Paintball - Basic Questions!

Jelly 292

To any paintballers:

I’ve gotton into the airsoft lately and that has been great laugh and I intend to continue doing it regularly but I am also interested into getting a paint balling rig together.

I don’t see the two as being mutually exclusive or a one or the other choice; sometimes seems to be the attitude in both camps.

One of the reasons I started airsoft was because the few times I paint balled before I had a great time but was absolutely skint after the skirmish.

I found it prohibitively expensive just to go and play and the Markers were usually not in good shape.
Airsoft cost peanuts in comparison - BB's v Paintballs! and I can use my own AEG.

Paintball in Ireland seems to be a bit of a hassle for the beginner regarding licensing. I understand it’s easier than it was and should not be too much of a problem if approached the right way, with the right documents and a cabinet for storage, is this true?

I want to get a licence then marker and associated accessories but after I do this what are the costs like to go and play regularly?

Can I buy my own marker and paintballs and bring them to a skirmish, just pay a walk on fee; such as the way airsoft works?

If this is the case how much, ballpark figure, with your own kit does it cost to go paintball for a day?

If, like my previous experience its €100+ per skirmish, (I’m to trigger happy) then it’s a non starter.

But if I can pay a few quid and turn up with me own kit and play then I'll start saving!

Responses appreciated:)

NeMiSiS

There is no such thing as a license for a paintball marker, you get "authorization". This can range from being relatively easy, to totally frustrating. You also have to keep in mind that not all paintball sites will let you use your own marker, some won't even entertain the idea.

The legality of the markers is in question, I don't think there is even a classification for them. I know some people who have gotten authorization, and others who have not. Personally I tried four Garda stations, and achieved no result. Where I used to paintball let us use our own markers, but this has since stopped, because of a problem with their insurance, and the police.

The confusion over the legality has led me to cease using my own marker.

The quality of the markers in many of the venues is really pretty poor, they are very distressed, and inaccurate. In fairness they get a battering day in day out, but when you have to let of 8 - 10 shots to get anywhere close to a target, and pay for the privilege it just becomes a money making racket. This is not a case of "a poor workman blames his tools" some of the on site markers are just in very poor working order.

As for bringing your own ammo, in most cases that's another no.

They may do you a deal, but you will get no where near the value you would get if you brought your own ammo.

So my summation would be, it will cost you about the same, you may not be able to even use your own marker, you may not be able to get it authorized, and you may get a reduction in "walk on" fee if you get to know people at the venue.

I love paintballing, I love the people I have met doing it, it is a wonderful sport, great fun, you can make great friends, but I think the reality of what it is in Ireland is very bleak. People like Ritchie from Irish paintball are working hard to change this, and I suppose things have moved on in leaps, and bounds, but it is still incredibly frustrating to me anyway, to be a paintballer in Ireland.

I am not trying to discourage you, I am just giving my 2 cents, and my experiences.

If you wanna know anything else, let me know.
TK

Jelly 292

Many thanks for the reply Nemesis.

Yikes, I did not know the situation was like this for paintball in Ireland, thats a surprise for me.

I thought that being more established it would be more open than this.

The whole legality/marker situation sounds all too familiar; this is not a good situation when its pot luck with your local Garda for authorization etc.

I’m very surprised that you cannot use your own equipment on sites generally; I understand that people have to make a living but this is self defeating.
Seems to be like a very isolating policy regarding getting more people involved in the sport.

The last time I paintballed was exactly as you described; a beat up marker leaking gas with random accuracy. It defiantly put me of paying to go to that site and renting in future or recommending it, its one of the most popular also.

It was good fun but very, very expensive at the end of the day. I know paint balls are not super cheap like BB’s even if you have your own but the phrase ‘daylight robbery’ springs to mind.

I can’t say I’m not disappointed but I hope things change in the future for Irish Paintballing; it seems to be a very exclusive pursuit as it stands, its a shame.

I hope things change soon enough and I will keep my eye one things, ready to join when the times is right!!

Good luck Paintballers:(

ditpaintball

Jelly 292 wrote:

To any paintballers:

Paintball in Ireland seems to be a bit of a hassle for the beginner regarding licensing. I understand it’s easier than it was and should not be too much of a problem if approached the right way, with the right documents and a cabinet for storage, is this true?

It all depends on the the issuing superintendent. Some might want it, some dont. Some might want to see the marker, some might not give a damn. It is one big grey area that the IPPA have written to the Garda comissioner and DOJ about and are awaiting a response.

Jelly 292 wrote:

To any paintballers:
I want to get a licence then marker and associated accessories but after I do this what are the costs like to go and play regularly?

Mask: €20 - 100: depending on quality.
Marker: €100 - 1200, depending on what you want. mechanical, electronic, woodsball speedball.
Air/Co2: €30 - 200, depending on what you want.
paintballs: €20-40 /2000balls, depending on quality.

So costs is a hard to say unless you know what you want to do i.e. speedball or woodsball etc.

Jelly 292 wrote:

Can I buy my own marker and paintballs and bring them to a skirmish, just pay a walk on fee; such as the way airsoft works?

Not yet. But the IPPA is working with a new site at the moment about an hour from Dublin that perhaps will do a walk on deal with us.

Jelly 292 wrote:

But if I can pay a few quid and turn up with me own kit and play then I'll start saving!

With your own kit, you will firstly have a much better time, even if it is the cheapest kit you get. Rental stuff has been through the wars and the average punter will not notice the lack of accuracy. Comparing a rental marker and rental paintballs to say my marker with air and the 14'' tear drop barrel (mid range barrel) with decent paint quality, there is no comparason.

Hope that helps a bit.

Jelly 292

Thanks for the info DIT. I hope this site works out for walk on's that would be great. As it stands now I cant see myself paintballing outside of the odd work do. Real pity:(

Good luck with this possible walk on site and the law clarification.

If it works out good then tell the world mate and then Ill have a chat with my local garda!