Updates!!

Holy smokes! It's been a long time since I posted anything on the blog. I apologize to anyone who may have been following my posts that were looking for updates, but I have been focusing more on my YouTube video content lately.  I'll try to make an effort to post periodically as well. There are some things that just go over better in print. I fully admit that I'm a much more organized presenter when I type out my content rather than trying to do a video presentation.

A lot has happened since February. I won't cover every single detail since a lot of this could be split off into other posts, but things have been moving along nicely.  I've had the chance to use my TiPX at the field a couple of times now including during one magfed only event back in April.  The marker has been performing beautifully. I also now have my sights on getting a rifle/carbine style magfed marker later this summer.

My main goal has been to try and hit the field at least once per month this year, but I'll have to skip this month, unfortunately.  The weekend that I had planned to go is Father's Day weekend, and I think I would rather spend that time with my wife and kids instead. I won't skip July though no matter how hot or humid it gets!  I can't let a little sticky weather keep me from enjoying what I'm passionate about.

Another significant event that happened since my last post is that I was finally made a full member of Team SAS.  I had been trying to get on the Wisconsin SAS chapter roster for almost a year, but I wasn't able to meet with any recruiters until the big game came around in April.  SAS is a great community and group of players who share my passion for the game. The only change is that my callsign will be Mongoose now, so look for that on my posts.

That just about wraps it up for what I want to cover in this blog though, so look for some more posts to come. I'll try to keep updating this site regularly, but that's often more difficult than it would seem.  Having the kids out of school for the summer tends to make things a little more hectic around home sometimes.  Other times, I simply just don't feel like blogging. I'm still dealing with some major writer's block the likes of which I've never experienced.  Maybe I need to take a cheap writing class online or something to get the juices flowing again.  Until the next time!

Mongoose, out.

TiPX Tips

Two posts in one day!? That's a rare thing for me, but I have been pretty amped about this coming paintball season. The ideas are just flowing in, and I thought I would share a video that I posted a couple of weeks ago on my new paintball channel.  The channel is called Mongoose PB, and I will be posting any video content that I produce there going forward. Here's the video that I posted which highlights some of the TiPX tips that I found online, and some that I came up with on my own. I hope you enjoy!

~Kalen

Marker Project 2016 - TiPX Loadout (Work in Progress) Part 1

I've decided to do a series of blog entries as I build my first mag fed loadout for the upcoming paintball season.  My objective is to help others learn from my research as I go into this as a newcomer to the world of mag fed paintball.  I spent some time in my last post going over my rationale for choosing the Tippmann TiPX for my first marker, so I won't spend much time reviewing that. Instead, these posts will serve to mark my progress as I buy kit pieces to form my new loadout.

Let's start with the marker itself.  There are two main choices to consider when shopping for a TiPX.  There is a standard package which includes the TiPX marker with two 7 round true feed magazines, a spare parts kit, and a hard carrying case. This package sells for $219.00 (U.S.) from most paintball retailers.  The second option is Tippmann's deluxe TiPX package which substitutes the hard case for a drop holster and an extra magazine. Tippmann sells this second option for $249.00 (U.S.). Each of the standard kits features a black TiPX, but buyers are also able to purchase the same package with a TiPX in Coyote Brown or OD green for an additional $20.00.

TiPX - All Stock

I personally opted for the black TiPX with the deluxe kit so that I would have a carrying option and a spare magazine.  I'm not entirely sure if I will continue to use the standard magazines once I have all of my kit components assembled, but that has yet to be determined.  After adjusting the drop holster that Tippmann provided, I have some reservations about using it as a viable way to carry the marker if I use my TiPX as a secondary on the field.  The fit and overall size of the holster make it feel somewhat unwieldy and bulky when worn on the upper thigh, but perhaps the fit just needs some more fine tuning.

The only other accessory that I have purchased for the marker at this time is an after market barrel.  I must admit that my initial reason for buying the barrel was for use on my Tippmann A5 rather than for the TiPX specifically.  I originally purchased an 8 inch Lapco Bigshot Assault barrel in their 0.690" bore size.  The 8 inch barrel is actually designed for the TiPX, as it has a smaller outer diameter than Lapco's other barrels to fit into the marker's barrel shroud.  I like the length of this barrel for the A-5 as well as I tend to prefer getting up close into CQC distances where having a smaller marker length profile is necessary.

