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pbReview.com / ACI F4 Illustrator / ACI F4 Illustrator / ACI F4 Illustrator / ACI F4 Illustrator
ACI F4 Illustrator Reviews
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Number of Reviews: |
83 |
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Average Rating: |
9.0 / 10 |
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Manufacturer Website: |
Click here |
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Suggested Retail Price: |
$200 |
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| New upgrades from the previous F-4 include a much more
comfortable 45-Grip frame, new wide trigger shoe, and the
trigger pull of only 2.2 lbs.! The gun has no external moving parts
meaning less maintenance and less chance of breakdowns. All
moving parts are hardened or hard anodized for long life. ACI's
new patented valve system is proven to be the most air efficient
in the industry allowing the F4 to operate in all temperature
ranges with over 800 shots off of your 9oz. tank. |
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| Product Availability | |
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| The ACI F4 Illustrator is older, so while it may be available used and in a few cases new, it is not commonly available anymore. |
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| Places to Buy | |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 6 months | 8 of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Autococker- different price range, so really no comparison applies
Piranha/Spyder - Way way worse for entry level. |
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| Marker Setup: |
2k2 v/f Cocker w/Kapp Rflx hinge, Palmer's Rock, Bomb, Fat Ram, Ergo Reg, ANS Quick Pull, Dop Drop and a bunch of barrels.
3 F4 illustrators, with all sorts of upgrades (Drops, WGP Regs, Expansion Chambers, barrels) |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
1- Barrel (J & J or Big Shot are by far the best)
2- 9v Hopper (After a day, you will out shoot a standard hopper garaunteed)
3-HPA (Nitrogen Tank)
3-WGP Reg (get em off the boards for like $15-$20) |
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| Strengths: |
Consistent (nice accuracy)
Easy to Maintain
Durrable
Great Customer Service / Owner's Group |
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| Weaknesses: |
For this price range, there is absolutely nothing anyone can complain about. (PERIOD) |
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| Review: |
What can I say? I started with an F2 back before HPA or Electros, and the F4 is just a solid more sleek version. This gun is THE entry level marker. Nothing else comes close to the quality and reliability of this marker for under $150 new or under $80 used. I have bought (for myself and friends) a total of 5 used F4 Illustrators, and all of them have operated perfectly even in near freezing temperatures on C02.
In terms of quality, there is no comparison to the spyder or piranha, which are continuously in need of repair and perform at a much lower level.
Furthermore, I used a tricked out F4 for a long time before I got an Autococker, and with its range and accuracy I was consistently taking out players with much more expensive markers.
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| Conclusion: |
I highly recommend this marker for anyone new to paintball, or if you need a reliable back up/loaner. You can go on the forums and find cheap stock cocker regs for $15 or so and grab a new barrel, and a drop and the F4 will not let you down. And do not hesitate to read more about the F4 at the F4 owner's group site (URL's are against the rules, sorry) |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 1 year | 5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Triad, Autococker Prostock , Tippmann 98 |
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| Marker Setup: |
Game-face Vexor
no add ons |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
New barrel would be great but stock is pretty good. |
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| Strengths: |
Good accuracy, light weight.
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| Weaknesses: |
Loud
If you shoot to fast you'll have to recock it. |
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| Review: |
This marker is great for beginner alot better than a triad.
Its easy to manuver with this gun and its very light wieght.
If you shoot to fast you will have to recock it which is very scary because you think its jammed or something and just yell your out,which isent very good after you realise you just needed to cock it.For me this happens alot.It is very easy to strip and clean,
Also there are no moving parts on the outside which is nice.
