Hi all, I am new to AO and would like to know if anyone can outline the difference between the diff mags (i am sure alot of newbs thinking the same thing)
XMAG EMAG RT Pnemomag etc etc
thanks
XMAG EMAG RT Pnemomag etc etc
thanks
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wow thats a great question.
More so than any other gun (except maybe cockers) the automags are varied but all operate on the same basic tech.
There ar emony other guys on here that are tons smarter than myself when it comes to mags, but, basically:
Classic: Pretty much the bare-bones style mag. The mag in this form has been around 15 years or more, standard mechanical, semi-auto marker. Just because the tech is old, dont let that fool you. They have remained unchanged because, well, they WORK. extremely reliable and simple. Many many many upgrades and mods available. Cheap and effective, buy a new one today and i am possitive it will still be rocking faces 10 years from now. They are their name, Classic.
RT Mag: same deal, slightly different rail on the gun, only instead of a classic valve they use an RT valve (or x-valve). This uses the air from a shot to "push" or reset the trigger allowing for "bounce" or autofire if you sweet spot the trigger.
The x-valve is the "high end" valve on mags. Just as reliable as a classic valve....only better.
Pnuemag: er...i'll let someone else do this, i dont know much about them....
E-Mag: electronic mag, but unlike other electro guns, you can switch an Emag from electro to mech with the flip of a switch. This way your gun is never NOT working.
For me? An emag is my dream gun. Uber sweet.
X-Mag: ah the X-mag. This would be the "holy grail" of mags. Few were made, and you can expect to pay a good penny for one, but when it comes to Mags, and some would say markers in general, there is none higher.
Its pretty much an EMag on steroids. Or, as i call em, the Lamborghini of the mag world.
Again, im relatively new to mags myself (about 6 months) and im still learning, but im sure the wise sages of AO can answer any question you may have. And indeed, alot better than i could (or did)
_J
++ps, i have a awesome classic for sale...if your interested
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I'll expand a little, and I'm sure there will be more "versions" that pop up...
To expand on the Classic, there was the Mini-Mag as well. Basically a Classic AutoMag with a slightly different body, a vertical ASA and an 8" barrel.
There was a Micro Mag, which has a unibody (Rail and Body in one part).
There are two versions of the RT. There's the RT Classic, which uses a Banjobolt, so the air is fed to the valve through a port in the rail. The RT-Pro uses either an X-Valve or a "ReTro" valve, which is basically the RT drop in for the Classic or MiniMag.
The eMag is basically an electronically actuated RT-Pro.
The XMag is an e-Mag, except with an Ant-Chop Eye, a aluminum unibody and a changeable breech.I went like this :shooting:
He went like this :tard: then like this :wow: then like this :cry:
Now he shoots a Mag too...
-JRComment
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ive been into mags since 04 joined AO in 05, and ive had various mags, but i like the classic i have right now the best...it just fits me. dont know if that helped any.Comment
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some one should post pictures of the various different kinds.....maybe ill get to that here in a sec....
I know pics always help me when learningComment
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I was exactly where you were about a month ago.Originally posted by varq
Here's the short, easy explanation that will let you figure out exactly what any given 'mag is that you're looking at.
There are "off the shelf" Automags that use particular combinations of parts and get certain labels - "68 Classic," "Minimag," "E-Mag/X-Mag" etc.
The AGD museum at Airgun.com is a good place to see some of those off-the-shelf 'mags.
Here's the marker gallery: http://www.airgun.com/museum/MarkerGallery.htm
...and the main museum:
What can be confusing for newcomers to 'mag-land is there are so many custom 'mags it's hard to understand what they all are. Here are the rules:
There are 4 main components to any Automag.- Rail
- Trigger-frame
- Body
- Valve
You can mix and match almost all types of each, with a few exceptions which I won't get in to mostly because I'm not familiar enough with them. I'll wait for a 'mag expert to chime in on those but I believe they're mostly centered around the original, 1996 "RT" model which was highly non-standardized. The new 2000 "RT-Pro" seems to use standard parts.
Air goes into the side of the valve on an Automag. You could run a remote directly to it with a QD fitting or, as you see most 'mags configured, you run either braided steel hose or macroline to either the vertical ASA (grip) and then to the bottomline or from the valve directly to a bottomline ASA.
*** *** ***
Something to add to the previous posts:
Only the "Classic" valve (68 Automag, Minimag, 68 Classic) can use CO2. Other valves REQUIRE HPA. Simple reason: the pressure drop created in the other valves is so great it liquifies gaseous CO2 and you freeze them - instantly.
