Paintball Buyer's Blog

Something that has been in stock for awhile but proving extremely popular is the new Camo FS Goggle from Proto. The new ‘wrap’ technology where patterns on a film can be cleanly and seamlessly transferred to surfaces is one of the best thing to happen in a long time. Now extremely durable yet intricate visual patterns can be added to virtually any hard good piece of equipment without the hassle and expense of anodizing. Dye/ Proto are utilizing it quite creatively! They took their successful long-running FS Paintball Goggle System and gave it a fresh look featuring a vibrant camo that slyly works the Proto logo into the pattern and it doesn’t cost anything extra. Great field of view, an easy to change thermal-cured scratch resistant lens and a flexible visor to keep out the sun and rain yet encourages bouncers and ricochets over the head. Check it out if you’re looking for something stylish that still blends into the greenery.

All the original Special Edition Rails in Blue, Red or Clear are gone, gone and gone. Taking their place is the latest Special Edition Proto Matrix Rail, this time in a camo wrap. The Camo PMR SE again features the metal Lever-locking Feedneck, Aluminum Vertical ASA, Edge Trigger and Edge Triggerguard upgrades, plus a finely detailed camo wrap over the body. The camo colors are in the same shades as the popular ACU camo, with the pattern looking like a mix of paint smears and drips. Sounds weird but trust me, the effect is awesome! One of the more original camoflauge ideas I’ve ever seen.

The Camo SE Proto Rail‘s first production run is sold out from the factory but will be back in stock in about two weeks. I predict they will burn through them again in a crazy short time so get a pre-order in now!

The last post mentioned BT Apex Barrels, which have been a very popular paintball barrel system for the last few years for its ability to provide adjustable backspin for long flat trajectories and trick shots. However, one thing many players wished they had was a different base barrel for the system when they have the rubber ramp “dialed open” for close range play. Many wanted a barrel with a bit smaller bore and better finish or inserts for better gas efficiency, noise reduction and to prevent rollouts on markers like Autocockers.

Well, now players have options!

The first to step up to the plate is LAPCO. The have made their excellent Big Shot Barrel available with a machined groove at the muzzle to accept your existing Apex tip. The LAPCO Apex Ready Paintball Barrel is available in 12″ Spyder, Autococker, Impulse/ Ion, Model 98/Custom Pro and A5/ BT-, plus a shorty 8″ in A5/ BT-4 threads. These barrels have been flying off the shelves for us, a sure sign that they work and work well!

Smart Parts heard the wishes of players and have released an Apex Compatible All American Barrel Front. This is not in itself a complete barrel, it is a 6″ front (for a total barrel length of 12″ not including the apex tip) to fit your existing All American, Freak or Freak Jr. barrel back. Its ample spiral porting makes this the quietest backspin system ever, and combined with a Freak or Freak Jr. kit you get the maximum versatility virtually any barrel system in the history of paintball!

BT, or “Battle Tested”, has come out swinging with another entry into the ever growing scenario paintball market. Last year they released their walkable double trigger BT Electronic Gripframe, followed by the BT Rip Clip Electronic Loader to feed the insane rate of fire that the e-frame could put out while still maintaining a low profile. Then, they really upped the ante with the BT-4 Delta paintball marker. This MP5 A3 look-alike threw the proverbial monkey wrench into the market by providing sweet looks and features below some competitor’s base model price. I discussed these in a previous post here.

Unfortunately, to put the popular Apex Barrel on the Delta took some tooling around and did look a bit awkward. The submachinegun effect just isn’t the same without burst/ full auto, but once you put the Electronic Frame on there you needed the Rip Clip or else your marker would just be chopping paintballs like a deli slicer. All of a sudden the marker got very expensive compared to its low starting price.

Well, not anymore… BT listened to the customer’s wants and have released the BT-4 Delta Elite Paintball Marker.

The Delta Elite resembles the famous MP5SD, one of the most common sound-suppressed submachineguns used by SWAT, Navy SEALS and other elite forces around the globe. It still features the awesome retracting stock, removable mock magazine and top shroud over the body and barrel. An Apex Barrel is standard and a new shroud resembling a sound suppressor fills out the front end so the Apex tip looks more an integral part of the marker. An Electronic Gripframe offers faster rate of fire and burst/ auto modes with the sound-activated Rip Clip loader feeding plenty fast.

