shot an ion today..

[AZ_09]

yah, sorry,

i must have missed alot, or didnt see the second page

[the mag guy]

i think a couple of you seem to have the idea.

The bottom line is money. Seriously the insdustry feeds off the the want of customization.

Tons of people have ions. I know I'm gonna stir some stuff up here, but a lot of after market parts are like putting a flag on a go-cart. It doesnt do anything except change the look. I know there are some upgrades that actually change performance.

Selling aftermarket parts just puts more money into the company's hands. It doesnt mean the gun is crappy at all.

heres the deal. As long as there is a huge market for a specific paintball gun, there will be a huge market for aftermarket accessories.

I am a member of this aftermarket group as well. Did I really need a ULE body for my gun? no. Did I want one? yes!

[geekwarrior]

I am a member of this aftermarket group as well. Did I really need a ULE body for my gun? no. Did I want one? yes!

the ule body wasnt just for looks. It made the mag lighter, made it center feed, and made it cocker threaded to accept a wider variety of barrels. Also gave you options on clamping feednecks. I still agree with you but maybe not the best example

[Chaos_Theory!]

I love my ion, but it costs a tad more than $200. lol

[Ydna]

lol, you have a point there....

[Rabbit]

Ok, ..

I took the time to read this entire litany of haters and lovers arguing. I have owned an Ion. Yes, I hate Smart Parts. Bottom line, the Ion, for the money AT THE PURCHASE PRICE is the single best deal a person can get. Period. Now that said, the feedneck needs improvement, cause it flat out sucks nuts. The trigger is iffy. It's a thing that could use some work, but it is functional.

And for all the 'it's plastic' haters.... WTF do you think the Mag and cocker frames were before they got upgraded? That's right kiddies, PLASTIC. Call if what you want, but those frames were nothing more than plastic.

As far as being able to build one entirely from aftermarket parts? Yep, been there, done that. Actually kinda liked it. When you can do that and then say 'No it's not an Ion' and mean it (because, honestly, it isn't an Ion), even though it does have Ion replacement parts, it makes you feel kinda proud. Yeah, Ion parts, but is it REALLY an Ion? if not one single part came from SP does that still make it an Ion?

Love them or hate them, they are here. And I don't see them going away anytime soon. Get over it.

Edit: to the poster who said Breakbeam eyes, Uhm, no, they arent, not until you get the Virtue eyes. The stockers are a Bouncer type beam.

[iambored]

My great revolt against SP cannot be stopped by ions or $275 2-color fade imps with vision, I stick with mags, egos, dm,pm, timmies,excals, borgs, and vikings after all I've heard more bad about SP than good and for the price of a nice ion I could get a new ego etek, plus when you have a replacement for every piece on the marker I sorta consider that bad, but I have great things about them and maybe if I can get one with a tank cheap I'll try it to give me the right to not like 'em

[Lohman446]

My great revolt against SP cannot be stopped by ions or $275 2-color fade imps with vision, I stick with mags, egos, dm,pm, timmies,excals, borgs, and vikings after all I've heard more bad about SP than good and for the price of a nice ion I could get a new ego etek, plus when you have a replacement for every piece on the marker I sorta consider that bad, but I have great things about them and maybe if I can get one with a tank cheap I'll try it to give me the right to not like 'em

Wow.. the price of the Etek must have really taken a nose dive

[Pneumagger]

ego etek >> 100 IONs or 72 Imps

[iambored]

Quality over quantity is important and wholesale and ebay bonded members work wonders and
$45 Fire Bolt
$100 Aluminum Shell
$50 New Reg
$ 45 QEV
$120 Better Barrel
$200 Good Tank
$100 New Board
$75 Break-Beam Eyes
$70 Hopper to keep up
$200 Base Marker
$ 50 Firing Can
$45 Better Trigger

So overall a nice ion is $1100.00 + shipping and handling and I just cannot see that being good
but I just would rather buy a mag for the price of the base ion

