Paintball Buyer’s Blog

Added: Read more about the SP-1 and Vibe here and here.

For the past week I’ve been at the PSP World Cup at the Disney Wide World of Sports Grounds in Orlando, Florida. Not only is this event famous for its competition but also the largest paintball tradeshow of the year. This is the week when all the cool new toys get released for the new year. Even with all the pro teams and numerous X-Ball fields everywhere you look, I still haven’t watched a single game! I’ve been making the rounds everyday, stopping at every booth three times to make sure I’ve seen everything. Its my job, after all… and I love it.

The big bombshell this week were two new markers from Smart Parts. Actually, they released four but you’ll read about the other two in a few days, there is so much to talk about! Smart Parts re-invented value-priced tournament markers with the Ion and while it was hugely successful it did have a couple of drawbacks for the beginner player. One, it required compressed air for proper performance which necessitated a pretty expensive investment in a larger HPA tank for a sustainable number of shots. Two, taking them apart is a little bit tricker than other entry level markers and those not used to paintball maintenence often damage the internals.

Smart Parts is taking a bold step into the entry level market. Most markers in this category are blowback operating at high pressure using CO2. While simple and reliable, they can sometimes be hard on poor quality paintballs (which beginner players often have), are very loud and usually kick like a mule. SP figured if they could revolutionize the tournament market, why can’t they do the same for the recreational side?

Enter the new Smart Parts Vibe…

The Vibe operates on the same principle as the Ion, although the only common part is the bolt. The body and gripframe are molded polymer, the good kind that is incredibly lightweight yet tough. The regulator is a new design and is integral to the marker. It features a bleed valve that vents excess pressure before entering the marker, and combined with a new solenoid and hosing means this new marker can run on regular CO2! The back of the body features an endcap so 90% of all maintenence can be done by simply pushing the bolt out the back, regreasing it and sliding it back in. The feedneck is clamping design and is made of the same material as the rest of the body.. you’ll break your loader off before you break the feedneck.

Not wanting to disappoint the woodsballers and scenario players, Smart Parts wisely offers the SP-1

Same internals as the Vibe but in a mean-looking body with seven…. yes, seven tactical rails! Plenty of rail real estate to mount bipods, sights, lasers and other tactical goodies.The front shroud is generously sized to accept most aftermarket barrels such as the excellent 20″ and 16″ Tactical Barrels, although the flash hider barrel that is included is pretty sweet. Another innovative feature is an adapter is available that allows you to install Model 98 stocks on the back of the body such as a collapsible or sidefolding.

The boards on these markers are capped at 12 balls per second and they do not have anti-chop eyes (though they will be available soon as an upgrade option). Many wonder why and the answer is simple… this marker was designed for the beginning player and thus was kept as simple as a full electropneumatic marker could be. Less wires to break and slower rate of fire, combined with 180psi operation makes for an easy to use marker that is easy on the paintball with no recoil.

The most amazing part about these two markers? The price. The Vibe retails at $139.95 and the SP-1 at $149.95. I couldn’t believe it either! I was instantly skeptical about the quality so I stepped to the test-firing range. Three pods of Reballs later and out came the Visa card…

These markers are a definite winner!

Added: Read more about them here and here.

Airsoft players aren’t usually known for their environmental concern, but since it’s Blog Action Day we’re featuring the FirePower Biodegradable EcoBB. The Eco BB is the first biodegradable airsoft BB that dissolves when exposed to ambient moisture. So the ECO BB is backyard friendly and won’t harm animals or plants. Your yard [and the environment] will thank us.

By far the blog post that has received the most traffic has been “My Tippmann 98 Custom Scenario Marker Project”… and its been receiving a lot of my attention as well. Here’s where it is at today…

I decided to put the BT Sight Rail on another marker and bolted on one of NC Star’s Trimount Flattop Rails. I really like these. This gave me a raised sighting plane for mask clearance and more rail real estate if I feel the need for more accessories later. Just because they’re so cool I also added a 25mm Red/ Green Dot Sight. The lighted dot is also raised up a bit higher so its easy to sight in on my target when wearing my mask.

With a Response Trigger on there I needed a fast feed system to keep the paint flowing to the breech. I tried both my Empire Reloader B and Viewloader Vlocity on there and while both loaders fed more than fast enough they really made the balance of the piece very side-heavy. I decided to go ahead and add the Cyclone Feed Upgrade which would forcefeed every shot, not need batteries and was MUCH lighter weight! I also added the X7 Hopper on there. Even though you can use a dot sight behind a vertical feed or loader (just leave both eyes open when you sight in… try it sometime), I wanted to have a clear view down the top of the marker. These two items accomplished that!

I’ve always had a things for bipods and if you notice on the X7 AK47 Frontsight there is a small section of tac rail molded into the bottom. Perfect! We carry a few models of bipods so I chose the Folding Bipod for Weaver Rail because it was the lightest one we carry. Attached to sweep back, it resembles the business end of a Russian RPK machinegun.