Best part is the price. The already costs much less than outfitting a standard Delta with the e-frame and loader separately… AND you get the Apex with the sweet-looking shroud! The player saves over $100 and gets what I feel is the most intimidating full-production milsim paintball marker yet.

My spies at BT have told me of yet another marker in the works that is bound to make as big a splash as the other BT paintball guns have. Plus, I’ve already seen prototypes of other future BT products that are in the final testing stage. Their big rollout is going to happen at Oklahoma D-Day… and I’ll be there to see it!

Added… read about the other BT products in this article from my previous post.

If you’re like me you have a whole closet full of hooded sweatshirts. Living in the Pacific Northwest of the United States they are one of those necessities when the thermometer starts to drop in the fall and they don’t come off till spring. They are also on every paintball manufacturers list of must-have casual wear for players to show their love of the game everywhere they go. Traditionally just a silkscreened logo, Empire/ Invert decided to mix it up this year with some pretty interesting new designs.

They do have some standards, like the the zip up Empire Thornside and Invert Grenade and Invert Heart……

and pullovers like the Empire Bladestar, Empire Crack, and Empire Graphiti.

They are all great quality sweatshirts, thick and soft with big hoods that fit over your hat. All the Empire models have the trendy thumbhole in the cuff that is actually a nice feature, covering up your wrist for that extra bit of warmth.

Notice I said ‘standards’… the next few are really creative departures from the usual”let’s just slap our company logo and be done with it” paintball sweatshirts.

I’ve seen full-zip hoodies around town lately on a lot of kids. The zipper zips all the way to the topof the hood so it actually forms a mask keeping your entire headwarm. Ones I usually see are of skull faces or Mexican lucha libre wrestling masks, though a designer at Empire thought a gas mask would look perfect on there. Thus the Empire Gas Hoodie came to be. I bought one of these and standing at the train platform with it zipped up all the way does get some stares!

The Empire Gambler Hoodie seems plain and innocent enough, being bright green with sewn red letters on the front. However, zipping it open and laying it flat reveals a craps table on the inside! Perfect for those late night dice games when you’re away at a tournament.

The Empire Hounddog Hoodie fulfills two trendy fashion needs… houndstooth and the look of all over company logo, a la Gucci or Louis Vitton. From a distance, the Hounddog looks like a houndstooth-pattern sweatshirt, but on closer inspection the pattern is actually Empire logos. Available in black with white or white with black, these are lined with a thick thick thick acrylic fleece pile that feels like you’re wrapped up in your bed, they are so warm and comfy.

Lastly, there is the Empire Soft Shell Hoodie. Why its classified as a hoodie in their catalog I don’t know because this thing is a very lighweight and comfy windbreaker. They are windproof and water repellent with elastic cinch cords for the hood, wrists and waist. A thin layer of acrylic fleece inside keeps you warm and are roomy enough to fit over a sweater or hoodie underneath it for even more insulation. This is my new favorite coat… warm and dry enough for most conditions, light and compact for going in luggage and looks snazzy and sharp for meeting with company reps. I saw a similar jacket at North Face the other day that cost twice as much, so this piece of apparel is one of the smartest purchases you will make all year.

In my opinion, these are the best looking and functional sweatshirts and jackets from any of the paintball manufacturers so far this year!

Worr Game Products lately has been creatively using up their stores of older stock components to make room for new products. I would have loved to seen the meeting where someone said “Hmmm, people still seem to like this whole pump marker thing, should we try that?”. They seem to have forgotten that Worr Game Products was founded on a pump marker, the WGP Sniper, in the late 1980s. The originals, many built in Bud Orrs garage, were rather blockish with hinged triggers and are now collector’s items among serious pump enthusiasts.

Eventually the design morphed into the Sniper 2 featuring more refinements such as the slide trigger. When semi auto was starting to become available there was a sudden boom in kits that converted your pump marker into a true semi or self-cocking pump. Bud Orr went the self-cocking route, making a pneumatics kit that bolted onto your Sniper. Called the “AutoCocking Kit”, it proved itself so popular that they were eventually sold as a complete gun. Thus, the WGP AutoCocker (or simply ‘Cocker’) was born. Anybody who played in the early 1990s remembers the great ‘Mag Vs. Cockers’ debates.

