Backup/Loaner:
Tippmann A-5 with Response Trigger
Palmer 12 inch Brass Barrel
Lapco Snapshot Barrel .687
Pure Energy 68cu 4500 psi HPA
Palmer's Stabilizer
TechT Vortex Mod
JCS Redhot Powertube/ Hexadecagonal bolt
Backup/Loaner:
BT-4 Combat
Strengths:
Reliable, simple, durable
Weaknesses:
Not quite as many features as would be preferred, jams once in a while.
Review:
I got this for my Tac-1 because it was going for $47.99 at actionvillage.com. With it I got an Extreme Rage camouflage neoprene hopper cover, which fits quite well.
I put 10-15 pods of paint through it, and tested the free falling rate and with me sticking my finger and stopping the flow every 2-3 balls. For the free fall, the stream was completely steady and took about 10 seconds to empty (140 balls per test). I got 1 stuck ball during the second stage of testing, when I was sticking my finger in the way every 2-3 balls to simulate burst firing, but with a single, tiny shake, the flow resumed. I also pushed up rather hard when I got the stuck ball, so that might have been the cause.
The setting are easy to use, it turns on and off with a single press of the button, you can turn the audio beeps (from the timer) off, and by pressing the Minute button when the timer is running, you can manually turn the agitator.
Replacing the battery was extremely simple. The battery compartment is reached with no screws, just a hard tug will slide the hatch off, and you put a single 9-volt in, replace the hatch and play.
The plastic seemed REALLY durable, it reminded me of a Nalgene water bottle (I've had one Nalgene for 7 straight years now, I've never broken a Nalgene, and I use them heavily in the wilderness for extended periods of time).
For the price, this is a great electronic hopper, and I can't wait to test it in the field.
Edit: Tested, it worked very well, jammed up once or twice though, which was probably the paint, but I'm going to get a Revy impeller to fix that.
Edit: This is what I said about my 2kx on www.automags.org:
I have the Ricochet 2kx on my Tac-1. I had the option to get the Ricochet Apache for the same price, but i didn't do it. I also decided not to get a VLocity, Halo, Reloader, and all the others for some of the same reasons.
1) Batteries. If you go through 5000 shots and have to replace 2 9 volts every time, that equals money. The 2kx uses only a SINGLE 9-Volt battery, and gets a reliable 6000 shots out of it.
2) Weight. The 2kx is much, much lighter than a Halo or Reloader. I don't know about a VLocity, but I think the 2kx is around the same weight.
3) Strength. Unlike many, many other loaders, the 2kx's feedneck won't break on you. Thick, heavy duty polycarbonate.
4) Can function without batteries. You heard me. Unlike most of the other electronic hoppers, the 2kx will work flawlessly without batteries. In fact, I played half of the first day of USANA's Russian Front scenario, and all of Sunday (which was the final battle, a major paint waster) without turning on the loader. If your battery goes down, you have a fine second option. Feeds quite fast without batteries, and unless you just blaze away, you won't outshoot the gravity.
5) Price. $48 from www.actionvillage.com.
Conclusion:
Great hopper, I would even hazard the claim that it's the best hopper there is, for the price.
Rating:
10 out of 10
Last edited on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm PST
