In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the U.S. Army Project Salvo paintball gun and other paintball markers in the Tippmann product line, discuss a few pros and cons, and hopefully give you the ammunition to decide which is the right choice. Choosing the right paintball gun can truly impact your gameplay experience. Beginners can select nearly any gun and have fun, particularly on their first outing. More experienced paintballers can elevate their game by focusing on the subtle differences in reliability, design, weight, and durability. No matter your skill level, however, picking the right paintball gun at the most basic level depends on knowing what features and capabilities are appropriate for you.
[amazon box= “B00FXWT6NW,B00HETUX8O,B004AE4X2I,B001DEU7A0″ template=”table”]About Tippmann Sports
All the paintball guns or markers in this review are made by Tippmann Sports, LLC, aka Tippman. They are one of the world’s leading paintball gun manufacturers and makers of some of the most popular entry level paintball guns available. As a recognized industry leader, Tippmann Sports serves the extreme sports enthusiasts by providing high-performance and durable paintball products, markers and accessories at a reasonable price. In fact, they introduced the first semi-automatic paintball marker to the sport and they continue to stay at the forefront of paintball innovation.
What Is the Tippmann U.S. Army Project Salvo Paintball Gun?
For anyone who seeks the look and feel of the U.S. Army AR-15, the Project Salvo paintball gun is worth investigating. Designed with the semi-automatic AR-15 in mind, this gun incorporates tactical features that provide an upgraded experience to paintball game-play and is actually licensed by the US Army. Many users have described the Project Salvo gun as reliable on the field. However, its appearance and design are what makes it truly stand out, as they initially developed it for those who wanted to perform military and gun training simulations and later repositioned it as a military style paintball gun for sport.
Product Specs
Project Salvo is a .68 caliber weapon. It is designed for entry to moderate level paintball players. Its shooting ability is in line with comparable products. This weapon has an 11-inch barrel with a semi-automatic firing system.
Pricing
The Project Salvo paintball gun is one of the higher-priced entry to moderate level paintball guns in this review. With reviewed products ranging in cost from $100 up to $200, Project Salvo is right in the middle. The primary factors that impact price differences are the intended skill level of the user, the features, particularly the customization and upgradeability of the weapon, and the firing capabilities.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
- Tippmann Cronus Paintball Marker Gun
- TIPPMANN A5
- Tippmann 98 Custom
Tippmann U.S. Army Project Salvo Paintball Gun
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Accuracy
Reviewers have said this gun is incredibly accurate.
Range
The firing rate of the marker is 8 balls per second.
Design Quality
The Project Salvo is a paintball marker designed after the US Army AR15 weapon. It is a semi-automatic, open bolt gun with a blowback style This weapon is designed with an 11-inch barrel and a standard stock and an AR-15 style shroud. This gun features an all aluminum die cast receiver and a stainless steel gas line. It is made for durability and performance. The Project Salvo offers removable and adjustable front and rear sights and weighs 9 lbs fully loaded.
Warranty
Tippmann Sports, LLC offers a 2-year warranty for their paintball markers and accessories. To activate this warranty, you must register the marker within 30 days of the original date of purchase. Any accessories will automatically be included with the marker warranty. Under this warranty, Tippmann will cover repairs or replacements for defective equipment up to two years from the original purchase date.
PROS
- Proven reliability
- Looks and feels like a high-end gun (AR-15)
- Comfort and feel
- Great for any beginner to Intermediate paintball player
- Has a six position collapsible and foldable stock
- Easy maintenance with quick release feeder elbow
- Quickly and easily add scopes, carry handles, and other accessories using Picatinny rails
- Compatible with most paintball brands including 98 Custom response trigger and 98 Platinum series flatline barrel
- Stock can be folded down more than 11 inches and increased to more than 14 inches
- Magazine doubles as tool storage
- Features the Response Trigger and the Cyclone Feed System for fast and efficient continuous shooting
- It operates using pressurized air, CO2, or nitrogen
CONS
- At 9lbs this gun is heavy
- Many users will require a sling to handle the weight
- Some users complain that the regular gravity fed hopper causes shaking
- Doesn’t perform well with low-quality paint balls
- Limited features
Tippmann Cronus Paintball Marker Gun
[amazon box=”B00HETUX8O”]The Tippmann Cronus Paintball Marker is a high-quality paintball gun designed for the novice user. This marker is a semi-automatic weapon capable of firing eight balls per second. It features an in-line bolt design and its built to last. It carries the reputation of being reliable, accurate and easy to use. For that, it is also considered by many to be one of the best options for beginning paintballers.
Accuracy
The Cronus has a reputation for great accuracy. This paintball marker fires up to 8 balls per second.
Range
The effective range of the Tippmann Cronus is 150 feet.
Design Quality
The Cronus comes in a black and tan exterior design. It features a high impact composite body that is able to withstand the heavy demands of game-play. It has a 9 Inch stock barrel, and at 3.7 lbs, it is considered lightweight as compared to similar products. The grips are rubber which allows for comfortable and easy handling, even on the wet and rainy days. It also has a ported barrel that helps make your shots quieter.
Warranty
Tippmann Sports, LLC offers a 2-year warranty for their paintball markers and accessories. To activate this warranty, you must register the marker within 30 days of the original date of purchase. Any accessories will be automatically included with the marker warranty. Under this warranty, Tippmann will cover repairs or replacements for defective equipment up to two years from the original purchase date.
