Running to the
Redline
The fight
to be top dog
of the budget
guns just got
even fiercer
with the release
of the Odyssey
RPM…Paul
Richards gets
trigger happy.
I
know you don't
all read to the
end of these
things, so here's
the review in
brief: the new
Odyssey RPM is
a one trick pony.
It’s all
about effortlessly
shooting fast – which
strikes me as
an excellent
point of focus
for a Paintball
marker. The RPM
is an amazing
marker on a number
of levels, mostly
good, a couple
maybe not so
good depending
on what use the
RPM is put to.
If that is all
you wanted to
know then spend
a minute to examine
the pictures
and move along.
If you want to
know the how
and why then
dig a little
deeper and read
on.
The RPM arrived
in an Odyssey
red-sleeved box
with carrying
handle, much
like Odyssey’s
O3, and the similarities
do not end there.
Inside, safely
tucked into a
cut foam liner,
was the marker
and barrel along
with a simple
tool kit, replacement
O-rings and a
short but informative
manual. The test
marker was a
glossy black
with attractive
milling from
the Intimidator
school of design
and bears a resemblance
to the Wrath – in
more ways than
cosmetically.
The fit and finish
of the RPM were
very good as
was the quality
of the anodizing
and the milling,
which was a match
for the quality
seen on many
more expensive
markers. There
were some signs
of cost cutting
but they are
minor at best
and don’t
detract from
the overall look
of the RPM.
The
RPM is clearly
an evolution
from Odyssey’s
03 (as is the
aforementioned
Wrath) and even
with a more economical
price it offers
a number of improvements
like a QEV and
delrin bolt.
Design-wise the
RPM is a stacked
twin tube that
effectively simulates
pneumatic operation
but uses what
Odyssey calls
FASOR for forward
aired spring
operated return.
In the 03 the
hammer was gas
driven by a pneumatic
solenoid firing
in one direction
only, with spring
tension returning
the hammer and
bolt assembly
back to the pre-firing
position. The
RPM also uses
gas to drive
the hammer and
bolt forward,
but not with
a pneumatic solenoid.
Instead, a mechanical
solenoid like
those found in
everything from
the e-blade to
electro Spyders
actuates gas
through a valve.
The valve passage
is blocked by
pins. Under constant
pressure the
mechanical solenoid
slides the pins
into a position
that allows gas
flow through
in manner similar
to a pneumatic
gas release,
which then drives
the hammer. The
QEV inside the
back cap assures
volume of flow.
It’s a
clever concept
and worked flawlessly
during the test
period.
The RPM
also comes with
a laundry list
of formerly high
end features
that are becoming
more and more
common on lower
mid-range markers,
like integrated
twister vert
feed neck, push
pin delrin bolt,
multi position
adjustable two-finger
trigger that
actuates a microswitch,
secondary reg,
multiple firing
modes and a break
beam electric
eye sensor. A
single push button
on the back of
the gripframe
turns the marker
on and the eye
on and off. Inside
the gripframe
is a sliding
selector that
allows the choice
of four firing
modes; three
ramping (11 bps,
13 bps and 15.4
bps) and Semi
only. The bottom
line is also
the input regulator
and will accept
any pin valve
type air source,
as the RPM will
work with compressed
air or CO2 as
long as the pressure
into the reg
is between 550
and 900 psi.
Velocity is adjusted
at the reg and
a gauge makes
sure you stay
within recommended
operating pressures.
That’s
a lot of good
stuff but there
are a couple
of drawbacks
to the RPM, too.
Many of the inexpensive
electros tend
to be thick in
the gripframe
with the need
to find space
for things like
the battery,
board, switches
and the principle
culprit, a mechanical
solenoid. The
RPM is no different
but the grips,
while a bit bulky,
are also reasonably
sticky and more
ergonomically
shaped than most
of those found
on similar markers.
Of
more concern to
a serious or even
regular player
is the stock 10-inch
barrel, which
is only average
at best and incapable
of delivering
performance on
a par with the
rest of the marker.
This is easily
fixed by a quality
aftermarket Cocker-threaded
barrel. There
is also the matter
of no foregrip,
which seems to
me to be nearly
a must have.
Surprisingly,
the steel braided
line was stiff
and offered a
workable if not
ideal alternative
to a foregrip.
Even so, it seems
like a no-brainer
that an upgrade
offered by Odyssey
would be a winner.
The
final area of concern
only affects likely
tournament players
as most, if not
all, events require
some form of
locking reg and
the RPM’s
combo bottom
line and reg
doesn’t
have this feature.
When gassed up
the adjustment
knob is very
difficult to
twist, but it
can be done.
In every other
respect the RPM
passed muster
with flying colors
but the lack
of a foregrip
and locking reg
cap comes close
to precluding
the RPM from
tourney use,
even though it
otherwise offers
competitive performance.
Speaking
of performance,
the RPM will
happily run at
its redline all
day long. Initial
testing included
all the boring
but necessary
efforts to find
flaws and/or
force failure
- things like
putting the eye
function to the
test with mixed
paints, inadequate
hopper feed rates
and the like.
Using my regular
blend of RP paintballs
the RPM stumbled
a bit at high
rates of fire
with anything
less than my
Halo or Evolution
feeding it paint,
but even so the
eye kept the
marker from turning
into a spray
painter. The
test RPM delivered
approx. 285 fps
with fair consistency
at around 240
psi, which is
at the low end
of its acceptable
operating range.
The
RPM also proved
to be quite light
and well balanced,
and though the
lack of a foregrip
was a distraction
it didn’t
really seem to
impact the marker’s
utility. The
stock barrel
didn’t
deliver what
I would consider
acceptable accuracy,
but a switch
to any of my
assortment of
Cocker-threaded
14 inch and 16
inch tubes resulted
in instant improvement.
The one performance
weakness that
is inherent in
the RPM design
was more kickback
than I expected
given past experience
with an 03 and
the limited internal
hammer travel,
which I can only
chalk up to operating
pressure supplied
to the hammer
assembly. A more
sophisticated
and expensive
marker would
regulate that
pressure down
to the minimum
required for
correct operation.
Otherwise it
performed well
and was fun to
play with.
In fact,
for the fun factor
you don’t
need to take
my word for it,
as I brought
the RPM out to
one of my team’s
practices prior
to this year’s
World Cup and
as soon as one
of the guys markers
went down I offered
him the RPM so
he could stay
on the field.
That afternoon
we were running
repeated XBall
breakouts, so
the action was
fast and furious.
Pretty soon the
other guys were
asking to give
the RPM a try
and by the end
of the day at
least half of
the team had
played points
with the RPM
and come away
impressed at
its capability.
And in case you’re
wondering what
team I’m
talking about,
it was Detroit
Strange of the
NXL, so if they
were impressed
so should you
be.
The decision
is nearly as
simple as the
RPM itself; if
you’re
a budget minded,
primarily recreational
player who wants
to be able to
shoot ropes of
paint Odyssey’s
RPM will deliver.
It’s easy
to operate, structurally
sound, reasonably
lightweight and
pretty good-looking.
Add on the sort
of features that
only the high
dollar markers
had a year or
two ago and it’s
an undeniable
bargain.
Msrp
$229
Contact: www.odysseypaintball.com
