What's Happening with Tippman's Propane Gun??

[REDRT]

You can get like 50,000 shots off of one 16 oz propane tank.

http://www.tippmann.com/product_guide/markerDetails.aspx?categoryid=4

there is the tippy website link

http://www.tippmann.com/pdfs/products/C3/propane_vs_c02.pdf

comparison of propane to Nitrogen CO2 in pdf format.

Thanks for the links. I guess it really is quite the deal. Interesting to see if something like this will take off.

[SlartyBartFast]

My primary beef with them, and the reason I will not own one is this: they take batteries.

[SniperSmurf]

Heh, since I use it, I was wondering the same thing... It would probably just get hotter, velocity may spike, but that would have to be adjusted anyway... Guess now I'll have to borrow one and find out! Hope my buddies got insurance... Mmmwwwaaaa Haaaaaa Haaaaa!!!

[Alpha]

I believe the C3 was meant for folks who live in hickville (like canadia ) and play outlawball. Propane is usually readily available in rural areas becuase of the lack of natural gas hookups. These guys are also the guys who play in the woods and dont mind the pump.

[ThePixelGuru]

The impression that I got about the C3 is that Tippmann didn't expect it to take off. It's more a proof-of-concept marker, just to show that you can power a marker with propane and it is safe. All you people who are running scared of it and slandering it all over because you think it's going to blow up in your hands... Check how many propane grill accidents there are per users per year compared to paintball injuries. I'll bet the marker's a hell of a lot less dangerous than the balls it fires. I'd be surprised if someone really managed to hurt themselves with the propane without it being their fault.

Anyway, I'm sure Tippmann expected this, and I bet the C3 is just to get the propane system out there. I'd guess there will be something else coming later when it's a more accepted thing. Hell, there were people running scared of HPA a decade ago, look at the tourny scene now. Wait and see, people, don't bash something you don't understand.

And as a side note: where the hell are the propane 12 grams? That'd rock so hard.

[Brophog]

Your example is probably a bad one, although your overall point is good.

In 2001, gas-fueled grills caused an estimated 600 home structure fires and 3,200 home outdoor fires. That year, gas and charcoal grill fires resulted in a combined direct property loss of $19 million.

Meanwhile, paintball ranks amongst the lowest percentage of sports related accidents, below such sports as bowling and golf. Note, both amongst grilling accidents and paintballing that not all results are reported. Still, poor example.

The fact we're not hearing anything good or bad about the C3 shows that it's making no real impact. I've seen them in the stores, but not on the fields. I agree that Tippmann probably released it as a proof of concept to guage technology and impact, but I'd have to think they are less than optimistic about the early results.

However, we've yet to see them in the spring/summer peak times of playing. Releasing a niche paintball marker in November isn't likely to yield strong sales results.

[Troen]

Well here's my question...

SPs patents and such describe pneumatic markers... correct?

Wouldn't an electronic propane marker be completely immune to all this? The end result is the same... a paintball gets shot out of a barrel. But how it gets there is completely different.

genius.

[Glickman]

Well here's my question...

SPs patents and such describe pneumatic markers... correct?

Wouldn't an electronic propane marker be completely immune to all this? The end result is the same... a paintball gets shot out of a barrel. But how it gets there is completely different.

the air/propellant has nothing to do with the patent, its how it operates. you could design a differently operating pneu gun with co2 and it would be fine. BUT that means if you use a similar gun with propane it would be in violation.

[BlueFish]

Okay, while i dont own a C3, i've played with one. as the new guy here on AO, let me refresh ya'll's memory. I'm primarily a pump player, so the C3 had that appeal to me. Until i played with it.

keep in mind i'm used to either a phantom or a pgp for playing.

1- it was heavy. the gun was big, clunky, required use of a hopper and a huge 16oz tank. For 50k per pound, you'd think they'd come up with an alternate storage device, maybe a gas through stock with a checkvalve to hold a bit of propane.

2- the pump stroke was attrocious. not only was it heavy, and long, but it wasnt consistent, it didnt feel natural to me.

3- the barrel is plastic, and huge bore, with no ball detents and no anti double pumping, rollouts and double feeding was a constant problem.

4- fume buzz. i got a propane high if i stayed in one bunker shooting too long. not something i want on my field, bunch of players running around stoned with guns...

those were my biggest complaints. I really did not enjoy the C3 experience.

also, think of field owners, who make a good chunk of money on air fills. if people can just by a single propane tank, and shoot all season for $3-$4, why would they even bother going to the field.

[SniperSmurf]

the barrel is plastic, and huge bore, with no ball detents and no anti double pumping, rollouts and double feeding was a constant problem.

False on two counts there:
1. The barrel is no more "plastic" than a single-trigger AGD grip-frame is.
2. They have wire detents. Your friends was probably flattened out.

[BlueFish]

i've broken too many composite frames to trust anything other than aluminum for frames, and aluminum, brass, or carbon fiber, (steel too, but its heavy.) for barrels.

what was their reasoning for using a "composite" instead of metal for the barrel?

it was the fields C3, they lent it out to a few regulars to field test, myself being one of them. I dont think that it was mis treated, it seemed to be in good physical condition, i'd just say that the detent is not very effective with smaller paints. The FP there is particularly small. 681 on a big day.

[SniperSmurf]

i've broken too many composite frames to trust anything other than aluminum for frames, and aluminum, brass, or carbon fibre, (steel too, but its heavy.)

what was their reasoning for using a "composite" instead of metal for the barrel?

Hmmm... I've never broken a composite frame, so I'm not too worried. What are you doing to your frames?!? Have you ever broken an AGD composite frame? Composites can be incredibly strong.

I imagine they didn't use metal either, a: because of heat, or b: because of constant water-vapor exposure. Heat seems more likely to me.

[BlueFish]

it wasnt an agd frame, it was my old kingman frame back in like 2000 when i first started playing.

wouldnt the composite be more sensitive to heat than say brass?

[d4m4don3]

AO,

I am curious to hear how Tippman's fire burner is doing out there in the market. Are you seeing them on the field or in the stores?

Thanks!!

AGD

My best friend bought the Tippman C3 and he isn't using it much anymore. He has it to play with but he told me there's a few problems with the c3.

In speedball the profile of the C3 works against it since it is much bigger than a regular pump gun making it more prone for his gun to get hit. The long pump slide to feed air and mix propane makes it more of a chore to pump the gun compared to his phantom. It has a loud sound profile when you make a shot making it easier for opponents to triangulate your position. Of course this could be reduced by introducing some aftermarket barrels but there aren't any yet that we know of.

The only time he really gets to use it is when we play outlaw and he runs out of co2 for his phantom which is rare. He tried using it in the speedball fields at sc village but he didn't fare well because of the aforementioned flaws/features of the gun.

[BlueFish]

imo, the c3 has a bigger profile than MOST guns period. well, maybe not the old shoebox shockers. but its pretty close.