I’m wondering for myself, but also thought this would be a solid topic to get some takes from the community on:
In this day and age, what do you think is the best easily available option (be it on the used market, or a current production marker) for a loaner pump?
I’ve got friends who have not played since they were teenagers, and who may not be as interested in renting Emeks and playing with the typical semi crowd, but whose ears always perk up when I mention pump-only or stock class events (and I’m lucky enough to live in a place where they happen with a degree of frequency).
I’d really love to scoop up a dirt simple, user-friendly loaner pump that I can offer to encourage them to participate. Something like my beloved Empire Trracer would be ideal, but they pop up for sale less and less these days and I’m thinking I may need to go a different route.
I think my criteria are mainly:
-Affordability. I really don’t want to spend a lot if I don’t have to. I also don’t want to care too much about this marker, and the more money I spend the more I’m going to.
-User-friendliness. I would like for it to be as simple to operate as possible, and with some quality of life features like anti-double feed, a detent (or the ability to easily add one), velocity adjuster, removable barrel, and maybe the option to add a bottom line although that one isn’t as important
-Dependability. Need something that can take a licking’ and keep on tickin’
-Fun factor. This is kind of an intangible, but some markers are just plain fun to play with and as I’m trying to help some friends who are already interested but may just need that little bit of a push to get back into it, giving them something that’s gonna put a smile on their face when they use it is a huge plus.
Ability to take HPA is a plus but not a requirement. And I’ve got a stock class feed I can attach to any standard marker, so I’m not so worried about the transition between stock and open class play.
So what would you get, or what do you use for a similar purpose? Like I said I really wish Empire never discontinued the Trracer because it checks off so many of those boxes, but at this point anything I find related to that marker is probably just going to go toward keeping the ones I have running.
Been thinking a lot about a SL68 II, or maybe an old Trracer/Maverick/etc clone (though I think it would take some modding to get them to where I need them to be). Open to any and all suggestions. Thanks homies!
In this day and age, what do you think is the best easily available option (be it on the used market, or a current production marker) for a loaner pump?
I’ve got friends who have not played since they were teenagers, and who may not be as interested in renting Emeks and playing with the typical semi crowd, but whose ears always perk up when I mention pump-only or stock class events (and I’m lucky enough to live in a place where they happen with a degree of frequency).
I’d really love to scoop up a dirt simple, user-friendly loaner pump that I can offer to encourage them to participate. Something like my beloved Empire Trracer would be ideal, but they pop up for sale less and less these days and I’m thinking I may need to go a different route.
I think my criteria are mainly:
-Affordability. I really don’t want to spend a lot if I don’t have to. I also don’t want to care too much about this marker, and the more money I spend the more I’m going to.
-User-friendliness. I would like for it to be as simple to operate as possible, and with some quality of life features like anti-double feed, a detent (or the ability to easily add one), velocity adjuster, removable barrel, and maybe the option to add a bottom line although that one isn’t as important
-Dependability. Need something that can take a licking’ and keep on tickin’
-Fun factor. This is kind of an intangible, but some markers are just plain fun to play with and as I’m trying to help some friends who are already interested but may just need that little bit of a push to get back into it, giving them something that’s gonna put a smile on their face when they use it is a huge plus.
Ability to take HPA is a plus but not a requirement. And I’ve got a stock class feed I can attach to any standard marker, so I’m not so worried about the transition between stock and open class play.
So what would you get, or what do you use for a similar purpose? Like I said I really wish Empire never discontinued the Trracer because it checks off so many of those boxes, but at this point anything I find related to that marker is probably just going to go toward keeping the ones I have running.
Been thinking a lot about a SL68 II, or maybe an old Trracer/Maverick/etc clone (though I think it would take some modding to get them to where I need them to be). Open to any and all suggestions. Thanks homies!
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