If you’re anything like me, you’re a fierce competitor, keen to win every battle whatever it takes.
But to win every time requires not just the most skill, but also the best possible equipment.
And on that note...
Electronic paintball guns are far superior to their mechanical counterparts. They are consistent, accurate, and they fire with incredible speed. You don’t need to cock the gun before firing. The trigger pull is very light and short, and you get more shots per tank.
They’re also lightweight and produce no blowback. And they’re quieter so they’re less likely to give your location away. Choosing an electronic gun over a mechanical one is something of a no brainer.
We’ve been checking out some of the best electronic paintball guns that are out on the market at the moment. And after much deliberation, we were able to handpick our top 5 favorites, which we’re going to be showing you very shortly.
Please note, while many paintball guns are sold as complete packages with everything you need for a game included, this article concentrates just on the guns themselves.
But if you feel you could benefit from some extra guidance into what to think about before you buy your gun, you can scroll down a little further to read our buying guide.
This buying guide is suitable for beginners to get their head around jargon-busting glossary of terms, which highlights some of the main terms used to describe a gun’s specs. (We don’t mind if you prefer to scroll ahead and check there first before reading the reviews.)
For now, let’s shoot ahead!
OUR TOP PICK
What we love about the Tippmann A5 is that it’s a speed demon. This is thanks to the innovative cyclone feed system - it can feed up to 15 whole balls in just one second.
And this really helps with the firing rate, which comes in at 8 balls per second - talk about rapid-fire!
And it’s so easy to strip apart and put back together that you could even do it in the game - it takes a mere 60 seconds. You don’t need any tools whatsoever.
And speaking of being quick, switching from the safe mode to firing mode just takes one flick of a switch.
You get a very clear line of sight, thanks to the low-profile hopper, so you can your targets in sight.
Then there’s the long stock barrel, at 8.5 inches, which makes for better accuracy and less noise.
But that’s not all, there’s also a shock-absorbing end cap, which not only reduces recoil but also reduces general wear on the gun too.
The A5 is an upgraded version of Tippmann’s previous models with lots of extra features that make for really swift and easy gameplay.
This includes a lighter weight body, for easier maneuverability on the field, and an ambidextrous handle, so that the left-handers can have just as much fun with it as the right-handers do.
We were also very reassured by the gun’s limited 2-year warranty.
Pros:
- Impressive feed system
- Can be stripped in 60 s
- Very clear line of sight
- 8.5 ” Long stock barrel
- Shock-absorbing end cap
- Limited 2-year warranty
Cons:
- Some people find it heavy
- Some people find it loud
EDITORS CHOICE
Now, this is no ordinary paintball gun!
We love that it has multiple adjustable firing modes - you can choose from semi, ramp, burst, or fully automatic. Really adds some variety and action to the game.
It’s an upgraded version of the previous model of the Empire Axe range, yet despite all the upgrades it’s significantly more lightweight than the original Empire Axe - a whole 10% lighter in fact.
Without getting too technical, we can sum up some of the benefits of the new model. The pressure-controlled poppet engine helps to ensure reliable performance. There’s a wrap-around foregrip to ensure no-slip grip whatever the weather decides to throw at you.
You also get superior speed consistency shot after shot. And it provides low-pressure operation, which is a godsend if you have fragile paintballs.
When you need to carry out general maintenance on the gun, it’s easy to take apart, and you won’t need to use any special tools.
It’s available in two different colors, dust black or dust green (we like the black one).
It’s quite expensive for a paintball gun, but for features such as these, many would be happy to pay the extra money. Besides, you can pay in installments upon approval for the Amazon Rewards Visa Card.
Pros:
- Semi, ramp, burst, or full-auto modes
- Upgraded yet with a lighter weight
- Superior reliability and consistency
- Non-slip wrap-around foregrip
- No tools needed for maintenance
- You can pay in installments
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price
BEST VALUE
If you’re looking for an electronic paintball gun that has some great premium features, but you can’t afford one with a $400 price tag, then this could be a good option for you.
It can compete with any other gun on the field. It can fire out 10 balls per second and it offers an adjustable shot speed, including the fastest safe limit of about 300 feet per second.