The Sniper 2 (there was the rare Sniper 3 in there, with a wraparound pump on a Mini cocker body) faded from the picture. Oh, it was still around but basically forgotten by the industry. The AutoCocker rose to the top of the heap for a long reign as the top tournament marker until the WDP Angel and other electropneumatic markers became the new kings.

Now we enter paintball today. Pump play has made a significant comeback, whether its older players returning to their roots or newer players looking for a challenge. Many players make the switch when they realize how much fun it is for a lot less money, since your paint consumption drops to a fraction of playing semi. Cheap paintball play means being able to play more often. Pump marker sales are up and there is actually a market for converting semi autos into pump markers! All of a sudden WGP pumps are back, with tons of aftermarket Autococker accessories available cheap with a little searching.

We have been getting in small shipments of pump WGP markers… their availability is so limited that when I call in my order for them my rep has to run out to their warehouse and tell me what I can get. They won’t be making them much longer so if you can get your hands on one of these I’d do it! WGP Karnivor Pumps were in our last shipment and this week we had received Nightkast and Super Stock Pumps as well.

The Super Stock Pumps use the Super Stock body. We have in Olive w/ Hinge Trigger and Black w/ Slide Trigger.

The Nightkast Pumps I think are the best looking of the bunch! We have Blue and Red w/ Slide Triggers.

Karnivor Pumps feature a half-blocked Karni bodywith a quick pull bolt. Combine that with its intricate milling and you’ve got a true joy to shoot! The stock on these changes often and quick so go to our website to view the stock on the WGP Karnivor Pump Marker.

If you already have a WGP Autococker or Trilogy and want to convert it to a pump marker we can help you with that too. Just pick up a WGP Sniper Pump Conversion Kit.

When these are gone they will be gone forever.

Okay, I am officially impressed with the Smart Parts SP-1. This thing is fun to shoot and is gentle on paint, plus basic maintanence is quick and simple. I picked up the Stock Plate Adapter (which lets you mount most models of Tippmann 98 stocks) and the Double Trigger Kit. Though I really liked the look and more realistic milsim feel of a single trigger, I wanted to try it out with the factory aftermarket trigger kit. Definitely glad I did! On the stock trigger the activation point… where the microswitch ‘clicks’… is pretty early so the rest of the triggerpull (known as overtravel) is wasted motion. Lots of overtravel also puts unnecessary wear on the microswitch. The Double Trigger Kit angles the trigger back and includes a triggerstop screw so you can adjust how far the trigger travels. Less wasted motion = faster rate of fire and longer microswitch life!

The owners manual for the SP-1 only shows maintanence as far as removing and greasing the bolt… these markers were designed for first-time paintball marker owners as well as seasoned players and thus the manual was designed to show you the basics without confusing the less mechanically inclined. Anything beyond basic upkeep should be handled by a well-trained and knowledgable technician at your local paintball pro shop. I had fun tearing it apart to install the upgrades… 20 years of paintball dissection makes it a breeze… but I realized that others might not have such an easy time with it, or maybe they live far away from a pro shop. Well, I took out my camera, tore my SP-1 back apart, and snapped a few pics to help those install these popular upgrades and understand their SP-1 and Smart Parts Vibe (they are similar) a little more.

DISCLAIMER! I’m not responsible for any damage or mistakes you might make to your paintball marker. Please use all the proper tools and lubricant when performing anything to your marker. Please remove and COMPLETELY degas your marker (remove tank and dryfire till no longer cycling) prior to any maintanence. If you’re not sure of any of the following, contact Smart Parts Tech Support, they have friendly and knowledgeable people over there in Pennsylvania!

Degassed completely? Good, first thing first is to remove the grip screws and the battery. Don’t yank out the battery by the wires! Notice how the battery lays in the grip? Use a little thought when placing and removing the 9 volt and you won’t have any broken or crimped wires. Remove the screws holding the ASA to the gripframe.

Next remove the bolt. This is actually the bulk of the maintanence your SP-1 or Vibe will ever need. Using a 1/8″ Allen wrench, remove the two screws and the back plate. With a 5/16″ Allen you now unscrew and pull out the rear plug. Using a squeegee or similar object, gently push the bolt back from the breech end out the back.

