Reliability of Vikings

[Steelrat]

viking seem to curve balls downward. I noticed it more w/ my viking than any other gun. Others have said the same. They are consistently curving though, but you just have to compensate for it. Some can also have creeping issues w/ the LPR, so its best to have a tool kit handy instead of sending it to someone. AKA cust. serv. isnt THAT great. Esp. since Dan is gone. AKA went kinda downhill after Dan got fired. They still honor warranty, but expect about a week turnaround in some cases, and shipping both ways. Solenoid, and board are not covered under warranty. Anything else, you can fix yourself if youre handy enough. They arent difficult.

Hype hype hype.

Honestly they are efficient, fairly low kick (although noticable), low maintainance, fast, reliable, heavy (unless you want to spend 400+ for milling/ano), consistent, but they arent BULLETPROOF. PPl still have probs w/ them. FSDO unless you have new software w/ WAS then you get first shot hot cause you cannot regulate first shot dwell. Tadao fixed this w/ ABS dwell. Good luck finding Tadao again. Last I heard will isnt making them anymore. Some 04 vikings have chopping probs cause of the detents. They are dual same side. They tried to alleviate it by offering Quad detents. Have fun tuning them. You can also use an oring behind your ram bumper to make your bolt stick out further forward to keep balls from rolling back and getting partially fed and chopping w/ the eyes on.

That about it. Every gun has positives and negatives. You can believe the hype or you can believe the truth. Ppl need to stop acting like vikings are the end all of paintball guns. Vikings are getting kinda outdated. Spartans is nice no doubt, so is rkjuniors, but those are pimped out vikings, not unmilled ones.

Thanks, but I can speak for myself. You may not like vikings that much anymore, but I have nothing but positive memories of them. The only issue I ever had was that detent one, which I was able to solve. Have fun with your matricies.

[Steelrat]

That being said, I prefer excals to vikings. Really apples and oranges, but if you want to try a viking, might as well try an excal too.

[SCpoloRicker]

I have absolutley no idea which opinion is more valid!

[yakitori]

who said I dont like vikings much anymore? You pulled that one outta your arse. I just said that was some of the other side of vikings that nobody discusses. No matter what I shoot now, so what, doesnt change the facts. Im just being honest.

So, comparing your excal to your viking, does the viking seem to curve balls down? Truthfully

Was detents not an issue for other ppl besides yourself? honestly

Has FSDO w/ previous firmware of WAS been an issue? the truth please.

Has the 1.6v firmware or later have first shot hot issues from un-adjustable added dwell? again, the truth please.

Is tadao easy to find now a days?

Are vikings kinda heavy unmilled/halfmilled? compared to markers that are 2 lbs and less today?

Is AKA cust. service still great even after dan left? I had probs w/ eileen before, and the tech guy, just gave me the run around on an issue and told me himself that Id have to pay for shipping both ways, and a week waiting time cause others were before me. Are boards and noids covered under warranty? NO

I said nothing false. You just are too ashamed to face the truth or something. I loved my viking, and if I ever went back to a poppet marker, Id prolly be shooting a viking, or an excal. So stop w/ the "you dont like AKA anymore and Im a trix fanboy talk.

Trixes have thier downsides too. Ive been unbiased about everything. Others havent.

Answer my questions please.

a new gun comes out made by dye and all you guys spew is "hype, its all hype" , yet hyping AKA guns is "okay, cause its ALL true" gimme a break.

Doesnt mean I dont have great memories of my viking. I miss it. It was the fastest gun Ive ever shot when I ramped it. Legally it was no faster than any other gun ive owned, even my emag.

[yakitori]

I have absolutley no idea which opinion is more valid!

Hmmm....ya thats a tuff one. Im the only one that has discusse ONE negative issue w/ the AKA line. I CAN tell you this.....post count doesnt matter.

And also, I prefer the 03 wire detents over the 04 detents. Easier to tune IMO. (not directed at you poloricker)

[CoolHand]

Better watch out Yak, generalizing that much about Vikings might prompt someone to say something like:

DM5's are great, but since they're spoolers, they are gas hogs. Or that and they eat orings, because all spoolers eat orings. And since it's made by DYE the wiring is crap, breaks if you look at it funny.