Innovations include the Anti-Chop eyes, a proven Hyper3 regulator, DYE’s Lever Lock adjustable clamping nylon-reinforced feed neck, and DYE’s Ultralite on/off airport.
It has a 14-inch long barrel for shot precision and consistency. It’s also a very durable machine and is built to last. And it requires very little work in terms of maintenance, which is aided by the Color Coded O-Rings and DYE's patented self-cleaning 4th generation Eye Pipe.
It’s available in 6 different colors. We like the olive/tan version, as it blends in very well against camouflaged clothing.
It’s not quite the cheapest electronic paintball gun on the market but does come at a fair and reasonable price.
The CRZ comes backed with a 1-year warranty against manufacturer defects, which is quite reassuring.
Pros:
- Good value for money
- High-performance gun
- Speed and consistency
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- Some customers have reported problems, and haven’t found the after-sales particularly helpful
RUNNER UP
Tippmann has done it again with this top-notch high-performance paintball gun. And it’s available at a fantastic price too.
This high performance comes down in part to Tippmann’s trademark reliable in-line bolt system.
It can accurately hit targets up to 150 feet and can shoot up to 8 balls per second.
We love its military simulation body and Picatinny rails - it really does look and feel the part when you’re out on the field.
It has a comfortable and ergonomic design and feel to it, with soft over molded rubber grips. And when you’re out on the field, it can certainly take a knock - very tough and impact-resistant.
The stock barrel isn’t quite as long as we’d like, coming in at just 9 inches, but for this price, we don’t mind.
It’s a great gun for customizing because it can be modified in any number of ways by mounting different accessories on any one of the four Picatinny rails.
Pros:
- Excellent price point
- Reliable in-line bolt system
- Military simulation body
- Fires up to 8 balls per second
Cons:
- Some customers have reported paintball jams
RUNNER UP
Now, this is a gun that means business!
This is Tippmann’s latest .68 caliber MagFed - a very highly authentic military simulation style tactical paintball marker. You won’t get a more realistic military simulation paintball gun anywhere else!
It has a dual-feed option, so you can choose between using the MagFed or using a traditional hopper loader - how great to get the best of both worlds in just one gun!
It’s suited to many different gameplay scenarios, including woodsball, tactical games, or close-quarter battles.
It’s a truly high-performance semi-automatic paintball gun, very reliable. It has a nice, 12-inch long high-performance barrel to better aid shot consistency.
The shots can be speedy too, adjustable between 250 feet per second and 325 feet per second.
We love the built-in Picatinny rails, and how you can adjust the front and rear sights.
It’s also surprising low maintenance too. And it comes complete with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. Very reassuring.
Pros:
- Great value for money
- Realistic Milsim gun
- Dual-feed, inc Magfed
- Adjustable speed
- Adjustable sights
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- Some users have said the accuracy could be better
RUNNER UP
Now, this electronic paintball gun comes highly recommended, having earned an average Amazon customer rating of a full 5 stars out of 5, when this article was written.
The beauty of this paintball gun is how well it performs regardless of the weather conditions. It performs just as well in the cold frost as it does in the searing heat.
It can fire 15 balls per second, and at speeds of about 280 feet per second.
We love how comfortable it is to use, with its relatively light weight, and stretched out grip spacing. And it’s nicely balanced too.
The other thing we love about it is how tough it is. Both externally and internally there’s good, strong construction, with nothing less than aircraft-grade in the interior. You get great impact-resistance.
We love its camouflage appearance, great for getting in the part!
Pros:
- Highly recommended
- High performing
- Very comfortable to use
- Allows for rapid-fire
- Impact-resistant
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price
RUNNER UP
Now, this is a top performing paintball gun - tournament worthy in fact.
We love its automatic trigger for those all-important rapid-firing sessions.
It has a smooth, low-pressure operation and has all the quality you’re looking for in an electronic paintball gun.
It comes with a great barrel kit. It has a 14-inch long barrel, which means the longer the paintball has to straighten its trajectory, which is one of the reasons you can get such consistent shots with this gun.
Plus it’s also a great starting point for those who like to customize their paintball gun, thanks to the two-piece barrel.