Look how much grease was on there from the factory. Thats how much you want to use. In the future, you’ll be wiping down the bolt and inner chamber, regreasing with Smart Parts Sleek Lube or Hater Sauce and sliding the whole assembly back into the marker. Never use any oil for you SP-1, Vibe or other Smart Parts spool valve guns!

Now remove the three screws holding the gripframe to the body… one behind the grip, one in front of the trigger and above the regulator, accessed through the whole on top of the body.

Now the gripframe can be gently pulled away. Just make sure to guide the battery connector with care through the frame so you don’t break the battery wires.

With a suitable tool… I used a small Allen wrench… push the crosspin forms the axle that the trigger pivots on out from the right side of the frame (with the frame pointing away from you) and remove the trigger. Remove the screw above the forward end of the triggerguard and the brass nut that that also houses the trigger pretravel screw in there. You may need to back out the pretravel screw a bit to fit the wrench in the nut. Remove the single triggerguard, insert the double and put the screws back in place. Slide the new trigger in place and insert the framepin from left to right.

Now, everything goes back together in reverse order. Note in the pic below how the regulator and frames nest into each other.

If you’re adding a stock with the Stock Adapter Plate, slide the piece that the stock fits through on first. Then, piece the two sections of the plate that go against the body onto the end of the stock. See how all the tongue and groove sections fit together? Clamp those down over the end of the stock, then slide the first piece down the shaft, lining up the metal guide pins into the holes. One thing to be aware of is that these parts are plastic and thus not always perfect dimensions the fit was designed to be very tight. Better this than a loose and wobbly stock! I found that a simple bench vise or large pair of padded vise grips made clamping the adapter together much easier… unless you plan on changing stocks all the time you will only need to do it once anyways.

Thats it… there’s not much to it. Just go slow, take your time and don’t force anything. Don’t do it anymore than you have to as well. One thing I’ve learned about paintball markers is that the less you take it apart, the better. Now I’m not saying to never clean your marker, what I’m saying is that if your marker isn’t full of mud and got shot up to the point that paint has seeped in everywhere you should just clean the breech and wipe it down. When you do need to tear your SP-1 or Vibe down further, such as a deep clean or to change the ball detents, remove the screw and block by the reg on the underside of the body and then slide the internal chamber and firing can out of the body. That stuff on the internal chamber is the same grease you use on the bolt to make installation easier.

Here’s how my personal SP-1 currently runs. In addition to the Stock Adapter Plate and Double Trigger Kit, I added a CORE Collapsible M4 Stock, LAPCO Bigshot 14″ Barrel and a new Single Point Tactical Sling that we have for a smokin’ price at the moment. There is one idea I have for this marker thats going to involve some cutting of this, hacking that and causing a total void of warranty in general… but its going to be sooooooo cool!

Elbow pads rank right next to knee pads as mandatory equipment in my book. Your arms take a lot of impact throughout a day of play, from using those elbows while crawling to landing on your forearms when diving headfirst. They are also one of the places you tend to be shot the most, especially on the bony bits. A good elbow pad needs enough padding to protect your skeletal structure and muscles without hindering movement and need to hold in place. Older elbow pad designs tended to slip up or down at the most inopportune times, but this year almost every manufacturer’s elbow pads have the new thumbhole design that keeps them from sliding up the arm when sliding, and a strap around the bicep to keep them from sliding down.

Dye’s the elbow pad most people know about due to their massive advertising campaigns and like most things Dye they are usually the most expensive…. for a reason. Their new Dye 08 Elbow Pads incorporate a lot of the classic Dye elbow pad perks with some new features to put them in contention for the best out there. They feature the thumbhole design common to the new generation of pads but also throw in some compression-formed padding on the back of the hand for those paintball players who prefer to go gloveless. They are molded to fit the arm and feature the classic Dye rubber bumps to grip and hold your jersey in place so you’re not swimming in your jersey. One thing to keep in mind if buying the Dye 08 Elbow Pads… they are running a little smaller than usual so I’d suggest buying up one size larger than you are used to.

