???AGD question???

[wetwrks]

It seems that like most of the market (even outside paintball) AGD has fallen on some difficult times. The manufacturer has had to do some reorganizing and self evaluation. Does that mean they are any less viable of a choice for a marker? No.

Like all the other custom marker guys out there, the mag guys are up to their armpits in work. I have had some dealings with Tunaman and have placed an order with Magsmith. They are both excellent to work with and deserve the business. But doing so comes with the understanding that they are extremely buisy and communication will at times be lacking. I have no doubt that they will contact you as they are available. Keep emailing them and they will contact you. Persistance seems to get noticed.

Now to your basic question "Why should I buy an Automag when there seems to be trouble in the mag world?"

First consider the mag itself. A hardy piece of equipment that takes the beating that is dished out and keeps going strong. I picked up my first mag in the early 90s. I have never had to change out an internal O ring and for the first number of years didn't even oil it to the company reccomendations. I still have it and it runs like it was brand new.

I have owned Tippmans, WGP, Splatmasters, Sheridans, and so many other guns. While I have respect for a lot of them, I cannot list all the problems I have had to deal with with these other products. Yet at the same time I pick up that same old mag, air it up and am good to go.

My buddy has been a hardcore Tippmann fan since the early 90s always owning one and treating it as his baby. His latest being an A-5 with flatline. About 6 months ago he bought his first mag. A NIB classic. He messed with it for a few months and then had to buy himself a Tac One from AGD. After messing with it for a few months he sold the A-5, it never even saw play. He decided that the Automag had all of the reliability of the Tippmann at a greatly reduced weight and a much faster fireing capability. I doubt I will ever see a Tippmann in his hands again.

Second there is trouble with most of the manufacturers, it just doesn't get the publication that AGD does.

Third the Mag platform is probably one of the most expandable platforms on the market. Almost anything you want featurewise is available. You want unique, the mag is the way to go. If you can conceptualize it one of the guys here can build it for you.

I will tell you this. You need to look for a reliable marker that has available the features that you want. I think the mag will fill your every need.

[jnbradl]

Great Posts.

Just the kind of information I was wanting to hear about. Thank you

[dixieoutfitter94]

What other marker are you considering?

[Looper]

My story is very similar to most of the post above. Bought my first Nellie new in 1989 left the sport for several years. A friend got me back into it with a spyder he loaned me for a day 5 years ago and from there I bought an A5; we where playing mostly woods ball. Since then I have bought some other markers looking for something more but it needed to be right for me. I like the fact that Tippmanns could be used to dig a fox hole then used to fight back the masses.

I felt that as good as the A5 was I had done about as much as I could with it and the new X7 was the same internals with a different skin, no real advantage to upgrade. Tippmann built the X7 to sell add ons. I wanted more, I wanted something that you could not buy as an add on. I wanted a refined marker that could be field stripped like an A5 that was milled verses cast. I was looking for a manual marker that also could be reworked into other options i.e. electric, pump and pneumatic.

I have an ION but these are throw away markers. They are so cheap that it is easier to buy a new one then it would be to fix it. Don't get me wrong they shoot good just not anything special and with the corporate reputation that Smart Parts has I have a hard time saying I own anything from them. I've gone so far as to buy a Powerlyte Scepter barrel and insert kit just to get rid of my Freak Inserts.

I bought my fist MAG, a Tac One, this past summer from AGD and much like you I feel that I may have missed the hay day of Automags. I've been impressed with everything about the marker and have gone head first into the world of Mags to try and play catchup. I have started a project Emag, bought an Euro Xmag and now working on getting the parts together to build a pump mag.

These things are amazing, you remove one thumb screw in the rear and disconnect a macro line and you have just field stripped the marker. You can then, if you want run a battle swab through the whole marker. A few drops of oil in the ASA ever game day and that is about it. The most issues I have heard about are getting it tuned but if people run a few cases of paint through the marker then follow the instructions that have been written about the Level 10 Bolt you can't go wrong.

Ultimately you need to make a list of what you want out of a marker then, armed with that list, find the product that best matches your list. Can you share with us some of the feature you are looking for?

[jnbradl]

The other marker I am considering is a PPS Blazer.

The list of qualities.

1. Dependable
2. Accuracy
3. Ease of Maintenance


I play woodsball only. I have no need or want for a 20 bps. I just want a marker that is going to be there day in and day out that makes shots when I can. I have always played with Tippmann until I make this jump. So both would be great improvement, but I want the best. I was sold on the Blazer until a scuba shop opened up down the road and I now have access to H.P.A. (4500 variety) and a new 88ci/4500 crossfire High pressure tank(thanks to santa )

[ProblemKinder]

The other marker I am considering is a PPS Blazer.

