Electronic Versus Mechanical Paintball Guns

You know you want a paintball gun, but you don't know for sure if you want to go mechanical or electronic. While both varieties will shoot paintballs, they do it in very different ways. Learning the differences and the advantages of each type will help you choose which gun is right for you.
Paintball Gun Basics
All paintball guns (or paintball markers) are designed to shoot paintballs at high speeds using compressed gas (either air or CO2). When a paintball gun fires, a small bolt pushes a ball into the paintball barrel and simultaneously sealing the ball in the barrel. A valve then releases compressed gas which expands in the barrel, forcing the ball out the end. The major difference between different guns is how the gun advances the ball into the barrel, seals off the barrel and releases gas into the barrel.

While there are many different ways that guns work, they can be divided into two major categories: mechanical and electronic. Simply put, mechanical guns are mechanically activated while electronic guns rely on battery power and a circuit board to fire. There are also electro-mechanical guns that are a hybrid of the two types.

Mechanical Guns
How They Work
Most semi-automatic mechanical paintball guns are blowback guns. These fire when the pulled trigger releases a bolt which is propelled forward by a spring and pushes the paintball into the barrel. Once the ball is in the barrel, the bolt strikes a pin, opening the valve, allowing air to go down the barrel. The bolt is forced back to its original position by the force of the air expanding (the name "blowback" comes from the fact that air blows the bolt back into position).
Varieties
There are many different types of mechanical guns that come in many different price ranges. They range from basic plastic pumps to precision-milled guns that cost over a thousand dollars. Here I will discuss the most common and most readily available blowback mechanical guns.
Maintenance
Mechanical markers are typically quite reliable and need little in terms of regular maintenance. They should be cleaned and oiled after every few uses (ideally after every use) and o-rings should be replaced as needed. They are usually very easy to disassemble, so if one does develop a problem, parts are inexpensive and a mechanically inclined person can often fix it without too much trouble.
Advantages
Mechanical guns are usually significantly cheaper than electronic markers and are readily available for those just getting started in paintball. They can usually run on either CO2 or compressed air and are very easy to setup and use without previous paintball experience. Also, many mechanical markers from different companies use the same size pieces so replacement parts are easily found.
Disadvantages
Mechanical guns are typically not as fast, as accurate or as consistent as electronic guns. The exact amount of air that propels the paintball from the barrel varies from shot to shot and the speed of the ball can vary (usually by only a few fps, but this affects accuracy). Mechanical guns are usually louder than electronic guns and they must be cocked before they can be fired. Mechanical guns also typically need a higher air pressure in your tank to fire, so while an electronic gun might be able to fire with only 200 psi of pressure, a mechanical gun often needs 600-800 psi to fire, thus you get fewer shots per tank of air.
Examples

* Tippmann A-5
* Spyder Victor
* Piranha GTI
* Brass Eagle Striker

Electronic Guns


How they work
Electronic guns or electro-pneumatic guns fire paintballs by using battery powered circuit boards that activate solenoids that cause the gun to fire. The trigger pull tells the circuit board to fire, which then activates the gun. Since circuit boards are programmable, it's easy to tell the board to fire automatically, use a three-round burst or other firing modes. Electronic guns also rely on regulators (mechanical devices that take in variable air pressures from a tank and release the air at a lower, constant pressure) to assure consistent firing.
Varieties of Guns
Electronic guns come in many varieties and have many different internal setups. While the different types of valves, regulators and bolts in different guns do affect performance, the general advantages and disadvantages are almost the same.
Maintenance
Different electronic guns have different regular maintenance which usually consists of basic cleaning and lubricating (either with grease or oil, depending on the gun). Read your manual and carefully follow the instructions. Electronic markers are typically more difficult to disassemble, but they usually come with detailed manuals that explain how to disassemble and reassemble each part of the gun, so follow instructions carefully during routine maintenance. Electronic guns are quite complex, so any major repair or upgrade should be done by a professional.
Advantages
Compared to mechanical guns, electronic guns are more consistent, more accurate and can fire faster. They can also be smaller and lighter than their mechanical counterparts. Since triggers only have to activate the circuit board and do not physically activate the firing mechanism, the trigger pull can be very light and very short. Electronic guns can also operate on a much lower pressure than mechanical guns and get more shots per tank.
Disadvantages
Electronic guns cost considerably more than mechanical markers and are not as readily available. They are difficult to repair and usually require professional servicing for problems or upgrades. Additionally, they usually require compressed air so you don't have the option of using CO2 and you have to make sure you always have a charged battery.
Examples

* Smart Parts Ion
* WDP Angel
* Planet Eclipse Ego
* Proto Matrix Rail


How they work
Electro-mechanical guns are basically mechanical guns with an electronic trigger which electronically releases the bolt to fire. The actual firing mechanism is almost identical to a basic mechanical marker, but the electronic circuit board allows for fully automatic firing, three-round burst and other firing modes.
Maintenance
Maintenance of electro-mechanical guns is basically the same as maintenance for mechanical markers. Be sure to regularly clean and oil the gun after use and make sure you keep your electronics dry at all times.
Advantages
You have the reliability and simplicity of a mechanical marker with the ability to increase your firing speed and shooting fully automatic or use another firing mode. You can also decrease the weight of the trigger pull (make it easier to pull back smoothly) and shorten the trigger pull. Electro-mechanical can also be bought at a price that is much less than true electro-pneumatic guns and comparable to many mechanical guns. They have many of the same parts as mechanical markers so replacement parts are easy to find. They are also relatively easy to repair other than the electronics (typically all contained in the grip). They also can usually use CO2 or compressed air.
Disadvantages
Electro-mechanicals have many of the same disadvantages as mechanical guns - they are not as accurate or as consistent as most electronic guns. They are as loud as mechanical guns and need a higher air pressure (usually over 600 psi) than electronic guns.
Examples

* Evil Omen
* Spyder Pilot
* Piranha E-Force
* Tippmann X-7 Electronic
* Spyder VS3

There are many markers that don't really fit into the mechanical marker category as a "blowback" marker. While these guns once were common, they are increasingly more difficult to find on the shelves these days and are almost exclusively available online. Each of these varieties of guns has different pros and cons which are very different from traditional blowback mechanicals. Here is a brief overview of some of these.
Pump
You must pump the gun (slide a handle forward and then backwards) between each shot. The biggest drawback is the rate of fire (very low), but pumps are often the most accurate guns available and offer a fun alternative to semi-automatic play.
Autococker
Autocockers are basically self-cocking pump guns. They are considered by many to be the most accurate semi-automatic guns available, but they are not as fast as electro-pneumatic guns. Autocockers also have many more parts that tend to break than either classic mechanical or electronic guns. Additionally, to fire properly they must be tuned and adjusted constantly to operate ideally.
Automag
Automags are mechanical guns, but they are blowforward guns. They require no cocking and operate at around 800 psi (a relatively high operating pressure). They can handle a high rate of fire with the optional electronic frame (the electro-mechanical variety of the gun). They are known for their reliability but they also are gas hogs and get fewer shots per tank than many other guns.