> Does anyone use a Palmer's Blazer Paintball marker?

A few years ago I learned I was coming into a significant amount of money
and since then I've considered absolutely every gun out there. I thought
about E/X-mags, Angels, trick cockers, Impulses, Bushmasters, Intimidators.
I am so absolutely set on the Blazer now. Everything seems to me to be
perfect about it. I'm ready to order mine in a week or two.

Joel Hoyt

On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 23:29:57 +0000, J. Hoyt wrote:

>> Does anyone use a Palmer's Blazer Paintball marker?
>
> A few years ago I learned I was coming into a significant amount of money
> and since then I've considered absolutely every gun out there. I thought
> about E/X-mags, Angels, trick cockers, Impulses, Bushmasters, Intimidators.
> I am so absolutely set on the Blazer now. Everything seems to me to be
> perfect about it. I'm ready to order mine in a week or two.
>
> Joel Hoyt

Ok, here is my questions. Just to make one thing clear... The
following markers that I mention I think are very fine pieces of
equipment, when I say I don't like them... That's exactly what I mean, I
think they are great, but they just don't suit my personal tastes.

I have been using an Autococker for 13 years now, and the thing is pretty
much getting worn out. Even the helicoils are starting to strip out on it
now, and the chamber is so worn that the bolt rattles around when firing,
or even running. I like everything about the Autococker, except when I
have to work on the anything that involves dinking with the timing...
Replacing a valve for me is a horrible experience.

What I like the most about it, is that it seems to be far more accurate
than any other marker I have had, and also it just seems to shoot a ball
flatter and better. All though, this might be 100% mental, since I have
had the thing for a long time, and I am used to it.

So basically, I was hoping to find someone that uses a blazer, and has been
using it for a while, to see their pro's/con's about it.

Luckly I had the opportunity to stop by Palmer's store, and test fire a
Blazer, and it reminded me of my Autococker, well except it was a lot
lighter. Trigger pull, I liked and just the over all feel. However, firing
a dozen or so shots from a marker does not tell me how good one is over
time. Heck if that's the case, my Tippman SMG-60 rules them all!

Anyway, the others I was eyeballing are the Angel Speed, and the
Intimidators. If anyone has any other suggestions of markers to look at, I
would very much welcome them... Just keep in mind, rate of fire, weight,
gas efficiency aren't very important to me.

Every Angel Speed at my field that I have fired, I really did not
personally like. I just found them very inaccurate. And as I stated, it
might be mental, since I am just used to my Autococker... But I see the
people playing with them, and they grouping is all over the place... Of
course, they are trying to fire as quickly as possible. Keep in mind, I
have not given up on an Angel, still pondering... Would like to hear what
people that use them have done with the barrels... The things seem
realiable though, well, as long as they have a working battery, but never
seen anyone go down due to that.

I only fired a few shots from an Intimidator, and really don't know. It
just felt ackward in my hands, that's the only thing I know for sure. It
just seemed to be a really "Tall" marker, if that makes sense. It was
windy, but the thing seemed to shoot very accuratly, and I believe they
had a Dye Broomstick (I think, I have not looked at barrels in a long,
long time, just call me "Old School.")

So that's really it, just wanted to hear the Pro's/Con's from a Blazer
user. In my opinion, everything has it's strengths and weaknesses. I know
my Autococker is very good, but there are things that just make me want to
throw it into a lake at times. I know all about Palmer's reputation, since
I have been dealing with that store for 13 years...

I also would prefer not to buy a marker that has to have a lot of
upgrades added on to it. Replacing the barrel is fine... And also would
like one that will work great with my eight year old Raptor 3000psi high
pressure system. That's just mainly being lazy, since I really like the
cradle system I have for it...

John...

shoot a dm4 first.
"J. Hoyt" <nospamdbhoyt@nb.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:VrmKb.52516$IF6.1162021@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> > Does anyone use a Palmer's Blazer Paintball marker?
>
> A few years ago I learned I was coming into a significant amount of money
> and since then I've considered absolutely every gun out there. I thought
> about E/X-mags, Angels, trick cockers, Impulses, Bushmasters,
Intimidators.
> I am so absolutely set on the Blazer now. Everything seems to me to be
> perfect about it. I'm ready to order mine in a week or two.
>
> Joel Hoyt
>
>

You can't go wrong with a blazer. A guy on my team has been buying and
selling blazers for almost as long as I know him. As soon as he sells his
blazer he misses it and buys another one. He also has shot or owned almost
every other gun out there. Just something about that gun he can't walk away
from.

