Gents...
I feel obliged to post this in order to help some of our 'newer' members who are posting again and again similair questions with regards to upping an Ion..
I do not consider myself an expert, but this forum has helped me out so much with regards to how to get the best from my Ion, I want to pass this knowledge on and I hope this can go some way to reducing the repeated posts that have appeared lately and provide structure to what you can do to an Ion and why.
To start with
Basically if you have an ion straight out of the box you should consider first practical items.
- Fit a locking feedneck. The stock one does not hold hoppers in well.
- Fit a non Smart Parts on and off, where I would recomend a CP Oops.
Then depending on your objective, you have three avenues you can take.
Efficiency and Performance
1. Lighter bolt such as lucky stage 1 or SP Firebolt. Less mass to move and better venting.
2. QEV (quick exhaust valve) SP 360 is the easiest to fit as no milling of the body is required. QEV provides faster dump of air allowing faster bolt action. May make your Ion harder on paint. Prone to failure.
3. Trigger - Can increase finger walking rate.
4. Firing can, such as a lucky stage 2. Better venting plus larger volume = lower pressure.
5. Donut such as a lucky stage 3. Better venting.
6. Circuit board such as a lucky stage 4, T-board, SP blackheart. Allows additional tourney modes, increased bps limits (some unlimited), easier programming. Opinion has it can make the Ion 'feel' better to use (placebo maybe?).
7. New regulator - The Ion regulator is actually quite good, but a CP regulator can make your velocity be +/- 2 fps over the chrono according to reports.
8. Detents - Stock Ion ones will wear out eventually as they are one of the few consumable products on the marker. When you NEED to replace your detents... pick aftermarket ones. as most aftermarket ones have a much much further life expectancy than stock.
Points 1, 2, 4, and 5, will allow a substantial lowering of the dwell therefore increasing air efficieny of your marker possibly by 30%, and will also allow your bps capability to increase due to faster cycle times.
Accuracy
To increase accuracy consistently sized paint must be used with a tight barrel bore. It is therefore suggested any system with interchangeable backs or a changeable bore system is used, such as a freak system. Also a good ball to bore matching will increase consistency over the chrono and possibly slightly increase efficiency of your air.
If budget is an issue.
- Buy a used freak front and back with a bore (usually .691)
- Look out for people selling random bore sizes and pick them up one at a time.
If budget not an issue, buy a full freak system, or a lucky kit, or a dye system or whatever you fancy. They are all means to an end, i.e. good paint to bore match.
Would not recomend getting a barrel over 14" as this perhaps starts getting too long to run around with, and it is said anything over this does nothing to improve performance or accuracy. Suggest 12".
Bling
Anything. Grips, body, stickers... eyes.. whatever.... the world of bad taste is your oyster...
Final note - air and hopper...
ANY air system generally available will work on an Ion. From the basic ally 0.8L 3000psi to the all singing all dancing fibre wrapped 5000psi systems. Hoppers. Use a gravity fed hopper if you want, but ideally aim for a hopper that can consistently push the paint through at no less than 15bps. A used egg with fresh batteries should meet your requirements nicely.
Remember it's YOUR choice and YOUR budget!
Further references not to be ignored... no sir!....
THE PGI thread... 'Answers to ALL your ION questions here....'
http://www.p8ntballer-forums.com/vb/...ad.php?t=75843
Furthermore.... Please no ion flaming. I've up'd my Ion loads and play alongside peeps with many different markers such as Angels, EGO's, PM's DM's, PMR's. Ok.. Ion's havent got the build quality etc of these markers and are perhaps harder to maintain, but in play alongside them I'm giving as much grief to the guy on the other end of the field as they are..... sometimes more....
Please, opinions welcome as to the above guide.... and I will attempt to edit to try and compile this into a master list of some kind and then keep it on file for future reference...
I feel obliged to post this in order to help some of our 'newer' members who are posting again and again similair questions with regards to upping an Ion..
I do not consider myself an expert, but this forum has helped me out so much with regards to how to get the best from my Ion, I want to pass this knowledge on and I hope this can go some way to reducing the repeated posts that have appeared lately and provide structure to what you can do to an Ion and why.
To start with
Basically if you have an ion straight out of the box you should consider first practical items.
- Fit a locking feedneck. The stock one does not hold hoppers in well.
- Fit a non Smart Parts on and off, where I would recomend a CP Oops.
Then depending on your objective, you have three avenues you can take.
- Efficiency and Performance
- Accuracy
- Bling
Efficiency and Performance
1. Lighter bolt such as lucky stage 1 or SP Firebolt. Less mass to move and better venting.
2. QEV (quick exhaust valve) SP 360 is the easiest to fit as no milling of the body is required. QEV provides faster dump of air allowing faster bolt action. May make your Ion harder on paint. Prone to failure.
3. Trigger - Can increase finger walking rate.
4. Firing can, such as a lucky stage 2. Better venting plus larger volume = lower pressure.
5. Donut such as a lucky stage 3. Better venting.
6. Circuit board such as a lucky stage 4, T-board, SP blackheart. Allows additional tourney modes, increased bps limits (some unlimited), easier programming. Opinion has it can make the Ion 'feel' better to use (placebo maybe?).
7. New regulator - The Ion regulator is actually quite good, but a CP regulator can make your velocity be +/- 2 fps over the chrono according to reports.
8. Detents - Stock Ion ones will wear out eventually as they are one of the few consumable products on the marker. When you NEED to replace your detents... pick aftermarket ones. as most aftermarket ones have a much much further life expectancy than stock.
Points 1, 2, 4, and 5, will allow a substantial lowering of the dwell therefore increasing air efficieny of your marker possibly by 30%, and will also allow your bps capability to increase due to faster cycle times.
Accuracy
To increase accuracy consistently sized paint must be used with a tight barrel bore. It is therefore suggested any system with interchangeable backs or a changeable bore system is used, such as a freak system. Also a good ball to bore matching will increase consistency over the chrono and possibly slightly increase efficiency of your air.
If budget is an issue.
- Buy a used freak front and back with a bore (usually .691)
- Look out for people selling random bore sizes and pick them up one at a time.
If budget not an issue, buy a full freak system, or a lucky kit, or a dye system or whatever you fancy. They are all means to an end, i.e. good paint to bore match.
Would not recomend getting a barrel over 14" as this perhaps starts getting too long to run around with, and it is said anything over this does nothing to improve performance or accuracy. Suggest 12".
Bling
Anything. Grips, body, stickers... eyes.. whatever.... the world of bad taste is your oyster...
Final note - air and hopper...
ANY air system generally available will work on an Ion. From the basic ally 0.8L 3000psi to the all singing all dancing fibre wrapped 5000psi systems. Hoppers. Use a gravity fed hopper if you want, but ideally aim for a hopper that can consistently push the paint through at no less than 15bps. A used egg with fresh batteries should meet your requirements nicely.
Remember it's YOUR choice and YOUR budget!
Further references not to be ignored... no sir!....
THE PGI thread... 'Answers to ALL your ION questions here....'
http://www.p8ntballer-forums.com/vb/...ad.php?t=75843
Furthermore.... Please no ion flaming. I've up'd my Ion loads and play alongside peeps with many different markers such as Angels, EGO's, PM's DM's, PMR's. Ok.. Ion's havent got the build quality etc of these markers and are perhaps harder to maintain, but in play alongside them I'm giving as much grief to the guy on the other end of the field as they are..... sometimes more....
Please, opinions welcome as to the above guide.... and I will attempt to edit to try and compile this into a master list of some kind and then keep it on file for future reference...
