What do you think about q-loaders?

[om3n]

I play a ton of woodsball, in fact that's really all I play. I have never had the opportunity to ask anyone who had one what they think about q-loaders, and since I am in the market for a new hopper now (if I can end up canceling my order for a halo I was trying to buy off amazon.... the seller shipped me the wrong color ) I am considering the q-loader. Now I love the idea of a full mechanical extremely fast feeder (since I love the idea of pwning guys who have electric guns with my mech automag- a mech feeder would be a nice addition) but I have heard that q-loaders chop alot of paint, and also have other problems. What do you guys think?

Thanks again guys- I hope i'm not starting too many topics here. I really want to get into paintball this summer, and this is the best forum I've seen for paintball! So it's your own fault for being such a great place for information

[punkncat]

My personal opinion of them is that it's a great idea in theory that just did not pan out to be as nice in real life.
My issue with them is the loading and smooth operation of the system ,as well as it's overall ruggedness. They are a pain to load, and even bigger pain to load correctly, they require a special kit to load in the first place, and the whole system is just prone to various breakages.

[om3n]

My personal opinion of them is that it's a great idea in theory that just did not pan out to be as nice in real life.
My issue with them is the loading and smooth operation of the system ,as well as it's overall ruggedness. They are a pain to load, and even bigger pain to load correctly, they require a special kit to load in the first place, and the whole system is just prone to various breakages.

I don't mind taking the time to load them, but is the system poorly designed? What sort of breakages do you mean?

[punkncat]

Well, I have seen the springs, pods and lids break fairly easily.....as well as the loader itself breaking in various places.

Good friend of mine bought the system and four pods. I have seen him use it twice. Two of the pods are already broken, and the loader is "repaired" with this super glue baking soda mixture he made up. One of the pods broke during loading, the other after being dropped behind the bunker during a game...have to keep in mind that it is only a bit over 100 shots as well....The loader broke just seemingly for no reason in the middle of loading.

If the loading of it doesn't go "just so" then either you skip shots, or the last dozen or so balls stay in the tube. It is of course a learning thing, once you figure out the "how" or properly loading, and changing pods on the fly and all. For all the trouble it is I will just stick with a hopper or a warp.

There are quite a few people on here that use them as well, and I am sure that they will have different opinions on the system as a whole.

[malJohann]

I don't mind taking the time to load them, but is the system poorly designed? What sort of breakages do you mean?

I don't agree with punkncat at all. I absolutely love my Q-loader. Only thing is it doesn't tolerate brittle shell paintballs, but you want tough shell paintballs for woodsball anyway so that's a non-issue. Since you already have a force feeder loading will be a breeze for you, just hook it up to the crank, switch on and load your q-pod in a matter of seconds. Oh, and if you get this hook your 'mag up with a Warp Body.

Pro's for me:
No balls that rattle when I move.
Low profile, since it doesn't sit on top.
No batteries to die on me.
Previous issues seem pretty much resolved with Gen3, which is what I have.
Tool-less maintenance.
And of course, its still the fastest loader on the market at 100bps freefall.
Feeds in absolute silence and is always ready, no auto-shutdown to save batteries.

Con's for me:
Limited ball capacity of 100 paintballs per Q-pod, would have liked 140 paintballs.
Initial setup may take a while, but then you're set, just keep the 14 factory prewinds.

[punkncat]

Previous issues seem pretty much resolved with Gen3, which is what I have.

This may be an important factor in the issues as well. I have not seen any of the "new" ones.

[om3n]

I don't agree with punkncat at all. I absolutely love my Q-loader. Only thing is it doesn't tolerate brittle shell paintballs, but you want tough shell paintballs for woodsball anyway so that's a non-issue. Since you already have a force feeder loading will be a breeze for you, just hook it up to the crank, switch on and load your q-pod in a matter of seconds. Oh, and if you get this hook your 'mag up with a Warp Body.

Pro's for me:
No balls that rattle when I move.
Low profile, since it doesn't sit on top.
No batteries to die on me.
Previous issues seem pretty much resolved with Gen3, which is what I have.
Tool-less maintenance.
And of course, its still the fastest loader on the market at 100bps freefall.
Feeds in absolute silence and is always ready, no auto-shutdown to save batteries.

Con's for me:
Limited ball capacity of 100 paintballs per Q-pod, would have liked 140 paintballs.
Initial setup may take a while, but then you're set, just keep the 14 factory prewinds.

Cool Yeah I only use high quality paint (fireball is the only paint I use), so I think I will look into getting the q-loader if my order for the halo is canceled.

I heard they are considering making pods with a 140 round capacity... is that only a rumor? And more opinions would be great!

[malJohann]

..If the loading of it doesn't go "just so" then either you skip shots, or the last dozen or so balls stay in the tube...