And there are three types of barrel inserts you can use, .675, .680, and .685.
Pros:
- Tournament level performance
- An automatic trigger for rapid firing
- Long barrel for consistent shots
- A two-piece barrel can be customized
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price
7 Best Electronic Paintball Guns Buying Guide
As promised here’s your buying guide - and don’t worry, we won’t get too technical!
Glossary of Terms
Let’s start at the very beginning, and cover some of the different terms used in paintball gun specs.
BPS - BPS stands for balls per second. The higher the BPS, the more rapidly your gun will fire.
FPS - FPS stands for feet per second. It’s a measure of how fast each paintball travels. In the interest of safety, you should not fire a paintball any faster than about 300 feet per second. Fortunately, most electronic paintball guns won’t fire any faster than this, but will fire up to as much as this.
MilSim - MilSim is a contraction of military simulation. It can be applied to all aspects of paintballing and can also be applied to video gaming too.
Benefits of an Electronic Paintball Gun
We mentioned this in our introduction, but it bears repeating here. Benefits of an electronic paintball gun include:
- Consistent
- Accurate
- Fire with incredible speed
- No need to cock the gun before firing
- Trigger pull is very light and short
- More shots per tank.
- Lightweight
- No blowback
- Quieter
Features to Look Out For
Other than BPS and FPS, which we have already mentioned in our glossary of terms, there are a number of other things you could look at when deciding what gun to buy.
Length of Stock Barrel
The longer the length of the stock barrel, the more control and consistency you have in your shots. We recommend that you only look at guns that have at least a 8.5-inch stock barrel.
But it’s certainly worth noting at this point that you can get paintball guns that have 12-inch and sometimes even 14-inch stock barrels.
If you’re interested in a gun with a 14-inch stock barrel, then we can recommend our number 3 pick, the Dye Rize CZR Paintball Marker, or our number 7 pick the Empire Paintball Sniper Pump Marker with Barrel Kit.
Ammo Feeder
While electronic paintball guns typically feature an electronic trigger, the part that feeds the paintballs into the gun to be shot out can be either gravity-based or electronic. This part is called the hopper. Both types each have their advantages and disadvantages, which we won’t be going into here.
You will receive a compatible hopper when your paintball gun arrives. But if you wish you can customize your gun and set up an alternative hopper to work in its place.
If you want to carry out some rapid-fire sessions, then the number of paintballs that the hopper can send through directly affects how many balls the gun will be able to fire per second, the BPS.
Lightweight
If you expect to be carrying your paintball gun around for an hour or more, then you will need the gun to be sufficiently lightweight to be comfortable for the duration of gameplay.
And you don’t want to be tempted to put the gun down - you never know when you’ll need it.
Durability
When you’re running at speed, wherever you’re playing, you can be at risk of tripping, sliding, or falling over.
And it is for this reason that you should look for equipment of a really tough and durable build, with some level of impact resistance so that it can take a knock without getting at all damaged.
Cost
Electronic paintball guns can vary quite considerably in price. At the more affordable end of the spectrum, you’ve got guns that cost little more than $100, while at the other end of the spectrum, you can expect to pay upwards of $400 for more high-end guns.
Sometimes you can be lucky and get a really good electronic paintball gun with all the latest features at a fair and reasonable price. And if you do come across such a gun you should snap it up before it goes out of stock.
If you start your gun shopping without a set budget in mind, then our advice is to check the prices as you go along, and get a feel for the different prices and what you can get for your money.
Brand
Some brands of paintball guns can outperform others. We recommend buying from a good, well-established wherever possible.
Our favorites include Empire and Tippman. We included a few of these in our top 7 picks.
Warranty
When you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a product, you are right to expect a warranty. Knowing that you’re covered for a whole year after the date of purchase is very reassuring.
Where possible we’ve included the warranty position in each of our 7 product reviews.
I was around 12 the first time I shot a paintball.HOLY COW that was eye-opening... oh yeah, I couldn't believe how much the sting of getting hit was.I remember to this day the adrenaline rush after getting plucked off by some guy probably 20 years older than me.
Please join in and share your experience with the different gear reviews on the site.Drop a comment, I would love to hear from you!
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