5 Best Pump Paintball Guns 2024 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Pump paintball guns are the perfect solution for players who want a durable and reliable firearm without having to spend a lot of money. If you’re looking for the best pump paintball guns, you’ve come to the right place.

In this blog post, we will share information on the top 5 guns on the market today. We’ll give you an overview of each one, list their key features, pros, and cons, and tell you how much they cost. Also, we’ll give you some tips on how to choose the best gun for your needs.

So, without any delay, let’s jump straight to the list of the best pump paintball markers of 2024.

Comparison Chart

1. Azodin KP3.5 Kaos Pump Paintball Gun

The Azodin KP3.5 Kaos Pump Paintball Gun comes ready to go out of the box, with details like an aluminum clamping feedneck and pull-pin release bolt.

The Azodin KP3.5 pump marker has all of the same features as pump guns that are 2-3 times as expensive but with much better looks and a significantly smoother operation.

The single trigger frame, dual ball detents, and dual cocking rods all make for a smooth pump stroke and dependability, as does the all-aluminum body and frame.

A simplified on/off ASA valve with a swivel coupled macro line delivers air to the Rock Steady Regulator.

Features:

1. 14 inch barrel – includes two barrel backs: .681 & .685
2. Aluminum body and single trigger frame
3. Quick release bolt
4. Dual ball detents
5. Adjustable in-line Rock Steady regulator
6. Weighs 2.5 pounds

Final Verdict

The Azodin KP pump paintball gun is a great choice for anyone looking for a pump marker that is both affordable, light, and reliable.

This pump marker comes with many features that are sure to please any paintballer interested in pump action, including an aluminum body, grooved pump handle, and 14″ barrel.

2. Azodin KPC+ Pump Paintball Gun

When Azodin sought to update the KPC Pump, they created a new auto trigger. They zeroed in on the essential features that made the original so popular.

The KPC+ emphasizes price, durability, and low maintenance, combining a half-block design with a bulletproof Feather Regulator.

With long-lasting durability that can be trusted, this pump is a beauty. The resulting sleek pump offers excellent performance in all types of weather with robustness you can count on.

Like the KP3.5, the KPC+ uses the new inline ON/OFF bottom ASA simple air intake.

Metal Orange, Blue Red, Blue Gold, and Ninja are among the four different combinations of dust and polished colors available.

Features:

1. Screw lock feedneck
2. Preset Feather regulator
3. 14″ single piece ported barrel – .685 Bore
4. Quick-release bolt with dual O-rings
5. Single trigger frame
6. Inline on/off bottom ASA
7. Weighs 2 Lbs 10 Oz

Final Verdict

The Azodin KPC+ pump paintball gun is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a pump paintball gun. It is lightweight, has a small profile half-block body, and is easy to operate.

The pump action is smooth and the gun is very accurate. Toolless quick cleaning makes this easy to field strip.  This pump paintball marker is slightly more expensive than the KP3.5, though.

3. Empire Paintball Sniper

Empire Paintball’s new Sniper is a tournament-level pump marker based on the Autococker design, featuring the moniker of a classic.

The new generation of the Sniper is built on the same foundation as the original Sniper and provides all of the features you’d desire from an Empire paintball gun. 

Styling, durability, and performance are all enhanced with this version of the Sniper.

Features:

1. .45 Frame molded grip with finger grooves
2. Auto-Trigger for rapid firing
3. 14” aluminum two-piece barrel with 3 inserts: .675, .680, .685 Bore
4. 10-round feed system included
5. Removable vertical pump assist plate
6. Weighs 2 pounds
7. T-mounted On/Off ASA with bleed
8. Dual stainless steel pump rods for maximum stability

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a pump paintball gun that is both affordable and reliable, the Empire Paintball Sniper is a great option. 

It’s easy to use and maintain, and it offers great performance at its slightly pricier point than the other pump paintball markers in this post.

The removable vertical pump assist plate, Delrin pump handle and sled, and interchangeable 300 psi gauge give this marker an edge.  

The .45 grip with finger grooves is icing on the cake for ergonomic handling during the action.

4. JT SplatMaster Z18

The Z18 Splatmaster .50Cal is one of the new entry-level paintball guns from JT.

The popular and often imitated Splatmaster is further refined and improved to make low-impact play even more enjoyable for novices and experts alike.

With easier pump action for an enhanced low-impact experience, this competitively priced model is still very light.

JT is dedicated to developing the sport of paintball from the beginning with high-quality, low-impact paintball gear that increases the enjoyment factor for younger players getting into the sport.

Surely, this is a safer option for first-timers.  These spring-action paintball markers shoot at a low impact of 110-130 feet per second and don’t require CO2 or batteries to propel the .50 caliber paintballs.

