The accuracy of this review is disputed. Please see discussion below.
Period of Product Use:
Less than a month
18 of 20 people found this review helpful.
Paintball Experience:
More than 5 years
Similar Products Used:
F7 Fusion. More kick.
Tried many many wonderful markers and noone compares.
Marker Setup:
DP Fusion LVP edition LE
Recommended Upgrades:
ASA and barrel
Strengths:
It's good. read review
Weaknesses:
Accessories, no lpr tester included, no barrel bag, no tools, no lube!
Review:
Bob Long Vice
1) First impressions
Upon opening the box one is instantly met with the marker body itself. Instant paintball love as she lies there glistening, embedded in foam. Gently you take the baby out and hold her for the first time. She's yours... ...for life?
In the box there's the marker, a barrel, some o-rings and foam. Bare minimum if I may say so, but I guess adding a barrel sock, some allen keys and a manual (Yes, manual not included even though the box says to read manual before operating!!!) would have upped the price another notch.
So, the one disappointment is that no allen keys or manual are included at all... I guess the fine gentlemen at Bob Long direct assumed that we have allen keys and know how to use the internet to printout our own manual.
The milling is nice and flowing but there are some milling marks that are not entirely polished as they should be.
Conclusion: I would have liked to see at least some allen keys and a printed copy of the board manual. Sure, I had those things already since I like to be prepared but not every new customer is like me.
I really miss an LPR tester too. This is a crucial tool for when you've disassembled your marker for total cleaning, teching or just to balance the regulators. I lucked out and bought one at the same time as the marker, but it is so crucial that it really should be included.
2) Paint chucking and chuckling
Gassing up the girl proved no problems. Once the HPR and LPR are set you should have no problem with leaving them at that.
If you want to get completely anal about it you could reset the HPR and LPR on each day of play, but that would really REALLY amplify the need for the lpr tester.
Standard asa of great quality. No on/off... Nope! There's none.
Thanks to the quality of the asa I doubt you really "need" an on/off, but you could add one anyway if you wanted. By the way; this is the only upgrade you'll ever need on this marker... Read on!
Setting the regs and then a quick visit to the chrono made me wonder. First I thought that the Vice was shooting quite a bit under 300 fps, the chrono proved me wrong. It's just that the general smoothness and quality of the operation made me feel like the paint couldn't possibly be shooting out the other end at the correct velocity.
First string of 286, 291, 286, 288, 291 and then more of the same. Not bad for a reg that is competely new and a gun that is not broken in yet. -Me likes it!
Shooting the Vice feels kind of like watering your houseplants. You gently pour some water over them as the birds fly by you and sun shines on your face.
The only difference is that the Vice chucks paintballs at 20 BPS out the other end instead of a gentle stream of water from the spout/barrel.
Effortless is the word. Just pneumechanical maniacal perfection that allows you to forget what you were doing and acting like an elongated part of your body and mind.
From the box my trigger was set a little too short making 3-round bursts when trigger was pulled really slow. An easy allen-wrenching later backing out a setscrew and it was perfect.
Sound signature seemed really low for a poppet style marker and the trigger is comfortable and fast.
I've read online that some cut the trigger spring to make it lighter, but there's no need for that. The trigger is plenty light already and... well... I have nothing to complain about really.
Standard barrel (.691 bore) is actually of high quality and the only real drawback is it's versatility and it's weight. If you require more bore sizes to select from and/or a lighter barrel you need to go aftermarket.
Conclusion: Absolutely one of the best markers in paintball today. Speed, quality and operation is right up there at the top while price is low.
How did they do it? I really wonder, so if anyone from Boblongdirect wants to tell me how please call! :D
3) Conclusion
Why even hesitate? If you are in the market for a new marker this is it.
Sure, there are others that can compete but not ever in this pricerange. You'll have to find something used and abused to beat this price.
It is gentle on paint, it is efficient, it is fast and it is everything a paintball marker should be.
Forget the old generation Intimidators, the gen 5 intimidator is the shiznit!
-Peace out!
/Jimmy S, Sweden
Conclusion:
Excellent product.
The flies in the ointment are the lack of an onoff ASA, no barrel bag, no tools and not even a small sample of lube included.
Bad bad Bob Long! :D
A 10/10 product since nothing else really compares right now that gets shot because lack of manual and so on.
A VERY strong 8/10.
Dispute: I don't know how you can justify deducting 2 points for no manual. I will admit that bob long should have provided a manual with the marker, but the manual does not effect the performance of the marker, unless the marker is in need of servicing. Besides bob long customer service is very helpful and will provide all the information regarding servicing.
