Nerve
Virtue Board
Kila Detents
Hybrid Lady Grips
Ton Ton Grip Frame
NDZ Equalizer Bolt
NDZ Roller Blade Trigger
SST Ported Manifold
Recommended Upgrades:
If you plan to keep this marker and use it for a while, not upgrading to a better gun, the Barrel is a definite to change.
Strengths:
'Pro' Grip (Helps Accuracy)
Cheap, especially with extras.
Looks VERY cool.
Reliable
Weaknesses:
Can only be found in some stores
Accuracy
Review:
Okay, I am going to make this vitally clear - this gun is not for advanced players. Advanced players will pick this up and feel comfortable, but once they get into a game they will feel limited (this has happened to me because I just tried this marker again after a few years). However, if you are just starting paintball or have been playing for a minimal amount of time, this is where to go. Paintball Guns are like alcohol. The first time you drink alcohol, you don't drink a huge amount until you die of alcohol poisoning. You take a little, and then begin building up an immunity to it, enabling you to get higher and higher in the portions you take. Just like that, paintball guns should start small and go big. I'm tired of these little rich kids going up to their parents and saying:
"Daddy! Daddy! I wanna play paintball! Get me a gun!"
"Well alright son, what gun do you want?"
"Ummmmmmmmmmm...how about the most expensive one we can find?"
"That's the spirit, son!"
All these players start so big they don't understand that paintball skill isn't about the gun. For the most part, out on that field, it's 5% gun and 95% player. Just to prove this point, I actually tried it one day at a course I was visiting. There was a little boy there with what I still believe to be a Bob Long or something similar. I took out the Spyder Sonix Pro, this gun. We decided to play a game of 1 vs. 1 on a nicely set up speed-ball course. The kid starts right off, firing 20 bps towards me. He was relying on this gun to dish out enough paintballs that one would hit me. I took my time, waited for a pause, and looked out after a silence on his end. I saw him hiding behind one of the blow-ups, and he, once again, started shooting. What happened? I took the skill I had obtained over the years, took aim, and fired one single shot, watching it go all the way and exploding on his mask. He immediately called out and the game was over.
Now, if I had been against a pro with a high-end marker like that then I would have been toast. However, once again, that would be because of his skill.
That said, this is my point. If you're a starter, this is a perfect gun to use. While the stock barrel, like any stock barrel by spyder, is disappointing, the more accurate ones for spyder tend to be cheap, so it's not too difficult to upgrade. Also, they make a nice attempt to help you on this path, adding a 'pro' grip onto the gun (Hence Spyder Sonix PRO...yes the grip is about the only difference), which enables for better steadying of the marker (and also features quite a nice grip on it). Velocity, as always, is easy to adjust, you only need one allen wrench that is already included in the package. Another thing I liked was the clamp they included for the feedneck, enabling your hopper/loader to securely stay in place while you run from bunker to bunker, tree to tree.
Air is distributed nicely, and anytime I use this marker with even a 9oz CO2 (I use Compressed Air/Nitrogen on my other markers) I out-last every other player on the course. If you've operated anything from low-end mechanical before this, you know the basic set-up of the marker, so I'm not going to go into great detail over it. One more thing about this - it's fairly lightweight and easy to run with, so now you have no excuse for not being a front-man. Get ready to run, kid.
Conclusion:
Yes, reviewing this marker is a bit of a walk down memory lane because I've now moved on and am playing in Tourneys and such, but I'd say that this marker was a huge stepping stone in my ability meter, and if you're just starting out, it's the perfect marker to have. Put in the added bonus that you don't have to pay for side things like masks and CO2 because they're already in this incredibly cheap Package, and you've got yourself a real winner here. It's receiving an 9 because it's not the best of markers, and it's hard for me to rate it when I'm using such great markers now, but for it's price-range and department, it's a great deal.
Rating:
9 out of 10
Last edited on Saturday, March 17th, 2007 at 10:30 pm PST
I agree..... this is my first gun i have to say that it has really impressed me. Of course I upgraded some things like the barrel and the bolt but other than that, its all good!
isnt the stock barrel the same as the normal sonix? i saw some reviews on that barrel and they said it was pretty accurate. also did you have any problems with the plastic polymer frame? thats the only thing that worry's me now
To answer some questions - Generally I played with the sonix around my house, and the only place to buy paint would be Dicks. Usually it was cheaply made and wasn't too reliable. Even though I really no longer use the Sonix Pro, a little while ago I took the entire thing apart and lubed/cleaned the entire thing (including a thorough clean on the barrel). Then, when I was at my local paintball store (still an hour away) I got some Marbalizers, which are generally nice paintballs. Taking the Sonix out and playing with it, I realized that the accuracy was stupendous. I was landing shot-on-shot while shooting at a bunker maybe 50 feet or more away.
However, like I said, for me I had to thoroughly clean the barrel and use expensive paint to make the barrel very accurate, so if you're the type of player that plays occasionally and not with great paint, I would still have to recommend getting a barrel that is accurate even with a cheaper paint going through it.
Also - the trigger frame of this gun has given me no trouble whatsoever. Plastic or not, it's firm, and I've seen this gun dropped once or twice before. The most this frame will receive is a few scratches and scrapes - which an aluminum frame would receive equally, perhaps even worse. Also, it's interesting how they put a 90 degree frame onto this gun. I've had a few offers from people who have wanted to buy it.
Last edited on Sunday, September 24th, 2006 at 5:00 pm PST
whats up with all the odd reviews PBOverlord ...you know ill take you with my brass eagle or my DM6............i am pro and you are an ameature at the great game of paintball
Anyone know if the vertical grip can detach from the rest of the grip frame? I want a 90* frame on one of my pumps and this could be a decent alternative...