It is extreamly derable and can take alot of abuse.If you clean it after every competition it will last a lifetime.Also for the price it is well worth it. |
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| Conclusion: |
Overall a great gun for begginers may want to upgrade to another gun after,otherwise it is a very nice gun for the price and would recomend to buy. |
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| Rating: |
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JoeFace |
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Thursday, January 9th, 2003 |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 3 years | 5 of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
4 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Spider & Tipp |
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| Marker Setup: |
F4 with J&J ceramic barrel |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
Barrel.......definately get a nice barrel ASAP. |
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| Strengths: |
I am 30-something, so I really don't get blown away by products. I recognize there are numerous good guns out there. I have to say that in the $200 price range, I definately prefer the F4. It is just so steady. Steady shooting, steady performance, and reliable. I have never had any problems with it. NONE.....All moving parts are internal, so less cleaning is needed. It is easy to take apart and clean/oil though. If you take care of this gun, it will not let you down. If mine was lost or stolen, I would buy another one in a heart beat. (Hope I didn't just put a jinx on me) There is a "trigger attachment" that comes with the gun and makes the tringer wider and more confortable. I didn't tighen mine down enough and the 3rd time I went out and played, it fell off. I kept playing of course. I sent ACI a note asking them if I could get a replacement. They sent me TWO at NO CHARGE. Great service from the company. That is a huge plus. +++++ |
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| Weaknesses: |
I waited to upgrade my barrel for some stubborn reason. I went and decided on the J&J ceramic and I have been thrilled with the set up even more than originally. The number of barrels out there for this gun is less than many other makers, but there are still plenty. Get a better barrel and you will be a paint throwing fool ! ! ! ! ! |
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| Conclusion: |
Great gun in the $200 price range. (less actually) You won't regret purchasing this gun. You take care of this gun and it will take care of you and take out the enemy. |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 2 years | 4 of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
3 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Tippmann 98, nothing compared to my f4 |
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| Marker Setup: |
F4 illustrator with a venturi bolt, a high volume cell, a 12 inch smartparts stainless barrel, a foregrip ,a palmer stabalizer, with a remote. I also have a 12 volt revvy with x board, a raised site rail, a ADCO Sure Shot , and a custom shoulder stock |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
id definately get a new barrel
a venturi bolt helps good
definately a revvy or some electric hopper, it shoots fast
an aluminum double tripgger grip frame would make u pull the trigger even faster..hehe
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| Strengths: |
this gun is really light. So is the trigger.people say that they get carried away with it , and i belive them. A revvy helped me a whole lot because id never have a fast enough feed.um it was dirt cheap too. i got mine for 80, shame the sales over..but its still cheap evrywhere else. I like the fact that its compact and u can feild strip it without any tools. I very CO2 efficient, cause it can shoot like 3 hoppers full of paint on a regular 9 oz. its very regulated, but i got a stab cause i wanted an even cleaner shot. This gun shoots on nitrogen too, which is very good. I liked how balanced it is, but after i got my barrel i needed a forgrip to keep it level. It has no visible parts, and its easy to clean. |
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| Weaknesses: |
Umm not too much. I dont like how long i takes to feild strip. Sure its easy but it takes time. Umm it doesnt really have too many upgrades, but im not complaining. |
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| Conclusion: |
its very light, has a quick trigger pull, and it is very affordable, i suggest u get one. |
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| Rating: |
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Mav |
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Wednesday, June 26th, 2002 |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 4 years | 4 of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
More than 5 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Name a blowback semi... there ya go |
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| Marker Setup: |
Used stock 1 year, used with expansion chamber 2nd year, Custom Products bolt added 3rd year, Left it alone at four |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
Expansion chamber and a new barrel. You could also get a 2x frame if you don't fare to well with the stock one. |
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| Strengths: |
-Sturdy, it trully is built like a rock (can take a lot of abuse)
-Reliable, I have never (underline never) missed a game because it has gone down
-Easy on parts, Yes I have a notorious early '99 marker and yet she still on the original internals. The trigger assembly worked great (no sear problems, ever) and it still has the original cup seal!
-7 BPS: It can do seven, it's a blowback semi, the majority of users are poor newbies, why would they need more?
-Valve: Never freezes over, perfect for cold weather play (I can freeze over a tank but the gun will still want to run)
-Design: Totally enclosed body, no foreign contamination, cocking system is one of a kind
-Barrels: Uses F4/Griffin and Tippmann Prolite/ProCarbine barresl (not to hard to find) |
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| Weaknesses: |
-Trigger pull is heavy, some players have "bankers hands" and don't know how to handle it
-Clicking problem: If you know older F4s you'll know that the earlier '99s had a problem. If the trigger mechanism was over oiled or had a little bit of grime in there it had a problem resetting itself, it's easily fixed by cleaning the mechanism.
-Trigger shoe: Falls off on older models, most people who did their homework new to locktite it before playing with it.
-Low number of aftermarket accessories: Hehehe don't need 'em anyways |
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| Conclusion: |
Designed as a low cost low end blowback semi automatic marker. You can pull it out of the box, cock it, screw in a tank and rock 'n roll. ACI did it right when they took over this line of markers.
