This paintball marker is likely one of our favourites here in the store, loose-handed one of the markers with the highest muzzle velocity possible on the market, coupled w/ one of our highest spring upgrades possible for the SPYDER series of markers.
Firing the rifle in this way, allows for accuracies the likes of which a decade ago, was the pipe dream of paintball marker owners - Even at 30 meters, you can get a very respectable grouping for a paintball marker - this certainly does give new meaning to adding a red dot onto your paintball marker!
At the rear of the rifle, we have a surprisingly nice Crane/NSWC SOPMOD LMT buttstock w/ textured panels on the 45° canted sides. This is undoubtedly one of THEE MOST ergonomical buttstocks we've had the pleasure of dealing with on a paintball marker- it is ambidextrous and so, when shouldering the rifle and making use of the cheek rest, will give you a clear sight picture through your included iron sights. Pun intended, as these are metal, as opposed to the polymer type that comes included w/ the TIPPMANN brand of paintball markers.
Back to the buttstock - it is five point collapsible, which corresponds w/ the buffer tube, wherein there are five sockets. This buffer tube is dimensioned up to MIL-SPEC (1.185" ø (from thread pitch height to the other) x 7.25" and likewise therefore, accepts all aftermarket MIL-SPEC compliant buttstocks, if you ever wanted to swop the buttstock out. This buttstock is interchargeable w/ other MR® series markers' buttstocks and likewise, accepts buttstocks from the EMPIRE BT series as well.
The buttstock likewise has a dual set of holes / slots to fit, for example, spare batteries in. These of course are covered up w/ storage tube caps. In terms of storage capacity applicable in these two compartments - a set of 18650 batteries can fit in here, in straight formation, so the stock can hold 4x of these. Really nice. Likewise, the stock should be able to accept 8x CR123 batteries.
The castle nut and buffer tube threading is realistically moulded in, but isn't actually functional - please don't stake the threading as such, haha. This buttstock retains position via the retainer screw that threads into the right face of the upper receiver.
On this same note, w/ the buttstock removed, you can push the rear takedown pin out at the rear, which will allow you to remove the striker plug (part 60).
The lower receiver is polymer, as is the handle, though the latter features a textured rubber overlay w/ smooth finger grooves. This of course, is like a one-piece grip stock, that can be removed and replaced later, if so desired. The ASA sits affixed at the bottom of the pistol grip and feeds directly via a black braided gas line into SPYDER's proprietary EKO VALVE (which boasts 1600 shots per 20 oz CO2 tank) Alot of people do dislike the external gas line featured on most SPYDER markers, because of its vulnerability, however, w/ some tinkering magic, you can removed ASA from its position and make a plan to affix it elsewhere on the rifle..
The safety on this rifle is your typical SPYDER push-through type (leftward is FIRE, denoted by the visible red O-ring and rightward is SAFE. Please familiarize yourself with this.) The AR-15 rotational lever (safety selector) is just moulded-in on this rifle and lends a little authentic feel to the rifle.
The magazine release does sit quite a bit forward - not readily w/in reach like an AR-15, so you'll need to relinquish your grasp quite a bit from the pistol grip in order to release the magazine, the latter of which is not a drop-free type - you'll need to manually pull it out after depressing the relevant button.
In order to mount a sling onto this rifle - feel free to use the included STEEL sling collar which fits on behind the castle nut, and in front of the striker plug. Do note that this part is fully and freely rotational, so please make sure that it does not collide w/ the charging handle and scratch / remove the finish both from itself as well as the charging handle. We recommend using a bit of epoxy and affixing the sling collar to the striker plug permanently, into the desired angle.
The above would be for running a one point sling. To run a two point sling, you'll need to look at the PICATINNY - QD SLING SOCKET W/ QD SLING SWIVEL, which is a QD sling swivel that comes w/ a Picatinny mounting adapter. There is no QD socket on the handguard unfortunately. The Picatinny mounting option gives you the freedom to decide where you'd like for the frontal mounting point to be / where it would suit your personal taste / ergonomy.
Otherwise, the hopper elbow is semi-permanently engaged from the upper receiver and can be removed w/ the included 1/8" allen key. The cover plate that comes w/ the MRX does fit onto this marker, however, this marker is not supplied standard with one. We're busy working on something in the meantime for that - to basically create a flush, more realistic rifle appearance if you intend on only running MAG-FED.
The cocking action on this rifle is your AR-15 type upper receiver charging handle, which acts non-reciprocally w/ the bolt, however, if you have the ASSAULT spring upgrade installed on this marker, then you're going to have to overcome that spring's compression strength to engage the bolt w/ the sear. It can be hefty, since it is such a strong spring, though you only need to do it the first time, or after you might have manually released the bolt (by holding the charging handle fully engaged, then pulling the trigger or by pulling the trigger w/ the marker ungassed / non pressurized).
The barrel is likewise a full 14 inches, so this further increases the utility of a stronger spring. It was almost like this gun was designed for a power upgrade.
For Increased power;
- SPYDER ASSAULT SPRING
- ASSAULT-GRADE SPYDER EKO VALVE PIN
Ammunition;
- TRIPLE IMPACT SLUGS FOR .68 MAGFED (74GR) - 15's
- .68 CAL PRECISION NYLON SOLIDS (51GR) - 100's
- BALLISTIC OC PEPPER BALLS .68 - 1'S
- NYLON SOLID SHOT, .68 CAL (54GR) - 100's
- MADDOG 200 ROUND HOPPER
Optics;
- PICATINNY-MOUNTED 1X30 R/G DOT SIGHT
- T-EAGLE SR 2X28 RG COMPACT SCOPE (Remember to buy mount rings as well)
- UTG TACTICAL OFFSET FLASHLIGHT MOUNT - RG-FL138
- NITECORE P20i - 1800 LUMEN TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT
- NITECORE GM02 FLASHLIGHT PICATINNY MOUNT
- HAWKE TACTICAL HIGH POWER LASER KIT (RED) 43100
- TITANIUM TF2 TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT W/ REMOTE SWITCH
- ALUMINIUM PICATINNY 127MMX25MM RISER
Just a note on the magazine (this rifle is supplied w/ 1x only, unfortunately)
- The magazines are completely hard polymer, straight single-stack feeding and are FIRST-STRIKE ready.
- The magazine follower is aluminium w/ flat top for loading your slug shaped rounds. It has an exteriorly-jutting nub that allows the follower to be externally manipulated. This can allow you to use the magazine follower as a battering ram to coerce your rounds into the chamber if for whatever reason, they might not be feeding. We likewise recommend not keeping your magazine stored in a fully loaded state - as with a firearm magazine follower as well - the spring will wear through prematurely and after a year or two, might not be able to reliably feed heavy slugs anymore. This is just speculation of course.
- The magazine spring otherwise is strong enough to load up heavy rounds all the way to the last one - This suits our 77 grain slugs perfectly.
- The magazine loads up with a maximum of 9 rounds. Alot of people might find this to be a downside, and understandably so, although, for most engagements and sorties that you would need a paintball marker for - 18 shots (2 magazines) should be adequate. During unrest / uprisings, we recommend only hopper fed - even if your marker loads up w/ 19 shots per magazine.
- The DLS® system allows one to rotate the barrel and shift it from hopper or (L)oader fire or (M)agazine fire. This makes it worthwhile to have both options loaded simultaneously into your marker. Your hopper can be filled w/ your 54gr solids and peppers, rubbers and paint. If they are lucky, they will get a paintball or rubber. If unlucky, they will get a solid or pepper. Just be sure to shake the hopper properly before use ;) .
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