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pbReview.com / Viewloader Prodigy E-Grip / Viewloader Prodigy E-Grip / Viewloader Prodigy E-Grip / Viewloader Prodigy E-Grip
Viewloader Prodigy E-Grip Reviews
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Number of Reviews: |
91 |
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Average Rating: |
8.9 / 10 |
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Manufacturer Website: |
Click here |
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Suggested Retail Price: |
$150 |
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| Viewloader introduces the VL Prodigy™ E-Grip semi-automatic paintball marker for 2003. The Prodigy E-Grip™ is designed for high performance and durability. It sets the standard for value priced, metal, semi-automatic markers with features that include: a field strippable pin for ease of cleaning and maintenance on and off the field, a lightweight aerospace grade aluminum alloy receiver, a self-locking velocity adjustment, welded vertical feed port, two panel electronic grip, double finger trigger, laser engraving and newly redesigned top cocking bolt. |
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| Product Availability | |
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| The Viewloader Prodigy E-Grip 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: |
| 3 months | 2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
3 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Tippman 98, VL Orion, Triad, Spyder Imagine, Talon Ghost. These do not perform as well as the Prodigy. The Imagine was probably the closest one but for less money I purchased just as good of a gun if not better. |
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| Marker Setup: |
Viewloader Prodigy (e-grip), Armson Stealth 13" barrel, autoloader, pure energy Co2 tank and tank stock . |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
Maybe a longer/quieter barrel, barrel stock, rechargeable 9v battery(for e-grip), electronic hopper. |
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| Strengths: |
Accurate, reliable, inexpensive, easily cleaned and maintained, spyder barrels fit.
pballs rarely break or drift. |
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| Weaknesses: |
a little difficult to get info on for upgrades. Shiny (not so well in woods) |
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| Review: |
Absolutely awesome gun. I play with a lot of guys that use very expensive autococker's and spyder guns with their nitrous and everything else. I can promise you that none of that means anything if they can't wield the gun. This gun shoots strong, and straight, and very easy to oil / maintain. I've been playing paintball for a long time and this is the best gun that I have used yet. If i ever see a reason to buy a more expensive gun then I will let you all know. In the mean time the Prodigy is nailing these guys , by the way, at probably at least a fifth of the price.
I can force out 11 balls/sec with an electroloader and rechargeable 9v in the grip.
The only reason I upgraded the barrel was to be more accurate at a further distance and to quiet the gun a little more. The stock barrel, however, I put on my 2nd gun to make it more accurate. I recommended the tank stock so you can rest the butt-end of your CO2 tank on your shoulder for a more steady and accurate shot and less recoil. After playing for this long I say this gun can and will be used by beginners, intermediate, AND advanced players. Just remember that accuracy has a lot to do with the paintball size and quality too. I've been using Draxxus Sun-flare's and they work beautifully with this setup. |
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| Conclusion: |
Overall I am extremely happy with this gun. I had a hard time finding upgrades at first, but they are out there trust me. I recommend this gun to anyone wants to win without emptying the walet. If you haven't tried one of these yet, I highly recommend it. Its accurate, nice looking, and idiot proof. Remember, having a nicer gun doesn't keep you from getting shot.
