Is anyone else tempted to buy an ION?

[minimag03]

The price would have to be around $100 for me to be tempted. I just don't like their feel.

[68magOwner]

the triggerframes are metal (the only actual plastic parts are the trigger itself, and the shell around the body, nothing important really)

anyway, yeah, sometimes i think it wouldnt be a bad idea to pick one up as a backup, because they really are nice little markers.

[deathstalker]

The price would have to be around $100 for me to be tempted. I just don't like their feel.

Used, baby. Used. It sucked for anyone trying to sell one right before the price drop. Great for anyone looking to save even more buying used. Plus, it's even easier to find them with aftermarket parts already installed (which may be good, may be bad ), helping you save even more money.

[ahellers]

ion would make a great backup. but a horrable main marker. the cuality control just isnt that good. but useing it as a backup once and a while would be fine.
t

[PnueMagger]

I was tempted so i bought a used '05 (pretty much new supposedly) for 199 with a CP reg, clamping feed, and qev. It gets here tuesday. I went ahead and boutght a roller trigger, a proto barrel, mini drop on/off, new grips, and a 5.5 powerlyte body. All in all it cost me ~$360 so far. I may get a bolt and or lucky internals in the future if I need better efficiency.

[Destructo6]

I was and did. I like it. You get a lot of features for not a lot of money, so what is not to like?

Yeah, I put a CP trigger, reg, unimount, and some other bits on it, but I swapped out most of the stock components on my mag, too.

[cledford]

just like Lohman446 said its a great stock gun for the price but dont put alot of money into it. that being said im not tempted to get one, i will stick with my proto

Any reason why you guys say this? I was thinking about building one of these up from scratch - I've seen some really nice bodies and frames. Along with an after market board and QEV, cocker barrel breach. new feed tube and roller trigger - what could still suck? The way I see it is that EVERYTHING that I changed on my Viking (and that most other people do on Angels, Timmies, Shockers, etc) will be changed on the Ion as well - but in the end I'll have <$600 invested for a gun that has Break beam eyes and is more effecient than a Shocker - so what would the draw backs to the fully upgraded Ion be? Keep in mind I'm not comparing a STOCK Ion to anything, but if everything (including bolt and dump chamber) were upgraded on an Ion (I.e building it from scratch) wouldn't we have a gun that could run with the DMs, Egos and other $1300 dollar guns for less than half the price?

Thanks,

-Calvin

[BigEvil]

If you can buy a brand new Ion for $200 and sink only another $100 into upgrades than its a bargain. If you are going to dump $300 inot upgrades then that is a waste. For $500 you can get a used PM5 or many other higher end guns used off of Ebay or the forums.

I just got a mint 04 Angel Speed for $325. Ill dump another $150 into a board and eyes and it will be all set.

[Lohman446]

Any reason why you guys say this? I was thinking about building one of these up from scratch - I've seen some really nice bodies and frames. Along with an after market board and QEV, cocker barrel breach. new feed tube and roller trigger - what could still suck? The way I see it is that EVERYTHING that I changed on my Viking (and that most other people do on Angels, Timmies, Shockers, etc) will be changed on the Ion as well - but in the end I'll have <$600 invested for a gun that has Break beam eyes and is more effecient than a Shocker - so what would the draw backs to the fully upgraded Ion be? Keep in mind I'm not comparing a STOCK Ion to anything, but if everything (including bolt and dump chamber) were upgraded on an Ion (I.e building it from scratch) wouldn't we have a gun that could run with the DMs, Egos and other $1300 dollar guns for less than half the price?

Thanks,

-Calvin

Ahh.. but I have no intent of comparing it to $1300 guns. I have full intent of comparing it to $600 to $800 guns (assuming new, retail prices). It is a good question though

[cledford]

If you can buy a brand new Ion for $200 and sink only another $100 into upgrades than its a bargain. If you are going to dump $300 inot upgrades then that is a waste. For $500 you can get a used PM5 or many other higher end guns used off of Ebay or the forums.

I just got a mint 04 Angel Speed for $325. Ill dump another $150 into a board and eyes and it will be all set.

[cpt]

I traded a mag for a ion just to try it. They are lighter, faster rate of fire, and more efficent. I like the feel. you do need a feedneck if you buy new. I found a Ion with feedneck, trigger, QEV, unimount, hybrid grip and membrane mod, cp reg and freak jr barrel kit and all stock parts for $260 shipped. Tap the tank on my other Ion and it fires the trigger is so light. I was going to sell my RT to finance this but I don't think I can let it go. I have had it for 5 years and never chopped or broke. The Ion is a pain in the a** to take apart and I have to replace a bumper stop o ring everytime I play. I know I will miss people asking what my marker is when I go out to play.

[Lohman446]

Compare markers, as you would use them Its only fair to compare new price to new price and not consider the better prices some of us can get. For the comparison I am going to call a "good" barrel equal to the proto barrel or better. Barrel choices, trigger choices, are all of course personal preference

Base marker: Proto PM6 $724.95 (Action Village)
On-off assembly: Included
Clamping feed neck: Included
"Good" barrel: Included
"Good" trigger: Included
Total $724.95

Cons: I do not beleive the PM6 comes with a ramping board (correct me if I'm wrong).

Base marker: Vision Shocker $599.00 (Action Village)
On-off: Included
Clamping feedneck: $30 (guess)
"Good" barrel: Included
"Good" trigger: Included

Cons: Vision eye system (though they seemed to work well for me) vs. Break beam. Faulty eye logic (eye reads ball dropping, rather than checking for ball at trigger pull, if ball bounces out of breech still reads ball as in it fully).

Ok... I'll get to the Ion at some point here. How much is an Ion by the time you have a good feedneck, good barrel, good trigger, good on-off assembly, QEVs into it. Does it take Lucky stage 1, 2, and 3 to compete with those above? Does it take a new body to allow you to service the bolt assembly as readily as the ones above to compete? A lot of it comes down to a matter of preference. If I was going to drop $600 into an Ion I would spend the money and get a Shocker/PM6/MINION (my choice). It depends what it takes to make an Ion "compete" If you are willing to cope with the tech issues it may just be barrel / feedneck / trigger. If that is the point you stop at, then a $350 marker to compete at your level with the others, is not a bad deal. If your going to spend $600 to $700 I would think you would be better advised to buy one of the others with a better resale

[BigEvil]

As usual, Lohman makes good point.

IF you are going to go for the $199 Ion for any reason, just keep this in the back of your minds; Smart Parts probably has something new up their sleaves. Buy one now and be prepared to either keep it or face a $50 resale value in a few months.


Shocker vs Ion? Vision or not, I still would take a shocker any day during the week and twice on Sundays. They just feel so much better to me than the ion.

[cledford]

[Lohman446]

Perception. My upgrades tend to be on an as needed basis - even my Ion only got a feedneck (needed because I hate sanding hoppers) and a trigger (mine broke). My mags might be different, but those are for fun .

If you are going to upgrade everything anyways and are doing it for the fun of upgrading then my comparisons based on performance and usefullness are of far less value to you.