Aren't generalizations and rumor fun?

How about we only talk about problems we've actually encountered in person.

I never had a bit of trouble with my Proto, or my DM, but I have heard of all sorts of things, and I have fixed all sorts of problems with Matrices.

And I am calling BS on the "Vikings curve balls down" thing.

Ballistics are ballistics, and unless you show me some proof of top spin, I'm going to stick by that one.

[yakitori]

you said it yourself.....topspin. I didnt....> see you know of the issue. Nobody does true scientific research on paintball guns. Well, "real scientific research" anyway. Maybe some mom and pop setups w/ some statistics that prove nothing. Everyone that shot my viking noticed it. Everyones viking I shot, I noticed it. It does......I dont need an "expert" to determine that.

and that is true. Trixes do have weak wiring. You have to be gentle w/ it. Most ppl take the grip frame off and rip a wire, or pinch one. They DONT however chew orings. Spoolers dont "chew" orings unless they arent lubed and maintained properly. And at least you get an oring kit w/ your trix. You gotta pay 60 bucks or so for a viking tool kit. Also, spoolers arent efficient, but more efficient that mags, but ppl get defensive when you say mags hog air. I get about 1200 or so on a 68/4500 w/ a stock 06 proto. W/ an evolve you get 1700+. Eh ehm.....thats viking efficiency. Tophat and bonebrake mod will give ya a couple more pods and its cheap and easy. So coolhand, when you rebuild your LPR or clean it and remove it, how easy is that? Do you pinch any orings where the ASA is. You prolly dont, but many do. You gotta push it down a/ an allen wrench to keep it from getting twisted and pinched. Hmmm...what else. You can pinch a wire on your viking too if its an 03 the tray is just notched.

Ive also seen issues where the trigger frame holes for the grips to be mounted didnt line up right and the grips mounted on crooked. Mine was kinda like that. It was barely noticable, but it was. And I know of at least one other person w/ the same thing.

Did I touch a soft spot on you guys?

Vikings are greatly efficient. 2000 sometimes on a full fill. Very Consistent. I mean, prolly the MOST consistent gun I know of. Its accurate, but it still curves balls down.

Its very high quality. Very durable. Great type 3 ano. NIcley balanced, comfortbale trigger. Great tolerances. yada yada yada.

doesnt mean the negatives arent true.

Better watch out Yak, generalizing that much about Vikings might prompt someone to say something like:

DM5's are great, but since they're spoolers, they are gas hogs. Or that and they eat orings, because all spoolers eat orings. And since it's made by DYE the wiring is crap, breaks if you look at it funny.

Aren't generalizations and rumor fun?

How about we only talk about problems we've actually encountered in person.

I never had a bit of trouble with my Proto, or my DM, but I have heard of all sorts of things, and I have fixed all sorts of problems with Matrices.

And I am calling BS on the "Vikings curve balls down" thing.

Ballistics are ballistics, and unless you show me some proof of top spin, I'm going to stick by that one.

[yakitori]

oh ya, and nobody answered my questions honestly. I asked them to be answered. They are very easy yes or no questions. Should take about 2 minutes.

[Duzzy]

you said it yourself.....topspin. I didnt....> see you know of the issue.

Knowing what something is or labeling something is totally different than saying it applies to the situation... That's on par with saying that an Excalibur gets more range becuase it is closed bolt.

No offense or anything, but it was junky logic.

[magman007]

Steelrat, we all know that im the trix fanboy and im going to adress some things.

First and foremost, i will flat out admit, i do not like poppet guns. i cant stand the kick, which is quite prevalent on any poppet marker like a viking, or angel, or timmy, or ego, etc. The spool has spoiled me, and i like it.

now, im going to adress some issues mentioned.

Efficiency, is it really that important any more? who doesnt have all day air? and who dumps a case a game?
Dm's are gatting 1400-1500 now anyways, and even more with a little tape, and some dremmeling if you feel so inclined, even though it is not necessary.

