Automag Marker
The Automag is a paintball marker fashioned by Tom Kaye and manufactured by Airgun Designs Inc. (AGD).
History
The first Automag was produced and sold in 1990. Since it is the initial model of semi-automatic paintball makers, its blow forward design was different. Made of stainless steel, the valve system was the maiden marker to include a pressure regulator directly into the marker. The marker’s design also permits for reconstructuring in the paintball field even without gadgets. The marker has other new features like the fast loosening screw lock barrel and the Power Feed, which disallow paintballs from being blown back up into the hopper.
The Panther was the original model of semi-automatic marker that is designed by Tom Kaye of Airgun Designs in 1988. Because it was the only model at that time, it was not released and offered for utilization to the masses. The invention was offered to Direct Connect but was never manufactured and reproduced. In 1989, the AGD purchased the design rights but the blow back style was considered to be too old fashioned and crude so a next generation example design, the “P2″ (for Panther Prototype Two) was released. This was in the same way a blow back and had a lot of limitations. Because of the many unsuccessful attempts, the blow back technology was given up and considered working onto the blow forward design. In cold weather, when gas is low pressured, the player can get a blowback to recock. This marked the birth of the Automag design that underwent two modifications; P3 and P4. The P4 design was released to the players in 1990.
The Automag encountered a lot of problems and limitations when it was first released and the producers resolved them by continual updating called Level 6 through Level 7. The Minimag and the Sydarm were designed as clear modifications or clone. The Sydarm functioned particularly at police training. Then came the RT that includes an all new valve that made shootdown an uneasy thing to do because it had reactive trigger technology. The Level 10 bolt was intended to eradicate ball-chop during firing’s high rates. AGD now features the X-valve, which is the RT valve combined with the Level 10 bolt.
The paintball market has completely developed electronic markers and the Automag still maintains its distinction as one of the most dependable and accurate mechanical markers ever made. Airgun Designs is recognized for its good tech support, and the Automag enjoys a small following of loyal customers who customize and maintain their markers through the forums at Automags.org.
Airgun Designs shortly released the X-Mag to rival in the electric powered tournaments, though they have since ceased its manufacturing. Mechanical Automags have had a revival in recignition with woodsball and scenario players for their accuracy, perfect design, and water resistant features.
Operation
The Automag’s blow-forward operation is different among paintball markers. It is also uncomplicated:
1. The trigger is pulled, the singe loosens the lock, and shuts the on/off regulator
2. Air in the chamber thrusts forward the bolt, and gas passes through the bolt
3. The trigger is freed
4. The bolt is put back by a coil, and the sear grasps the bolt
5. The on/off regulator unlocks
6. The gun is prepared for refire
Variants
68 Automag Classic
For the continuum years of production, many modification and variations of the conventional Automag’s name have been taken; one of which are the “TKO Automag”, or the minimag. The TKO Automag is almost the same as the other Automag but it was sold in package via the Action Village. The minimag was an also an automag but it was longer in appearance though it had a shorter barrel. It has also perpendicular ASA, Powerfeed, and an opening very close to the barrel. Despite its resemblance to an automag, it became well- accepted by consumers because of its resilience. It is made of 100 percent stainless steel but the hold frame was altered to a fused resembling the autococker frame during 1996.
Despite the Original Classic Automag not being released a new version called the Pro/Classic, that features an RT barrel, powerfeed, foregrip, black mainbody, vertical asa, and bottomline ASA, had taken in.
E-Mag
The E-Mag is an electric Automag comparable to other Automags that have undergone various modifications because of the intention of coping with the development to the Automag platform such as the RT valve, the lvl 10 anti-chop system and the X-valve. The E-mag has the capability of firing in either electronic or mechanical modes compared to other automags.
FN303
The first Automag pattern has developed into other designs and is the basic of the FN303 Less Lethal Weapon System set up by police and military all over the world.
Other AGD Innovations
>> Warp Feed
AGD’s Warp Feed is a thrust feed system that feeds paintballs into a marker. It is supplied by a hopper set above the real warp feed system. The primary objective is to provide a player a lower profile, while using enormously high feed speed. This was the initial and in market production under-the-barrel force feed system. The warp feed is a ball speed enhancer. Paintballs are supplied from a loader, and when it the feedneck is already empty, twists small disks within, and augments the paintballs. It did not have major recognition particularly among veteran players, though it was appreciated by scenario players who were fascinated to its low profile.
Ultra Light Trigger (ULT)
The ultra light trigger, designed by Tom Kaye, is an evolution of the Automag. It decreased the trigger pull from about 6 lbs to only 16 oz trigger pull. This gave mechanical markers a lighter feel of an electronic marker that gives an alternative to the players. Included is a speedy recharging X-Valve so that players can rival with electronic markers. This new design of the ULT also permitted players to jerk the trigger as quickly as possible. Players can speed up to 6-9 balls per second.
Level Ten Bolt
The Level Ten, or Level X bolt is AGD’s resolution to the problem of ball breakage. This drop-in enhancement gets rid of the demand for the powerfeed design. The usual recent electronic markers depend on electronic “eyes” to avoid chops, featuring whichever of the Infra-red sensor or an LED/Light Sensor mishmash. When a paintball gets into the breech, the eyes sustain the shooting route and makes s continuous firing series. The Level X enhancement, however, does not depend on electronics, thus is not vulnerable to inconveniences related to dirty or uncalibrated eyes.
When assembled appropriately, the bolt speeds up with less energy through the primary part of the breech. Upon meeting a particular end, it attains maximum acceleration to lock the breech and fire. If a miscalculation happens while accelerating, the bolt loosens the blow-forward gas in a streaking sound, letting the ball to stay in position until it is ready for the next firing. If the initial acceleration is gentle, a ball is not fully supplied and will never be smashed by the bolt’s thrust.
Ultra Light Engineering
One of the available products of the Ultra Light Engineering designed by Tom Kaye was the aluminum vertical feed bodies. These ULE vertical bodies provide players a more rigid feature when playing paintball. This caused the powerfeed pipe structure outdated because chopping is already resolved since it was aided with the level ten bolt and uptight/force feed loaders. The utilization of aluminum is preferred than stainless steel that importantly reduced the mass of the automag. This makes the players have a more rigid yet lighter marker.
Six Pack +
One of the initial and exclusive products fashioned and released by AGD was the 6Pak+, a lever and cam that controlled the 12-gram changer that can hold six 12-gram gas cartridges in a spring- handled magazine and another in the gun adaptor. This is an effective option to pump gun players who were apprehensive of making the switch to ‘constant air’, the SixPak+ had reached out of stock when it was initially released at the Lively Masters national event. At present, Automags are still the number one marker as ever.