Ok,
so here goes my foray into this debate.
I’ve owned all 3 markers involved.
Granted not at the same time but I have shot
them all. I’ve played tournaments with
The Angel and Mag. I’ve only played with the cocker for 6 weeks as of this writing
But I am also building a cocker too. So I can safely say I understand all 3.
I’ll
give a brief overview of the markers – my opinion anyway and then try to
compare them in some way.
Well, my opinion is
that this is without a doubt the best marker in its class.
I love my Angel SE; my Friends who have shot it
love it. I will not sell it at any
price,
Where as I would sell any of my markers, for the
right price. Not to say they are bad,
Just that this marker rocks.
This marker can take
an average player and make him a better one.
No it won’t
Teach them how to move or snap shoot. But its ability to easily throw paint is
unmatched.
The trigger is so light and easy to pull
compared to the other two markers that I can recommend
It without reservation.
There
is not a lot that needs or should be done to this marker. It is out of the box
Ready to shoot.
Chrono it and go lay paint.
Upgrades! None needed. I have replaced the plastic pull pin with a KAPP metal one,
Put on a High Volume Chamber/Low Pressure Cell
and a Shocktech bolt. The HVC/LPR and
the
Bolt are useless items. I just did it to see if it WAS any better
and to make mine look a little different.
The pull pin comes in colors too. I just don’t like plastic on any
marker. Leave it stock get a couple
Of barrels.
Locally everyone likes the ACI. I
have it and it shoots many types of paint.
I do not think the barrel is THAT much of a
factor with the Angel. It shoots so
much paint
That “accuracy” is a moot point. This is my current Tournament marker.
See them here: http://www.wdp-paintball.co.uk/multi.htm
My
first “good” marker was a Mag w/power feed.
I liked it. I sold it the
beginning of 2001
Because I wanted to try the cocker out. I played the Seattle Pan-am with it and walk
on with it.
It was my backup marker after I got my Angel
last June. This is a basic good walk on
marker.
Around here it is a little out matched against
cockers and Angels though. It is pretty
easy to work on
And fix.
Just get a spare parts kit. You
can always get a Mag working as long as you have
A spare parts kit. Down below I get into some characteristics that make it just not
tournament
Ready.
It is a good jumping point into a cocker though and in a pinch I would
use one in a local
Tournament, IF I HAD TOO!
You can check them out here: http://www.airgun.com/index.html
Well, the Autococker
is unique. It’s a pump that has
replaced the pump with pneumatics.
It can be made back into a pump. It is a mechanical marker. People love them or hate them.
I am uncommitted at this point. I do see more people “fiddling” with this
marker than anyone else.
I am not sure if that is what draws people to it
or not. There are a host of upgrades
and things
You can do this marker. It is highly upgradeable. Does it need to be? Not really.
I would change out
The plastic grips for a Benchmark or my current
favorite the KAPP one. I broke my space
age
Plastic grip the first day I was playing with
it. Problem is my local field is still
here on Earth and I haven’t
Had a chance to play on a zero gravity paintball
field. I say it again. I don’t like plastic on any marker.
I
would say that this markers claim as “the most accurate marker available” is a little
misleading.
Out of the three I would say, “It has the
flattest trajectory of any marker”
(barring the flatline barrel, I haven’t shot one of those). Now if this leads to perceived accuracy
great. There are just to many variables
in
Paintball to say it’s the most accurate.
Personally,
I think this marker requires a good paint to barrel match. It is a closed bolt marker.
The paintball actually sits in the barrel. The ball detent only prevents multiple
loading when the bolt
Is open when pulling the trigger. Only for a fraction of a second and then it
gets pushed into the barrel
by the bolt.
So, get a number of barrels in different bores and check it carefully
with the paint you are
shooting.
I have had paintballs roll out the end of my barrel. Not very effective in a firefight. Not to
mention it does have an impact on the velocity
of the paintballs.
I
am using a Smart Parts Freak system on one now. Custom Products and OTP make
similar
Systems – one barrel many inserts or “choke
tubes”. Great idea. I like it.
One Barrel different
Bores.
Get one for your Cocker and it just might be “the most accurate marker
available”.
Visit Worr Games here: http://www.worr.com/
Comparisons
The
Angel
Pros:
Shoots
a lot of paint fast and easily
Little
or no major maintenance required
Tournament
ready out of the box
Worth
the price of admission
Cons:
Need
to “charge” the battery.
Yeah
they last for like 420,000 shots on LCD but my SE
only
shoots about 5000 rounds +/- before it needs a charge
Expensive
to buy for a new player
Shoot
a lot of paint very fast – more money to play
The
Mag
Pros:
Good
mid range marker for walk on play
Easy
to work on and get running
Cheaper
of all three markers
Cons:
It’s
ability to accurately place paint and/or throw enough of it is
Outclassed
by the Autococker and Angel
The Autococker
Pros:
Flatter
trajectory leads to better “aiming” and shots
Tournament
ready marker
Cheaper
entry into a tournament marker.
