-cool looking marker for under $150.00
-composite frame well made
-gas thru foregrips (makes it look more expensive)
-PMI customer support (they really return your phone calls)
Weaknesses:
-stock bolt chops balls like crazy
-upgraded venturi bolt chops balls "crazier", tried both springs that came with it and still doing the same thing.
-rubber ball detent can get worn out really quick
-nickel plating on bolt assembly wears out quick
-fires like an automatic at the same time turning your clear hopper to your favorite paintball color
Conclusion:
Read great reviews from the net about this marker and thats the only reason why I bought one. Maybe I got one of those "bad apple" in the basket kind of thing but this marker wont work for me. Still new to the game but Im not going to enjoy it if I stay with this Core STS from Piranha. For an extra 40 to even a hundred bucks, depending on what kind and model you want, just get a Spyder. Save yourself from headaches and embarassment.
PMI Piranha STS Core w/10 in. smart parts progressive barrel, 20 oz. CO2 tank, JT spectra 260 thermal goggles, generic hopper&elbow
Recommended Upgrades:
better barrel(my progressive works well), an expansion chamber isn't needed but would be nice just for kicks
Strengths:
smooth action, light trigger pull, RAM air chamber, venturi bolt, well blanced, light, cosmetically attractive, accurate, guiet(good or bad?) The gas thru grip is a nice touch, better than messing up your RAM chamber by using it as a stock. I was turned off, at first, by the plastic trigger frame, but after playing with it for a while, I appreciated it greatly. It made the gun lighter, more durable and more comfortable. This is the same kind of plastic used in modern rifles and pistols.
Weaknesses:
I have heard leaks are common with PMI products, but I have not had any with mine or witnessed any 1st hand.
Conclusion:
This is a great gun whether you are a beginner or experienced. I bought mine from a friend for $130 with the progressive barrel, it's a purchase i do not regret. The stock barrel is not bad, but if you want to play more seriously, I would reccomend an upgrade. I would give it an eleven if I could.
Pirahna VTL w/ PMI expansion chamber, and normal vl 200 rd hopper, w/ Quiet Riot
Recommended Upgrades:
New Barrel, E-force trigger frame
Strengths:
Reliable, open for upgrades, good price
Weaknesses:
Barrel, Poly Trigger frame
Review:
This isnt the gun i have, but its the closest thing to a VTL, which they dont have here. I got this gun as my first gun, and havnt gone back. I love it really. The only bad things was the stock barrel, but this gun works pretty well with a 32* Quiet Riot, wich chosts about 40 bucks or less. And the trigger was made of plastic, which eventually bent and nolonger worked, so i had to get a new Aluminum trigger frame.
Conclusion:
This gun is good for a first gun because of the price and is totally open for upgrades such as the e-force, and new bolts and Exp. Chambers. Which can take it up towards the higher priced guns.
i have all stock cept a 14" CP barrel and i aded a cradel
Recommended Upgrades:
probably a new barrel and maybe an expansion chamber instead of the gas through
Strengths:
it s pretty good for stock and i can kick butt with it against most ppl, its pretty accurate i also like the quick strip pin it is so much better than a screw or something at leat get a gun with that, it adapts do mostly every gun pice there is except for a few brands
Weaknesses:
the barrl and the trigger pull is long it also could use a expansion chamber in exchange for the gas through.
Conclusion:
this is an pretty good gun for someone who has been playing for a little while and whats to upgrade to something better than their beginners gun if your lucky you can get it for like 130 or so
PMI Piranha BL VF Blue. It's just about the same product, just a gasthrew grip was added with a longer barrel (7inches).
Marker Setup:
PMI Piranha BL VF Blue
6 expantion chamber
18 Inch All American Freak Barrel (2002 model)
Venturi Bolt
ADco Imp sight
raised rail sight
double metal trigger
silensor on Barrel
Recommended Upgrades:
Longer Barrel, try to get an ALL AMERICAN Barrel
And a venturi bolt that has many small holes instead of one big hole, help prevent cuttings into the paintball!!
Strengths:
It's not made out of plastic, that's one good thing.
It lasts for ever, looks great and is not as expensive as an angle but allmost as good as one. Good for every player for any situations!!!
Weaknesses:
Well, without the upgrades the gun is crap! Try to at least get a new Venturi Bolt with many small holes in front. That is garateed not to cut painballs in half while still in the gun. You might want to also bring the gun to a profetional Player and let him fix leaks the gun might have.
Conclusion:
This product is good for anybody who wants to play mean like a dawg and not waste all their money of shi*t they don't need.
Recomended for grandmas too.
Even your mom
Between me, my cousin, and a buddy we got 2 STS Cores and a G2VTL. They all leaked bad at the ASA's. The VTL at the vert., and the Cores at the bottom line ASA's. My Core double cycled so the PMI tech. told me to swap guts with one of the other guns and luckily it worked. ???? I now use 2 o-rings and an on/off valve on my tank to keep it from leaking. This was right out of the box! My gun breaks at least 1 out of 10-20 paintballs. I've used 32*, RPS Polar Ice, Super Swirls, and Marbs., but my cousin has upgraded his Core and it never breaks paint. I'll do the same but I am very dissappointed.