Empire introduced their Ground Pounder line a few years ago and quickly became one of the best-selling line of pads, period. This years Empire 08 Ground Pounder Elbow Pads SE continue the tradition of being possibly the most cushioned pad out there. Really, banging your elbows in these feels like smacking a bed matress. They have the must-have thumbhole and bicep strap, plus a cutout section in the elbow pit to give you some ventilation. These are available is a wide range of sizes including Youth.

NXe introduced their Techna Flex Elbow Pads last year and they have been a solid favorite with a lot of players. These feature the thumbhole desig, bicep strap and very firm padding. They don’t get the bounce of some other pads but do an amazing job saving you from injury, which is more important in my book!

Next up is Smart Parts Exoskin Elbow Pads. I think they are the most comfortable of the lot, with lots of flex and soft padding for good bounce as well. They don’t have the thumbhole design but that can be a good thing… these are a lot more comfortable to wear with gloves! I have used these pads several times and I can honestly say they styed put and didn’t slide around. These also fit into anybody’s budget!

The last item of protective gear I’m going to talk about is a chest protector. Wearing a chest protector carries a stigma with some players, akin to training wheels on a bicycle. Well, if thats what the ‘hardcore’ think, let them. Paintball is all about having a good time and some people (actually the majority of players worldwide) would rather experience a little less sting when hit. When you are less afraid of being hit you play more confidently. Chest protector are popular with all ages but I think they should be standard equipment for kids in addition to full head mask systems.

The most common type of chest armor is what I often call a ‘body shield’. Basically, its a sandwich of padding that wraps to the body. Worn inside or outside clothing, this armor provides the best protection in terms of impact protection  (you barely feel anything!) and coverage for front, back and sides. The only real downside is a little extra bulk but the peace of mind is well worth it. Probably the best in this class is the CORE Reversible Chest and Back Protector. They flex with the body, are lightweight and reverses from black to woodland camo.

A new trend this year is the ‘shirt’ style protector. The consist of a snug but stretchy sleeveless or short sleeve shirt with integrated padding sewn in. These tend to cover a little less than the ‘body shields’ but are very comfortable and in some cases hardly noticeable under your playing clothes.

Leading the pack this year is the Empire Ground Pounder Chest Vest. These are selling like crazy and really hard to keep in stock. They are a shortsleeve shirt with padding sewn in the chest, back, sleeves, shoulders and stomach. I bought one of these for my wife and she swears by it. Combined with a full head mask, neck pad and elbow pads she is not afraid to get aggressive at big games when there is a lot of paint in the air. These are available in sizes from Youth Small to XXXL Adult.

The other hot seller in this style is the Proto Chest Protector. This is a sleeveless design with thinner padding, fitting more snug but with more stretch and mesh venting to keep you cool. They don’t offer as much coverage but are by far the most comfortable body protection, period. Worn under a shirt or jersey they are hardly noticeable.

Last item here is another one from Empire, the Empire Ground Pounder  SE Pro Shirt. Its a stylish lycra shirt with thin padding all along the arms and other parts of the body. Its helps protect the body from falls and takes a bit of the sting out of a paintball hit as well. Great overall protection!

That wraps up my general overview on a lot of paintball protective gear. Its one category of products I like to talk about for good reason… it helps keep people from getting hurt. Paintball is a great pasttime and sport and the more padding you wear, the longer your body can continue playing!

When Dye/ Proto debuted the DM8 and PM8 at World Cup the most talked about feature was the new Hyper 3 Regulator… smaller and lighter with a radical new look and feel. In keeping with the current trend of making the marker smaller and narrower, the Hyper 3 uses new threads to screw into the marker and requiring an adapter to use on other guns. First thing I wondered was “What are they going to do with all the Dye Hyper 2 Regulators?”.

Sell them in big lots to us, of course! We bought a good sized chunk of what was left at a great price and now we have them priced to move. These are excellent regs, easy to adjust in the 0-450psi range and feature a swivel bottom so your macroline (one 90 degree fitting included) or SS hose can be perfectly lined up every time! If they were good enough for the $1400 DM Series markers, they are sure to be an upgrade on a variety of markers out there.

These are now priced well below half of what they used to retail for and when they are gone, they’re gone! If you’ve been needing a new regulator or thinking about an upgrade, here’s your chance to improve performance and save money. Remember, you can always call one of our experienced reps to if you have any questions about this or any other prouct at 1-800-875-4547.