Having a better after market barrel for the TiPX also means improved efficiency and accuracy as a primary marker, and all of the reviews that I found for the Lapco Bigshot Assault indicated that it was a very good barrel for round balls. This barrel is a bit on the pricey side with an MSRP of around $57.00, but the gains in performance are substantial enough to justify the upgrade.  

I did also buy a Lapco Apex 2 adapter which is compatible with the Bigshot Assault.  I'm not sure if I will end up using an Apex tip with the TiPX, but mounting it to the marker gives it a very cool, stealthy aesthetic.  I'll have to test out the practicality of the attachment before making my final verdict. My original plan was to use the adapter for my A-5 as I found the original barrel that came with the Apex 2 tip to be too long and heavy.

Aggressively Cool (TiPX with Lapco Bigshot Assault Barrel, and Apex 2 adapter)

That's all I have for this first part of my marker project series, but I have quite a few kit and marker upgrades in mind for this marker and for my loadout.  I will continue to post updates as updates are added. Until next time.

See you on the field!

~Kalen

Going Mag-Fed?

It has been a long time coming, but I was finally able to put in an order for my new Tippmann TiPX yesterday (01/13).  I’ve been looking to try out mag fed for quite a while now, but didn’t really have a good idea of where to begin. There were a lot of variables to consider because going mag fed is a big commitment. Playing with limited paint is very different from what I am used to, and I wasn’t too keen on the idea of getting a full blown mag fed marker only to find out that I didn’t like the play style.

Most of the entry level mag fed markers that I researched included parts allowing them to be converted to accept a hopper, but the utility of attaching a hopper is somewhat of an afterthoughtwith a rifle-sized marker that is built around a magazine feed platform.  The whole point of eliminating the hopper is to open up the sight line along the top of the marker, but I’m sure there are those who use the conversion to suit various situations. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn’t want to commit so fully right off the bat.  What I needed was something that would help ease the transition to mag fed.  The TiPX seemed like the obvious choice, and I knew that the TiPX could always be used as a secondary marker if I fully buy into mag fed as my primary play style and add more markers to my collection in the future.

For now, I plan to use the TiPX to supplement the A-5 woodsball loadout that I have pieced together for the coming spring.  I plan to finally implement some of the pacing limitations that I had talked about using last year, and I may eventually develop a TiPX primary loadout if I build up my proficiency with the marker.  Stay tuned for a follow up entry in the coming weeks as I’ll try to post some pictures of my full loadout once all of the pieces are in place.

I may even make a short video on the TiPX and the different things I have planned for the marker for this year.  That’s all I have until next time, though.

Play on, everyone! 

~Krimmit

Goals for 2016

The new year is right on the Horizon, so I thought it would be a good idea to dust the cobwebs off of the blog here and post about some of my goals for 2016.  I didn't accomplish nearly as much as I would have liked in 2015, and many of my goals went unfulfilled, but I'm motivated this year.  I have some interesting ideas that I would like to implement, and if I only get a couple of these things started, I'll be happy. Lists are my favorite, so here it goes in order of importance.

1) Blog More!

I really failed on keeping this think consistent last year, but I keep giving myself excuses to ignore my promises to post more often. The posts don't even need to be perfect or ground breaking, I just need to write them. There is no excuse for not doing so when I have access to the mobile app, and some private time during the weekends where I could get these things accomplished. This is one thing I can't ignore anymore.

2) Get Back in Shape

If there's one excuse I've used more often than any other to ignore my passions and to avoid leaving the house in general, it would have to be my weight. I'm not a naturally fit person, and I don't typically enjoy doing physically strenuous stuff, but I've gotten to the point where I feel pretty awful most of the time.  My body is clearly starting to give me some warning signs that I can't ignore any longer, so it's time for action.

Being over weight doesn't necessarily preclude a person from playing paintball, but it definitely changes the way I play the game and limits my options for play styles.  I'm going to lose the weight this year, and keep it off.  

Sorry for the personal stuff.  Let's move on to the more superficial.

