Mag vs. Shocker

[custar]

Well, I play woods/scenario exclusively. I'd like something reliable and lightweight that will shoot relatively fast.

Ditto. That's why I primarily accumulate Mags and AKA's. Well, Vikings and Excals without milling aren't exactly lightweight but their reliability, speed, and consistency make up for that.

custar

[craltal]

Ditto. That's why I primarily accumulate Mags and AKA's. Well, Vikings and Excals without milling aren't exactly lightweight but their reliability, speed, and consistency make up for that.

custar

add in the cocker threading...

[68magOwner]

Well, I play woods/scenario exclusively. I'd like something reliable and lightweight that will shoot relatively fast. Autococker threading is a big plus.

are you looking to go mechanical or electro? (I wouldnt concider either to be more reliable than the other)

If your looking to go mech, a mag is probably the way to go, or at least what I would reccomend.

If your going electro, I would suggest you pick up an ego, or possibly a protege, both are pretty much bullet proof and require very little/simple matinance, both are very light (lighter than the shocker) An 05 ego can be had for ~$300, and are great markers, the protege will run you ~$500. AKA markers are reliable markers, but, I dont know if I would want to carry one for hours on end at a scanario. Not that it would REALLY made a difference, but, its always nicer to have a light marker on long days.

[Thotograph]

If you want a spool type marker then perhaps look into the original quest (by first endeavor paintball) over a shocker. Quests are unique, shoot good, and can be had cheap new or used. Plus, unlike shockers, they use a lpr which helps make them smooth and efficient.

Still... mags > everything else. AKA's are nice too. Another gun of mine that I really enjoy is my Alien. Light, fast, and comfy. Whatever you get, be sure you learn how to maintain it. As long as it suits your style of play and you are happy thats all that matters... okay well that and please don't buy SP. They are the devil

[zeroaz]

More customizable, and better durability. I have a bad *** pump mag awaiting anno, and I am working towards a pneumag conversion to. Stay tuned once I get it annoed, it will be in the MOTM contest.

[68magOwner]

If you want a spool type marker then perhaps look into the original quest (by first endeavor paintball) over a shocker. Quests are unique, shoot good, and can be had cheap new or used. Plus, unlike shockers, they use a lpr which helps make them smooth and efficient.

Im not sure if you have actually ever owned a quest, or if your just taking this from somewhere else, I have owned 3 quests, and none of them were smoother than any of my shockers. And had about the same efficiency.

[anomoly40]

I'm not trying to disagree with anyone who's posted so far so this isn't a "NU-HUH!" post. These are just based on my obsevations as a Airsmith for the largest field in Arkansas. I'm just going to focus on the two markers that were asked about for a paragraph or two.

As the Airsmith and Gun tech I have worked on both guns, taken them apart and fixed them for customers. MOST problems with markers are the USERS fault. We have a Autococker who has it's LPR turned up all the way because the customer said "it made it shoot faster". Now he wonders why he blows hoses and the gun will stick when the trigger is pulled and you have to push it back to get the gun to recock. Having said that I will tell you what issues we've had with both markers in the past.

Shockers HAVE to be lubed after every day of play. Taken apart and lubed liberally with DOW lube. When you take guns apart that have a bunch of orings like the shocker does, you tend to wear out the orings faster. Some of the orings are hard to get to unless you have a pick. They are the clear ones on the inside of a little lip machined on the "can". I have stabbed my fingers countless of times getting those out. They also have a 2 piece board which can be the cause of cursing.

Automags can be oiled by dropping a few drops of oil into the valve. To take the valve assembly out you loosen the rear frame screw and slide it out. There are orings in the mag, but they are easier to get to. Sometimes the bolt spring will lose its springing action, just a replacement is needed. They sometimes leak down the barrel, an oring in the power tube fixes that. Really simple maitenence.


Usually when someone brings a mag to the field I never see it. I might catch the guy filling up air and have a conversation but I have only had to work on 3(one was to install lvl 10). There are a few guys on our team that have shockers as backups to their matrix's, I've had to work on all 4 several times..

