need a bag of 500 rounds on MOST occasions, whereas a speed ball player needs 4x as much ammunition on most occasions to last the whole day! All I need is clever decision making, aim, and skill. 😊

[@stephenarmstrong7926]

It’s why I shoot an lv2, it’s the only poppet valve marker that’s hoseless, but again is it twice as good as an lv 1.6, no. But the ergonomics are worth it and there’s only one of its kind. No one else is making poppets these days, looking at you guys field one/bob long.

[@BlueJ248]

My primary gun is my 170R and use an Etha 3 as a backup electronic and an M170R for bad weather or mech only events. Imo, performance and reliability is where it truly counts so as long as that mid range marker is keeping up with high end markers there's really no reason to spend an extra $500+ if thats all you want out of your marker. However, other factors such as ergonomics, e-board, etc are personal preferences that vary from person to person. So if you're picky about that kind of stuff (which I'm not) then that would be the only reason I see to go high end.

[@timothywilkinson6177]

So I’ve decided to get back into paintball after 20 years and ALOT has changed. I just started a new job and a coworker of mine has a TM40 he offered to sell me for 600$. Should I just take the TM40 and run or look at something new?

[@Hostility1812]

I got a white ion somewhere around my house lol. Never used it somehow ended up with from a buddy. They seemed like a decent marker for beginners in speedball.

[@RyanMurray-dr4rw]

When I started paintball, it was mech. My second marker, Tippmann M98/Flatline was $650. That was 99-2000. Then a Classic Desert Fox, 68Automag, lots of Spyders n clones. Still have em all and still use em. I have a couple higher. Couple Ions, ICD Promaster, PE Ego8. But I don't use them. I still rock the M98, 68 Mag and the Fox. When I get a chance to play now it's with rental players and I like showing my museum equipment. I like woods ball and old school. Not high rates of wasted fire and playing pro was ruined by Adam Gardner after watching the Reno '94 footage. The only win that's worth it to cheat is life or death.

[@botanicalstig]

Recently picked up an lv 1.1 for $500. I prefer the ego form factor (have an etek 1 from my days as a teenage heartthrob). Also had an NXT shocker but just always gravitated towards egos. Went used because I'm pretty confident in my ability to service it. Would like an lv 2 if I needed to go new and had the money. Rented an etha before I bought, just didn't like it. Nothing personal, just didn't mesh with me. Also tried a 170r and didn't like it. Etek 6 would be nice, but, you know. Etha 3 is a great choice over similar high ends though. I think the boring body kit and plastic is a turn off for people though. Paintball is very flashy 😂

[@chrismoseley4828]

Good points. As a mechanic of 25+years I find the same thing happening with tools. Not a terrible difference anymore between the truck and the quality mid range stuff.

[@jeff4952]

I've got an etha 2 (the first gun I bought when i started playing again) and later purchased a tm40. As far as reliability the etha 2 is on par. I got a tm 40 because it feels better in my hands, the settings are easier to change whenever i want to do that and the toolless features make cleaning it much less of a pain in the ass. Cleaning the etha 2 became pretty annoying for me. The TM40 isn't a must have but I play often and I like the feel and convenience of it. Another way to do the math on it is Get an etha 3... addin the cost of a freak barrel and a couple of inserts. that's your cost. How many times could you go play paintball in terms of paint and entry fees for that money... is it worth it to you? If you play regularly you might find that the answer is it is worth it.

[@mercurysimple3850]

I bought 2 mini gs package deals thats with redline board put in both guns and a few other things. My point .. is i bought a 2 package deals for the price of a one high end marker. something i could afford. And from the reviews and research on the mini i went with that package deal. And btw im just getting back into paintball after 24 years. But im just like everyone else when it comes to narrowing it down everone has their preferences on what they like and what they wanna spend i guess. Be safe everyone.

[@AaronsLeanMeanAcademy]

Same with Televisions. The human eye can only see so well. 5k vs 10k resolution is a moot point. Eventually there is a law of diminishing returns.

[@rubenb263]

Last month i picked up a used AMP, IR2, 68/45 and freak xl kit for $600, honestly are the bells and whistles of other markers nice sure but are they worth the extra 200-400 for just the marker not to me personally

[@adamhamrick1491]

I have a 180R because I had a 170R and wanted something new that feels similar. Sold my 170R and yeah, it works. I'd justify the jump from etha 3 to 180r just because you can get something that's the color you want but if you don't care about that (or you have aspirations of getting a custom inception upper) then yeah, no reason to get anything higher priced than that.