Loading with a force-feeder resolves the "just so" issues, cranking one revolution before you start loading balls resolves the problem of balls staying in the Q-pod, and extra balls staying in the tube is a non-issue in my mind, especially because I preload my tube for full capacity pods from the start and since it behaves the same as a stock feed (rock'n'cock baby) if the pod is empty.

[malJohann]

Cool Yeah I only use high quality paint (fireball is the only paint I use), so I think I will look into getting the q-loader if my order for the halo is canceled.

Its not about quality paint, its about tough shelled paint. I tried Allstars on my first day, which broke in the pods and feed neck. Switched to Formula13 on the same day and no problems since.

I heard they are considering making pods with a 140 round capacity... is that only a rumor? And more opinions would be great!

Don't know, but it would rule though, especially if they found a way to pack the 140 rounds into the same space, like two helixes of paintballs one inside the other.

[om3n]

Its not about quality paint, its about tough shelled paint. I tried Allstars on my first day, which broke in the pods and feed neck. Switched to Formula13 on the same day and no problems since.



Don't know, but it would rule though, especially if they found a way to pack the 140 rounds into the same space, like two helixes of paintballs one inside the other.

I see. Yeah fireball is extremely tough too- I have in my mag (long story... the on/off was messed up) had about 5 round actually JAM on the bolt and get stuck there without breaking.

Would you suggest getting a new system, or used?

[Swamp Thing]

I have mixed feelings on the q

I have had mostly gen 2 and I had to send a lot of them back cause the plastic spiral housing in the middle would crack after use.

Loading is a pain so I like many developed a bulk loader tht used a home depot five galllon bucket and a force fed hopper to be able to load multiple pods at a time.

When it works it is sweet but lately I find myself using a hopper more and more. I do miss the unobstructed sight line that I have with my q and may give it one more try.

Other pain is that unless your whole team is useing them you can not swap paint in the heat of the battle either to give or get.


Swamp

[going_home]

Cool Yeah I only use high quality paint (fireball is the only paint I use), so I think I will look into getting the q-loader if my order for the halo is canceled.

I heard they are considering making pods with a 140 round capacity... is that only a rumor? And more opinions would be great!

You will need to keep the Halo and use it to load the Qloader.

[punkncat]

I have mixed feelings on the q

I have had mostly gen 2 and I had to send a lot of them back cause the plastic spiral housing in the middle would crack after use.

Loading is a pain so I like many developed a bulk loader tht used a home depot five galllon bucket and a force fed hopper to be able to load multiple pods at a time.

When it works it is sweet but lately I find myself using a hopper more and more. I do miss the unobstructed sight line that I have with my q and may give it one more try.

Other pain is that unless your whole team is useing them you can not swap paint in the heat of the battle either to give or get.


Swamp

Yeah, it is kind of hard to beat the simplicity of snap....pull.....snap....pour.

[om3n]

Yeah, it is kind of hard to beat the simplicity of snap....pull.....snap....pour.

Well I think for the type of playing I do the q will work just fine- we often have tons of time between games and I'll be able to load pods with enough time. I will look at picking up a cheap used halo for loading in the future, but thankfully I was able to cancel my order so I can now consider other options.

So I have a few questions because I've never had the chance to feel/study a q-loader for myself...

1) when the loaded pods are not on the gun, what keeps the rounds from shooting out of the pod? Is it easy for this mechanism to become disengaged and for paint to shoot all over the place, for example from diving or sliding behind a bunker?

2) how does the stock loading process work, without a force feed hopper?

3) If I do decided to buy a used one, is there some indication on the system's parts to indicated it's a gen. 3 q?

[pk5]

Well I think for the type of playing I do the q will work just fine- we often have tons of time between games and I'll be able to load pods with enough time. I will look at picking up a cheap used halo for loading in the future, but thankfully I was able to cancel my order so I can now consider other options.

So I have a few questions because I've never had the chance to feel/study a q-loader for myself...

1) when the loaded pods are not on the gun, what keeps the rounds from shooting out of the pod? Is it easy for this mechanism to become disengaged and for paint to shoot all over the place, for example from diving or sliding behind a bunker?

2) how does the stock loading process work, without a force feed hopper?

3) If I do decided to buy a used one, is there some indication on the system's parts to indicated it's a gen. 3 q?

1) It is hard to disengage this mechanism simply because the only way to disengage it, is to take a screw driver or another pointy object and push down on the hole at the top of the lid. It still require some force, so it is not easy to trip that mechanism accidentally. It basically work nearly the same was as your clicky pen, where if it is pushed down by the mounting mechanism, then it rotate.

2. Without a force feed hopper, you use the silo and kinda have to shake every now and then like a regular (non - force feed) hopper, even a revy will work, just that like any standard loader, the silo can be jammed every now and then and you have to shake it.

3. I am not sure on that one at all, maybe the white plastic core instead of the black plastic core?