If you had a cocker for 13 years I think you would be very happy with a
blazer.





"John P. Farrell" <john_farrellus@yahoo.com> wrote in message
newsan.2004.01.06.01.26.20.441982@yahoo.com...
> On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 23:29:57 +0000, J. Hoyt wrote:
>
> >> Does anyone use a Palmer's Blazer Paintball marker?
> >
> > A few years ago I learned I was coming into a significant amount of
money
> > and since then I've considered absolutely every gun out there. I thought
> > about E/X-mags, Angels, trick cockers, Impulses, Bushmasters,
Intimidators.
> > I am so absolutely set on the Blazer now. Everything seems to me to be
> > perfect about it. I'm ready to order mine in a week or two.
> >
> > Joel Hoyt
>
> Ok, here is my questions. Just to make one thing clear... The
> following markers that I mention I think are very fine pieces of
> equipment, when I say I don't like them... That's exactly what I mean, I
> think they are great, but they just don't suit my personal tastes.
>
> I have been using an Autococker for 13 years now, and the thing is pretty
> much getting worn out. Even the helicoils are starting to strip out on it
> now, and the chamber is so worn that the bolt rattles around when firing,
> or even running. I like everything about the Autococker, except when I
> have to work on the anything that involves dinking with the timing...
> Replacing a valve for me is a horrible experience.
>
> What I like the most about it, is that it seems to be far more accurate
> than any other marker I have had, and also it just seems to shoot a ball
> flatter and better. All though, this might be 100% mental, since I have
> had the thing for a long time, and I am used to it.
>
> So basically, I was hoping to find someone that uses a blazer, and has
been
> using it for a while, to see their pro's/con's about it.
>
> Luckly I had the opportunity to stop by Palmer's store, and test fire a
> Blazer, and it reminded me of my Autococker, well except it was a lot
> lighter. Trigger pull, I liked and just the over all feel. However, firing
> a dozen or so shots from a marker does not tell me how good one is over
> time. Heck if that's the case, my Tippman SMG-60 rules them all!
>
> Anyway, the others I was eyeballing are the Angel Speed, and the
> Intimidators. If anyone has any other suggestions of markers to look at, I
> would very much welcome them... Just keep in mind, rate of fire, weight,
> gas efficiency aren't very important to me.
>
> Every Angel Speed at my field that I have fired, I really did not
> personally like. I just found them very inaccurate. And as I stated, it
> might be mental, since I am just used to my Autococker... But I see the
> people playing with them, and they grouping is all over the place... Of
> course, they are trying to fire as quickly as possible. Keep in mind, I
> have not given up on an Angel, still pondering... Would like to hear what
> people that use them have done with the barrels... The things seem
> realiable though, well, as long as they have a working battery, but never
> seen anyone go down due to that.
>
> I only fired a few shots from an Intimidator, and really don't know. It
> just felt ackward in my hands, that's the only thing I know for sure. It
> just seemed to be a really "Tall" marker, if that makes sense. It was
> windy, but the thing seemed to shoot very accuratly, and I believe they
> had a Dye Broomstick (I think, I have not looked at barrels in a long,
> long time, just call me "Old School.")
>
> So that's really it, just wanted to hear the Pro's/Con's from a Blazer
> user. In my opinion, everything has it's strengths and weaknesses. I know
> my Autococker is very good, but there are things that just make me want to
> throw it into a lake at times. I know all about Palmer's reputation, since
> I have been dealing with that store for 13 years...
>
> I also would prefer not to buy a marker that has to have a lot of
> upgrades added on to it. Replacing the barrel is fine... And also would
> like one that will work great with my eight year old Raptor 3000psi high
> pressure system. That's just mainly being lazy, since I really like the
> cradle system I have for it...
>
> John...

> I have been using an Autococker for 13 years now, and the thing is pretty


> What I like the most about it, is that it seems to be far more accurate
> than any other marker I have had, and also it just seems to shoot a ball
> flatter and better. All though, this might be 100% mental, since I have
> had the thing for a long time, and I am used to it.

