Under
the Skin
Proto offer
a bold new shape
with the PM8,
but is there
more to their
new marker than
a distinctive
look?
In the past
the Proto line
from DYE/Proto
has been touted
as a budget range,
but the quality
and performance
of the Proto
Matrixes has
led to them becoming
every bit as
popular as the
flagship DYE
guns, and the
first choice
of a lot of teams
looking for a
better gun for
less cash. The
backroom bods
at Proto face
the same challenges
as everyone else
this year in
trying to improve
on an already
very good gun,
so while the
PM8 certainly
looks different,
does it offer
more than just
a new body shape?
The
PM8 comes in
the familiar
sturdy cardboard
box with foam
inserts cushioning
the marker, matching
two-piece Proto
barrel, allen
key set, parts
kit and lube
and a Proto barrel
sock. The manual
is the usual
very informative
(and usually
ignored) booklet
with details
of how the PM8
operates as well
as how to run
the gun and fix
any issues that
may develop.
On removing the
PM8 from its
foam cradle the
eye is instantly
drawn to the
marker’s
shape; shifting
the internals
around from previous
models has left
room to remove
a wedge of alloy
from under the
barrel, leaving
a notch that
allows for a
whole raft of
hand positions
around the barrel
and front reg.
After much beard-stroking
I still can’t
say if I actually
prefer the new
look and opinions
among players
I asked were
divided pretty
evenly, but the
new shape removes
spare metal for
less weight and
does give more
grip options.
Elsewhere the
lines are smooth
and flowing with
very smooth and
even dust anno
over a nice if
familiar milling
style, with a
few little extra
cuts around the
rear of the bolt
and some thin
fins around the
barrel that look
cool but will
probably be the
first places
to show wear.
The eye covers
blend well
with the body
and have captive
concealed screws
for smooth
lines but are
still anodised
to match the
details, so
black on the
olive example
I looked at.
I’m sure
matching eye
covers will
be on the way
as an upgrade
but it’s
something the
real gun tarts
might find
to complain
about.
The next thing
I noticed on
taking the PM8
in hand was the
lack of weight.
It’s same
for many of the
2008 lineup but
the PM8 is towards
the lighter end
of the whole
bunch and adding
the Ultralite
frame and new
FBM threads makes
for less metal
and a better
feel all round.
The stock barrel
is a very good
Proto two-piece
with ample porting
and a very smooth
internal finish,
and the feedneck
offers a finger
clamping knob
that is only
so easy to clamp
tightly by hand
but does have
an allen socket
for tightening
with a key. The
new Hyper3 reg
is slimmer and
smaller with
very similar
internals to
the Hyper2, with
the main difference
being changes
to the spring
stack to more
closely match
the range of
input pressures
needed for the
DYE/Proto line,
making the adjustment
less sensitive
for an easier
life at the chrono.
The
swivel collar
is still present
but covered in
a rubber gripping
surface with
a matching ring
further up the
reg body, giving
a very comfy
grip when combined
with the new
body shape. Removing
the eye covers
reveals sprung
delrin detents,
a real upgrade
from the rubber
nubbins, but
still the fragile
ribbon eyes that
will punish the
clumsy or unlucky
owner so get
a spare set when
you can.
New
to the Proto
line for 2008
is the self-cleaning
eye system proven
in the DM7 last
year, with a
clear polycarbonate
sleeve around
the bolt that
places a layer
of clear plastic
between eyes
and breech, allowing
the bolt tip
o-ring to squeegee
any paint from
the breech in
the event of
a chop and a
quick pass with
a fluffy to clear
the breech entirely.
Moving back to
the bolt kit,
easily removed
with a few turns
of an allen key,
finds the first
PM bolt kit not
to fit the previous
models, with
a new back cap
for more flow
and different
machining on
the beer can
moving one o-ring
rearwards to
accommodate new
gas pathways.
The machine work
on all parts
is crisp and
clean and the
bolt moves easily
from the box,
so once broken
in should give
an even smoother
firing cycle
with little kick.
