I don't think the majority of you people are understanding his question. The options are an ION or a VS3. If he wanted to spend a grand on a paintball gun then yeah maybe he'd get an ego. But then again take in to consider how much you play, are you planning on getting into tourneys, how much are you going to want to upgrade your gun (because yes the ion can get up there in the price range if you completely upgrade it) but overall the ion is a great beginner gun in my opinion, it was my first gun and after awhile i got more into it and upgraded it with a virtue board, qev, feedneck, firebolt, grips, ez on, stiffy, etc. Yet i get many many MANY comments on my gun even though it is an ion, because theres so many upgrades on it. Its all personal preference, but if he decides on upgrading it in the future he has plenty of options with every thing he wants to do with it. But hey, even stock it shoots 17 bps, what more do you need then that eh? You'll still have to turn it down depending on where you play.

Ion.