The closed bolt vs. open bolt is not the issue with the accuracy of the
Autococker. What makes the AC consistent is that the valve is acted upon
ONLY by the striker and spring. That makes the dwell timing very consistent
as springs are linear and will give the same result every time, unless you
have a lot of crud inside the marker that makes the striker bind. The
Blazer is based upon the same sheridan valve and uses a shorter spring that
puts no pressure on the exhaust valve in its resting state. That is what
makes the Blazer so efficient on CO2 as well. In the end, if you like the
feel and consistency of the Autococker, the Blazer will basically function
the same and have the same great consistency. Timing has always been an
issue with the AC and is also an issue with the Blazer. Same rules apply to
both. Don't mess when it is ok and have someone who knows what they are
doing adjust it so you know how it is supposed to work and feel. Then you
can tinker if you like to learn your marker well.



> Luckly I had the opportunity to stop by Palmer's store, and test fire a
> Blazer, and it reminded me of my Autococker, well except it was a lot
> lighter. Trigger pull, I liked and just the over all feel. However, firing
> a dozen or so shots from a marker does not tell me how good one is over
> time. Heck if that's the case, my Tippman SMG-60 rules them all!
>
> Anyway, the others I was eyeballing are the Angel Speed, and the
> Intimidators. If anyone has any other suggestions of markers to look at, I
> would very much welcome them... Just keep in mind, rate of fire, weight,
> gas efficiency aren't very important to me.


The Blazer is quite efficient and can run on CO2 as well. Rate of fire will
be the same as a well set up AC but the trigger is a little more snappy and
has a quicker letoff. I have done some sear re-shaping and had very
positive results. The snap is lessened making for a smoother pull all the
way through the overtravel to actuate the 4-way. Put a double trigger on a
Blazer and it is a great tourney level paint sprayer. However, Blazers
can't achieve the insanely high rate of fire attainable by the true
electro-pneumatics. If rate of fire is THE most important thing to you,
look at a true electro pneumatic like the Angel, Bushmaster or new DM4. I
am working on a decent reversible conversion to use an E-Blade on a Blazer
but that is a ways off yet. Weight is about the same as an Angel because
the Blazer is a much shorter body, but some would object to the very
utilitarian appearance of the Blazer. I personally like its function
governs form approach.


> So that's really it, just wanted to hear the Pro's/Con's from a Blazer
> user. In my opinion, everything has it's strengths and weaknesses. I know
> my Autococker is very good, but there are things that just make me want to
> throw it into a lake at times. I know all about Palmer's reputation, since
> I have been dealing with that store for 13 years...
>

In a nutshell I would say

The pro's
1.) Reliable mechanical platform (no batteries to go low or electrics to
fail when wet)
2.) Small size and light weight
3.) Best mid-bore stock barrels out there (often as good as any custom)
4.) Lifetime support
5.) Very efficient and very consistent.

Con's
1.) High end of semi-auto price range
2.) Slower ROF than comparably priced electro's (when decked out)
3.) Compression barrel mounting means limited aftermarket choices
4.) Lack of familiarity by local shops
5.) Learning curve when trying to self tune - often best left to Palmer or
another competent shop.

> I also would prefer not to buy a marker that has to have a lot of
> upgrades added on to it. Replacing the barrel is fine... And also would
> like one that will work great with my eight year old Raptor 3000psi high
> pressure system. That's just mainly being lazy, since I really like the
> cradle system I have for it...
>


Stock Blazers are excellent. You will have good results with your tank and
no secondary regulator, or you could get an HPA sprung Stabilizer with it.
That way you only have one shop to deal with for support. If you want
different or multiple barrels, we or any other true custom shop can turn
down almost any barrel you want. Matter of fact, I can think of one way to
allow a Blazer to use Stiffi carbon fiber barrels, which will reduce weight
a fair amount.

--
Jose I. Sanchez
Airsmith
Electric Iguana Paintball
http://www.electriciguanapaintball.com

> shoot a dm4 first.

I'd love to but that's not much of an option. Around here, it'll probably be
a while before I see one of those. Even if I did, I doubt I could justify
the cost of one if I wanted it. I'm only spending about $1000 CAD on the
Blazer.

blazer is nice gun also ;-)
"J. Hoyt" <nospamdbhoyt@nb.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:N6LKb.53199$IF6.1200392@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> > shoot a dm4 first.
>
> I'd love to but that's not much of an option. Around here, it'll probably
be
> a while before I see one of those. Even if I did, I doubt I could justify
> the cost of one if I wanted it. I'm only spending about $1000 CAD on the
> Blazer.
>
>

"TONY SR." <AMARGIO1@SAN.RR.COM> wrote in message
news:OTVKb.42825$C87.40985@twister.socal.rr.com...
> blazer is nice gun also ;-)

how dare you say that behind your DM4's back.

shame...shame...