3) Try Different Styles of Paintball Play

I've been toying with the idea of trying to change my tactics, and to really improve my skills on the field for some time now. The most practical way to do this is to play more often, but I think it's also important to challenge yourself in specific ways as well. During my trips to the field last year, I felt like I was shooting way too much, and not playing tactically enough, so this year I'm going to focus on conserving paint and using the field to my advantage.

I've recently ordered a couple of items to upgrade/modify my Tippmann A-5 that I plan to put to good use this year.  These parts will help me set up my first limited paint loadout, and to work on my awareness on the field.  I'll post some pictures, and maybe another video when I get the upgrades I ordered.

I'm also working on saving up for a mag-fed marker which is something that I've wanted for as long as I've been playing. Overall though, I'm going to focus less on getting new markers this year and more on how to use the equipment I already have more effectively.

4) Learn Not to Rely on My Friends to Plan Field Time

It was hard to get people to actually play along with me this past year, and I sent out invites on several different occasions with no responses. While this was frustrating, it also served as a reminder that you can't rely on others to enjoy yourself if they aren't as enthusiastic about something as you are.  I know several of my friends would have liked to play, but sometimes life just gets in the way. This year, I plan to get a year pass to my favorite field, and to go when it's convenient for me even if that means going alone.

5) Be More Involved in the Paintball Community

I said this last year too, but I already have my foot in the door with some paintball communities, and it would be great to hook up with some other players who share my enthusiasm for this hobby.  Nothing is certain yet, but if I can become a part of a more organized group, then I would be very happy and have something to really look forward to in the coming months.

6) Bring More Content to the Blog

Since my hobby budget isn't as extensive as some other player's, I need to find some creative ways to bring more content to the blog.  I've really been looking for a cost effective way to get some more video content included on these posts, and by the summer time I may even be able to record gameplay if I can get enough money together. I think that will be a great addition, but playing actual games will be a priority before recording any footage.

The important thing to remember here is that I don't need to be in a rush to spend a lot of money on something that won't pay off in the end anyway.  

This list wasn't as long as it could have been, but I don't want to beat myself up over some of my shortcomings from 2015 either.  The goal here is to set goals that are more easily obtainable rather than setting the bar so high that I won't reach it.  Some of the goals may evolve over time as well, so it's just a matter of digging in and trying to make some of them real.  I'll try to set posts to be delivered on a bi-weekly basis, and see how that goes.

Even if nobody reads this, it's nice to reflect on where I started, and to let that be a guide for where I want to end up.  

Here's to the New Year, and I hope that everyone has a great year to come!

~Krimmit

Paintball Gear Shopping Tips and Traps

Paintball is a simple enough sport to play conceptually speaking, but purchasing paintball gear can be confusing for a new player or for parents of young players who may not know what they are really looking for.  There certainly isn’t any lack of variety in what products or name brands are available for consideration, but one of the biggest challenges for consumers is choosing cost over functionality.  If everyone had the budget to purchase only the most expensive gear, apparel, and accessories then building a start up kit would be easy, but that is rarely the case for those of us who are “budget ballers”.

The plain and simple truth is that paintball is an expensive hobby for people looking to own the equipment they use regularly, and buying the wrong item or an item that doesn’t work as expected is a big deal.  This problem can be aggravated by the fact that many of us don’t have an actual “brick and mortar” retail store where we live that specializes in paintball equipment.  There may be stores that have a few items, or they might sell the bare minimum odds and ends, but there are some seriously steep drawbacks to buying items this way.

  

Today’s post will be about making informed purchasing choices over the internet from retailers and private sellers alike.  As someone who has made some mistakes, I can offer up some advice about what items and situations to avoid as you build your collection of paintball gear.  I have also linked a video below that I made specifically explaining the pitfalls of buying paintball masks online without the ability to “try before you buy”, so check that out as well if you have a free 20 minutes or so.

Let’s first address the issue of going to a standard sporting goods retailer to purchase paintball gear.  We all probably have stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Scheel’s, Walmart, and so on in our home towns that offer a limited selection of paintball items that they typically lump together with cheap BB Guns near the hunting and shooting supplies.  They normally sit on bottom shelves out of normal view, and the dusty boxes and sealed plastic packaging normally show just how little attention they get from average shoppers.  This is typically reason enough not to purchase most of the things you need from a normal department store retailer, but we’ve all been tempted at one point or another.

