PCRInet Issue 10

To Go Retro Or Not?
Oh Pawlak

With the new millennium upon us, the paintball motto for the year 2000 consumer is "faster, quicker, and better." We are a generation filled with the need to be better and smarter than our forefathers, thus we have matured into a population that seeks out the needed changes and pursues the edge of the envelope. Paintball is no exception and it too must continually improve and grow as a sport or otherwise suffer the fate of the dinosaur. As in any other sport, there are improvements made in the gear and equipment which we use to carry out our game. One step forward was taken when Airgun Designs introduced the Retro Valve for Automag owners around the world. Before any serious analysis is taken on the performance and value of the

Retro Valve itself, any intelligent consumer would know a product with the Airgun Designs logo would only stand for "quality" and "performance."

Throughout the years Airgun Designs has only produced products which somehow revolutionize and further the sport of paintball. Whether it was the Micro Quick Change or the Six Pack C02 changer (which allowed the 12 gram users to be less worried about their gear and more concerned about the game around them), products that rolled out the doors of Airgun Designs were items that embraced the future hand by hand and step by step. Even though Airgun Designs

continually strives to be the pacesetter for the future, they don't loose sight of that time tested virtue of customer service. Ask any consumer today or tomorrow about "customer service" and they will not hesitate to sing the praise of the service given by Airgun Designs.

Now that we know a little bit about the company behind the product, let's dive into the waters of the Retro Valve itself. The frontier of the paintball market is covered with ad ons and upgrades that can carry a hefty price tag. With a case of paint or an add-on barrel easily costing more than $100, it's not a stretch to spend $200 on a product that will really enhance your marker. That is the case with the Airgun Designs Retro Valve.

Why would any Automag owner want the performance of the Retro Valve? Simply put, the times have changed and the need for "pure firepower" is now a necessity, especially if you plan on playing tournament or serious walk-on ball. The ability to "throw" paintballs at high volumes now forces paint markers to be able to fire at rates never before seen in the paintball world. The introduction of the electronic guns with firing rates in the high double digits with motorized hoppers have caused the "arms race" to almost get out of hand. With these changes in the sport; Automag owners who once ruled the earth with their hair like trigger now can benefit from the Retro Valve's "trigger bounce" which can almost double the rate of the fire.

The concept of the Retro Valve is simple and clear. It allows any Automag owner to "drop in" an Automag R/T valve in place of the current existing air valve without any modification or machining. For Automag owners, this will give you the feel of an R/T without having to buy one. Along with the added firepower, the player has the peace of mind to know that repair and upkeep of the Retro Valve Automag is easier and quicker than most/all of the high priced electronic markers. A simple parts kit can be purchased for the Retro Valve that can rebuild the entire air valve 3 times over in less than 10 minutes.

In addition to the peak performance gained by the purchase of the Retro Valve, the consumer now has a "back up" marker without the hassles or costs typically associated with owning a second marker. How is this achieved? With the twist of the field strip screw, the Automag owner can switch air valves back and forth if and when the need should ever arise. If for some reason the Retro Valve should falter, you could drop in the original air valve into your Automag and it would be up and running within seconds. Think about it. Two markers for the price of one without the weight or concerns that go into maintaining two different markers.

The one downside of the Retro Valve is the necessity that it places on the need for a high pressure air system to be used in conjunction with the new air valve. C02 will not work properly with the Retro Valve since it is designed for higher, more consistent performance than C02 markers.

While the Retro Valve won't make you a better husband or pay your taxes, it probably will make you a more competitive player than you are now. The increased fire power, ease of maintenance, and overall better performance is well worth the price tag you'll find on the Retro Valve.

Traveling With Your Paintball Gear

Have you ever wondered what airlines require you to do with your paintball gear when flying? Have you ever driven ten hours with your paintball gear in the car only to find out when you got to your destination that your paintballs were broken or that your barrel had gotten damaged on the way? Even more frustrating is that on a simple two hour drive to the paintball field, without knowing it, your nine-volt battery in your feeder died because the power switch was in the "on" position the entire trip. While the issue of traveling with your paintball gear may not be huge, a bit of planning can prevent you from having a bad day before you even get started.

Flying with your paintball gear: Airlines are much more relaxed these days regarding flying with paintball gear than they had been in the mid to late 1980's. Rule number one is, never try to "carry on" your marker. You must check your marker and gear in your baggage. The best way to do this is to remove the barrel from your marker and place it in a barrel bag or wrap it in a towel to prevent the muzzle end from getting damaged. You'll want to do the same with your marker and accessories as well. Remember, baggage gets banged around a lot on a flight so be sure to have adequate protection for anything fragile or sensitive to mishandling. Another very important issue when flying with your gear is to be certain that you C02 or high pressure tanks are completely empty. There is a $10,000 per tank fine for flying with gas in your tank.

Once you've gotten all of your gear protected you can place it within your luggage or in a separate gear bag. Flying domestically it will be very rare if an airline official questions you about your paintball gear. However, they do have the right to inspect your baggage and ask you to demonstrate how the gear works if they so desire. Flying internationally it is much more common to be questioned about your paintball gear. Simply answer any questions that are asked of you and you'll be on your way. Finally, many countries have restrictions on bringing in paintball gear so check with the Embassy if you are not sure.

Driving with your gear: No matter how you haul your paintball gear you should look into getting a real paintball gear bag. Extreme Rage, Unique Sporting, ProPower, J.T. Paintball, and others manufacturer gear bags specifically for hauling paintball products. Look for a bag that has a padded compartment for your marker and a separate compartment for your accessories, and an area for dirty gear like shoes, rags, etc.

Your goggles and paintgun barrel should be placed in their own bags before placing them in the gear bag. As you probably know goggle lenses scratch very easily and barrels can get damaged on the muzzle end causing ball breakage and overall poor performance. Goggle and barrel bags are available from most paintball product dealers and stores. If you have a motorized feeder or goggle fan, remove the battery before packing. Your gear can shift in even a short ride which may accidentally cause something in the bag to hit the "on/off" switch turning on the power.

Always empty your C02 tanks if you are driving a long distance. The heat in the vehicle can cause the gas to expand and "blow" the tank's safety burst disk. If you are traveling a short distance, say up to two hours, simply fill your tank to about 70 percent of its capacity. This will allow room for the gas to expand safely in the tank.

Paintballs are very sensitive to temperature changes as well as heat, cold, and humidity. It's important not to leave paintballs in your vehicle overnight, especially in the summer or winter months. Some players will store their paintballs in a cooler to help keep the paintballs fresh. This is a great idea for long driving trips. FYI: Paintballs should be stored at temperatures between 55-75 degrees (Fahrenheit), and in a place with low humidity (less than 50 percent).

Wherever you are traveling to, have fun, be safe, and take care of that expensive gear.

For Immediate Release.........

Ruber Split Grips from Allen Paintball Products

Fits any 45 style frame, Base design 1911A 45. Exactly the same feel as a "Houge " grip, The BIG DIFFERENCE is that the Split Grip™ will part down the center to allow a player to disassemble their gun without removeing the entire grip. Works GREAT on guns like the Tippmann model 98 or the new Autocockers. SKU# GRIP-SPLIT. Gun manufacturers should note these grips are available with custom emblems (in bulk quanitities).

MSRP is only $14.95. Click HERE to visit our web site.