Last thing, I needed a sling because a) while this beast is lighter than it looks its certainly no Ion and b) if I need my hands free for a second its a pain to set it down while hooked up to my remote. I have both the standard and quick-release models of 3 point slings we stock but tried out and really liked the new Spector 1 Point Tactical Sling. Its easy to shoulder the marker from a rest position and I can just let go if I need my hands free in an instant. The buckles and straps used are really tough!

A few weeks ago at the Salem Supergame I put this project to the test. In our booth in the staging area it got A LOT of attention. Most were about the looks of the SP 16″ Tactical Barrel/ front sight/ bipod combo. Some thought the bipod was overkill but that still didn’t stop everyone from pantomiming the classic “machinegunner” pose.

Hopper and pods loaded with CORE Paintballs and my DXS 68/4500 tank filled, I went out onto the 400+ player big game field ready to rock. Right from the start I had to start blazing away just to get on the field, and the Cyclone Feed/ Response Trigger duo put a lot of paint downrange in a hurry to get their heads down. I was snapping out from behind an inflatable can bunker, shooting here and there at a trench filling up with red team players, when I noticed that the bunker was juuuuust the right height. Flipped out the bipod legs, assumed machinegunner pose of one hand on grip, one on the stock, and let’r rip. I was at just the perfect angle to drop paint into the trench, smack onto the heads of the opposing team in there. I admit I was laughing because it was so much fun and everyone who didn’t care for the bipod suddenly wanted to try shooting it from that bunker!

I must say, I’m very happy with where this marker is going and I hear Tippmann has something new to announce at World Cup…

Awhile back when I was at CCI, the home of the legendary Phantom pump paintball marker, I saw that Mike Cassidy had an actual Smart Parts Phantom Freak Back on one of his personal Phantoms. There have been some custom-milled stock barrels to accept Freak Inserts over the years but pump players have been begging Smart Parts to make them an actual factory Freak Back since… since… well, since the Freak System came out! Well, a little urging from us (one of, if not the largest SP barrel retailer in the world) and a quick call to Mike at CCI quickly led to this long-awaited product coming to market!

The main reason why Smart Parts never released the Back in Phantom thread is because the inner diameter of the CCI pump handle necessitated a smaller outer diameter for the Freak Back. This diameter was too thin for SP’s specs… barrels would have been snapping off markers left and right. They also were not sure how much of a market there was for such a product… after all, how many people still play pump?

The answer is a A LOT, and the number is growing as players either turn to a pump marker for a new challenge or want to get back to their roots. Available in stockclass or directfeed (”open class”), the Phantom has a cult following for its quality, reliability and ease of maintanence. I’ve known many semi players who bought one on a whim and have never played semi again. Mike Cassidy’s CCI is still going strong after 20+ years with no signs of stopping.

We said, “If you build it, we will buy it”… and now the authentic Freak Back for the Phantom is here! It is made with a 1″ outer diameter so a custom Phantom Pump Handle direct from CCI is included. It is milled out to fit the new diameter and a tad shorter to line up with the front. A new Retaining Nut is included as well. This will accept any of SPs fronts such as the classic spiral-ported All American, the newer Freak or the machinegun-esque Tactical.

Now you are prepared for any paint you need to shoot, as the Freak Inserts allow the shooter to match the bore to the paintball for any conditions. Plus no more rollouts! For those newer pump players out there, that means you won’t experience the frustration of the paintball rolling out the muzzle because its too small for the barrel.

A major manufacturer such as Smart Parts making products for pump players is always a good thing. It shows that this traditional and exciting style of paintball is alive and growing. Let’s keep that momentum going !

Heads up, woodsballers! Proto is starting to listen to your requests and have released their very popular EL Goggle in camoflauge. The EL is a more competitively priced version of the Proto FS Goggle, featuring a full hardshell plastic mask and visor. This mask has been extremely popular in the woods and tactical paintball scene for its excellent peripheral vision and snug shape. This new model features a woodland leak-like camo pattern that is molded into the mask itself… not a paint job that will scratch and flake off over time !

The Proto EL Goggles feature a single lens with an effective anti-fog solution cured onto the lens. However, if you’re one of those players that has to have a dual pane lens we have a special on those in a smoke-to-clear fade while supplies last. Of course, they still take the Proto Goggle Fan as well.

It will be interesting to see how far Proto wanders into the woods…

Added 12/28/2007… Sorry, the Omens are  now out of stock and gone forever!

If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary or just want a marker that is fun to shoot, we just picked up a bunch of Evil Omens and they’re going at a smoking price. This is probably going to be the last brand new Omens you’ll find and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Omens are an electronic-triggered, closed bolt blowback… a spring-loaded bolt closes at the end of the firing cycle so there’s less gas blowby up the feedneck. Speaking of feedneck, its not where you expect… its vertical but set off to the right side of the breech. Linked to the bolt is a forcefeed system, a set of “flaps” that push the ball into the breech. The result is a fast feeding system that also lets you look down the top of the marker for sighting.

They get great gas efficiency and just have this unique feel to them when they’re firing. At $149.95 they won’t be around for much longer so if you’ve been looking for one, now is the time!