I give it a 9.9 (none are perfect) and a must buy! |
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| Rating: |
| 10 out of 10 | Last edited on Friday, May 14th, 2004 at 2:32 am PST |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 6 months | 2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Spyder Victor, Tippman Custom 98 |
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| Marker Setup: |
E-Grip, electric hopper, etc. |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
I would say sight but with the vertical feed it is pointless (in the way). |
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| Strengths: |
So many I cannot name it all, accurate, efficient, light, powerful, easy-clean, etc. |
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| Weaknesses: |
SO SHINY (do something about that, too noticable) other than that no. |
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| Review: |
Very good gun, easy to get off barrel (but that is on all guns, that has come in handy) Paintballs have exploded in the barrels, but that is because of firing too fast with only an 8 ball per second. It is still very affective and works like a charm. |
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| Conclusion: |
Great gun no regets with buying it! |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 1 year | 2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
2 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
vl orion-E-99 avant-Game face E-rex |
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| Marker Setup: |
-2005 Spyder Imagine
-vl Quantrum
-cp 16in one peice clasic barrel
-Bandit-bolt (imagine-Low Pressure) |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
BARREL
new bolt
drop forward
8+ balls a second hopper |
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| Strengths: |
-Reliability
-Cheap
-Good gun for price
-Semi fast...(9bps) |
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| Weaknesses: |
-Accuracy
-Bolt
-No drop forward |
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| Review: |
This was my first gun (my starter gun) and let me tell u...it was worth the 70 dollars i paid for it at wally world. Talk about a bang for your buck! i have had this gun for a year and a half now and i have had no problems what so ever. When i first started paintballing i didnt know anything about it... i noticed that my gun was a little bit faster than everyone elses...mine was electronic...pretty fast...just get a 20 dollar hopper....the only thing realy bad about this gun is that the accuracy sucks...i tried to get a hopper but this moddel does not fit spyder threads...the no drop forward isnt that bad its just more comfortabl to shoot it if u have one... |
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| Conclusion: |
THIS IS AN AWESOME GUN! I would recomend you to challenge ur friends semi's with this beast.. This isnt the best gun in the world but because its a bang for your buck i give it a ten. |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 3 months | 2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
More than 5 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Pirahna G2, STS G3, Spyder Victor II, Viewloader Triad |
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| Marker Setup: |
Prodigy E-Grip, 20oz Co2 tank, PMI standard hopper, JT Elite Headshield, Freak Barrel |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
Replacing the stock barrel is pretty standard with ANY marker. Most Piranha and Spyder barrels fit. Get a two piece or sleeved to adjust for ball size. Accuracy depends alot on paintball quality and FIT. A drop forward for weight dispersement could help alot. An electronic hopper for faster feeds. |
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| Strengths: |
Reliability, performance, value, electronic grip performs great |
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| Weaknesses: |
Over-sized grip, could be a problem. 7 bps limit can be annoying. |
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| Review: |
This gun has performed incredibly well. I'm at a disadvantage against REC players running full auto with Halos, but they're just wasting paint any way. On reputable courses that require 1pull, one paintball semi-auto this marker has out performed most other markers I've used. The piranha G series are complete crap compared to this marker. I've used Piranha and Spyder almost exclusively. I quit playing for awhile. When I decided to start again I had to get a marker under $100.00 or keep renting. I picked this marker up for $59.00 NEW. I have no complaints..... Even with the stock barrel , this gun has been acuurate. I can keep my shots within 1 square foot at 135 feet. Relibility is a key factor here. I have yet to chop a ball with this marker during play. I have shooting targets. (I was also trying to drastically outshoot the performance that the 7 bps limiter allows) This marker is excellent for players more interested in hitting their target accurately, than painting their target with an entire hopper in 3 seconds.
The honeymoon is over. Here's the probs... The grip is BIG. I have big hands so it's not a problem for me. But for those with small hands, it might be uncomfortable. The 7 bps limit is ANNOYING if you can shoot faster than that. (Although if you can't hit what you're aiming at, no amount of speed can help you.) For woodlands players, this marker is Shiny... There will be some glint... That's the long and short. Pros outweight Cons!!!!! |
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| Conclusion: |