Reliability. Never has any one of my matricies left me sitting, and if it did, its only one of 5 orings that can be causing the problem. very easy to take care of.

Wiring. Last i checked, the vikings arent wired much better than the dm's are, and theres the worry of pinched wires, etc.

maintinence. Ok, so the matrix is slightly more involved with its maintinence, but it is by no means hard or ardous, you take bolt out, apply lube, put bolt back in. and it only needs to be done every 5 cases, i am anal retentive and always strip my guns down after play, but thats me.

kick. mightymax it all you want, the viking is still going to kick more than the matrix.

Trigger feel. i think trixes of all incarnations have had the best feeling triggers to date. i did not like my impulse esque switch mounting style of the viking.

balance. i feel that the dm's balance way better than the viking.

weight. grow some muscle.

software. good luck finding tadao, where chips are easily available for dm's, tadao for a vik is going to be hard to hunt down, and i think we can all agree that its the best programming out there.

never had rollback or detent issues with any of my matrixies

finally. SHOOT THEM BOTH, or atleast shoot a trix, and a nother poppet gun. tell me which you thought was more enjoyable?

[CoolHand]

who said I dont like vikings much anymore? You pulled that one outta your arse. I just said that was some of the other side of vikings that nobody discusses. No matter what I shoot now, so what, doesnt change the facts. Im just being honest.

So, comparing your excal to your viking, does the viking seem to curve balls down? Truthfully

Nope, never seen any difference at all.

Was detents not an issue for other ppl besides yourself? honestly

The '04's had a few detent problems, but they were not as prevalent as people would make it out to be. Yes, some did have problems, but they were not the majority, and even then, it's a fairly easy fix. I will admit that the wire detent is one of the many things I prefer about the '03 Viking.

Has FSDO w/ previous firmware of WAS been an issue? the truth please.

Once again, some boards had FSDO, some didn't. Some folks had FSDO from sticky ram orings, but that issue was addressed by AKA free of charge. The markers that could not be fixed got the cap mod or a firmware upgrade, and all was well.

Has the 1.6v firmware or later have first shot hot issues from un-adjustable added dwell? again, the truth please.

This one is true. BUT, how many Shockers, DMs, other markers with ABS are running around with hot shots after 5 mins? It's a non-problem brought up to defend a pointless point.

Is tadao easy to find now a days?

They're not impossible to find, you just gotta look. But really, a WAS or Pandora board with Ramping on it is just as fast, they just don't have as many bells and whistles as Tadao.

Are vikings kinda heavy unmilled/halfmilled? compared to markers that are 2 lbs and less today?

Depends on what you consider "heavy". I myself think anything under about 9lbs decked out is fine. My halfmill is about 8lbs loaded, so I have no problems with it. You gotta remember that after you hang a loaded hopper and a tank on it, that 1.5lb marker still weighs in at nearly 7lbs. It's not that big of a deal.

Is AKA cust. service still great even after dan left? I had probs w/ eileen before, and the tech guy, just gave me the run around on an issue and told me himself that Id have to pay for shipping both ways, and a week waiting time cause others were before me. Are boards and noids covered under warranty? NO

Nope, AKA's service sucks now. BUT, there are five or six other places that have just as good, if not better service than AKA used to have. Besides, as previously posted, Vikings are hella easy to work on, and a tool kit is pretty cheap.

I said nothing false. You just are too ashamed to face the truth or something. I loved my viking, and if I ever went back to a poppet marker, Id prolly be shooting a viking, or an excal. So stop w/ the "you dont like AKA anymore and Im a trix fanboy talk.

Nope, nothing false, but also nothing that is really useful. You're nit picking, and you seem to do it every time anyone suggests a marker other than a DYE Matrix. If you do that consistently, how can you be surprised when you get labeled as a Matrix fanboi? I mean really. Like you said, every marker has its down sides, but anymore, 99% of them are just little nit picks that people find just so they have something to ***** about.

Trixes have thier downsides too. Ive been unbiased about everything. Others havent.

