Paintball Buyer’s Blog

2007 is gearing up to be the Year of the Mid Priced Paintball Marker with the Smart Parts Epiphany, Proto Matrix Rail and Invert Mini battling for the $400 price range. The Smart Parts Ion proved that high performance at a lower cost was possible but the marker does have its limitations out of the box. These three manufacturers are gunning for the player who wants high performance on a budget but doesn’t want “just another Ion”. Which is the best choice? Well, depends on what you’re looking for…

The Smart Parts Epiphany ($399.95) is based off the proven Ion platform, with many of the accessories for Ions also working on it. That right there scores big in my book, I own an Ion and absolutely love its performance and simplicity. Combine that with familiar maintanence and the Epiphany is the logical choice for an Ion owner looking to upgrade. The body, gripframe and reg cover are machined from magnesium alloy for weight and polished to a mirror finish. The Firebolt, on/off ASA and new style Freak Jr. Barrel come standard. The firing can has been upgraded as well. Sleeve inserts for the can are included so the player can tweak the volume of air and find their favorite setting for gas efficiency and recharge rate. I think its cosmetically the best looking of the three.

The Proto Matrix Rail ($399.95) is one of the lightest markers you’ll find. The big buzz about this one is that it has a polymer frame but don’t worry… this is the good plastic, the kind that is incredibly tough and doesn’t look out of place. The LPR (Low Pressure Reg) has been removed and replaced with cleverly designed internals that is still gentle on paint with less recoil. I expect to see some of these design changes worked into the PM and DM series markers next year. What you get is incredibly fast rates of fire, easy tuning (just one allen wrench to adjust the inline regulator for velocity) and the easiest maintanence of all three contenders. Proto already offer aluminum upgrades if the plastic parts are not to your taste including the Utralite Frame ($199.95) which is probably the most comfortable gripframe you’ll ever feel!

Last is the Invert Mini ($399.95), one of the most sought after markers on the planet at this time. The operating system places the pneumatics in the gripframe and the battery and board in the foregrip. The entire package is lightweight and TINY! I test shot one at World Cup and couldn’t believe the amount of paint that can come out such a small package. The ASA houses the inline regulator and feeds the air into the grip so there are no exposed airlines outside the body. The downside to this totally new design is a lack of accessories like different ASAs or grips but word is Custom Products, Hybrid and other aftermarket companies already have options in the works. Gas efficiency is the best of the three, providing about 1400-1500 shots from a 68/4500psi tank. While the Epiphany features a standard feedneck and Rail a screw clamping model, the Mini comes standard with the gotta-have lever feedneck.

All three paintball markers do what they were designed to do… throw paint like the big boys at half the cost. Which one is best? Each has its strengths and the winner will emerge when the dust clears. These are the three markers I’m keeping an eye on this year!

John