Why are blowbacks "low end"?

[wjr]

I asked this same question over on MCB, and got some interesting answers.

I figure I'll post it here to get some more educated responses (not saying the guys on MCB are stupid).

So, why are blowback markers considered "Low end"? Is there something inherent in the blowback system that makes markers less accurate or inconsistent? Or is it just because they are cheap to make, and most are made using low quality parts?

[Pneumagger]

They are just older and generally very cheap. Technically, the ION is a newer gun with newer designs than the blowback... but it's simplicity and price renders it "low end" to most people.

With a reg and good spring kit they can be very consistent. But even then they are alot harder on paint than most other guns.

[hs2000]

Blowbacks, to me, will always be low end because of the massive amount of reciprocating mass, which as we all know means way to much kick.

[Pneumagger]

Blowbacks, to me, will always be low end because of the massive amount of reciprocating mass, which as we all know means way to much kick.

So autocockers will always be "low end"

[Toll]

Generally speaking people view them as inferior because the design is used in "low quality" markers. People just "think" that other markers are superior because of what ever aesthetics/marketing. No one would buy a 900 dollar gun if a 150$ one could pull the same.

Put a good reg/spring kit/barrel/bolt/board...etc on to a 2k spyder and it will shoot fine. Put a spyder on 15bps auto and an ego on 15bps auto and there isn't a terrible bit of difference.Probably some more kick, but outside of that there'd still be largely the same operation.

Spyder
-Tboard with a 50g (or25g, which ever)
-Eyes/milling
-new trigger
-Decent regulator
-"high flow valve" (just drill the damn thing out)
-Real bolt, not this anti-chop stuff

That's maybe 200$. You can find a plethora of spyder bodies to choose from. I'm not entirely sure, but I believe you can even use an intimidator body

[Lenny]

I say it depends on the gun. Just like a Blade is a low end pump, but a Phantom is a high end pump; but both are Nelson based.

I think the older Spyders (with the tan bodies and what not) are almost high end. I have a blowback called the "Top General" that is fantastic. Almost zero kick, easy to maintain, small, light, etc. It has a back bottle and even the positioning of that is comfortable.

But nowadays, anything non EP is low end. Autocockers are considered low end by many, same with Automags.

[hs2000]

So autocockers will always be "low end"

That's totally different, and you know it, autocockers moving parts move much slower, meaning less kick. The hammer is also MUCH smaller.

But an autococker still has too much reciprocating mass. When I use to play Semi, I liked my mag way better then my autococker just because it has so much less kick.

[punkncat]

So autocockers will always be "low end"

I was hoping that you were answering more to the reciprocating mass than to say that an autococker is a blowback...





Blowbacks are considered low end because they are available at very low prices. But not only that, they are low tech as well. There is nothing revolutionary about them. Simple to make, simple to operate and repair.

Not all of them are or always have been made cheaply. Even low priced markers (mostly in years past) have passed the test of time. How many old fully functional rental spyders you think are out there still working well after much more than the life cycle that a normal single user would use?

I don't believe that a blowback is less accurate per-se than anything else that is regulated and set up properly. It can be argued into the ground all the things that make X marker better than Y, but it really comes down to good paint and good consistancy. Better markers tend to acheive this more straight out of the box because they come with good regs, barrels, etc, but a blowback can be made to be consistant with a bit of upgrading, and proper part selection.

[MANN]

I liked my mag way better then my autococker just because it has so much less kick.

Does kick really make that much of a difference? IMO the difference is negligable.

I just dont like spyders because I end up fixing 90 percent of the ones that come play with us after someone tries to "sup up" their gun doing whatever mod that they dont understand.

Mags are probally not the fastest, lightest, bestest guns, but they can take one heck of a beating, and never fail.

[punkncat]

autocockers moving parts move much slower, meaning less kick. The hammer is also MUCH smaller.

Um...no.

The hammer inside the cocker is moving just as quickly as it would in a blowback at the same ROF(at slightly different times of course). It weighs nearly the same, if not more in some instances. Consider that the cocking rod is actually a part of the hammers mass......that is leaving the cocking rod, block, ram, etc, out of the equation.

[hs2000]

Um...no. to you.

An autococker hammer is a feather weight compared to a spyder. And like I already said, the back block and ram aren't weighed the same because they move slower.

[punkncat]

Um...no. to you.

An autococker hammer is a feather weight compared to a spyder. And like I already said, the back block and ram aren't weighed the same because they move slower.

Apples and oranges.....light comes on in head....I see what you are saying and can relate to what I think you meant.

[RRfireblade]

Nothing especially low end about the design IMO.

Now the typically available , imported , cast or cheap grade Alu , loose toleranced blow back currently on the market , now that's another story.

[don miguel]

mags have some kick (mine does) i honestly knever knew what makes them high end? they deserve it though. but is it cuz thier closed bolt? blow forward? im really not sure.

[Lohman446]

Umm - are Intimidators not essentially blow backs? I honestly don't know.