Answer my questions please.

a new gun comes out made by dye and all you guys spew is "hype, its all hype" , yet hyping AKA guns is "okay, cause its ALL true" gimme a break.

Everything on AO (and any PB forum anymore) is hype, even (or rather especially) the anit-hype.

Doesnt mean I dont have great memories of my viking. I miss it. It was the fastest gun Ive ever shot when I ramped it. Legally it was no faster than any other gun ive owned, even my emag.

I like my Viking, and I didn't like my spoolers. That's my opinion. I just like the feel of a hammer/poppet marker better.

There is nothing wrong with spoolers, I just don't like them. I'm not going to nit pick at ever little detail to justify my decision.

[CoolHand]

you said it yourself.....topspin. I didnt....> see you know of the issue. Nobody does true scientific research on paintball guns. Well, "real scientific research" anyway. Maybe some mom and pop setups w/ some statistics that prove nothing. Everyone that shot my viking noticed it. Everyones viking I shot, I noticed it. It does......I dont need an "expert" to determine that. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aw, come on man, this is heading toward the Na Nana Boo Boo stage of the discussion.

By your logic, if you think a Toyota is a higher performance car than a Ferrari Enzo, then it is.

It's the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and babbling when someone asks for something to back up your "findings".

This mentality is why we still have the "closed bolt is more accurate", "my timmy shoots at 35 bps", "Dragon Timmies are better than Alias Timmies", or "The ripper timmy shoots better than that Russian Legion Timmy", or "Buzzards shoot flatter than Phantoms", or "Cockers Hurt more than spyders", etc, etc, etc.

I've got a bridge that I'll sell you. If you walk across it, you'll live forever. Me and all my friends walked across it and we're going to live forever. We've all observed these findings, they are true beyond a shadow of a doubt. I'll sell it cheap. Shipping is free. Wadda ya say?

[yakitori]

I could care less about open and closed bolt. Ive shot other open bolts that dont curve down AS much IE, timmy, Ego, excal, etc. I didnt even mention topspin, you did. Thats all I was saying. back atcha.

Im not a DYE fanboi. I happen to like Dye markers. I liked my viking and my emag just as much at the time I owned them. I like my Ion and I used to not even like SP. Im just not a biased kung pao chicken like you.

weight AND size are issues in the kind of ball I like to play. Im aggressive kinda front man. I cannot run hauling arse to my 50 carrying a 9-10 lbs setup. ANd yes the 6.5-7 lbs is A LOT easier to squeeze into a bunker and lug around. Im a lot more agile w/ a lighter marker. Im sorry if you think that 1-1.5 lbs on a marker alone makes no differnece. Its also easier to snapshoot faster w/ a lighte marker. Im sick of the "lift some weights" arguement. I weigh 180 and benched 305 a year ago, and still prefer a lightweight marker. Its not that I cant carry around a heavier marker, I DONT WANT TO. Im faster w/o it.

I have a personal prefernece. I never recommended a trix. I didnt recommend a viking or anything else either. I DID however make some points about the other side of vikings that NOBODY was mentioning. If you read through the first page of this thread its all "OMG, vikings are the shiznit" "vikings are the BEST guns ever made" blah......there is no best gun.

I too prefer a trix for the reasons magman does. I dont care for poppet markers that sound like a metal hammer/ram is SLAMMING into a metal valve. I dont like the clap of them, I dont like the kick. I like the lifeless, accurate, quiet....poof poof of a trix. Shockers are the same way, but I dont really care for them. Big deal. I dont recommend or praise at trix in EVERY thread....stop your slander. Lies I tell you, lies.

You (and others here) make WAAAAAYYYYY too many assumptions. Im not a fanboi of ANY gun right now.

[Duzzy]

I could care less about open and closed bolt. Ive shot other open bolts that dont curve down AS much IE, timmy, Ego, excal, etc. I didnt even mention topspin, you did. Thats all I was saying. back atcha.

*Edit*

Making my intentions clearer hopefully.

[yakitori]

ME YOU