[@MrBottlecapBill]

Still rocking my 2011 G6r. I bought it used about 8 years ago for 350 bucks with tank and hopper lol. Haven't found a need to buy anything newer. IT's tiny, lite, fast, dependable has no screen to burn out, and parts are still pretty darn cheap. I haven't seen anything that's an all around better gun honestly. It doesn't win in any single category but it's at the top of every category.

[@Tempest-ec2nn]

I got an lv1 when they came, was still playing tournaments back then so it made sense. I have never felt a need to upgrade. Got my wife one of the launch luxe x’s when they came out because I got a thing for low serial numbers, but honestly, we both like the lv1 better.

[@gunplafan9891]

my etek 3 still absolutly rips i just use it as a backup now but dosnt take away from the fact it still keeps up

[@meanmarine24]

Afaik, Etha is made in Taiwan. CS3 is made in UK. The latter is a more expensive manufacturing method, but also allows faster revisions and easier QC.

[@Revy8]

we perfected guns decades ago... so it actually a shame earlier markers were not better

[@VanillaGorilla21]

It’s important to remind people how poor they are

[@ThinMantheGhost]

What I came here to say.

[@timmymccheee7213]

It’s important to let people know how much they are missing out on the hustle. If you hustle you will make it. There’s money all over to be made. Just gotta go make it.

[@xsv1ninja]

Beat me to it

[@toxic1698]

Which then becomes your only brag when you get spanked by a 50 year old with a 98 Custom.

[@toxic1698]

​@timmmcchesney7213 boy, that's just corporate slave culture.

[@brucecook502]

I honestly remember the ion being introduced by smart parts as "the first $300 high-end marker". I remember this being in either late 2004 or early 2005 because this was right before I got my first Intimidator, an alias Intimidator in mid 2005, and the ion was released just before that. And I still tell people to this day that the ion's performance was very comparable to other high-end markers. It just had some really crappy stock Parts like the ASA and feedback, and maybe even the trigger, oh and the stock board which wasn't even tournament legal unless it was a semi-auto only tournament since the ramping mode on it was not regulated for tournament specs LOL. But boy could that thing shoot ropes LOL

[@codymar4515]

This is what I've been theorizing about for YEARS! Paintball had an iPhone problem

[@WalterWild2]

I have a 20 year old pro lite and it's more reliable than my gmek idk man there is a psychology to owning expensive shit

[@christopherkeith600]

I have a wall of Empire Vanquish 1.5s. I wont shoot anything else anymore. I have shot or tried every marker made since 1986. I come full round back to the Squish. I had a player with a Luxe Idol tell me recently that my 1.5 shoot better than what he just purchased. Newer is not always better. Squish for life.

[@connormckay9429]

Im just now coming back into the sport after a 10ish year hiatus, doing my rounds on research to see who has the latest and greatest just to find... Almost nothing has changed at all. Every "high end" feautre available today was available then (minus bluetooth to your phone lol). From what ive seen, the Axe Syx 1.5 @ 499 seems to get you everything youd want (Good shooting marker, oled screen for programming, reliable etc) so much to the point of this video, what would the extra 1k usd be getting you in a "nicer" marker? Id wager not much more preformance. This is nice in a way tho as the sport , which will always be costly due to the nature of it, is at least a bit more accessible if you really want the "high end" features.

[@Show0Me0The0Evidence]

as an OG baller who just got back into it, It seemed to be too easy to find used markers that competed at the highest level for under $750. a year ago I got a shocker amp for $800 and the only reason that I spent the extra $100 on it was I loved the anodizing. It took me about 6 months to reeducate myself on markers as I've been out of the loop since 2008.. I have yet to see anything that competes at higher levels with these five to $700 markers, That's worth it. everything over $1,000 seems to be older markers that are just worth it because of time. old Timmy's and Auto cockers that are rare and in great condition deserve these prices but if you want to compete at the highest levels, $350 on eBay will get you where you need to be and that's a beautiful to me.

