When shopping for paintball gear, it can be hard to find the best paintball gun brands on the market. There are plenty of great choices mixed up with cheaper alternatives that should be avoided. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best brands on the market today to purchase from.
By focusing your purchasing decisions on these brands, you’ll get the best possible experience. In each review, we will discuss the types of products they sell, why they are an excellent choice, and give you an idea of the typical cost of their products.
*The following brands were listed in no particular order.
The Best Brands Right Now
It’s important that you only purchase paintball guns, gear, and accessories from a brand that you can trust. Otherwise, you could risk spending your money on equipment that isn’t safe to operate. But don’t panic, because we’ve scoured the Internet for the best gun brands you can trust, and thrown in some recommended products to purchase from each brand, too. Let’s take a look.
1: Ninja Paintball
This company is often considered one of the best high-quality gun brands in the world. The company typically produces a variety of top-notch gear. Nonetheless, they’ve been known to make a few guns as well from time to time.
Features
Ninja Paintball has been in business for over 20 years producing regulators, fill stations and HPA tanks. Their fill stations are considered the industry standard and are the most common type found at amateur and professional paintball games.
One of Their Top Products
One of the top-rated products by Ninja Paintball is the Ninja Air Aluminium HPA N2 Paintball Tank. Constructed out of high-quality sturdy aluminum, this tank is designed to last a long time and be durable for each use. The tank itself is engineered in such a way that it’s adjustable and user-friendly. If you want to adjust the pressure to low, medium or high, you can do so in a timely manner and quickly. This paintball tank is most suitable for using a pistol or gun as it comes with a remote line for easy refills.
The full-sized tank will typically provide you with 200-400 shots, which is a great amount for a thorough session of paintball. We’ve also found that this is a suitable paintball tank if you have shorter arms and tend to struggle with accessing and a tank. While using this tank, you’ll be impressed that it comfortably maintains your chosen pressure, even when handling heavy use.
It’s designed for an entry-level paintball player who has a small budget. Presenting itself in four different sizes, each tank has a pressure of 3000 psi, making it ideal for any type of paintball play. The main effort of this tank has gone into the creation of the product rather than the design of the tank. As a result, its design is minimalist, though not to be flawed. The bottle is black and any essential information is stated in a bold, red text. The regulator is also an ideal size and the gauge is big and easy to read.
Pros
- Lengthy business operation time.
- High-quality equipment and products.
- Direct shipping to the customer.
Cons
- Produces relatively few guns.
- Some clients might find this brand a bit pricey.
Price Range: $24.95 to $229.99.
2: Kingman/Spyder
There’s a strong chance that most paintball participants have experience with Kingman. It is one of the best-known, most popular, and successful of all the paintball brands available for creating paintball guns for an array of skill sets.
Features
Spyder is one of the best paintball gun companies because they focus on a balance of quality and fair pricing. This pricing model makes them an excellent choice for beginning players just getting into the sport.
One of Their Top Products
The Spyder Xtra is a semi-automatic mechanical gun which is great for beginner players. It’s clear that an immense amount of research, time and effort has gone into the design of this paintball gun as it’s essentially an upgraded version of the Kingman’s Classic Series of guns. The Spyder Xtra comes with a double trigger, standard ASA, and vertical feed tube along with an upgraded expansion chamber and a small drop forward to easy use. You also have numerous color choices because Kingman appreciates that you should enjoy how your paintball gun looks and feels, and not just how it operates.
Above everything, what makes this paintball gun one of the top products by Kingman is its high-quality performance. It fires out fast, but it has a long trigger pull so you shouldn’t expect it to shoot as soon as you pull the trigger. However, this paintball gun does shoot extremely accurately, especially when trying to target an opponent at 40 feet away.
We love that this paintball gun is easy to operate, making it perfect for beginners, as it’s a very basic product. If you properly maintain the gun, it won’t let you down and should comfortably work for several years. Regularly clean the gun after each session and we also recommend changing the oil after each use. Thankfully, the quick-release bolt makes cleaning the chamber an easy job so there’s no messing around.
Pros
- Produces many incredible gun models.
- Guns are typically priced fairly.
- Usually quite easy to find.
Cons
- Some guns are fairly flimsy.
- Complaints of loading issues are common.
Price Range: $99 to $209.
3: Dye Precision
Dye Precision is an international company that builds a wide range of items. Their paintball division is just part of their operation. However, their skilled manufacturing abilities make them one of the top-rated brands on the market.
Features
What makes Dye Precision stand out is its dedication to high-quality products built out of the best possible materials. They also produce a broad range of items, including safety gear, guns, and much more.
