Hi guys. I went out today and played several great games. Before I went out I changed my Phantom from the usual stock class config.and hooked her up with the DF Body that I just received in the mail, popped a 200 round hopper on her and threw an old 9 oz tank on the back end of her. As I said, I played several great games. I was able to pop out on average about 2-3 balls a second and went through about 500 rounds of paint, an amount that usually lasts me almost a month playing dedicated stock-class. I was able to keep up with the best of the semi players out there today and could match fire with them for the most part. Great games.... but...

I really missed the stock-class config. I sort of fealt guilty somehow at not using my Phantom in the capacity that I had originally purchased her for. I purchased her to have one of the best stock-class guns on the market and then....well I caved to the semi players. In an effort to match the dark side so to speak with equil, or near equil firepower I briefly left my stock roots to play in a manner that would get me more kills. I know that this is sort of silly to write about...but still I fealt sort of guilty.

I have changed her back again. I took off the .45 grip with the bottom line and returned the m-16 grip and L-stock on the end. I pulled off the DF body and replaced it with the horizontal stock feed and reverantly returned the 10 round feed to position. See, though I received more kills today than normal, I used less skill to get them. I relied more on volume than skill and as a result sort of betrayed my self perceived image as a dedicated stock player. I like the old ways of paintball. Even though I added more feathers to my cap so to speak in receiveing more kills I really had less fun.

It's funny, I have told people often that sometimes the road less traveled is the better path. This is usually true. I guess that I have found that it is true for paintball too. Nothing gives me that rush like scoring a kill with a stock gun, especially against people who are using semis. I will keep my DF body for occasional games but I really have refocused on stock. It is a much harder game to play, but the challenge is worth it. I don't get as many kills, but when I do, boy is it worth it!!!

I guess my point is, that I sort of think that there is an unsaid thing with stock players. You either are...or are not. I am, and like a Jedi living in an age of blaster pistols and modern weaponry who chooses to cling to the "old ways" using "old" weaponry, so shall I. Mostly because it "feels" right for me.

So, I admonish all to continue using the "old" weapons from the days of antiquity. Continue to live by the unsaid code of stock players around the world. Play with honor and live with honor to be an example to others of what we were and what we are...

Thanks for the ear.

Six

i hear ya! I played on saturday in a scenario, i had no idea it was scheduled and was visiting some friends and decided to get a few games in..got there and bam, walked smack dab into a scenario about to start. anyhow, i stayed, got out the illusion in horizontal feed config and played a good two hours or so. But it was so wet and humid, the moisture was leaching into my feed slot and wreaking havoc. It the first time i ever had a problem with the AM-P but the conditions were extreme.
not having my hopper adaptor with me (only had the bare essentials with me) , i switched to the semi, and the accompaning sealed hopper/feed neck which helped in the knee deep and worse swamp we were playing in.
anyway, though i have to admit it was fun being able to Drill holes through vegitation and create my own firing lanes, i just wasnt "comfortable" without my pump... and although i still got my fair share of ellimins, my game was way off...and the hits werent nearly as satisfying..
needless to say, from now on ill just throw a roll of tape in my bag, or just use the ten round tubes themselves to feed my am-p with. Playing with a semi just doesnt feel right anymore, and that pesky hopper...... oh well.. no loss really.. :D

hey easix, maybe you should try your DF body with a brass eagle 45 round hopper. That would make you a little more compareable to semis than stock class without being too close :D . I think I might eventually buy a DF body for my phantom, but for now Im good rockin n' cockin! :pow: O, how do you like the M-16 grips with L-stock? I have an extra M-16 grip but it seems very uncomfortable, and my 45 grip is very comfy.

I had a similar experience this weekend.

On Staurday, I took my 98c out to my regular field, and filled a hopper with paint. It was sort of an apology to the gun for letting my brother have it and abuse it.

I played a game on a barrel field and only got one elimination in two games and one hopperful (200 shots). I also shot a kid after he was out, though it was one of those 1-2 second things where it took some time for the whole thing to register in my mind. (I apologized and he was fine with it, he's a semi regular.)

Previously I played several games with my Phantom, used 60 shots and got 3 eliminations. (We did a fort defense, that always eats paint.)

While I agree, it was much more satisfying to take people out with the Phantom, I don't think I will retire my semis just yet (my Autococker project nears completion and is almost ready to use B) ) I think I will continue to work hard to perfect my skills and most particularly my aim.

I will also continue to paraphrase Quigley down under in this regards;

"I never said I don't know how to use a semi, I just said I don't have a lot of use for them." :)

Hey ccrnnr9. I like the M-16 grip and L-stock combo quite well. It really makes the VSC "feel" more rifle like. I have to admit that I have been able to improve my accuracy with my Phantom tons since I picked them up, and added the 14" bbl. Also, I have received several comments on my gun since I made the upgrades. I started with a typical .45 grip VSC in black and turned it micro. After a spell I picked up the m-16 grip and L-stock with the 14" bbl to try and learn to use a rifle-like gun. So far so good! I have had to mod my tactics a bit, and adjust to having less mobility with the rifle but I really like it a lot.