Why design a new valve that does this? AGD (Tom Kaye specifically) wanted a valve that would cycle and recharge faster without shoot-down. They got it but the side-effect was the dependency on HPA. I'm a CO2 nut because I don't shoot much and can get away with a tiny, 3.5oz tank. A comparable tank in HPA would be 35c.i. which doesn't exist.
If you don't mind lugging HPA, you might prefer the ReTro or X-valve. Someone else can describe what these valves do to trigger pull - it's possible to make it reactive with a practically non-existant pull. You can't generally do that with a Classic Valve - or so I've read.
If you want to use CO2, you need to use an anti-siphon tank (or a 12-gram cartridge...but I digress) and it's highly advisable to use a PPS Stabilizer. Expansion chambers were in vogue for a while and some people still use them but I prefer to just keep liquid out of the system with anti-siphon and then regulate the pressure with the Stab'. (This is from PPS Blazer experience - my 'mag arrives Monday)
Hope this helps!
EDIT: added photo above. Here are links to YouTube videos of Tom Kaye dissecting a Classic Mag:
Last edited by C.J.; 05-14-2007, 07:53 PM.Comment
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OH! And by the way. WATCH THOSE VIDEOS!!!!!!
Not only are they informative, but for me i gained an immense amount of respect and admiration for T.K. after the videos. Sure, they are old...(real old..lol) But the beauty of mags is that they never really changed. Sure, and update here, a new bit of coolness there. But all in all, what you learn in those videos will apply largely to every automag out there.
I marvel at my mag everytime i take it apart. Its shear genius how they were designed and there still hasnt been a gun made that can compare to the ease of owning an Automag.
Tom Kaye is one of the greatest forefathers of paintball. Most of the tech and industry largely wouldnt exist without his mustache.....
I mean brilliance...what i menat to say was "wouldnt exist without his brilliance."
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also don't forget that there are a ton of aftermarket parts that are Non-AGD produced that are here on AO. so you will see alot of vert frames and various rails on as well.
while I personally do not have/never used a pneumag the basic idea behind it (AO Sages correct me if I misinform) is to use air to cycle the trigger very very quickly.(I belive its alot like the 3way on a Cocker but makes the trigger "go")
[img]
[/img] (thank sTaLa for putting up the pic!) here you can get an idea how the internals of a pneumag works, and its all w/out any elctronics whatsoever. very cool, you'll also see some pneus with the lpr outside just like most electros have. several people on here are able to do this for you if you want one and your not comfortable doing it youself.
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Wow... thanks all for replying... so much to learn. I am sure i will start looking at upgrades once i bond with my tac1.
thanks
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Nickel plated micromag with and aftermarket electric frame
(hyperframe)
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I was just about to edit my post when Coralis posted.
The Micromag is, I think, the only Automag that combines the rail and the body. You'll see from the photo above, they aren't two seperate parts. (EDIT: OK! E-Mags and X-Mags seem to have combined bodies and rails too)
Micromags take Autococker threaded barrels and have a detent on the side of the body.
Micromags are just like any other 'mag though - they'll take whatever valve and trigger-frame you want, with the exception of the original RT which, as mentioned, used non-standard parts.Last edited by C.J.; 05-21-2007, 10:20 AM.Comment
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Actually, the X-mag and SFL E-mag combine body/rail as well...Originally posted by C.J.I was just about to edit my post when Coralis posted.
The Micromag is, I think, the only Automag that combines the rail and the body. You'll see from the photo above, they aren't two seperate parts.
Micromags take Autococker threaded barrels and have a detent on the side of the body.
Micromags are just like any other 'mag though - they'll take whatever valve and trigger-frame you want, with the exception of the original RT which, as mentioned, used non-standard parts.
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and I was just going to post that as wellOriginally posted by shorty24Actually, the X-mag and SFL E-mag combine body/rail as well...
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Nevermind, I thought the karta was combined too....I'm glad to see newer members asking questions about these awesome guns. So many people I meet today that play paintball have no clue with they are, and it's a shame.
Good luck!RT Pro #01691 with I-Frame, X-valve, and Lx.
Tunamax ULE Emag EM #02091
Red/yellow/orange fade
ALL ULE built by the god himself.Comment
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E Frame On Rt
So can you put a aftermarket E frame on a RT??Comment
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