Conclusion:
I think if you're going to buy a Piranha you're better off buying a much cheaper G2 vtl then adding on your upgrades or getting the STS.The only thing you get with the core is a gas through grip, and a 1" longer barrel. Most people are going to replace the grip with an expansion chamber or reg. and add an after market barrel any ways. There's only about a $25. difference between the STS Core and the STS and you get a lot more than $25 worth of options on the STS. I can kick my self in the ass for buying the core.
Piranha STS G3 Core--
all stock parts no upgrades...
Recommended Upgrades:
Either a Smart Parts Progressive or J&J Ceramic
Strengths:
Can shoot very rapidly at times...
Reliable and doesn't chop
Weaknesses:
Seems to have a very eratic spread when you want to hit something....
Review:
I had bought this from a friend up my street for like $80 i think... i got an assortment of items with the purchase too...
It has been a very reliable gun to me it has never completely broken down but i have fixed it when it does have a problem...
It has gotten me through my first years in paintballing and has led me to like it so that i am now getting a new gun. i feel sad that i will not play with this gun anymore but i needed more accuracy when it came down to it so instead of buying a barrel i asked for a new camo A-5 with a 16" J&J ceramic for my birthday and ill be getting it here in a few days anyway onto the conclusion
Conclusion:
Great and very reliable and easy to use as a beginner but when you move up a bit and get more into paintballing you will want a better gun
14'" 32 Degrees Barrel, New Bolt, Single Trigger, Different Drop, Red-Dot Scope, New Shochtech Spring
Recommended Upgrades:
Keep the Expansion Chamber, Get a barrel, New Internals,Spring,
Strengths:
Light,Easy,Cheap,PMI,Easy Internals,
Weaknesses:
Common Leaks, Not THAT dependable,
Review:
I got this gun with many upgrades... I would choose this gun if I were a beginer or intermidiate, PMI are known for leaks in markers, check O-rings often, You may need a new spring set, this gun is accurate, with the right upgrades,this gun is awesome.. I recommend it to all the beginer players that want a cheap and basic gun.
Conclusion:
I'd have to say go for this marker, great for beginers.. just get nessasary mods..
Piranha Pro TS G3, Piranha G2, like 10 different spyders(all suck)
Marker Setup:
Piranha STS G3 Core, drop forward, revy, 14 inch xcel, 2 20 oz tanks, sticky grips
Recommended Upgrades:
New trigger frame (NOT ELECTRIC! ELECTRIC TRIGGER FRAMES ARE FOR WUSSES WHO DONT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO PULL THE TRIGGER MORE THAN ONE TIME!!!!!!), new barrel, new grips, diff. expansion chamber, new bolt, different dropforward, revy, macro, and on/off valve
Strengths:
CHEAP! Easy to clean, and maintain. Doesnt use much co2.
Weaknesses:
the accuracy sucks. the trigger, and trigger frame is ALL PLASTIC! The grips are horrible
Review:
The barrel that comes with the gun is almost as bad as the one that comes with the 98, and 98 custom. The accuracy is very bad with it. The grips really suck. I know when playing paintball, and getting shot at you generally dont worry about the grips, but its always nice to have a comfortable grip on the gun. This gun is VERY good with co2, and doesnt leak at all. Its too bad the trigger frame is all plastic, and so is the trigger. The trigger pull is not bad, but there is still alot of extra space that could be removed. I would take this gun over the tippmann ANY DAY!
Conclusion:
Great gun, especially for the price. Its cheap, reliable, not the worst accuracy, co2 efficent, pretty short trigger pull, easy and cheap to upgrade, and its MADE IN THE USA!(unlike any kingman/spyder guns) I would advise this gun to any player. With the right upgrades, it can preform like a gun that cost 5 times as much(When the right person is handling it anyways) 9 because it is a exellent gun. No gun besides the ANS Chaos GX3 deserves a 10.
Spyder sonix, compact 2000, TL plus
BE avenger
Tippmann ProLite
Marker Setup:
Piranha STS CORE
CP 14" barrel
System X spiral exp. chamber
NW drop forward w/ on off
Recommended Upgrades:
drop forward, barrel, expansion if used in cold
Strengths:
CHEAP
Piranha has a much better strip system that others in its class(spyders, brass eagle crap, tippmanns)
Doesn't chop balls too horribly
PMI has good customer service
looks ok
Weaknesses:
sure could use a vert feed
loud
stock barrel sux bad
seems to tear orings like no other(and no im not one of those idiots that doesn't mantain their gun)
Conclusion:
Very good buy for the price. With upgrades can compete against slightly more expensive guns. LOVE the field strip. If ur on a tight budget this is a good option to consider.
