New Higher-End PE or Old School Matrix?

[RichM]

So was thinking at some point in the near future I might treat myself to my first new marker in 30ish years (ouch!)... been building up the horde over the last few years but it's all been used stuff, either things I figured would be fun to build/tinker with or a couple of items that were on the bucket list from when I was younger. I shoot mostly mech and mostly pump, but I figure I should have one 'modern' marker in the mix, currently that title goes to a blind shoebox shocker so that doesn't really count. Initially I was thinking on splurging on a high-end PE spoolie, probably a Geo. Then I started thinking why break my streak, I should just get a really nice matrix (dm3 etc.) since I've always wanted one and I figure it should perform close enough and not make as big a crater in the wallet... but maybe I'm wrong on that since I've never shot either one (although I did rebuild a dm5 for my son, and that shoots nice and I'm assuming will be similar to the trix), maybe there's a big difference in how the new PE stuff lobs paint vs the older spoolies?

So, that's the million-dollar question... new PE or classic matrix. Curious to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

[Alexndl]

You are asking this question on MCB... old school will most likely be the answer
Also, Airtech Matrix where made in Canada originally

Here is mine

[RichM]

Yeah I know it's a bit of a loaded question here, lol... but I'm curious as to what people feel the differences are with respect to the shot quality/feel (or not, as the case may be). That's a beauty marker. Something about the blocky aesthetic and clean lines of the matrix just seems 'right', at least to me.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I a big fan of Planet Eclipse they just work all the time. If that’s your thing a modern PE spool will shoot amazing. I think they make the best markers on the market.

kind of comparing apples and oranges.

I cant speak on the Dye markers as I only shot them because I had to for a few years due to sponsorship requirements at the time. But I’m not a big Dye paintball marker fan. DM6 was probably my favorite of all of them. I feel like they mostly went backwards and are still using that stupid eye pipe to this day. that enough for me not to buy one.

The new ones look cool and shoot nice nice soft shot no idea on the reliability of them but they are setup very similar to the Planet markers. But if you tap the trigger with the barrel off it will shoot the eye pipe out often breaking it. Also if you don’t have the barrel tight the eye pipe will move out of place and it won’t fire. That alone would be enough for me to choose Planet Eclipse over the dye personally.

Classic markers are fun in their own way. Just depends on what you are looking for. The new markers perform way better in every way. So don’t expect an older Dye to be as reliable, lightweight, efficient or consistent as the new state of the art markers. But that don’t make them any less fun to shoot.

[RichM]

PE has definitely established their reputation and all the feedback is that their spool markers shoot great, so I'm seriously tempted to grab a new PE marker. And I share your sentiment on the Dye markers past the DM6... I really like the early matrix series and I'm curious as to how much 'better' a new PE would shoot vs an early generation matrix. Should mention I'm not worried about efficiency.

[Chuck E Ducky]

For me it would be reliability ease of finding replacement parts Planets spools are definitely going to be more reliable in the cold something to conceder since you are in Canada. It’s just going to work with little maintenance all the time.

[Grendel]

Do you really want to go to a field and play paintball? Then get a PE marker, which is pretty much one of the most reliable markers you can get, and they perform very well. If you want an old-school style, tinker with it and have a cool factor, then get a Matrix, but you may not get as much playtime on any given day. Really depends on what you want.

[gabe]

Personally I'm a matrix guy. They're chunky but you can tune the shot a million different ways to your liking. You can run slow and soft or snappy at higher pressures. A few years ago when it got really cold out in the fall I tuned mine so soft that it was the only gun that would handle brittle paint out of all of the new guns at the field.

The older PE guns changed so much between generations that the parts can be pretty hard to find for the specific series of EGO you end up with. On top of that they lowkey kind of shot like garbage. Snappy, loud, inefficient guns that staked it all on being reliable above all else. They only really hit their stride once the LV series came out IMO. Again, just opinion here but I played tourney ball when they were really popular in 08/09 and at the time my Gen4 timmy shot leagues better than any of the egos on my team. On the flip side we had a back player that never cleaned his ego, just threw it in a locker at the field and that thing never missed a beat.

[Ecapnation]

My opinion of dye markers dropped drastically when they introduced the whole eye pipe idea.