All in all it comes down to your opnion and playing style. For me, I've got a mag in the bag. (that phrase is now copywritten)

[p8ntbal4me]

I own 2 NXT Shockers and 3 SFT Shockers.

I got,... working right now,.. 8 Mags of various types.

I shoot em both regularly, but its ALWAYS the Mag that goes to the chrono first.

You can shoot it manual, you can use an e-mag in e-mode, straight manual on the e-mag, a combo of both,... you can interchange the parts with (pretty much) every model ever made.

You cant really do that with any other gun out there.

I like my shockers they work awesome,.. but I lend those out for other people to use.

I love my mags,....

~ P8nt

[68magOwner]

Shockers HAVE to be lubed after every day of play.

I don't have arguments with most of what you said, other than this. I have actually put literally 20 cases of paint through my shocker without re lubing it once in the process. Never had shootdown, didnt loose consistency, performed the same the 19th case as it did the first. I wouldnt reccomend that a player do this with their markers, but, just saying that it CAN be done. Typically, I probably lube my shocker ~ every five cases of paint. Has to be done more frequently now that its cool outside, but, in good weather, i dont have any problems doing so.


Anyway, by now, if the threadstarted hasnt noticed, ill point out, honestly, whatever marker you want to shoot, is your decision. Obviously, just reading this thread, you see that people vary greatly in their tastes of markers. Try and get out and borrow some markers, see what you like best, and make your decision based on that.

[redmagik]

shocker vs mag

Well, like most on this forum I am partial to the mag, got 5 of em. I've played tourney ball with my tac one with ult and xvalve. I can rock it almost as fast as the electros and with MUCH better realiability. As for the shocker, well, I have to admit it, i play on a SP sponsored scenario team so we shoot shockers, ions and sp8's mostly. I have an '05 SFT shocker, max flow reg and tank, and a virtue board. It defintely rocks. Holds it own against any other electro. Problems = 0. Easy of maintenance...well that goes to the mag of course. Accuracy = even...though i am partial to the mag. If someone handed a shocker and a mag and said choose one......the mag....just can't beat 'em...better than looking like everybody else on the fields anyway. Plus you never have to worry about the weather....rain ...snow...whatever the mag keeps on ticking!!

[Stayhuge]

Another option is to buy one of each. You can pick up a decent mag, w/o RT or X valve for ~100-150. And get a used shocker for ~300 depending on the upgrades. Then try them out and see which you like better. Personally, it's never a bad idea to have a cheap mag as a backup. I have a ULE cutsom as my primary, and it hasn't failed me yet. But, I went and bought another classic mag just in case something was to happen. You never know. So I guess what I am trying to say is that with either of the guns you are looking at, have a cheap mag as a backup. Not to mention, they run on CO2, in the event HPA is not available. Good luck with your decision. Also, I believe someone mentioned this above, but knowing your price range would definately help in our suggestions. Like if you said you had $1000 to spend, I'd say get an NXT Shocker, and a RT Pro. You might have to look a little, but it's possible. If you said $500, I would go with my first suggestion. Like I said before, I have owned A shoebox shocker, SFT Shocker, a ULE Custom, and a Classic Mag, along with a bunch of other guns, electros and mechs. Right now I am on a mag kick, and love them. Sorry if this seems like a rant. Just trying to type this up while on my lunch break.

[AzrealDarkmoonZ]

What type of paintball do you want to play? Mostly airball with high rofs and small fields? Huge forests with 500 people playing scenario?

Do you want to play local tourney scene? Play an occasional national event?

If I was you I would get the Shocker. Is it has reliable as the Mag, in the long run probably not. I doubt I could leave a shocker laying around for a year and pick it up and it work perfectly. Of course all I would probably have to do is regrease it and it would be fine.

But with the shocker orings, and technical help can be found at almost any field. Its a common marker that most shops carry parts for. Even with the mags vaulted reliability if something goes wrong and you have to order parts that is a day the mag will be down. If the shocker goes down assuming its not the noid you can probably get about any other item at the field.

The shocker will do you well in both high end tourney and scenario play. Works reasonably well, and is all around an average common marker.

But shoot both, see which one you like best.