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Empire

Empire Paintball Markers, Tanks and Burst Disks in South Africa

Empire is an established American paintball brand, and the range here centres on the BT-4 platform along with the air system parts that keep any marker running. Burst disks in particular are a safety consumable rather than an accessory, which is why several ratings are stocked. NeonSales carries 7 Empire products, from R50 for a pair of 5K burst disks up to R3,289 for a BT-4 Combat Slice marker.

What Empire products does NeonSales stock?

  • Markers: BT-4 Combat Slice
  • Loading: BT-4 Rip Clip with 200 round hopper
  • Air systems: 48ci 3000psi tank
  • Burst disks: 1.8K stainless in 3/8 inch UNF male, 3K in two packs, 5K in two packs
  • Cosmetic and handling: Picatinny mounted dummy magazine and magwell

What a burst disk actually is

Rating Bursts at Typically used in
1.8K stainless Around 1,800 psi Lower pressure systems, 3/8 inch UNF male fitting
3K Around 3,000 psi Standard 3000psi tanks, including the 48ci stocked here
5K Around 5,000 psi Higher pressure 4500psi systems

A burst disk is a deliberate weak point in a compressed air system. If pressure rises past the rated figure, the disk ruptures and vents the tank safely rather than letting the vessel fail. It is designed to be sacrificial, so a burst disk that has gone is the system working correctly rather than a fault. Match the rating to your tank pressure. Fitting a higher-rated disk than your system calls for defeats the purpose entirely.

The Rip Clip is worth understanding

Standard hoppers feed by gravity and can jam or feed inconsistently when the marker is tilted or moving. The Rip Clip adds a spring-driven feed that pushes paint into the marker regardless of orientation, at the cost of a slightly bulkier assembly. On a marker that gets carried at angles rather than held upright, it removes the most common cause of a dry fire.

Common questions

How big should my tank be? The 48ci at 3000psi is the common recreational size and gives a good number of shots per fill. Smaller tanks are lighter but need refilling more often.

Does the dummy magazine do anything? It is cosmetic and adds a magwell for handling. Some players find it improves grip and appearance. It does not hold paint.

Which burst disk fits my tank? Match both the pressure rating and the thread. The 1.8K listed here is 3/8 inch UNF male, and thread patterns are not universal, so check before ordering.

Should I keep spare burst disks? Yes, and they are stocked in two and three packs for that reason. A ruptured disk takes the tank out of service until replaced.

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