I have to say that this config "looks" the best and is very intimidating to the other guys on the field. It is nice to arrive at the field and notice the looks from some of the other players as I remove the peices from my gun case and start assembling my gun. The younger players say "oh my God! What is that!" The older guys simply look longingly at it and say "Dude, THAT is a nice gun." It is especially nice when I catch guys looking at their Cockers, or Mags and then look over to my Phantom and I can see in their eyes that they are thinking "why the heck don't I have one of those....???" :D

Six

i feel the same way you do six. i love the m-16 grip with the L stock i also use a vert adaptor with a four ounce tank so the stock really helps to balance out the phantom nicely (not to mention that with the stock and the vert air it looks like one of those 9mm machine guns that swat uses, the name eludes me at present)
and your right it does get alot of looks while you assemble it, sort of like a scene in and old movie where the sniper sits calmly on the roof assembling his rifle

I may have to try the M-16 grip then. I currently run my green VSC phantom with 45grip, 10rd tube, and CCI telescoping stock. I really like that setup alot! It is very easy for me to hold and feels very comfortable. I am thinking of putting a micro pump arm on it and getting a matching 8in barrel as well as the DF body. But for now I love it the way it is. I need to get some pics of my gun up here so I can show it off.

I tell ya ccrnnr9, if your happy with what you currantly have, then why change??? :) In reality the M-16 parts achieve nothing else than to give the Phantom a more "rifle" feel. If you happen to like that (and have the extra cash for the parts) go with it. I just like having a lot of "stuff" for my Phantom. I like to have the option of several options just for the heck of it. In honesty, none of the extra stuff that I have is really "needed", but it is fun to have the extra parts to play with. I am eventually going to pick up another Phantom for parts, and just to have as a spare loaner gun. (my experience so far is that I don't require a back-up gun as the Phantom has never given me ANY grief) All of the extra stuff will allow me to set either gun up in most any configuration I want. So go with what works for ya.

Six

Here's a pic of my Phantom VSC Rifle setup...



I think she looks pretty sharp.

Six

I started with my Tippmann Pro/Carbine. Still have it, but I haven't used it yet since I started stock class. It's just that... well.., I HATE HOPPERS! :lol:

Nope, cant stand em'. Really, I mean think about it. They're big, bulky, heavy, and they just like.. suck! For me, that is. So for me, a horizontal feed gives me more of an advantage in that it lets my natural skill come out. You have to use what feels right.

I might buy another semi some day. If anything it will probably be a Palmer Blazer. But that's only if I could get a horizontal feed on it, as I will no longer use hoppers.

whats the difference between an m16 grip and a 45? which is more comfortable, and why does the 45 cost more?
thanks
:pow: :wacko:

I think that the .45 costs more simply because of popularity. Also, with the Phantom it is machined out of a block of aluminium which likely cost more to produce. The M-16 grip (Lonestar) is made from what looks like that Zytel plastic stuff that is tough as all get out. The .45 grip is thicker front to back and you have to have pretty good sized meat hooks to get a comfy fit. The M-16 grip is pretty narrow by comparison to the .45, and allows folks with smaller mits a better grip (like me) My hands are sort of stubby and thick (I'm 5'07", 200 lb with little adipose tissue) Other than the above stated stuff, the only other differance is that the M-16 has a little bit differant angle to it. it is more sharply angled than that of the .45 grip.

Ultimately it is a matter of preferance. I thought the .45 grip was ok when I got my gun, but I didn't much like it when compared to my set of old PMI grips that I had on my PGP at the time. I picked up the M-16 grip to sort of get a "rifle" feel to my gun, and it worked, consequently I have ended up liking the M-16 grip a bit better than the .45 grip - but... I am sort of wierd by some folks standards...I mean heck, I routinely charge guys with semi's with only my Phantom (when I think I can get away with it that is...) Hope this is helpful to you.

Six

as to the hopper issue i find that a brass eagle 50 round hopper it is less bulky and raises eyebrows ( well the whole gun raises eyebrows but i get the most comments on the hopper)

Easix and I are exact opposites :lol: ...I think that the 45 grip is much more comfortable and I have small hands. I like having something big to grip in my hands (please no dirty jokes, I get that one all the time! :wacko: ). I think another reason the 45 grip is more expensive is the fact that they come with a houge, dye, or some type of sticky grip which adds another 15-20$ to the cost.

thanks

Just a couple of quick notes:

1. Whoever it was that is considering the Blazer, remember it is a closed bolt marker and it you want it horizontal feed you better have it spring fed!

2. I happen to think the Eurogrip is very comfortable. I like them much better than the Lonestar style grips on my Spyder or the 45 style on my XTS. The only problem with them is that the only bottomline adapter available for them is an ASA adapter, so if you wanted to run a stock you'd basically need a gas through stock, a 12 gram stock, or a custom part.