Angel questions for a friend

[druid]

Ok. A friend of mine is dying to buy an Angel. Like the rest of the country though, he can't afford a new one and is looking at used models.

The last time I owned an Angel was back in 01, when I bought it new and sent it off to Cobra for installation of their pixie dust. I got rid of it sometime in 05 and haven't really kept up on them as I should have.

I know there are about a dozen models out there since I owned my blind LCD...so my questions are relatively generic in nature. Remember, he wants to buy used:

Are there any particular models to stay away from? Why?

Are there any particular models that stand out from the others? Why?

If you gave a particular model as one to buy, what might it fetch if let's say it's stock or only moderately upgraded? [Let's say barrel, detents and bolt...]

If you gave a particular model, is there an after market board that takes a 9V battery [instead of those huge Euro ones that I remember]? Link to the board?

He has a Myth reg...which boasts a typical output of 600-650 psi. When I owned mine, it required a low pressure tank reg [actually, it came with a huge freaking "AngelAir" manifold]. Is the Myth "low pressure enough" to operate a typical Angel that requires LP bottle regs or should he get the $13 LP reg kit that lowers the OP to 400-450? Is it low enough pressure or should he get something lower than that?

Any helpful information is greatly appreciated.

[BigEvil]

You cant go wrong with an 05 speed, or an 06 GAT. You dont have to add anything to either model.

[athomas]

If you run an Angel with any good regulator feeding it, you can run it on a high pressure tank. I run my 2004 Speed on a HP tank using a Bob Long regulator instead of the standard Angel reg. Works great, and allows me to use the same bottles on all my guns.

When buying an Angel, if you can find one that has a Predator upgrade, they will use a 9v battery. There are a few other boards around as well, that use 9v. Any Angel force upgrade uses the rechargeable Angel battery. They work ok, but if you are buying a used Angel, there is a chance that the battery is getting weak due to age. Having a rechargeable is nice, but it means you can't just drop a new battery in if it goes dead in the middle of the day.

Make sure any Angel you buy has stock eyes or an eye upgrade if it wasn't stock. Eyes are critical on any stacked tube gun using a ram to move the bolt.

The newer ones use a different barrel than the older ones. Just be aware when buying barrels for the angle.

Depending on the condition and age, you can get good upgraded Angels for just a couple hundred dollars. One thing you want to check for when purchasing, is the condition of the ram. If it has been properly maintained, it will be in good condition, but if maintenance has been neglected, it could be worn at the threads where the front part screws onto the back part. If you need to buy a new ram, they can set you back $100, so you want it to be in good condition, or at least compensated for in the price.

[kill-n-spree]

Both guns Big Evil suggested come stock with boards that use 9 volts. The 06 Speed is also another great gun. It has the G7 internals just like the Gat and also uses a 9 volt. The biggest problem with the Gat is it has the G7Fly barrel threads which make it a pain to find barrels. They kept the old barrel threads up to the G7. You can pick up the old thread barrels for pennies.

[Frizzle Fry]

You can snag an A1 (not A1 fly) for well under $300 these days... They are the first generation of the newest model (other than what is JUST coming out, the ARK) and can be fully upgraded with Boost2 bolt, Magno internals, OLED board, and all available "upz" except the newer triggers for the A1 Fly and AR:K... I'd say that an A1 is your best option, hands down. I love my old angels, but they go for a couple hundred bucks, and for a minor price difference you can get an A1 that performs like the $1200 marker it is.

So, look for an Angel A1 (not a Fly) that's been "Magno'ed" (magnetic internals) and has a BOOST or BOOST2 bolt (damn near 2500 shots per 68/45) and a board with a screen and a microswitch (as opposed to LED and optical switch... Mojo or Virtue OLED will make you happy). Don't spend more than $300 - $350 unless it's just that pretty.

[druid]

Thanks guys.