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Questions & Answers

Danny,

QUESTION: I have recently purchased a new Autococker that is completely stock (I have custom grips). I was wondering if you could suggest some basic mods for a beginning 'Cocker user. A response would be very much appreciated. Good luck to you and Aftershock. Hope you take the title!! You guys rule!!!!!!!!!

Your fan,
"WOODY"
UK

Well Woody I'm glad to know that Aftershock has fans out there.

ANSWER: Probably by now you know the 'Cocker has a zillion mods which can be performed. The Autococker is a superb marker out of the box, so why modify it? Because it shoots even nicer with some modifications done to it. Also, the gun is one of the easiest to change to suit your individual playing or fashion concerns.

Why don't we start with the first thing most people change...the barrel. This selection gets harder and harder every year because of all the different companies with barrels available. I would limit my choices to the top of the line--after all, they're the ones with the reputation. Reason being, if the big name teams have them and win, so can you.

The brands to look at in my opinion are DYE, which we use, Smart Parts, used by the All Americans, J & J, and On Target Products barrels.

DYE has a new 14" aluminum that rocks. "Shock" shoots theirs stock (no mods at all). The next mod which will benefit you and is also very simple to install would be a new bolt. The Venturi bolt is the hottest of all the aftermarket bolts available. Venturi bolts help spread the air more evenly for less ball breakage and they also claim increased accuracy.

Since we've now covered accuracy, lets work on the operation of your Autococker. Our main goal here is to make your marker run smoother than it does now. This is possible with the addition of a few things that are not major changes to your marker. A trigger job, adjustable regulator and Nelson hammer kit are three mods which will make things run a whole lot easier.

The hammer kit uses less cocking pressure therefore allowing less strain on the ram and a considerable amount of your ball breakage will be decreased. Trigger jobs (when done right) are nice because the trigger, 3-way and the rest of the trigger assembly works so much easier. It is not expensive for you to have these modifications performed.

Thanks again "Woody" See ya.
Good luck in the U.K.

QUESTION: Danny, what would be a very difficult move to execute during a tournament game?

ANSWER: One of the most difficult moves to pull off during a game would be bunkering another player. Most players mistakenly believe the best way to rush someone is to stand up and run right at him. A majority of the time the player making this move will be eliminated along with the opposing player. Most players do not understand that if the rush is well calculated and thought out there is a greater chance of eliminating the opposition and living yourself.

As Aftershock, we have so many aggressive players that pretty much everyone rushes when given the chance (except Robbo). During the game we have to tell certain players not to do anything stupid because they just want to "do somebody". Actually they are very terrible shots so they have to be within inches in order to mark someone.

During the game your main objective is to move forward (unless you are the All-Evils). While lying in a bunker or wherever you may be, begin to look around and plan your next move. Let's say there is a player on the field that is causing you problems. The only way to solve this is to remove the player from the game. Maybe he's in a huge impenetrable bunker. Well, so what! Somebody has to go do the dude. After looking for the safest way to your target, begin looking at other players who will see you on your way. When the time comes that they are not looking (and it will happen), HAUL ASS! When the target is closing in begin to look for incoming balls and take note of whether or not your target is aware of what is about to happen. If he knows you're coming you must eliminate him even though you will be walking off together. Do not pull short and attempt to pick his head off when he comes up to shoot you. This will only get you shot by someone else. Finish the rush by going over the top to let him know he is leaving the field. Make sure he is marked even if he gets shot 15 times. But whatever you do, do not play on. If by chance he has no idea that you're coming, slow your run to a jog and very nicely stick your barrel through the bunker and let him know that your gun fires real fast. The reason for slowing your run is that if you're not in creep mode he may hear your footsteps and rip you up.

There are a lot of amateur and pro teams that will try to bunker someone from the get-go, but there are usually not many places on the field that really need to be taken from the opposing team right away. When there is a position of great importance whoever is doing the rushing should carefully (before the game) walk his planned run over and over again to become familiar with the terrain. This will enable you to find the quickest path and pinpoint things that may make you fall and go "boom". If that occurs your entire game plan will be screwed. Watch a game or two in order to see where the other player's spots will be. When the horn blows, "HAUL ASS" and stay focused. Do not focus on anything but your job. Remember you have one purpose, which is to eliminate your target so do not expect yourself to have a long game.

After reading my well thought out and very nicely written article you should now be just as good a player as Coleman D. (who has just quit paintball to live on an Amish farm). Actually I hope this article provided you with better knowledge of what to be looking for when you decide it is time to go do someone. But to be completely honest, successfully bunkering someone also involves a strong quotient of raw luck. But if I were to have said that any earlier I would not sound like the very knowledgeable Danny Love whom everyone knows and loves.

SEE YOU IN ORLANDO! Don't forget, I hate fixing guns during tournaments, so don't ask unless you have at least a six of Coors Lite to bestow upon me. (bottles)

You can get in touch with Danny Love at Bad Boyz Toyz at (718) 418-8888.

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