This marker is great for park players competing with other SEMI Auto players. I have yet to find a marker under $250.00 that outperforms this one enough to justify the extra money. For beginners and intermediate playersthis is a great start. Spend the big bucks on things that actually help you. (A good mask, a great barrel system, quality paint......) |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 6 months | 2 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
6 months |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Hmm.. None really |
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| Marker Setup: |
VL Prodigy, 20oz CO2, everything else stock |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
Probably an elbow, for more accuracy. A longer barrel |
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| Strengths: |
Reliable, Economical, and just plain good lookin'. |
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| Weaknesses: |
None |
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| Review: |
This was my first and only gun to date, and I have not once regretted it. It's only ever chopped a ball once, and has never broken. It's pretty accurate, considering the barrel it comes with, and isn't very loud. It's durable, easy to clean, and lightweight. The E-Grip handle is especially nice, providing an extra safety precaution and an increased rate of fire. The only thing that has ever gone wrong with the gun is that the manual safety stuck for a few seconds, and the only problem I have with the gun is the ultra-sensitive trigger. This is good in a firefight, but when people like me (who don't remember to apply the safety) attempt to reload their hopper mid-battle, it ends up shooting accidentally at unwanted targets. But those are pretty minor flaws and mostly just my error. One more thing is the vertical feed... I know it enhances rate of fire, but its hard to aim. |
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| Conclusion: |
If you don't want to spend an extreme amount of money, but want a serious, reliable gun, choose this one. The flaws that I mentioned aren't very important and don't alter my opinion on the marker in any way. Many reviewers say it's good for beginners/intermediate players, but I'd say it's good for ALL players. I'll probably have this gun until it's refuses to work or is destroyed... :-P |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 6 months | 2 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Spyder rodeo it is so much weaker then this gun I'd prefer this over that anyday. |
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| Marker Setup: |
None its all stock but its still good. I'd put a new barrell on it. |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
New barrell |
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| Strengths: |
Shoots well, accurate as crap |
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| Weaknesses: |
Only that I had to rescrew the screw because it popped loose. |
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| Review: |
Spyder rodeo it is so much weaker then this gun I'd prefer this over that anyday.None its all stock but its still good. I'd put a new barrell on it.New barrell Shoots well, accurate as crapOnly that I had to rescrew the screw because it popped loose. |
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| Conclusion: |
I think this gun is a great gun it has all the rookie needs and I like the feel |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 6 months | 2 of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
More than 5 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Spyder TL-R, Rodeo, and Xtra, Tippmann 98 and A5, JT Excellerator 3.5E and TAC-5, more... |
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| Marker Setup: |
* Spyder TL-R with a new Phat feedneck and PMI Razzor 14" barrel.
* Spyder Sonix Pro with a new ACPball feedneck and a 12" J&J Precision barrel
* Game Face Vexor Eye with a custom ACPball delrin bolt |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
1. Selling it.
2. Barrel and bolt. |
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| Strengths: |
Good feedneck. All metal construction. |
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| Weaknesses: |
Board capped at 7BPS. Worthless detent. |
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| Review: |
Owned this for less than 6 months when I wisely sold it and went mechanical. The story:
BARREL - Short stock barrel. Smooth exterior, minimal porting, no muzzle brake. Spyder threads.
FOREGRIP / VOLUMIZER - Gas-through vertical metal foregrip; can get slick when covered in paint. Small volumizer.
DROP / ASA - No drop forward; ASA is set far back on the grip. Stainless braided line connects to the marker body.
TRIGGER / FRAME - Double trigger is nice with a relatively short pull. Grips are comfy rubber. I'm almost certain the board is the same as JT's Excellerator 3.5E (VL and JT are owned by the same company). Meaning, no matter how fast you pull you aren't getting above 7 BPS. The actual fire rate is likely 10+ BPS, but when you hit 7 it stops responding until 1 second has passed. Semi only, no burst or auto. On/Off/Safety is easy to set. Cheapest 9v you can find will still power this marker just fine.
DETENT - Useless tab of plastic, standard on all VLs.
BODY - Nice glossy platinum/pewter color, no real milling (as is normal for VLs). Beavertail/sightrail is a nice touch, something you almost never see on top-cocking markers. Feedneck works well; Kingman should take note. Marker is all-metal, which makes it tough-feeling.
INTERNALS - Standard VL top-cocking assembly. Workable but nothing fancy. Chops way too often with typical RPS/Draxxus/JT field paint. Bolt is quickly scored and shaved from the poor-tolerance internal milling.
