Product Review: Tippmann US Army Project Salvo and J&J Ceramic Barrel

 Marker Accessories, Markers, Product Reviews  2 Responses »
Jul 072011
 

Earlier this week, we shared a video of the Tippmann US Army Project Salvo with the stock barrel versus a 14″ J&J Ceramic barrel.  Now, we’re sharing the hard data with you.  We took 30 shots at a target 75 feet away with the marker chronoed at about 280-285 fps.  It did have an eGrip upgrade as well as the Cyclone Hopper upgrade.  However, no other internals were modified.  For these tests we were using GI Sportz 3-star paint.

Before we get into the shooting review let’s take a closer look at the marker.

Pros

  • Reliable/Proven Design – Just like the rest of the Tippmann’s US Army marker line, the Project Salvo is primarily a Tippmann 98 Custom.  Tippmann has spent nearly 13 years tweaking and improving their design since the original Model 98 and it shows.
  • Multi-positional, folding stock included – Measuring from the breach, this stock is able to collapse down to 11.25″ and can expand all the way out to just over 14″.  When the stock is folded down only 1.75″ sticks out from the breach.
  • Milsim appearance out of the box – Modeled after an AR15, the Project Salvo looks just as good as many of the customized milsim markers at any of your local paintball fields.
  • Well-balanced – Even though the marker we tested with came in at just over 8.5 pounds when loaded with paint it felt good when we put it up to our shoulder to fire it.
  • Great price – MSRP is only $149.00!  Compare this to a base model Tippmann 98 Custom at $139.00 and you’ll understand why this is such a great deal.  You simply cannot get this marker in separate pieces for a better price.

Cons

  • Heavy - As just mentioned, this marker isn’t light.  You’ll want a sling if you’re going to make it through a weekend-long game.
  • Standard gravity-fed hopper – Out of the box, this marker comes with the standard gravity-fed hopper.  In our experience, these can lead to the “shaking technique” in the heat of a firefight.  However, you can install a Cyclone hopper for just under $60.
  • Difficult to take apart – This is more of a personal opinion than a fact-based statement, but I don’t think I’m alone.  The Tippmann 98 product lines are one of the more difficult markers to quickly break down and put back together.  Most of the internals are under pressure and the smallest wrong move can lead to parts flying all over your workspace.  I don’t recommend trying to break this down at the field; do this at home where you can see things for a few feet in every direction.

Final Verdict

Pending Sainthood. Admittedly, I only shot this marker for about an hour to ensure the upgrades I installed for my brother were working right.  However, in this short time I was able to tell a  lot about this marker.  Out of the box, you’re ready for a great day at the field.  With a little bit of an extra investment it’s even more impressive.

Stock Barrel Performance

Out-of-the-box the Project Salvo comes with an 11″ anodized barrel.  All-in-all it performed relatively well.  I did find myself trying to compensate for the for the left-hand pull, but never seemed able to.

14″ J&J Ceramic Barrel Performance

I was extremely impressed by how tight the grouping was from the 14″ J&J Ceramic barrel.  Remember, we’re shooting round projectiles that, frankly, don’t want to go straight; they like to curve in the direction of the spin.  The above graphs are actually measuring centimeters from the center of the bullseye.  Simply unbelievable.

Given that this barrel has an MSRP of about $30, we have no choice but to call this barrel a Confirmed Saint.

 Posted by at 7:16 AM  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Video: Tippmann US Army Project Salvo

 Marker Accessories, Markers, Product Reviews  3 Responses »
Jul 052011
 

ROCStar and Meat went to The Badlandz over the Fourth of July weekend and shot a small armory’s worth of markers and barrels. Here’s ROCStar shooting a Tippmann US Army Project Salvo with a stock barrel and 14″ J&J Ceramic barrel. Later this week we’ll give you a full write up on the marker and the two barrels.

 Posted by at 7:30 AM  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Product Review: JCS Alias MKX Launcher

 Gear, Markers, Product Reviews  1 Response »
May 172011
 

Hey All! Meat here with this week’s review of the JCS Alias MKX Launcher. I have been using my JCS Launcher for going on 3 years, and I am totally stoked about it still!

Before Listing the Pros and Cons, I will explain a bit more about what exactly a Paintball Launcher is, how it is used in a game, and what are the qualities most looked for in a launcher

 

What is a Paintball Launcher AKA LAW?

A paintball Launcher is really a simple device; much simpler than your average paintball marker. The only really integral parts of the launcher’s design are

  • A barrel
  • A connection to a power supply (CO2 or HPA)
  • A Valve
  • A way to operate said Valve.

The basic principle to a paintball launcher is to launch a projectile that, within the rules of the scenario, is capable of disabling or destroying buildings, bridges, bunkers, or the dreaded paintball tank. For most launchers out on the market, the projectile is a Nerf Vortex Pocket rocket. Once the launcher has fired and hit the target (never hit people with a launched Nerf, its against the rules and extremely dangerous!) A ref declares that target destroyed or disabled, and usually calls out anyone within a certain distance of the target. (usually a 20ft dead zone.)

The Paintball LAW has a very profound effect whenever it is used on the field. It turns the user into a serious asset when faced with clearing a structure, destroying a tank, or eliminating some heavily bunkered up players.  However the launcher must be able to hit a target, or else it was a wasted shot. Therefore Accuracy and Range are the key qualities of a Paintball LAW.

Now back to talking about the JCS Launcher!

PROS

  • Extremely Accurate. The JCS Launcher’s long barrel and good milling allow it to be very accurate. Capable of hitting a 10 inch tree at 30 yards. and a tank at 100+ Yards.
  • Range. Since it is accurate out to 100+ Yards that means it can reach 100+ yards with the proper 45 degree angle.
  • Easy to Load. Since the JCS is a breech loading (as opposed to muzzle loading) it is easier to load in the heat of combat. All you have to do is press a button near the muzzle and the whole barrel moves forward and pops up. Allowing you to slip the rocket into the barrel.
  • Safe to use. Unlike most  homemade launchers the JCS launcher has its own safety button. This is just like the Safety on your paintball marker, it prevents the launcher’s trigger from being pulled when the safety is in position. Another key safety feature is its breech loading function. Which takes the barrel out of the main firing line, preventing accidental misfires.
  • Good ergonomics.The LAW follows millitary convention for shoulder fired weapons. And this means that the LAW is very well designed to be fired accurately

Cons

  • Expensive.Unlike most homemade LAWs the JCS launcher is quite expensive,  500 dollars at most.
  • Heavy. The JCS launcher weighs approximately 7 pounds, and an extra 7 pounds of weight may put some off from purchasing the JCS, but the JCS launcher also comes with its own sling, free of charge.

Verdict

Confirmed Sainthood. The JCS launcher is the Cream of the LAW Crop. It’s deadly, efficient and accurate. If you have the cash to purchase this launcher I would seriously advise you to do so. It may be expensive, but its entirely worth it. This LAW is confirmed Sainthood. It’s flaws are far surpassed by its successes, its weight and price are both a reflection of its high standard of production. 5 Halos out of 5.

PS: While JCS products reccommend their own rockets as the preferred ammo, I have found that the JCS rockets are terrible for the LAW, and that Nerf Vortex series pocket rockets are much more efficient.

 Posted by at 7:45 AM  Tagged with: , , , , ,
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