What valve/bolt system do you guys like?

[buzzboy]

In smoothness I really like the spoolvalve on the older (pre DM4)matrixes. They seemed to be the best kick wise.

The only thing I don't like about them is the number of orings that can fail. That is why I like the ease of use on a poppet valve gun.

For pure mech guns though spring return spooll(I guess thats what a mag is) is what I prefer. Blowbacks/Cockers have things about them that I just don't like. Blowbacks have kick and I think cockers are just.... well I don't know. I have shot and liked playing with one but I really don't want to own one.

[K Wolf]

OK, I'm clueless. What is a spool valve? I understand how mags work. What exactly makes it a spool valve?

[cyrus-the-virus]

OK, I'm clueless. What is a spool valve? I understand how mags work. What exactly makes it a spool valve?

A spool valve is the automags younger cousin.

basicly it works on the same principal except that rather than a spring to return the bolt it uses air.

I vote for spool valves or the MQ valve system in the AEDES.

[wjr]

I found this type of valve on haveblue.org. I have absolutely no idea how it works.

[cyrus-the-virus]

I found this type of valve on haveblue.org. I have absolutely no idea how it works.

A......crack valve? lol nice name though. it looks to me like it would be just an inline blowback (basicly) I tould help if they didn't have all thso god dmned lables over the whole thing....

[PumpPlayer]

And I didn't know "slidably" was a word.
I'll bet that'll be worth a bundle when I drop it on a triple word score...


That's the old SATCO 700. I really like some of the features of it but given complexity and a decided lack of available spare parts, I don't think anyone could reliably play with it.

Doc takes one apart


For my "best valve design ever" I'd have to vote for stacked-tube blowback.
I don't own any markers of that style and probably wouldn't shoot them if I did... however, they're all over the place, are easily maintained and repaired and arguably the best tool to get new players into the game. There's better performance to be had elsewhere but if all paintball markers absolutely had to be the same design, I'd pick the lowest common denominator.

All valve setups are a compromise. You just need to figure out what features are most important to you and chose accordingly.