OVERALL - Prodigy E-Grip (yes, there is a non-E-Grip Prodigy) is a bottom-line e-marker that shows it. |
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| Conclusion: |
Nice touches like the beavertail/sightrail, metal construction, good stock feedneck and grips, and short trigger pull are dragged down by the cheap internals and crippled board. Not worth your time to upgrade when there are much better alternatives like the Spyder Imagine or Piranha E-force Ravage / GTI available for similar prices. |
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| Rating: |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| Only tested | 2 of 16 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Imagine, Icon, |
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| Marker Setup: |
Tippmann 98 Custom
Upgrades:
GTA 14 inch Sniper barrel
GTA Double Trigger
InnovativeWrks Wild Viper Trigger
Dye Sticky Grips '04
Shocktech Super Fly Delrin Front Bolt
Response Trigger
Comp Air Kit
Air America Messiah Regulator
Dye Mini Guage 750 psi
Lapco Bigshot (Coming Soon)
Dead On Bullet Drop Forward
CrossFire 92 ci 4500 psi High Tank
Parker Macroline
Loaders:
Viewloader Revolution with Xboard
Halo TSA LCD Backman |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
New Barrel, Agitating Loader |
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| Strengths: |
Fast |
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| Weaknesses: |
Cheap On/Off Button, LOUD, many problems, Uses lots of air, chops, curves, shuts off |
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| Review: |
Positives:
Light
Fast
Cheap
Negatives:
Loud
Wastes Paint
Shuts off automatically *story below
Button too small
Screws up Frequently
Curves
No Expansion Chamber
Crappy Barrel
*I was battling a friend with a prodigy in the woods. He was layin paint faster than my Tippmann could lay it on him. (not any more because the RT) He ran and hid and waited for me behind a tree. I found him about ten minutes later. He saw me first and I noticed his gun was shut off and he couldn't shoot me. I LIT HIM UP!!!! |
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| Conclusion: |
Over all the negatives out weigh the positives, but for only 100 bucks I'd say get it if you are a beginning speed ball player. Get the Tippmann though for woodsball. (or get the Tippmann and put a RT on it like me and you'll whoop Prodigy owners) |
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| Rating: |
| 4 out of 10 | Last edited on Thursday, December 23rd, 2004 at 7:17 am PST |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| Only tested | 1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
4 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Spyder xtra, tlx, and tlr
Tippman 98
brass eagle eradictor(crap)
other various spyder/clones |
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| Marker Setup: |
just the package setup-stock everything, with 9 oz tank |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
A longer better barrel. (stock barrel crap) |
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| Strengths: |
Rate of fire |
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| Weaknesses: |
Does chop if u do try to shoot too fast
Stock barrel crap |
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| Review: |
i have an after stock 14" barrel (brand unknown) and with that barrel the accuracy improved greatly. You do need to watch your rate of fire cause you will start chopping balls with a gravity feed hopper. It is not that loud and is pretty good on air useage. The price was reasonable for it being an electonic marker. |
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| Conclusion: |
All in all not that bad of a marker for the price. Stock barrel is really bad, a must to relpace that. Myself i would save the extra 40 bucks to buy a spyder. |
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| Rating: |
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jerones |
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Sunday, November 13th, 2005 |
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Period of
Product Use: |
| 1 year | 1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
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Similar
Products Used: |
98 Custom Pro |
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| Marker Setup: |
98 Custom Pro
J&J Ceramic Barrel 14"
Collapsable Stock
Expansion Chamber
Starfire Bolt
Mamba Coiled Remote |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
barrel upgrade. I consider this a beginner marker though... so you don't want to spend to much upgrading. |
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| Strengths: |
VERY affordable. Pretty accurate. E-Trigger (even though only semi-auto). |
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| Weaknesses: |
Pretty loud (at least with stock barrel). |
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| Review: |
The Viewloader Prodigy is a good choice if you are looking for a nice first marker. This gun won't be able to compete with more expensive and more advanced markers, but if you're just trying the sport out, this gun is for you. It's an affordable buy and performs very, very well. I paid 70 bucks for the gun. It should be worth at least a hundred for how well it performs.
The E-trigger is a nice addition, and I only broke a few balls in the 5 or 6 months I used the marker. For the price, you can't beat it.
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| Conclusion: |
I give it an 8 because it's a good marker, but not as good as my 98 Custom. Other, more expensive guns will do better than the Prodigy. But, like I said... an awesome beginner marker. |
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| Rating: |
| 8 out of 10 | Last edited on Sunday, November 13th, 2005 at 2:27 am PST |
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| Places to Buy | |
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