Mechanical paintball guns were many people’s first exposure to the game of paintball. You were likely handed a beat-up rental Tippmann 98 Custom or Tippmann A-5 and sent off to discover the joys of taking a paintball to the hand. While electric paintball markers have largely come to dominate the market, there are still a number of mechanical paintball guns that occupy the beginner-tiers of paintball markers. Many milsim markers are also mechanical since they’re magazine fed and aren’t capable of the high rates of fire that electric markers are. To help you decide on which paintball gun is right for you, we made a helpful YouTube video reviewing the most popular mechanical paintball guns. Take a look at our video below:

Planet Eclipse is one of the largest manufacturers of paintball guns in the industry and is highly regarded by almost all players. The Planet Eclipse EMEK 100 is an entry-level mechanical paintball marker that offers a high-quality experience for players. It combines performance technology with reliability and build quality. It's now PAL enabled, allowing the use of the PAL Loader System for enhanced gameplay. 

The Planet Eclipse ETHA M3 (Mech Only) is a mechanical paintball marker with enhanced ergonomics and performance. It offers a quick-release bolt assembly for easy maintenance, a low-profile aluminum feedneck, and a new aluminum trigger and FL 3-way for improved firepower and faster trigger cycling.

Tippmann was one of the first companies that started making paintball guns and their contributions to the game have been prolific while maintaining a comfortable price. Tippmann is most well-known for making three models of milsim paintball guns. The Tippmann Cronus Basic model has a reliable in-line bolt system and a composite body. The Tippmann Cronus Tactical model adds tactical features like a front shroud, flip-up sights, and a collapsible stock. The Tippmann Stormer Elite Dual Fed model offers the option to switch between loader and mag-fed configurations for different looks.

Paintball pistols, while rare, usually fall into the category of mechanical paintball guns. These paintball guns are often carried as side arms alongside milsim markers. The main players in mechanical paintball pistols are Tippmann and First Strike. 

The Tippmann TiPX paintball pistol is a compact and lightweight .68 caliber pistol suitable as a primary marker or sidearm. It fits comfortably in your hand and features a quick-release 8-round magazine feed system for fast reloading. It operates on a single 12g CO2 cartridge stored under the barrel, providing 25-30 shots per cartridge. The spent cartridge is easily replaced with a new one. The TiPX accepts most Tippmann X7 threaded barrels for improved accuracy. It offers efficient and convenient performance for paintball players seeking a compact sidearm.

The First Strike FSC Pistol is a popular choice for woodsball scenarios and self-defense. It features a modular grip frame for portability and concealability. The FSC is powered by portable CO2 cartridges (8-gram or 12-gram) that fit inside the magazines, each holding 6 paintballs. The First Strike Pistols are also able to shoot first strike rounds which look like a half-paintball on the leading edge but have stabilizing fins on the trailing edge. These rounds are very popular with milsim paintballers since they drastically improve the precision and accuracy of your mechanical paintball guns. If you’re buying first strike rounds for another marker, verify first that your other paintball marker is compatible with First Strike Rounds.