[@Arcyant]

Great video as always. To answer your question: Why? Same reason why someone buys a BMW instead of a Camry. Cars both run well, get great MPG, have a touch screen, seat 4 people, have automatic windshield wipers, seat warmers, etc. But do they drive differently? Is the comfort level or sound system THAT much better? Not.. really.. unless you’re an enthusiast and get excited by cars. If you do, then: yes - they are quite different. If you’re not, then: to your point, there’s no point. At the end of the day, there’s always an opportunity cost. If purchasing X prevents or deprives you of Y, are you okay with that?

[@kyle6525]

The Etha 2 was 300ish dollars. Best marker i ever owned and i owned a CS2 and top end Dye markers because why not... but the ion, proto rail, and markers like that were perfectly fine. All markers are capped in BPS and FPS so as long as it shoots straight and doesn't suck air you can play at any level no problem.

[@roryn4869]

thats how i feel, i have a axe 2.0 and it shoots amazing for a way cheaper price, not it feels a little stubby but it shoots really nice and i have not had a problem with it at all

[@DTN504]

so glad i still have my 160r. i just dont play enough to justify another 1000$ gun. i also feel the same about the barrel systems, still using the original freak barrel and inserts

[@stevenmiller1203]

Everyone wants the new shiny toy… I’m perfectly happy with my Shocker Amp. It shoots just as good as any $2000 gun

[@benttwig33]

I've been looking at these real hard getting back into the sport they seem amazing

[@ManiacShogun]

the smart parts ION was what started my career in XBL. I loved that gun until I replaced it for a Invert mini. the Smart Parts ION with aftermarket parts was an amazing marker for the money and hard to beat. with the Lucky parts kits and QEVs and replacing the feed neck and duckbill was like making the ION unique. High end guns never made sense to me ever after the ION for the money with a small investment for QoL on the ION made it unbeatable value

[@kermitttt]

I use etha 2, and think to buy something new, maybe 180r, but thinking same. What more will it REALY give me:/

[@onemanmedia73]

i love my 170r with my mech frame .. a few tweaks inception designs parts and its sweet but its not high end and i dont see any point in changing

[@TreyVaswal]

Marker electronics have come a looooongggg way since say 2005. Back then they were borderline afterthoughts in marker design; a few companies were starting to get it right but many were putting out whatever they could as fast as they could since the market was growing and changing so fast.

[@PaintballRuinedMyLife]

For sure, I assume thats why Virtue and Tadao boards were huge back in the day

[@motoman626]

Brad I adore you. Have always loved your content and wish we were friends in personal. But you’re literally talking about basic consumerism. All cars get you from point a to point b. I know so many people with high end cars that don’t track them. Trucks that don’t tow. You get the idea. People spend because they can. Because there’s options. Because we’re stupid as humans and keep ourselves poor for the most part. It’s also why the used market is so huge in PB. People come in and people come out. The real question is how do we GROW paintball and get more new players!

[@StephenFordQuestionMark]

First time I picked up a Gtek I was blown away at what the gamma core could do. Then when the Emek form factor was added and the price was $215 I thought for sure this marker was going to bring in a ton more players to paintball. It's a shame costs have ramped up so much. One caveat to your argument around lack of value... Whether you buy a $30,000 car or a $100,000 car there is a baseline expectation of how the car must function from a safety and operation perspective. I could be wrong, but I've assumed at least PE has wanted players to feel like shooting a CS3 is a luxury while not undermining the raw performance other players would get from a Etha 3. Sort of a Honda Civic vs. Lambo situation... Though there are plenty of reasons I'd want to drive a Civic every day instead of a Lambo =P

[@ThinMantheGhost]

You make a good point Brad. There is no justification for it. It’s all about flex and the internal dialogue that “I’ll be better if I buy the most expensive thing.”

[@Callmewes]

I still use my Angel SB (over 200k shots) - I can play nearly all day and shoot just under a full case without filling air… dead accurate with a LARGE standard barrel back. not sure why efficiency isn’t a factor anymore (or low pressure systems), yes new guns “work” but at twice the cost and half the efficiency and requiring many barrel inserts. Weird… inflation aside I paid 800 for my angel at the time and will continue using for rec ball.

[@gndmepyon]

Sadly there are no mid-range stacked tube markers being made anymore. It's either a high end PE, or a cheap and likely to break Spyder.