[kenndogg]

Quality over quantity is important and wholesale and ebay bonded members work wonders and
$45 Fire Bolt
$100 Aluminum Shell
$50 New Reg
$ 45 QEV
$120 Better Barrel
$200 Good Tank
$100 New Board
$75 Break-Beam Eyes
$70 Hopper to keep up
$200 Base Marker
$ 50 Firing Can
$45 Better Trigger

So overall a nice ion is $1100.00 + shipping and handling and I just cannot see that being good
but I just would rather buy a mag for the price of the base ion

$45 Fire Bolt
Firebolt- most places have them for $40 max

$100 Aluminum Shell
Not a necessary upgrade, more vanity than anything

$50 New Reg
I'll give you that one

$ 45 QEV
$45 for a qev? did you make that price up? $15 for a clippard that fits w/o any modifications

$120 Better Barrel
CP makes a great barrel for under $50, who uses stock barrels anyways, most people upgrade this regardless

$200 Good Tank
Tank would apply to any gun, should not even be considered in the equation

$100 New Board
T-board can be had for $80 but is a new board really necessary? IMO no Stock ion board allow you to adjust fire rate, dwell, fire modes(including ramp).

$75 Break-Beam Eyes
$75 for break beam eyes!? Once again did you make this up? Stock ion eyes are break beam so why do you need to upgrade??

$70 Hopper to keep up
See the tank comment

$200 Base Marker
Actually they are $179 now

$ 50 Firing Can
Firing can-not necessary but $35 if you really think it helps

$45 Better Trigger
any where from $20-$45

My Ion was $179, Warrior trigger and feedneck combo was $45, Techt l6 bolt was $55, Sidewinder reg was $70, Clippard QEV was $15, Evil driver barrel was $40. Total comes out to be just a bit over $400.
My Ion has little kick, good efficiency and just as fast as any high gun.
Just because you can upgrade any parts doesn't you have too or need to.
Honestly all you really need for a base ion is a qev and feedneck and it will be a great gun for the money.

[iambored]

Wow, I need to find some where else to shop fast (Starts searching for paintball stores at google)

[geekwarrior]

Wow, I need to find some where else to shop fast (Starts searching for paintball stores at google)

I think you do, if you've been paying the kind of prices you listed, well, you've been bent over and

[Lohman446]

$45 Fire Bolt

Not needed

$100 Aluminum Shell

Definetly not needed, considering this as needed is kinda just retarded

$50 New Reg

MAYBE... though not really. But I'll even give you this

$ 45 QEV

Not needed, my Minion efficiency is worse than a stock Matrix. As are many other markers out there

$120 Better Barrel

Thats a heck of a barrel. Checked prices lately? Even if I give you this you can buy very good barrels for $50 all day Personally I have been satisfied with the Ion stock barrel, though I have heard some of them were bad

$200 Good Tank

OMG.. the Ion needs a tank? This is one of the most retarded things I see people complain about. Every marker (ok, there is one exception out there) needs a tank

$100 New Board

Vanity purchase. The Ion board functions just fine in most any circumstance needed.

$75 Break-Beam Eyes

Vanity purchase. The stock eye system has worked fine in every Ion I have shot, and some for an extended time.

$70 Hopper to keep up

OMG - the Ion needs a good hopper. OMG... like, I just feed my Etek one at a time

$200 Base Marker

Ok.. need the marker.

$ 50 Firing Can

Not knowing what this is I cannot tell you why it is retarded

$45 Better Trigger

Ok, I'm going to be nice on this one and give it to you. Its a maybe, but ok.

So even if I give you the base Ion $200, a good barrel ($50), a clamping feedneck ($50), a trigger and reg, both of which I think are stretching it ($100) I'm still only to $400 for a decent customized marker. Prices of the Etek drop?

[Chaos_Theory!]

lol, my ion is upped with the best of the best parts that most people cant find or get and it hasnt cost me $800.