Compare the Empire BT-4 Combat and Tippmann 98 Custom Basic side by side: price, specs, firing modes, weight, and maintenance — and see which paintball gun is the better buy for your style of play.
| Empire BT-4 Combat | Tippmann 98 Custom Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Tier | Budget | Budget |
| Typical Price | $70-130 (used) | $85-130 |
| Operation | Mechanical inline blowback | Mechanical inline blowback |
| Firing Modes | semi-auto | semi-auto |
| Caliber | .68 | .68 |
| Feed | Gravity hopper | Gravity hopper |
| Air | HPA/CO2 | HPA/CO2 |
| Operating Pressure | ~250 psi | ~250 psi |
| Weight | 3.3 lb | 3 lb |
| Maintenance | Low | Low |
The Empire BT-4 Combat and Tippmann 98 Custom Basic are both budget paintball guns, so the choice comes down to how each one fits your game rather than how much you spend. The two land close enough on price that cost alone is unlikely to settle it. Both run electronic firing modes, so trigger feel and board tuning matter more here than the spec sheet. The Empire BT-4 Combat is built with used-market scenario and woodsball in mind. The Tippmann 98 Custom Basic is built with rentals and budget woodsball in mind. Availability differs too: the discontinued (common) Empire BT-4 Combat and the in production Tippmann 98 Custom Basic won't always be equally easy to find new. Bottom line: the two are closely matched, so let price, looks, and what's in stock be your tiebreaker.