PROS
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Realistic look
- Removable barrel and shield
- Easily customizable
- Durable design
- Lightweight
- Powerful shooting capability
- Matches with a variety of accessories
- Does not chop balls while shooting
- Compatible with CO2 & HPA Air
CONS
- Not easily upgradeable
- To improve accuracy, the stock barrel needs to be upgraded
TIPPMANN A5
[amazon box=”B004AE4X2I”]The Tippmann A5 paintball marker is an upgrade to the Tippmann 98 Custom designed for a more experienced paint baller., particularly intermediate level players. It is a mid-level, 0.68 caliber, semiautomatic firing weapon with a ready to fire, open bolt blowback. Its versatility makes it compatible with CO2, compressed air, or nitrogen.
Accuracy
This paintball marker fires up to 8 balls per second (BPS) with the assistance of the Cyclone Feed System. With a 200-round hopper, this A5’s feed rate is 15 BPS. The A5 promises high accuracy with zero broken balls.
Range
When firing up to 15 balls per second, this paintball marker has an effective range of 150 feet.
Design Quality
The body of the Tippmann A5 has a durable all-aluminum die cast receiver and protective black finish. Designed with an 8.5-inch stock barrel, will provide improved accuracy and noise reduction. The total length of this A5 is 20-inches. At 3.1 pounds, its lightweight design also makes this marker easy to handle. The Hall Effect trigger is magnetically activated. This gun is designed to last.
Warranty
Tippmann Sports, LLC offers a 2-year warranty for their paintball markers and accessories. To activate this warranty, you must register the marker within 30 days of the original date of purchase. Any accessories will be automatically included with the marker warranty. Under this warranty, Tippmann will cover repairs or replacements for defective equipment up to two years from the original purchase date.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easily upgradeable
- Does not rely on batteries for high-speed performance
- This gun can be broken down and reassembled in the field in 60 seconds
- E-Grip has a magnetically activated
- Quickly and easily change speeds and firing modes while in motion using the three position Hall Effect trigger
- Offers five firing modes: semiautomatic, auto-response, fully automatic, three-shot burst, and turbo
- Able to seamlessly switch from safety to firing mode using an external selector switch
- Easier handling with larger front grip
- Easy maintenance using tombstone connections and fast field stripping
- Realistic feel
- Versatility in changing slings
- Gain a clear sightline with low-profile hopper
- Reduced recoil enhanced by a shock-absorbing end cap
- It operates on CO2, compressed air, or nitrogen
CONS
- Weight is heavy as compared to other electro-pneumatic markers
- Limited compatibility – only works with A5 accessories
- Maintenance can pose a challenge
Tippmann 98 Custom
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The Tippmann 98 Custom is a semi-automatic platinum series paintball marker. It’s split receiver design makes it easy to use, upgrade, modify or install components. It’s known for delivering reliable performance with a fire rate of 8 balls per second.
Accuracy
The Tippmann is known for providing an accurate shot, so much so that an entry-level user will feel confident playing alongside more experienced paint ballers.
Range
This paintball marker fires up to 8 balls per second. The effective shooting range of the Tippmann 98 is 150 feet.
Design Quality
This paintball gun is made of an aluminum die-cast and designed with details that will ensure durability and quality. While made for the entry-level player, it is far from the cheap materials and standards of many of its counterparts, and as a result has been one of the top selling paintball guns on the market. This gun’s barrel is 8.5 inches or 11 inches on the custom pro model. It weighs 2.9 lbs and has a magazine capacity of 150+.
Warranty
Tippmann Sports, LLC offers a 2-year warranty for their paintball markers and accessories. To activate this warranty, you must register the marker within 30 days of the original date of purchase. Any accessories will be automatically included with the marker warranty. Under this warranty, Tippmann will cover repairs or replacements for defective equipment up to two years from the original purchase date.
Pros
- Durable all aluminum die cast receiver is designed to endure wear and tear
- Matter black finish reduces reflective glare
- Easy to use
- Quality product and durability for a reasonable price
- Stainless steel gas line is resistant to rust and breakage
- Release feeder elbow design allows easy cleaning and maintenance
- Easy to install accessories and upgrades due to modifiable split receiver make it customizable
- Its Anti Chop technology reduces ball chopping and improves accuracy with no need to re-cock
- With the front sight spring and trigger pins, it’s easy to service and reassemble
- No need to disassemble the marker due to the full depth pockets for ASA
- Easily carry handle, scopes and other accessories using Picatinny Rails
- Able to attach a variety of sling styles using the redesigned sling mount end cap
- It operates on CO2, compressed air, or nitrogen
Cons
- Amount of recoil can impact the quality of the shot
- Some users were dissatisfied with the gun being delivered with missing components
- Other purchasers complained they delivered their product with damaged pieces.
Conclusion
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The truth is that there is no magic formula for determining the perfect equipment for a paintballer. Factors such as user experience and shooting speed provide an excellent starting point but there are other things to consider. Durability, ball chopping reduction, ability to upgrade and interchange parts, and personal preference are just some of the things to take into account. The general rule is to pick a gun that is affordable and easy enough to operate. Advanced and expert paintballers may choose guns with a more specific focus on design and capability.However, based on the products in this review, the Tippmann Cronus is your best choice, this product is not only the most affordable for an entry-level user, but it has the potential to be upgraded and customized to meet the needs of a moderate level paintballer. Built to last, this Tippmann Cronus is an investment that will serve you as you grow in this sport.Featured Image Source: Amazon.com