Features:

1. Real-Feed magazine holds 25 rounds
2. Adjustable shoulder stock
3. The maximum range of 100 feet
4. Spring-action firing mechanism
5. No batteries or CO2 needed

Final Verdict

The JT SplatMaster Z18 is our top choice for the best pump paintball gun for beginners. It is an affordable option that is great for youngsters looking to get into the sport of paintball.

These paintball markers are safer, have a smooth and quick pump action reloading system, and have an easy-to-service maintenance door.  Their best accuracy is up to 50 feet.

You also don’t need to worry about filling up a CO2 tank, which makes this simple for novices.

5. Valken GOTCHA Paintball Shotgun

The Valken Gotcha is a pump paintball marker that looks and feels like a sawed-off shotgun.

These pump paintball guns are intended for ages 9 and up, but that doesn’t mean adults can’t use them as well.

The Valken Gotcha is a specially designed spring-action, low-impact paintball marker that shoots .50 caliber paintballs up to 100 feet.

Features:

1. Low-impact pump style marker – maximum velocity of 140 fps
2. Durable aluminum barrel
3. Uses .50 caliber paintballs
4. Picatinny sight rail for adding accessories
5. Compatible with Valken CAR stock to increase stability
6. No type of compressed air needed

Final Verdict

The Valken GOTCHA Paintball Shotgun is reliable, has great range, and is very accurate at close range.  It is also one of the most affordable pump paintball guns.

It has serviceable internal parts, aluminum, and polymer construction, and is customizable.

These features make it stand out as one of the best pump paintball guns for future paintball players who want to try out the sport.

What is a pump paintball gun?

A pump paintball gun is a type of paintball marker that is loaded and charged by pump action.

In order to fire the gun, the user must pump the handle to pressurize the air chamber and allow the paintball to fall into the chamber.  

Pump markers can either be pressurized by compressed air like CO2, or by a spring-loaded mechanism that creates the pressure itself during the action of the pump.

Compared to other paintball markers that are semi-automatic or automatic, a pump action marker generally shoots at a much slower rate. 

Semi-automatic or automatic markers do not require pumping to pressurize the air chamber, so they can fire after each trigger pull (or while the trigger is held if it is automatic).

How do I choose the best pump paintball gun?

1. Material and Build Quality

Aluminum body construction, stainless steel pump rods, and ease of field strip ability are all higher quality features, compared to the composite construction of the lower-priced pump markers we listed in this post.

It all boils down to how much you want to spend to get the desired quality and durability of your marker.

2. Shooting Accuracy

Look for barrels with ports to help improve accuracy.  The ports help reduce turbulence around the paintball.

Listed on this post, the Azodin and Empire markers have this feature.  The GOTCHA and SplatMaster Z18 are accurate at close range (about 50 feet), but outside of that, they will pale in comparison.

From a player’s perspective, you are going to be more accurate per shot, because you have to be.

Without the ability to shoot more balls per second compared to a semi-automatic or automatic.  It will be more difficult to pin down a player or hope that because you’re shooting enough balls one is bound to hit them.

3. Ergonomics

The Empire Sniper has the best ergonomics of the markers reviewed in this post.

It has a .45 grip with molded finger grooves, and the pump has a vertical assist plate to make pumping easier.

These are features that should be considered when buying a pump gun, but they also come with a higher price tag.

4. Auto-trigger Mode

Auto-trigger mode, or “slam fire,” is a feature on pump guns that allows the paintball player to hold the trigger, and fire the marker with the stroke of the pump instead of having to pull the trigger after each pump.

This helps increase the rate of fire if you’re using a pump paintball gun.

Why are pump paintball guns better?

Pump paintball markers may be considered inferior to mechanical or electronic markers when used against one another because of the decreased rate of fire.

But when everyone is using a pump paintball marker, on the other hand, they’re a lot of fun to use.

Using a pump paintball marker means you’ll have to be intentional with each shot, instead of the spray-and-pray approach.  This is purely up to the type of player you are.

As an interesting note, many professional paintball players recommend training with a pump gun because it forces you to use more aiming skills, making you a better player overall.

So if you’re the kind of player this type of fire appeals to, are looking to increase your skills, or just want to change it up and have some fun, a pump paintball gun is for you.

Final Words – Wrapping it Up

Pump paintball guns offer players a unique gameplay experience that is different from the more popular semi-automatic or automatic paintball guns.

Pump guns are also a great choice for players who want to experience how the game was played when it first started.

After reading our post, we hope you can more easily choose the gun that fits your budget and style of play, and get ready to have some fun on the field.

Happy Paintballing!