The other area
to see some major
changes is the
LPR: the new
body shape is
made possible
by moving it
from a horizontal
orientation under
the barrel to
vertically behind
the FBM. This
new smaller unit
is adjusted via
an allen socket
reached through
a hole in the
trigger guard
and retained
by a set screw
in the back of
the FBM. Removing
this screw allows
the LPR to be
pulled out without
a threaded rod
as needed in
the past, and
adjustment is
still simple
if a little more
fiddly in a hurry.
The frame is
the very popular
UL frame which
tinkerers have
fitted to guns
of all kinds,
with the trademark
hour glass
shape making
for a very
natural grip.
Both trigger
adjustment
and removing
the fitted
purging on/off
ASA can be
done using
external allen
sockets and
the board offers
capped semi,
PSP, Millennium
and NXL modes
with adjustable
trigger sensitivity
and max ROF.
The trigger
itself is the
usual UL style,
swept back
for easy walking
inside the
very generous
trigger guard.
Not having
to remove the
frame for adjustment
is a treat
after using
a PM7 but there’s
still no adjustment
for switch
activation,
just post and
pre-travel
and spring
tension and
the trigger
on the test
marker had
rather a lot
of side to
side slop for
a bearing design.
Feedback and
control come
from twin steel
buttons and a
four-colour LED
that is visible
through the side
of the sticky
grips and the ‘HUD’ that
allows it to
shine towards
the user’s
eye, a nifty
touch unless
it’s bright
out. All in all
it’s a
different gun
from last year’s
model in ways
that go beyond
changes just
for the sake
of bringing you
a new shiny toy.
The UL frame,
self-cleaning
eyes and new
body shape and
LPR/HPR are all
significant differences
and offer a lot
more gun for
less money than
before. So time
to shoot it and
see if the new
bits all work
as well as the
old one.
At the
field the PM8
was very light
and balanced
fitted with a
Vlocity and 68ci
4500psi preset
tank, and the
new body shape
certainly attracted
a lot of attention,
with everyone
having an opinion
either for or
against. In the
hand the new
feel does offer
more choices
for those that
like to hold
the barrel or
get right up
under it while
gripping the
reg, but the
notch could be
just a touch
wider to fit
all fingers comfortably.
The overall feel
with the UL frame
and slimmer reg
and FBM was very
good, and the
PM8 seemed very
instinctive in
the hand and
fast to bring
on target shooting
from either shoulder.
The firing cycle
was as smooth
as any of the
Matrix line,
with negligible
kick and very
little noise
or drama, and
the new bolt
seemed to squeeze
a few more shots
from a cold68ci
fill, with numbers
around the 14-1500
mark.
The Hyper3
reg gave figures
in the +/- 3fps
range from the
box, helping
with the excellent
accuracy from
the stock barrel
as the consistency
and lack of firing
movement made
it very easy
to put a ball
on top of the
last even at
15bps. With the
temperature at
around the 3C
mark I did see
some barrel breaks
but had to break
a ball on purpose
to test the self-cleaning
eyes as the PM8
failed to chop
after a box and
half of gently
warmed paint.
The insert performed
as advertised
and after a couple
of shots the
breech was clear
and eyes were
working as they
should, so one
less thing to
worry about when
the paint is
flying past you
and your paint
isn’t doing
all it should.
The PM8 is a
worthy addition
to the Proto
line, especially
when you consider
the price; with
a UL frame and
all the features
described above,
the PM8 retails
at around $750.
For this money
it’s hard
to find anything
offering the
same blend of
ergonomics, performance
and customer
support that
DYE/Proto are
known to provide,
so if you like
the feel and
looks of the
PM8, it’s
one of the best
guns for the
money this year.
DYE/Proto’s
new FBM threads
have attracted
some attention,
with players
divided as to
whether specific
threads on this
area are a good
idea. On the
one hand, there’s
no need for the
threads to be
as large as is
currently common
and making them
smaller allows
the removal of
more metal for
lighter weight
and more comfort.
On the other
hand the new
threads mean
you can’t
chuck any old
reg on there,
but the low failure
rate of the Hyper
series of regs
and the fact
that aftermarket
companies are
already producing
regs and adapters
in the new pattern
make this less
of a problem.
It is: light,
smooth, eye-catching,
fully loaded.
It
isn’t:
ground-breaking,
going to suit
everyone, expensive.
