I have owned and shot well over a hundred different electronic markers over the years. Most of them good, some of them not so much. But there were a handful of them that just really stood out as a great marker to hit the field with.
Below are what I would suggest for most any player looking to pick up a new electro. These will all be great for recball and most are tournament ready while not being super expensive or have reliability issues.
My Top 6 Electronic Paintball Markers:
Azodin Blitz 3
For those on a budget and wanting to get into paintball, the Blitz 3 has you covered. It uses a standard blow-back bolt that has been proven to work for decades and has a break beam vision system to prevent chopping paint.
This may be the simplest marker on the list, but that doesn’t mean that is is a bad marker at all. This thing will keep up with any beginner and yet be super easy to maintain. Plus, if anything does end up going wrong with it, Azodin backs up their products and are very responsive to any questions you may have.
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Empire Mini GS
The Mini GS is the 3rd generation of the Mini line of paintball markers and has some improvements over the previous generations. These updates to the platform have made this a wonderfully compact and reliable marker to hit the field with.
These markers are one of the smallest and lightest setups available today, making it one of my top pics for younger players and those with smaller hands. Not only that, this marker is simple to operate and easy to maintain so you don’t have to spend so much time fiddling with your equipment.
These markers are very reliable and don’t have any of the solenoid stick issues of generations past. The only Minis that I have seen with issues and had to repair myself have all had the bolt upgraded or board settings adjusted beyond manufacture settings.
The only thing I would upgrade on this marker is the stock barrel. While the barrel that comes in the box is decent, there is a little room for improvement. The CP barrel shown in the picture worked really well and can be had at a great price.
Click Here to check out CP barrels on Amazon
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Empire Axe 2.0
The Empire Axe 2.0 is the updated version of the original Axe and comes with some great updates like removable eye covers and a rubber front grip. The Axe was already a great and reliable platform to begin with and with these updates, it is easier to maintain too!
For the players that found the Mini GS to be a little too small for your hands, the Axe 2.0 should fit just right. The extra spacing between the front grip and trigger frame is very comfortable to hold and doesn’t feel cramped at all.
With the easy to remove bolt and updated eye covers, the Axe 2.0 is very easy to open up and clean out after a hard day of play. Plus, the marker comes with a very nice 2 piece Driver barrel that shoots paint quite well.
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Planet Eclipse Etha 2
The Etha 2 is a great choice for players wanting to pick up a new electro. This is basically the little brother to the GTek but with a horseless design. Not only that, the Etha 2 is compatible with PE’s PAL mechanical hopper giving you a great option to a reliable and affordable agitating hopper.
Don’t let the GRN construction deter you from purchasing, the body is extremely robust and looks great! Plus, with a GRN body, you don’t have to worry about scratching off any anno.
The Gamma Core bolt system is a proven and reliable system that can keep up with any player. The Madman on YouTube even did a torture test on the bolt system in the GTek, covering it with peanut butter and sticking it in the freezer for a few hours with great results!
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SP Shocker RSX
Both my wife and I have Shocker RSX’s (mine is the HK Army Version) and absolutely love them! Simply put it, they just work. It is a super reliable system from a proven spool bolt design that will keep throwing paint all day long.
This is the lightest marker on the market at 1.7 lbs, and when paired with a super light hopper and tank you can just play all day long without your marker wearing out your arms. This is especially helpful if, like me, you play a lot of 24 hour scenario paintball events and are constantly on the field shooting paint.
From its easy bolt release to the super helpful OLED screen, it is by far my favorite electro I have ever used. Plus, with the ability to adjust the bolt speed, I can shoot super brittle paint all day long!
SP did discontinue the RSX and replaced it with the updated version, the XLS. You can still find plenty of RSXs on the used market for an EXCELLENT price! I am finding them for half to even 1/3 of what I payed for my HK Army Shocker RSX new on Ebay!
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SP Shocker XLS
The Shocker XLS is the updated version to the well received Shocker RSX with significant updates. The XLS now runs at 145psi, comes with the Freak XL barrel, redesigned on/off ASA, and a more comfortable stretched out frame.
Just like the RSX, the XLS uses a proven bolt system similar to the Ion, but with significant improvements. There are upgrades available for the bolt, but from my experiences, you won’t gain any significant improvements. This thing can shoot super brittle paint with minimal adjustment to the QEV, slowing down the bolt speed a bit.
You also get a very easy to read and use OLED screen that shows you everything you need to know on the fly like battery level, firing mode, and eye status. SP has also been releasing updates to keep up with the current tournament requirements so you don’t have to worry about not having the mode needed for an event.
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