front block kit

[mars2525]

I want someone that truley knows about front block kits to give me their opinion.I have a 2002 cocker and I am thinking about putting in the ans front block kit the one with the jackhammer regulator. I am new in this extreme sport (2 months) and would like to hear what some with expirience has to say about this hop up.

 

[Charlie]

I'm not to sure about cockers even though I have one but also look at the Shocktech setup. You can get them from planet.

 

[ball bouncer]

The ANS kits are OK, but not great. I bought one once for one of my cockers and since then, I have learned alot.

For one thing, the ANS mini-ram claimes that it moves faster than the ordinary ram. That may be true but I don't think it moves any faster than the STO rams or the new stock rams found on 2000+ cocker models.

Also, the ANS has a smaller diameter than regular rams and has a smaller volume area for gas. Therefore, you will need HIGHER pressure to operate it. This increases the chances of the bolt chopping your balls. If you want to run your cocker on low pressure, this isn't what you need.

The ANS 3-way has very short spacing between the channels but in order to create higher speed, it sacrifices the snug fit between the 3-way stem and the body. Therefore, it's more prone to leak.

The ANS Jackhammer is probably the nicest part of the kit. However, in mine experience, I have found its settings to creep on you and not stay put. I found the the Palmer Rock does a better job.


So if I could go back in time, I would NOT have bought it. Instead, I would do what I do now to my newer cockers, buy the parts I like and assemble it together myself.

Here's my preferences:
3-way: Kapp or Shocktech
Ram: STO ram
Reg: Palmer Rock or Micr-Rock

Also, WGP has released for individual sale the parts now found on their Orracle cocker: the adjustable 3-way and the Tickler Adjustable Reg. You might be interested in these products.

I suggest that you go ahead and play with your cocker with the stock pneumatics. Once you get a better feel what what you want to upgrade, then do it then.
I think the stock 3-way and ram on the 2002 are good enough that an immediate upgrade is not needed. The only thing I would upgrade is the pneumatic reg and I would pick the Palmer Rock. However, you will only need this if you want to change the operating pressure and fine tune the gun. And you only do this if you know what you're doing or if you have the help of someone who does.

I hope this helps,
bouncer

 

[Reno]

You shouldn't even consider the front end of your cocker until you've decided on grip frame, barrel, regulator, and any low pressure options (valve/hammer kits and/or bolt). The front pneumatics do absolutely nothing except cock the gun! The only interface it has with you is in shortening your trigger with a shorter 3way(but you'll need an aftermarket trigger frame with its accompanying setscrews to gain any advantage from this) and the pressure the ram requires to move your back block (which may prevent you from chopping balls if you can get it low enough). If you've only been playing for a short time you really should play with it as close to stock as you can for as long as you can. When something on that sucker just bugs the hell out of you and you know how you want a specific part to perform differently then that's your next upgrade (for me it was the grip frame almost immediately although the barrel is an easy one). Considering the price of most front end kits ($120-170) you should have an idea of what kind of performance increase you're going to get before you shell out the bucks. That said, I just slapped on the Shocktech kit and I must say its pretty sick. Smooth as butter and very stylish. My only complaint is the size of the FGP reg; I'm sure shocktech is about to come out with their version WGP's tickler and it'll be half the size, but I couldn't wait any longer. Oh and the savings only averages $10-20 on the kit versus individual parts so if you like so-and-so's 3way but such-and-such's reg then spend the extra few bucks and get exactly what you want. Resell on paintball gear just sucks.