Many uninformed shoppers, or budget ballers are easily tempted by what looks like a good deal on the rack, but most of the items on these displays are barely worth the clearance close out pricing offered.  However, it is normally safe to buy some of the more common items all players need from these types of stores.  Items like CO2 tanks, O-Rings, cheap lubricants, and inexpensive gravity hoppers are all worth picking up if you don’t want to wait for shipping since the quality varies so little from what you would find at a specialty store. Some stores even carry decent start up markers like the Tippmann 98 Custom, select Spyder markers, and they may even carry passable recreational grade paint as well.  These can be worth buying as long as they aren’t marked up above the average online price.  

Always be careful about buying paint from these retailers, and make sure you ask to open and inspect the box for broken or dimpled paintballs before checking out.  Spending $40+ on low grade paint only to have every ball break or curve like crazy is the equivalent of lighting your money on fire and throwing it on the ground before walking on the field. Another drawback to buying from these stores is that the staff typically has no idea how the items they are selling actually perform.  Since the products are often lumped in with hunting and shooting supplies, the clerks most likely only have cursory knowledge of paintball gear since they are far less popular than the other enthusiast stock they sell.  The lesson to learn here is that just because something is cheap or convenient doesn’t mean that it will help you in the long run.  Take the time to do some research before picking anything up from a department store, and make sure you verify that the pricing they offer lines up with what specialty retailers charge for the same or similar items.

Buying directly from specialty stores online or through mega-retailers like Amazon.com can be less daunting due to the fact that there is normally quite a bit more information available on these sites from the retailers and other shoppers alike.  However, variety is the real enemy here, and it can be easy to get lost in the dozens of pages of items each vendor is selling.  Luckily, most of these vendors have options to filter your search results to find items within your price range and required feature limitations.  Most undesirable items can be weeded out of your search results this way, and if you are in doubt about a product you can likely find more comprehensive information about the product you like on enthusiast websites or on blogs like this one!  

The biggest and most obvious drawback to buying online is that it is impossible to physically try or handle the product that you are shopping for which is particularly important when buying clothing or apparel.  Online photos can be misleading, and they can often misrepresent the actual physical look or fit of an item.  It is particularly difficult to find sizing references for apparel items like jerseys or paintball pants online which often just list sizes (Large, X-Large, etc.) and finding actual measurements can take a little bit of digging.  Make sure you always review a vendor’s return policy details for information about return shipping fees or restocking penalties before buying.  Also, make a habit of doing too much research about a product before you buy it to see if there are any hidden issues that other consumers have found.

A product may look perfect once you open the box, but then it may not work or fit as desired once you get it.  Take some consumer reviews with a grain of salt, and make sure to read other reviews from a source if possible.  If they sound like a person who just likes to complain or misinform about everything they buy then don’t even pay attention to their input. Retail sites are not immune to trolling comments any more than blogs or social media and community websites are.

Last but not least is purchasing used equipment online from other enthusiasts.  Buying someone’s used paintball gear is like buying any other used items from another person. Every purchase is a gamble, and there is very little protection for the buyer if something goes wrong unless you personally know the seller.  There are many ways to get used items, and there doesn’t seem to be one option that is safer than any other.  Ebay is perhaps the most secure since PayPal has some safeguards in place to protect buyers, but if a seller is smart they most likely have disclosed enough  “as is” language for items which can be difficult to combat if you buy a lemon.

There really isn’t a fool proof method for buying used gear, but a smart shopper should be able to use common sense to judge if a price is not right for a used item.  Ask a lot of questions about the thing you are considering, and do your research about value depreciation.  Some reputable websites will sell used gear that customers send in for trade, and they can be a fairly good reference point for what a previously owned item is worth at retail value.  Use this information to haggle when possible.  Finally, if you are answering a Craigslist ad, always ask to carefully inspect the items you are buying before paying for anything.  To be honest, Craigslist creeps me out like nobody’s business, so I never look on there anyway. I’ve heard too many horror stories.  

The best way to get used gear is by trading or purchasing items from other players at the field if they are looking to sell.  There is still no guarantee that you won’t get fleeced somehow, but at least you have the ability to try what you buy at the field before shelling out any cash.  I haven’t personally come across anyone selling items at the field I play at so far, but it does happen.