One of Their Top Products
Dye Precision is dedicated to ensuring that you have hours of fun while playing paintball, but also that you’re safe during each session. For example, the i5 paintball mask has numerous features that will protect your face if you get hit in paintballing. First, its anti-fog thermal lens provides both vertical and horizontal vision while the soft-touch foam provides one of their most comfortable fits. The GSR Pro-Strap is padded, so not only will it protect you and ensure your mask remains on your head, but it won’t dig into your skin.
The i5 paintball mask is impressive and futuristic. Featuring eVOKE compatibility, it can electronically enhance your game and is ready to go wireless at any time. Just plug in the kit and you’ll have instant communication with another i5 or M2 paintball mask. This helps to sync your play to another individual on your team while making the game more visually exciting and thrilling.
Hearing is just as important as seeing when you’re on the field. This is why Dye Precision features an audio clarity setting which is designed to reduce any loud impacts on your ears. Also, with precision-shaped hole patterns, these allow the sound to flow through the ear guard without any distortion so you can hear what your teammates are communicating with you. Finally, the mask also features extra venting so you can comfortably breathe while wearing it without any breath fogging the inside of the mask. Although the mask is strong and sturdy, it’s also lightweight so you can wear it for hours at a time without it weighing you down.
Pros
- An extensive range of available gear.
- Reputation for manufacturing precision.
- High-quality gun designs.
Cons
- Quite costly when compared to other brands.
- Products are sometimes hard to find.
Price Range: $29.95 to $249.99.
4: Custom Products
In spite of a somewhat generic name, Custom Products’s specialty lies in creating parts of guns for replacement use.
Features
Custom Products produces high-quality barrels, feed necks, triggers, and ASA parts for your paintball guns. Each product is custom-built to create a unique product.
One of Their Top Products
The Tank Regulator Tool by Custom Products allows you to securely remove, install or operate any regulator on your paintball marker. Using this tool is easy too, as you just attach it to your workbench with two screws or use a vise to clamp it down. Without this intelligent tool, it’d be difficult to operate your maintenance checks to use your paintball gun.
Pros
- High-quality machining process.
- Fairly-priced replacement cost.
- A diverse array of products.
Cons
- Don’t produce whole guns.
Price Range: $12.95 to $24.95.
5: Empire
Empire produces high-quality guns and gear. This company is quickly becoming known as one of the most reliable and best paintball gun companies available today.
Features
Empire is renowned for the Empire Axe Marker. As a result, it is often considered one of the top 10 most established paintball guns on the market today. They are also respected for their high-quality goggles.
One of Their Top Products
The Empire EVS Mask is one of this brand’s top products for numerous reasons. This mask is designed with more than safety in mind, but it takes into considerations players’ enjoyment of paintball, too. The EVS mask completely summarizes Empire as a brand and how it takes technology and creativity to a whole other level. For example, this mask provides HUD visuals and shows all paintball-related information. So it won’t display distance, pace, and speed, but where your teammates are located, the number of ammunition counts and a map of the field. This information is valuable to your participation in the game and helps you to perform to the best of your ability.
At the bottom of the mask is an LCD display on a 14-inch screen. This technology connects using WiFi or Bluetooth and it also features a GPS tracker so you’re constantly aware of your location. Although the mask has a huge emphasis on technology and experience, it hasn’t neglected the basics of being able to properly see. For example, you still have a 270-degree field of vision with a distortion-free spherical lens. This mask also provides maximum eye protection so that your safety is the number one priority on the field.
The mask can also be worn purely for protective purposes and you don’t need to be intimidated by some of its most advanced features. For example, the scratch-resistance and anti-reflective lens block out 100 percent of harmful UV radiation, so not only are you protecting your eyes from being targeted but from the sun, too. Finally, the silicone head strap offers a non-slip, secure fit for everyone that can be adjusted to fit all head shapes.
Pros
- Produces top-line gun models.
- A wide selection of accessories.
- Great choice of paintballs.
Cons
- Pricey when compared to other manufacturers.
Price Range: $64.75 to $379.99.
6: Planet Eclipse
For those who want higher-end products, Planet Eclipse is a great choice. Many paintball players consider Planet Eclipse to be one of the best paintball gun brands due to their focus on high-quality detail work.
Features
Planet Eclipse produces high-quality guns, part kits, safety equipment, and much more. Its products also feature as one of the best paintball gloves on the market. Their customer service is renowned as a professional service in the business. On top of that, their manufacturing skills aren’t far behind.
One of Their Top Products
The CS2 paintball gun by Planet Eclipse took the Internet by storm when it was released. Many paintballers were impressed by this high-end paintball marker that is best-suited for intermediate and advanced players. If you consider yourself a competitive player, then this will make a great paintballer marker for you. Just from a glance, it’s evident that this gun came to win and stand out from the crowd. It carries an impact and has a light body that is ergonomic and comfortable to hold. The frame is robust to take away some of the shocks so that you’re the one in control.