The list of qualities.

1. Dependable
2. Accuracy
3. Ease of Maintenance


I play woodsball only. I have no need or want for a 20 bps. I just want a marker that is going to be there day in and day out that makes shots when I can. I have always played with Tippmann until I make this jump. So both would be great improvement, but I want the best. I was sold on the Blazer until a scuba shop opened up down the road and I now have access to H.P.A. (4500 variety) and a new 88ci/4500 crossfire High pressure tank(thanks to santa )

that's pretty much the mags slogan.

[ljpiller]

A lot of people see Airgun Designs as a fading company. While they don't have the business they used to have, they are still a strong company. They started at humble beginnings manufacturing accessory products and developed into one of the most known, if not the most known paintball manufacturer out there.(that was during the 90's) With the invention (and patenting) of the electro-pneumatic marker, Automag's reputation for being the best at dishing out the paint somewhat dropped and paintballers turned their heads to what is new.

A lot of people are out to get the latest and greatest marker. When a lot of people get that marker they tend to be very proud of it. So proud that a lot often dismiss other markers as inferior without really looking closely at them. It's rather easy to to that to an Automag. A lot look at Automags has an old "has-been" markers that had their time of fame, but are no longer in the limelight.

I believe that they are still just as competitive as everything else out there. They still provide the same scientifically tested quality they delivered all throughout the 90's. It may sound corny, but they put more passion in their markers than most manufacturer's out there. They have the pride of being the first to mass produce an affordable, successful semi-automatic paintball marker. Everything that I have purchased from AGD has been top quality. Their service is top notch. They provide a reliable, consistent, quality products that will last a lifetime.

[cerrik]

Just a few weeks back, I took my mag to the field to toss a bit of paint around and of the ppl that didn't ask about it, the others I could here talking about it as I passed them. 90% of those ppl mentioned it was sexy. It's a bead-blasted Minimag with classic valve and a Y-grip, running Warpfeed and Revy. And these guys were using Ions, Egos, DMs, and Minis.

One of the guys shooting an Ego and I got into a fire fight. He'd hurl a mess of 10 balls at me that would strike the front of my bunker, I'd pop out and fire about 6... he later told me I was humming them at him so close he thought I was gonna take his head of; he was impressed.

A mag never fails to wow... on and off the field.

[Smoothice]

Both great guns.

I am not as familiar with pps but i'm pretty sure there is not as many options as far as look or upgrades are concerned.

With a mag you can interchange parts.

10 years is a long time. You may change your style of play during that time. Woodsball now may turn into speedball later. Then turn to pump.

A mag can make those changes with you.

Will AGD be around in 10 years? I don't know. But their markers and parts will be. If not here then on another forum. The parts themselves last forever if taken care of. Aluminum and steel do not have a useful life that I am aware of.

So as long as their are orings to be found then a mag should last forever.

[Motorhead]

The other marker I am considering is a PPS Blazer.

The list of qualities.

1. Dependable
2. Accuracy
3. Ease of Maintenance


I play woodsball only. I have no need or want for a 20 bps. I just want a marker that is going to be there day in and day out that makes shots when I can. I have always played with Tippmann until I make this jump. So both would be great improvement, but I want the best. I was sold on the Blazer until a scuba shop opened up down the road and I now have access to H.P.A. (4500 variety) and a new 88ci/4500 crossfire High pressure tank(thanks to santa )

I still own my 2K blazer, recently sold my 1K.

If you like a closed bolt auto cycle type marker (Auto Cocker like) ... The Palmer Blazer is the FAR BETTER platform than your typical WGP cocker.

Blazers have NO backblock, No guard, No parts out behind the frame.
The Ram, Switch & Linkage is ALL integral. NOTHING hanging out front like a cocker does.
Bolt is a quick release item requiring just pulling out a spring loaded pin ... Sweet !
** These guns really need NOTHING in upgrades, they come from Palmers as a ready to Rock & Roll paint slinger ... Only mods really are barrels, custom ano, Regulation options, and some trigger frames choices.

BTW, You can run a BZ on HPA without issue !!

[PumpMag]

10 years is a long time. You may change your style of play during that time. Woodsball now may turn into speedball later. Then turn to pump.

