3D Printed Parts Sample Images

BT-4 vs. Classic Automag

A friend and I have had this long running debate which I think we finally settled this weekend.

We were debating what was the better gun -- a BT-4 (or whatever variant) vs. a Classic Automag.

Since he had never actually played with an Automag, and technically I have never played with a BT-4 (have played with a 98, and quite frankly, there is very little difference), I decided we needed and old fashioned gun swap and throwdown to decide the victor.  So that's what we did.

The results:

Automag complaints:

• thought the trigger was too stiff
• thought the paint was pulling to the left (After reviewing his footage -- it wasn't.  It was dead on, as long as he was, you know, pointed in the right direction.)

BT-4 complaints:

• too large
• too heavy
• too wobbly
• problematic chrono performance
• THE GUN FUCKING FAILED (hammer o-ring came apart)

I honestly do not understand why anyone would buy a BT-4/Tippmann 98 over a Classic Automag.  They're both about the same price (Classics are only available used now).  The Automag is:

1. far better designed
2. far better made
3. lighter
4. more compact
5. faster
6. easier to maintain
7. more reliable
8. more consistent (because of...)
9. has a regulator

The only advantage a BT-4 has is the ability to put an e-grip on there, cheaply.  Fat lot of good that does you without an anti-chop bolt though -- and ironically you can get an anti-chop bolt for an Automag.

There was a parts availability question, but the fact is parts last a very, very long time on an Automag.  The only major wear item is the power tube o-ring (010 urethane same size as Q/D, 008 for Level 10  bolt).  I've never had any other o-ring fail on me in the field.

Truthfully, the last 3 "failures" on that exact Automag are:

1. Spyder detente broke on the mag->cocker adapter.  Aftermarket part.
2. Piston o-ring broke on the Azodin inline regulator.  Aftermarket part.
3. Level 10 O-ring went down in size -- changed carrier, still using the same o-ring.

None of these would affect a stock Level 7 Automag.

Automag maintenance looks like this:

Liquid Image Ego

New camera on the block.

They need to get certain issues worked out (like the Wifi turning itself off), but it looks like a fairly competitive camera.

Paintball Battlegrounds (Edinburg, TX) Recap

Good

• Ridiculously cheap to play there
• Clean bathrooms
• Fill station worked well
• Refs were courteous, very responsive and on top of things; always ready to run games for us.  Cycled through 13 games while we were there
• Spacious, covered staging area, close to all the fields
• Rules and signs very clearly marked
• New, well constructed bunkers and buildings
• Fields were separated by netting
• Fun field layouts
• Good hours
• Used armbands; armbands were actually well made and fit, and they had plenty of them it seemed

Bad

• Lack of an expansive woods field; their existing fields were still quite fun though
• Straight elimination games only; didn't seem to matter much here though due to field design
• Lack of initial player briefing, which I've kind of come to appreciate
• Presence of airball poses a potential problem with a recball field, but everyone there seemed pretty chill, unlike Camp Pendleton, which oddly doesn't even have an airball field
• They were good about chrono'ing us, but the chrono station itself was a bit out in the open
• Music playing interfered with some of the fields.  Just turn it down a bit, aight?
• It's like...  in Edinburg.

No Data

• Time limits did not seem to be in place, although our games were over very quickly

Truthfully, most of the negatives were kinda nit-picky.  Overall, this is one of the best run fields that I've seen.  It's new though, so we'll see if they manage to maintain the quality.