[Wheeldogg]

50 cal will most likely not catch on until there is a reliable and cheap 50 cal rental (like the 98's of the .68 world) and 50 cal paint is sold at feilds

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by Wheeldogg

50 cal will most likely not catch on until there is a reliable and cheap 50 cal rental (like the 98's of the .68 world) and 50 cal paint is sold at feilds

I found it quite interesting that Tippmann took a stand and stated that they would not be producing any 50 caliber markers. This is obviously the "new" Tippmann that took that stance. I don't think the old guard would have done that. They are going to have to do some back pedaling now that they took that stance if they want to get into that market. Let's face it, a good dependable 50 caliber marker that could hold up to rental abuse would most likely have a potential market for 100,000 units or more from field owners alone. Silly move to categorically cut yourself out of that market.

[Fubarius]

Originally Posted by Horizon

I found it quite interesting that Tippmann took a stand and stated that they would not be producing any 50 caliber markers. This is obviously the "new" Tippmann that took that stance. I don't think the old guard would have done that.

I disagree with that statement. The "old guard" had experience with alternative calibers. They tried .62 cal from the very beginning, but didn't really take off until adopting the more standard caliber, with the smaller caliber stuff getting filed under "bad idea".

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by Fubarius

I disagree with that statement. The "old guard" had experience with alternative calibers. They tried .62 cal from the very beginning, but didn't really take off until adopting the more standard caliber, with the smaller caliber stuff getting filed under "bad idea".

Yes, but as a business, it's never good to slam doors shut. It's always best to leave your options open. The current Tippmann management basically wanted to side with the "players" and against Italia and stated that they would never build 50 caliber. That's slamming a door shut. Now that 50 cal seems to be gaining ground with field owners, wouldn't it be nice to have the option to cater to that market?

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the old owners would have made a bad business decision like that, but I seem to recall that they used a little more common sense.

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by Fubarius

I disagree with that statement. The "old guard" had experience with alternative calibers. They tried .62 cal from the very beginning, but didn't really take off until adopting the more standard caliber, with the smaller caliber stuff getting filed under "bad idea".

As far as a "filed under bad idea" goes, that was when Tippmann tried to directly compete with 68 caliber (as Italia seemed to try to do with 50 caliber). 50 caliber seems to be increasing steam on it's own merit as being different enough from 68 caliber and thereby creating a different ad separate market from the traditional 68 caliber market (not a replacement).

[2pipes]

Do you mean the JT splatmasters for gaining ground? Sure I see those at my field for younger kid parties, but in a real game nope!

Just my 2 cents but everything in paintball right now is geared for accuracy at range and accuracy in general. Basically being able to hit and break a paintball at the intended target. I know someone is reading this right now and throwing the penalty flag based on how much paint players carry, but really the ideal marker, barrel, hopper, air supply, regulator, and paintball combo is DESIGNED TO MARK PLAYERS "ACCURACY". 68 cal breaks more consistently and flies further at a given velocity as compared to 50 cal all based on its mass. Having 2 different calibers means the hassle of conversion kits or different markers completely. Where 50 cal is not dead, I do not see it as becoming mainstream.

In order for this to change the cost of shooting them (50 cal) would have to be drastically less than 68. Simply put 68 is established and paintball is not growing enough to support 2 calibers in the mainstream. Heck it can't really support 2 pro leagues NPPL and PSP. So without massive savings to be seen why would a player toss his $1000 marker, buy another one for 50 cal, and demand 50 cal be sold at their local field?

[arshagarbon]

LOL 3 years later and .50 hasnt gained any ground. I've actually heard less about it in 2013 than in 2010.

[custar]

Originally Posted by hateyou

We sell about 10 cases a weekend of .50 cal.

How much .68 do you sell in the same time frame, and what is the mark up of each?

custar

[aresfiend]

Originally Posted by custar

and what is the mark up of each?

This here is wholly irrelevant. Just saying, if they sell more tournament .68 and more rec .50 then the markup is going to have a completely different ratio, or vice versa if they sell rec .68 or rec .50.

[custar]

Originally Posted by aresfiend

This here is wholly irrelevant. Just saying, if they sell more tournament .68 and more rec .50 then the markup is going to have a completely different ratio, or vice versa if they sell rec .68 or rec .50.

Horizon owns a field, and hateyou was posting about how much he sold at his field or the field at which he works. If the sale of a box of .50 with a mark up of, say for instance, $20.00 displaces a sale of .68 with a mark up of, say also for instance, $25.00, the field owner has to take that into consideration. I am not sure what ratio you are referencing because mark up is per box, not a ratio between tournament grade vs. rec grade. On the other side of that coin, if the selling price of .50 is low enough that players will buy three boxes of .50 vs. 2 boxes of .68 with the above mark ups, the field owner also needs to take that into consideration. So, mark up is relevant for field owners. Just sayin'.

custar

[aresfiend]

Originally Posted by custar

So, mark up is relevant for field owners

It's relevant for field owners' pocket books, however it is not relevant for comparison unless they're selling the same paint for .50 and .68, like 4 star .50 and .68 or Formula 13 .50 and .68.