I hope this will be a helpful guide to some of you, but we are always bound to slip up and make a mistake from time to time.  If we didn’t, then there wouldn’t really be any reason for a post like this in the first place.  My best advice is just to do a ton of research when possible.  It might seem like you are over thinking your purchases, but good gear goes a long way in this sport.  Bad gear will put you on the sidelines in a hurry.  To those parents buying paintball gear for their kids but don’t necessarily have any knowledge about the sport themselves, always ask why they want the things they are asking for.  If you can’t weed out a reasonable need, then shop for a comparable alternative every time.

That’s all for now.

See you on the field!

Gear Bag Review #5

Welcome back to the final entry in my series detailing my personal beginner’s paintball kit. In this entry, I will be taking a look at some of the “optional” pieces of kit that I have recently purchased to supplement my own gear bag.  I consider these items optional because even though they are items specifically marketed for paintball, they aren’t necessarily going to make or break the way that you play the sport.  Most of the items in the following article can be substituted with every day items you may already have around the house, so don’t feel obligated to purchase these items to be a proficient player.

Paintball Jersey

A good jersey serves multiple functions.  First and foremost, a jersey is typically made of light, breathable material that can be worn as a protective layer in a wide variety of environments.  The material is not typically thick enough to reduce the felt impact of paintballs, but it is still better than being hit one bare, unprotected skin.  The semi rigid shells of paintballs will cut exposed tissues when it breaks if the circumstances are right.  It’s happened to me, and others that I play with, enough said.  Some jerseys are brightly colored, and others are patterned with camouflage. 

I recently bought a Valken V-Tac Jersey, though I have been playing with old, beaten up clothing previously.  I’m not ashamed to say that this was mostly inspired by the look of the jersey, but my decision was also prompted by the fact that most long sleeve shirts are simply too warm to wear during the summer months of play.  I haven’t worn the jersey out on the field yet, but it was very comfortable to wear around the house, and the venting seemed adequate to keep things moderately cool during warmer days.  Again, jerseys are in no way required, but they do add something to the aesthetic appeal of a well complimented paintball uniform.

Head Wrap

I had been wearing a couple of cheap $1.00 bandannas while playing, but I wanted something more subdued that would have a padded band to protect the sides of my head and my forehead while playing.  The Valken V-tac head wrap that I recently bought fits the bill nicely, and it is easy to tie or untie between matches.  Don’t feel the need to shell out $20.00 for a head wrap if you don’t want to.  In fact, I may still alternate this between wearing a backwards facing ball cap depending on how I play and where.

Remote Line/Coil

Whether this is an optional item may be debatable depending on what marker you use, and what variety of paintball that you play.  I purchased my Ninja Remote Coil because I felt that the Tippmann A-5 I will be using is too heavy with a CO2 canister attached directly to the marker’s ASA.  Having a 20 oz. tank screwed onto the grip also makes the marker much longer and more awkward to hold up whereas using a remote line allows the marker to be held closer to your face and body.  Doing so makes peaking corners much easier.  This is another item that I have yet to field test, but using this along with the vest rig I mentioned in my previous post seems like the optimal way to run with a heavier marker when competing with smaller, lighter electro markers.  

This particular coil also has a remote check valve that allows you to cut off the air supply to your marker without needing to disconnect the line from your tank. Having this ability is particularly handy for saving air or CO2 that is normally wasted while screwing and unscrewing a tank directly from the marker itself.  There are many different remote lines available to choose from, but try to avoid buying anything that seems like it might be a better deal than is reasonable.  Price is tied to quality with these items, and I have read many accounts of players getting burned (in the financial sense) by cheap, leaky remote hoses.

That pretty much wraps it up for my personal gear bag review.  Aside from the various tools, cleaning cloths, and other miscellaneous items that I won’t bother to mention, I have listed every item that I currently own and use to play paintball.  There are a few items that I recently ordered that didn’t make the list, but I will talk about those later on when I discuss upgrades, and share my overall views on playing this sport.  I haven’t spent nearly enough time on commercial fields yet to discuss strategy or give gameplay advice, but I will post future entries with links to articles and videos that I find helpful when approaching the game. 

Sorry there aren't any pictures of my gear this time.  I lost the files, and didn't have the time to take more with my phone for upload.

Until next time!

~Krimmit