Another reason why this gun is one of Planet Eclipse’s top-rated protects it for its design and engineering. The markers grip system means that you can use this gun outdoors, even if it’s raining, and not have to worry about it slipping and falling on the floor. You can easily access the board should you wish to thoroughly clean the gun after each session or fit any replacement parts. Merely move the switch and open the grips to do this.
This paintball marker helps to deliver a smooth and accurate shot and it works at an operating pressure of 110 psi, which is much lower than other competitor products. This low pressure helps to delivery efficiency with every shot so that you’ll never waste a fire ever again. Finally, with a long barrel, you can shoot your opponents from a farther distance than other paintball markers, making it a great purchase for competitive sessions.
Pros
- Friendly and easy company to work with.
- Detailed products that are hard to top.
- A broad range of available items.
Cons
- More expensive than other items.
- Their products are harder to find in physical stores.
Price Range: $33.95 to $399.99.
7: Tippmann
Last, but not least, is this well-known paintball gun company. Tippmann Sports is among the most respected and well-distributed companies in the world, making it one of the most recognized paintball gun companies around.
Features
One can consider Tippmann products as a budget line for beginning players. While their products may not be quite as solid as those by a company like Empire, they are a great alternative to those on a budget. This brand even appears on lists of useful gear such as best paintball barrel choices on the market.
One of Their Top Products
Tippman have a range of paintball products, but we’re most impressed with the TIPX pistol, which is available in several colors. This easy-to-use paintball gun is ideal for beginner to intermediate players. The trigger is made out of aluminum that ensures that the gun will last a long time, but this feature also helps the paintballs to fire out and never jam up inside. It’s a highly accurate and reliable paintball marker that will hit almost anything you aim it at after you get used to operating your new gun.
Getting set-up and started is a smooth and painless process. The gun cuts down recoil which not every semi-automatic paintball gun features. This helps to launch the paintball from the chamber to the spot you’re aiming it at. Compared to some other paintball guns, its fire is accurate and always thinking one step ahead.
The TIPX pistol looks appealing and exciting and actually resembles the features of a real pistol. You can also add any accessories you like to this gun to enhance its appearance and customize to your liking. Although this won’t make a huge difference to the gun’s performance, it does help you to fall in love with the gun over and over again.
Pros
- Fair pricing on most items.
- It is typically easy to find in stores.
- The company provides a diverse array of guns.
Cons
- Products may lack the detail found in higher-end brands.
Price Range: $39.99 to $299.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a good paintball gun cost?
If we were to talk in average terms of pricing, a decent beginner paintball marker will cost you around $150. If you’re going lower than this, your chances of finding anything worthwhile start diminishing significantly. If you want better stuff, your best bet is to go for the $300. However, there are also higher-end paintball guns out there that can reach prices up to $1000 for the marker alone without ammo or anything else. That’s a little overkill, especially for a beginner. But the golden rule of thumb is this: $150 for the bare minimum, $300 for the optimum overall performance and price-to-value ratio.
How far will a paintball gun shoot?
The effective range of a paintball gun depends on the paint and what your opponents are wearing. For example, softer clothing does stop paintballs from breaking. However, the effective range usually falls around 80 to 100 feet. The safe range also needs to be taken into consideration, as shooting paintballs at a higher velocity can cause damage, including bruises or even broken fingers. Most commonly, you’ll want to limit your paintball marker to 280 feet per second or 200 miles per hour.
Does a paintball hurt more than an airsoft pellet or vice-versa?
As there is a considerable difference in the sizes of ammunition, airsoft strikes hurt less than paintball hits. Due to the higher impact rate of paintballs, you will often see professional paintballer wear lightweight armour similar to motorcross armour and always sporting full-face protection. However, that doesn’t mean that airsoft pellets should be taken lightly. They can still hurt quite a lot without proper protection. Bottom line, always purchase protective equipment and wear it appropriately whenever engaging in a match, regardless if it’s paintball or airsoft. The last thing you want is to see the hospital bill.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are plenty of great paintball gun establishments that you can choose from. Your personal paintball brand selection will depend on the type of products they make. For example, many people love Kingsman/Spyder thanks to their high-quality protective gear.
Others tend to shop at Custom Products when buying gun barrels. Whichever company you choose, you can be comfortable knowing that they are on the short list of the best paintball gun businesses on the market. You really can’t go wrong shopping with any of these great companies.
Do you have any other brands you trust that we haven’t shared above? If so, we’d love to hear your recommendations and feedback, so feel free to share any suggestions in the comments.