A mag can make those changes with you.

QFT

Yup, this sums up my paintball history. All with AGD markers.

[trevorjk]

Data above provided by D&B.

Company Profile: Airgun Designs Usa , Inc

Year Started:2004

State of Incorporation:IL

URLadlock icon Activate Links www.spectrashift.com, www.airgun.com

Location Type:Single Location

Stock Symbol:N/A

Stock Exchange:N/A

Also Does Business As:N/A

NAICS:N/A

SIC #Code:3944

Est. Annual Sales:$1,000,000

Est. Employees:5

Est. Employees at Location:5

Contact Nameavid Zupan

Contact Title:President

well. for a dying company that Grossed $1Million dollars, id say its a safe bet to buy an automag

(( clearly these are 2006 statistics. and 2007 definetly seemed like a better year for automags then 2006 ))

also if some one wants to shell out $150 we can get a full on detailed report here Link

[AirAssault]

These posts come along every couple months. You shouldn't need us to talk you into a well made marker that holds it's value more than any other mass produced marker. We shouldn't have to sell you on one of the most upgradeable markers out there (not counting all the dohickies you can strap onto and x7 or A5, but that IMHO isn't upgrading it's window dressing.) You have to decide for yourself. I still have, and my brother still plays with the 98 classic my pops bought back in 1991 and I know many many others here on AO have similar stories. I challenge you to find another marker that has as strong a track record. I do have my VM that I picked up in 1994, but the following for VM's is no were close, even in the same town as that of the mag. It has to say something that people are still modding, making parts for, and improving the mag to this day. My devilmag will keep up with anything out there, ego mags, spider mags, emags, you name it and it will compete. Plus as many others have offered up, the $1200 ego some kiddies parents picked up will be worth $400 in 3 years. My marting halfblock that sold for $1200 4 years ago didn't even sell when I had it listed for $250.

So YOU decide for yourself what YOU want. Not trying to be a jerk but I for one get tired of these I hear AGD is a sinking ship, should I get one stories. If seeing the pics of all the hot mags, hearing stories of reliability doesn't sell you, then maybe you need to go pick yourself up a nice smart parts marker. The mag should sell itself, if it doesn't, then maybe you're just not worthy of the mag.

[jnbradl]

Your right maybe I am not worthy of a mag. Now back to the threads actual discussion. As I stated above in the orginal post, this is no way a shot at A.G.D. In my opinion I believe the automag is a great marker, no debating that. I was only trying to get answers and opinions on my questions above. If I offended you or your marker I am sorry. Just rather ask the questions and get answers than worry about offending a few. "Not trying to be a Jerk", but if your tired of reading these types of threads...don't. Thanks to the rest of you that gave me your honest opinions.

These posts come along every couple months. You shouldn't need us to talk you into a well made marker that holds it's value more than any other mass produced marker. We shouldn't have to sell you on one of the most upgradeable markers out there (not counting all the dohickies you can strap onto and x7 or A5, but that IMHO isn't upgrading it's window dressing.) You have to decide for yourself. I still have, and my brother still plays with the 98 classic my pops bought back in 1991 and I know many many others here on AO have similar stories. I challenge you to find another marker that has as strong a track record. I do have my VM that I picked up in 1994, but the following for VM's is no were close, even in the same town as that of the mag. It has to say something that people are still modding, making parts for, and improving the mag to this day. My devilmag will keep up with anything out there, ego mags, spider mags, emags, you name it and it will compete. Plus as many others have offered up, the $1200 ego some kiddies parents picked up will be worth $400 in 3 years. My marting halfblock that sold for $1200 4 years ago didn't even sell when I had it listed for $250.

So YOU decide for yourself what YOU want. Not trying to be a jerk but I for one get tired of these I hear AGD is a sinking ship, should I get one stories. If seeing the pics of all the hot mags, hearing stories of reliability doesn't sell you, then maybe you need to go pick yourself up a nice smart parts marker. The mag should sell itself, if it doesn't, then maybe you're just not worthy of the mag.

[PumpMag]

Be sure to check out the official pictures thread and the MOTM threads. You can see for yourself what the guys here have been up to and what you can do with an AGD marker.

It's this Automags.Org forum that got me seriously into these markers. I orginially started with 1 custom 68 Automag back in the mid 90's and stayed with that for years and years until I found this forum 1 year ago.

Now, I can't stop wanting more and more AGD stuff or aftermarket accessories. Be warned, once you hang out here, your wallet will be in serious trouble!