use your gun first in a couple of games before you even think about upgrading. How do you know the shortfalls of your gun if you haven't even tested it in harder conditions?

I don't seem to understand the need for every newbie to instantly upgrade their gun to 400fps when they haven't even tested the limits of their gun in the first place.

i've used my gun stock for a year and now am i getting it upgraded and the spring is staying the same.

Tightbore barrel+ SCS spacer + high quality compression parts+ heavy BBs=range.

eventually everybody gets upgrades may as well do it while I have the money and a job

Not everyone gets upgrades. I know people that have run stock guns for years and are still working fine. The gun is not the most important aspect of the game, the player and the mentality they carry is what will separate the "weekend warrior" from the "seasoned vet" mentality. Work on upgrading your playing style and logical thinking before you open up your gun. Upgrades and replacement parts should not be a flashy list to show off to people as you (as someone new to the sport) have seen many do. Upgrades should come from a practical standpoint, you have a new piston head because your stock one has low compression; you have a new hopup as yours cracked, you have a new loading nozzle as your old one crumpled etc... Doing upgrades "just because" is a waste of money. Find a reason, then find the parts.

Thank you everybody. Your words of wisdom have truly opened my eyes to this....culture.

Get a longer barrel (tightbore), hide it with a silencer, and get a bore-up kit. Better spring too. There you go.

It is relatively easy, but I believe this is one case where "Upgrade the player not the gun" definitely applies.

Get out to some local games in your area and speak with some local players and actually get an idea as to what the sport entails before upgrading your gun. Its not imperative that you field a gun with the maximum FPS as possible at your first game. And you can be just as competitive on the field with a stock gun as without.

Cheers