The venerable favorite of the mid-price marker category is Bud Orr's basic model Autococker, from Worr Game Products. Many players find a balance of price and features in the $300-$500 basic Autococker range. Many more dream of kicking their performance up to the lofty standard of the high-dollar tournament 'Cockers. For these hopeful spirits, Jackal Machine offers a host of tournament grade aftermarket products produced at the Jackal Machine facility in Neosho, Missouri.
Jeremy and Terry Garrett fabricate "pretty much everything for an Autococker except for the pneumatics," Jeremy says. Brave souls building an "Autococker act-alike" from scratch can start with Jackal Machine's RDL Body Kit in full size or mini. These aluminum bodies are milled
from billet aluminum, which offers a higher quality end product than extruded aluminum. Each body can be anodized in solid colors or special custom patterns.
Going inside the Autococker, Jackal Machine offers bolts made of the much-favored Delrin material. Jeremy mills long relief slots in the bolt to reduce weight for fast cycling, but also to offer the user direct access to the sear lug without needing to remove the bolt! This feature takes much of the hassle out of timing your 'Cocker. When coupled with the Ultralight Back Block, the cyclic rate can slightly increase: your marker can move less weight faster than more weight, which helps get the most out of your setup.
Autococker hammers, the steel cylinder that travels in the lower compartment of the body, have a significant amount of surface contact with the inside of your marker. When you hit super-high rates of fire, such as when using top of the line electronic Autocockers, this drag becomes a hindrance. Jackal Machine's Hi-Speed Hammer Kit offers a step-design hammer that eliminates much of that friction while still maintaining the proper alignment of the hammer during cycling. Lightened springs round out the package.
Bargain shoppers can get the bolt and hammer kit, along with the Jackal Machine Savage Valve,
gas seal jam nut, and light valve and main springs, all in one package to completely replace (or build) the internals of their Autocockers.
Jackal Machine is branching beyond 'Cocker parts and into other parts for high-end competition markers. Said Jeremy, "We make a few Impulse parts now, and we're working our way to the Matrix, Intimidator, and all those as well." Currently on offer is the Impulse 90 degree frame, and the Screw-Tite No Rise feed. Look for more products rolling out of Jackal Machine's R&D department for 2005!
At the last Oklahoma D-Day, Jackal Machine found their booth very well attended. Set up next to the LAPCO Barrel vendor, Jackal Machine met hundreds of players during the event.
"I think (scenario games are) good for new players to get out and see what the industry is doing, and where it's going," Jeremy said. "You can play and have a good time with nothing really at stake. You don't have to worry about the guys next to you gettin' mad; it's just one big, fun game."
Visit the Jackal Machine website at www.jackalmachine.com.
