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Once Doug Brown realized
that there really weren't any strings attached
when he sent us a paintgun or product to review,
the floodgates opened. The last large box sent
to me included a number of new products in NPS'
new "Vortex" line of stuff, including
their paint, piles of accessories, the Vortex
Automag and Vortex Autococker.
National doesn't pretend
to be a custom shop. They're a big distributor
and everyone knows it. With the Vortex line they
are trying to build a strong brand name to help
sell their products. The folks at NPS South Carolina
know that a custom Autococker is a signature piece
that can carry the entire name's reputation. Being
the clever fellows they are, they've enlisted
one of the most reputable Autococker shops in
the world to build their Vortex Autococker: Bad
Boyz Toyz. As a result, anyone who read my recent
SFL Autococker review will find this one to be
very, very familiar.
The Vortex Autococker trigger
is built into a DYE.45 grip frame. It has both
front and back vertical guide screws and is milled
to take the post '98 trigger plates that don't
allow a backstop. This frame is comfortable and
has the stylish Dye logo milled on the side.
Quarterbacking this excellent
trigger is the new milled and chromed Shocktech
trigger plate; with perfectly parallel and smooth
surfaces, it completely eliminates binding when
the vertical guide screws are set right up against
the trigger plate. I covered this in more detail
in the SFL article but this wide trigger plate
makes for the smoothest, most slack-free trigger
available when properly set up and timed. As these
guns are assembled by Bad Boyz Toyz, it comes
as no surprise that this is the case.
The timing of this trigger
is classic Bad Boyz Toyz, being timed with very
close spacing between the firing and cocking stages
of the trigger pull. The threaded timing rod will
ensure it doesn't slip out of time, but, as always,
sear lug wear can cause timing problems with the
slotless trigger over the long term. The pull
length is something on the order of 4 mm and it
is sprung with stiffer springs than the stock
2000 Autococker to make for a more responsive
trigger that experienced Autococker shooters tend
to prefer for rapid fire.
Just like the SFL, this
is one of the nicest triggers I've felt on an
Autococker. For me, it's darn near perfect. However,
if you prefer an ultra-short, snappy trigger,
you'll probably want to look elsewhere.
The front-end pneumatics
that drive the back block, hammer and bolt draw
heavily from the Shocktech parts bin.
The low-pressure reg is
Shocktech's FGP regulator. It includes an adjustment
knob, larger air reservoir than any other reg
on the market, and easy on-field repair without
tools (schraeder valve). In use I've found this
to be a very high-flow and fast-recharge regulator
that doesn't need to be turned up much beyond
the minimum operating pressure to ensure reliable
operation even in a wide range of temperature
situations.
The four-way valve up front
is the Shocktech "Bomb" valve - and
although I've said it before (and I'll inevitably
say it again) - this is the best four-way currently
available for the Autococker on the market today.
It is the first truly new design in such valves
since the original stock "three-way"
Budd Orr put on the first stock Autococker. Its
benefits are a super-short switch length, exceptional
smoothness, and impressive leak-free operation
even with less than perfectly straight timing
rods and collars.
Finally, the pneumatic
cylinder is W'Orr Game's own STO ram, though the
upcoming Shocktech ram (currently in development)
is expected to replace this in the near future.
No complaints with the STO ram; no way to tell
about the Shocktech ram yet.
The hammer smacks open a
RAT valve 3:16, the 3rd generation successor to
the valve that started it all. This valve still
includes the small o-ring around the shaft of
the cup seal to prevent air loss back into the
gun body. Improving that seal is accomplished
with a plastic seal mashed between the jam nut
and back of the valve body. Also, a much-copied
innovation of the RAT valve is moving the valve
seat from the cup seal (moving part) to the front
of the valve body, making the seal less expensive
to replace, reversible, and generally more reliable.
The 3:16 version of the RAT valve now has an aluminum
body, anodized in a variety of colors (to look
nicer in the display case, I suppose). In my experience,
this is a very good valve that when properly set
up with a good bolt and air system, will deliver
1000-1100 shots from a full 3000 psi 68 ci nitrogen
system.
The bolt is another Shocktech
product, the Alien bolt which has a ramped inlet
and a three large hole Venturi face. This bolt
delivers air to the back of the paintball every
bit as well as any bolt on the market today. The
only thing I'd have preferred to see is an Evolution-style
ball detent as seen in Shocktech's own SuperFly
bolt.
The standard Vortex Autococker
is based on a right-feed WGP Autococker body,
though center-feed is available. As already mentioned,
the frame is a DYE .45, front block is stock STO,
and back-block is pre-2000 cut length. The back
of the gun is graced with what may well be Shocktech's
most copied product; the rod and ring beavertail
- still the coolest looking beavertail on the
market (in my opinion).
That stylish beavertail
protects your mask from a Shocktech cocking rod,
by far the best cocking rod available. I've discussed
this rod in much greater length elsewhere, so
to summarize; this rod is easier to adjust, install,
and remove than any other rod - others may look
cooler, but the Shocktech rod blows the competition
away in user-friendliness.
As has been standard for
a while, the Vortex comes with a ball-bearing-style
detent to prevent double feeds and help reduce
ball chops in the breech. I suspect that it will
be chromed, but as a mistake was made with the
gun sent to me, I had to substitute an extra brass
detent I had laying around so I can't say for
certain.
The Dye .45 frame comes
wrapped in rubber wrap-around, finger-groove grips.
The Shocktech trigger plate comes wrapped in the
very cool and comfortable Shocktech trigger-pants.
It is important to note
that the Vortex Autococker does not include either
a barrel or in-line regulator in the vertical
ASA. This gun is pictured with the TASO Stone
Cold II barrel (sold by NPS) and the Belsales
Ergo regulator (stock equipment on the STO Autococker).
The milling on the Vortex
Autococker will be moderately familiar to anyone
who has seen Bad Boyz Toyz milling before. The
cuts are fairly simple, but are extensive enough
to give the gun a custom look and set it apart
from the piles of other custom Autocockers out
there. Personally, I prefer the cuts found on
Shocktech Autocockers, but these certainly don't
look bad.
The anodizing trumps the
Shocktech gray by offering a three-color fade
that goes from the back of the back block to the
front of the front, and includes the grip frame
as well. All accessories are chrome for that shiny
custom look.
The easy conclusion here
is that the Vortex Autococker is basically a Shocktech
Autococker with different milling and anodizing.
This is a superb Autococker with cutting-edge
parts and one of the best triggers I've ever had
the pleasure to shoot. If you like Bad Boyz Toyz
Autocockers, you'll like the Vortex.
The price? Try $799.95
for right-feed and $869.95 for center-feed. These
prices put the Vortex right smack-dab in the middle
of the pack of low-priced performance custom cockers.
The difference is that they don't include either
a barrel or in-line pressure regulator; consider
that you're going to spend $100-$200 to add both
of those and the price is a bit higher. The question
you need to ask yourself is if the color anodizing
and different milling are worth the trade off
for a DYE barrel and PMI regulator (which come
as standard with all Shocktech Autocockers).
www.vortexpaintball.com
Ravi Chopra
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