Upgradeable!
Can
use less paint then an Angel
Cons:
Very
mechanical – not that this is bad. Just
seems everyone is adjusting
Or
“working” on them all the time. If you
have mechanical ability or like to
Fiddle
with things then ignore this comment.
Must
have good paint to barrel match for maximum effectiveness
Well,
here is where I’ll give my opinions of how they shoot. First off, they are all quality
markers for the most part. If money was no object or you wanted the
best there is then get an
Angel.
This is currently THE BEST MARKER out there to shoot paint. It can shoot lots of paint.
Lots and lots of paint. If you want to or are going to play
tournaments then this is it.
Ok
so you can’t afford a case of paint or two every weekend you play and you still
want
To play tournaments and walk on and you can’t
afford 6 markers? Then the standard
Autococker will work just fine for you. Get a good barrel “system” and get rid of
that
Cheesy plastic grip. A Good High Pressure Air system
(Oh by the way I’ve never shot any of
them on CO2 except the Mag) and your talking
about $900 dollars with a motorized hopper.
Speaking
of hoppers. I run 12 volts on the Angel
and Cocker and I ran a 9v on the Mag.
I don’t think the Mag justifies a 12-volt. If you can shoot really fast get a 12-volt.
So is the Mag
bad. I’m not so sure. No it doesn’t have the prestige of the
Autococker
or Angel.
It IS easy to work on. It’s not
very accurate compared to the other two but it’s cheaper.
If you just want a good marker to play walk on
with and want something more than a rental
And you’ll never play Tournaments ever then go
for it. You’ll still have money to buy
paint
And play and you will be playing instead of trying
to get your marker to work.
Accuracy/Trajectory and other such stuff.
The Mag has the
highest trajectory (arc) of firing. The
cocker has the “flattest” trajectory
and the Angel somewhere in between but closer to
the Autococker than the Mag (subjective
observation).
Picture the Mag shooting like Artillery and the
Autococker more like a rifle if you will.
I would
Put the Angel in the Machine gun range for
comparison. That is about as accurate a
description I can give.
Do they all have a place? Sure do.
Most players think of the Marker as a personal thing.
I have not heard anyone talk about the right
marker for the right position. One of
the reasons I own six.
Think about it.
If you are a cover player the easiest way to cover someone is to shoot a
lot of
Paint and “cover” your front man. The Angel is the best marker to perform
this. The machine gun
Effect.
Your front players need to move fast and snipe/snap shoot. I think the Autococker does this
Very well.
It uses less paint than an Angel so they don’t need to carry six pods;
it shoots flatter so you can
Shoot at more awkward angles (being tight in a
bunker) with better accuracy.
Unfortunately the Mag is only useful on medium
sized wood fields (in a tournament).
It’s not as effective
On Sup-Air and small woods fields because you
can’t use the trajectory to maximum effectiveness (my opinion)
Although for a back player it would work with a
skilled player. In the Pan-Am I made a
great key shot
In one of the games with a Mag. The only marker that could of done it. A nice lob shot in a
Hole in a bunker about 6” x 12”. I never saw the guy. I just fired into figuring he would “pop
up”.
He did.
I hit him before I even saw his head.
So the Mag could be useful in some situations.
Just not most of the time. Nothing against it.
Back
to the range and accuracy discussion.
Does one shoot farther than another one?
not really.
I think they all pretty much shoot just as far. Some may need more Kentucky windage
than others.
It might make you think one is better but at long range (long balling)
it’s still a crapshoot.
Bounces occur with all markers at long
range. In this area I think they are
all about equal.
At shorter range this is not true. Because of the flatter trajectory of the Autococker
it is thought
Of as being more accurate. I think it’s because more people are
familiar with real weapons
And how they shoot so they are more
“comfortable” shooting it. Where as the
Angel is slightly
Less accurate but out ways that with its ability
to put a lot of paint in the same general area
With such ease. At close range the Mag is the least effective of the three. It’s less accurate of the
three and the trajectory means higher (less
natural) firing arc’s to hit its mark.
Again a skilled player
Can counter act these negatives.
Final Notes
Well. I own or owned them all. For tournament play the Mag is
outclassed. It would be
(was) my backup marker (2000) but I just can’t
give it the nod. I’d go with a cheaper
basic Autococker than a tricked out Mag any
day. The Autococker has the highest
entry in my
maintenance category – the Angel the least. The Mag is a good basic marker for someone
getting into paintball on a regular basis but
I’d still go with a Piranha than a Mag.
Cheaper and
just as effective. Save you pennies for an Autococker or save your dollars for an
Angel.
If moneys not as much a problem then get an
Angel what are you waiting for?
Last updated 4/2/01
© 2001 By Wayne Perry