I give it a ten, it is the best blowback semi out there. Period. |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 6 months | 4 of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Nothing really, you cant compare F4 and Tippman |
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| Marker Setup: |
- Tippman 98 custum with Remote kit and 14" Terminador Barrel
- F4 Illistrator
- Spyder Sonix with 14" TrueFlight barrel. |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
just barrel, venturie bolt, and a revolution hopper. |
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| Strengths: |
The gun is great for point and shoot. Its almost like a part of you when you jsut point and fire away. You can shoot as fast as you like with the gun and it dosent sputter. And is also accurate with the stock barrel. |
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| Weaknesses: |
It has a tendancy to chop balls, so buy a revolution hopper. DONT LOOSE THE TRIGGER INLARGER THE BARE TRIGGER WILL CUT YOUR FINGER!!!!!! Thats something they dont tell you in the manual. Shoots hot and loud. Single parts are hard to find and new ones are expensive, so if your buying a heavaly used one and you have the chance to get 2 get them both. That way you can gut one and use the better parts and sell the rest for scrap. |
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| Conclusion: |
I got mine off of some guy in california, and i live in PA. It is pritty old and badly abused. I had to buy all new inetrnal springs and o rings becasuea ppon reasembaly the valve was put in backwards. It has deep srcahes on the bolt and inside the gun but all has been buffed out with a dremel. Now the gun works almost like new. O did i mention im missing the top cocker attachment, all that appers is a nub about 1/4 an inch tall that you must hook with your shirt you your finger to cock. But all around a good gun, but mine is one of the first ones that came out and i havent tested the new ones out. |
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| Rating: |
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| 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. |
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| Strengths: |
I own this gun as well as a few others and this is a pretty good gun...Mine is totally tricked and it performs great in all condi...It is a very light, well-balanced gun that shoots great and is easy to update... |
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| Weaknesses: |
I have had a couple probs w/ it, the first one i had to send to the co but they fixed it free but it took the whole summer...The other problem that i have is the vavle and the hammer keep getting stuck together, but this is probably from "dry-firing" it. |
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| Conclusion: |
great all around gun works good for me.... |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 3 months | 1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
6 months |
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Similar
Products Used: |
spyder imagine,e-99,tippman pro/carbon,tippman 98 custom |
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| Marker Setup: |
F4 illustrator, aci sub-zero 6stage ex-chamber, all- american t 12" tear drop barrel, 12-v revvy with x board, venturi bolt, 20-oz co2 |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
aci ex-chamber MUST
electric hopper
barrel |
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| Strengths: |
no external moving parts
field stripable ( 2mjn your back in the game) |
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| Weaknesses: |
choppes balls with out electric hopper |
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| Review: |
this gun is great for all beginner's as well as experienced player's it work's well in cold weather! easy to upgrade, good for price $130-$160 compatible with spyder barrels
and just an all around great gun. i now use his gun as my back upsince i bought my spyder e-99, i have also have beatin people with cockers,mags angel's spyders ect
i have even beaten a pro/am before like i said befor this gun does wonder's |
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| Conclusion: |
buy buy buy buy buy buy this gun, it is one of the best as far as blow back marker's
i give it a nine because of the ball chopping. but other than that it is a very good reliable gun. must buy!!! |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 3 years | 1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
3 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
I've tested a spyder shutter, BE stingray II; this is the only gun I've ever owned, though |
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| Marker Setup: |
'99 "Wicked Grey" F4 Illustrator, running on CO2, with Dye Aluminum 12" barrel |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
-aftermarket barrel, I think Dye makes good ones, but Lapco is also good (bigshot, etc.), and you could get pretty inexpensive ones from Custom Products
-I would recommend upgrading to HPA from CO2, and I plan to after I get some dough
-other than that, you could get a double trigger and frame from ACI, a motorized hopper, expansion chamber (if on CO2) or regulator (if on HPA) |
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| Strengths: |
-inexpensive
-dependable
-not a gas hog
-low-maintenance
-good customer service at ACI |
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| Weaknesses: |
-hard on paint if it's cheap paint
-relatively slow ROF |
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| Review: |
When I first bought this gun, I went paintballing using Viewloader paintballs. I found out, the hard way, that the F4 is pretty hard on paint. I broke around a quarter of the balls that I shot, and I was pretty depressed about buying the gun (for about $120). The next time I went, I had better paint. I used RPS paintballs, and I didn't break a single ball, so it wasn't the gun.
I think there is little that can be said to distinguish the gun from other blowbacks. It has a rate of fire that is a little slow, so it's probably not the best gun for a "spray-and-pray" paintballer. It works great, however, if you just want to fire quick, three-shot bursts.
I've never had any problems at all with my gun, but I've heard from several people that ACI has great customer service and that they will repair any problems you have. Also, there are a couple owners groups online, and they also have people that can help you through any problems or answer any questions. (www.f4og.com) |
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| Conclusion: |
It's a good gun, for a good price. It gets the job done, and you don't need to do that much maintenance or take it into the shop every other month.
I have to say that I am very satisfied with the F4's performance. I believe it is just as good as any other spyder, tippman, pirrhana, or anything else in its class, but I can't say that it's a whole lot better, so I'll give it a 9 |
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| Rating: |
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Unregistered User |
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Wednesday, December 6th, 2000 |
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| 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. |
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| Strengths: |
Lightweight, simple design, accurate, fairly light trigger pull, Reliable, great tech support, awesome feel. A very high quality marker. |
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| Weaknesses: |
Stock barrel is loud as hell and not that accurate, but i think the new F4's have much better stock barrels, chops balls occassionally during very rapid fire (unless you get a Revolution). |
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| Conclusion: |
Great gun out of the box, undoubtedly best gun under $200, get a new barrel like a Lapco Bigshot,expansion chamber, and a VL revolution and this gun rocks the house. With the revolution and fast trigger finger you can get 8 balls per second. VERY Highly reccomended. Great marker for any type of player. |
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| Places to Buy | |
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