Such a great idea on paper but a horrible brittle piece in reality. That and you would think after 21 years of designing their own guns they would make one that works in cold weather.

I'm hardly a fan boy of anything but cockers but I'll say the gamma core pe guns are damn near bullet proof.

[Jordan]

I like my Matrix but I play so infrequently that I don't mind having to service it every time I use it. I think I rebuilt it with fresh orings a few years ago and used it maybe 4 times since then. I need to regrease it, actually.

[Pumps4ever]

My 180r is flawless…
mech frame is so friggin good its a trip and makes me question owning anything else that takes time away from my already too busy life.

Like another poster said if you want to play paintball with little no no trouble from your marker then Get a PE Marker for your main… then save and get a matrix to tinker with later…

but if you like working on your gun all the time and having your marker go down and miss games because of it then get a older marker and have some fun in the parking lot talkong with your other friends while you fix your marker

I have a cocker only because I have a 180r as my main

[autococker04]

You just described my exact experience with the 180. I keep buying guns to try, then selling them because they aren’t as good as the 180

[StaticShocked]

This is exactly my experience with the 180r as well. It is a dream. Shoots amazing, shoots consistent, nice and quiet, easy on the air usage, and the mech trigger is great (the electro trigger is to, but i don't think i am going to put it back on). The problem is i now don't use any other markers because i enjoy playing with this one so much.

[the_matrix_guy]

It’s hard to argue against modern PE guns from a practical standpoint. They’re lighter and much more efficient. You also have to consider that a lot of fields have enacted the PSP ROF cap as part of their rules — so you’d have to get a board for the Matrix that has the 10.3 BPS PAP cap like the FloryPB.

That being said, I would still get an old school Matrix. Lol 😂

1) buttery smooth shot signature; 2) you’d actually have an interesting gun vis-à-vis all the modern single tube spool clones. And 3) you could have it just for shits n giggles to rip in the backyard like we do these days

[Magmoormaster]

On one hand, the original Matrix is probably my favorite old school electro. They shoot so dang good. But, they are very heavy, very inefficient, and require quite a bit of maintenance.

On the other hand, PE's spools, especially from the IV core and up, are just so good. I was thinking about this earlier today, the CS1 in particular really felt like a next-gen gun, in a way that no other [non-PE] gun has. Considering you already have a pile of classic guns, I'd go with the PE. It's really nice to have a gun you know will always work. Personally, I like the IV core better than the Gamma core. I just think it shoots better. It's technically less reliable than the gamma core, but if the gamma core is a 10/10 the IV core is a 9.5/10, so it doesn't matter that much.

[the_matrix_guy]

The vintage matrix is pretty reliable. I could air one up right now after a year+ of not touching it and it’ll work 9/10. And that one out of ten is oftentimes just bolt stick, from lpr pressure creep. Which means you just back it out 1/4 of a turn and the bolt sucks back in.

[RichM]

Some good points there... would it be fair to say you would consider the new PE markers, and the IV core in particular, to shoot noticeably 'better' than the older Matrix?

[RichM]

Thanks for the feedback so far, some good stuff and it lines up with what I have bouncing around in my head. It's going be a tough call... so in classic MCB fashion I'll probably need to get both, lol.

[Chuck E Ducky]

This is the way...

[Magmoormaster]

Because the old matrices weigh so much, they have one of the smoothest shots of any paintball gun ever made. The IV core has a smooth shot, but you just can't compete with that much mass.

[Chuck E Ducky]

You could always get the DYE and a cheap Emek with a hair valve an adjustable trigger. Likely for less then you would pay for just a PE high end spool.

Keep the Emek in the bag for when the Dye doesn't do what it supposed to. Most Used Emek's already come modified and you can grab them super cheap. I just snagged a 3rd one for $250 with the DW hair valve and adjustable trigger. I do a pen spring mod using a click pen spring for a return spring on them on mine and she rips! I just recently had to break down the valve to clean it for the first time after 1000's of cases of paint. (it was just dirty from contaminates in the air systems used over the years)

My 10 man Competition marker is a modified first gen Emek because I prefer it over the high end mechs. I have only had to clean and grease it a hand full of times when I started to notice performance degrade. I have shot them all owned some of them but went back to the one that works best for me.

If you decide on a classic DYE keep an Emek on yah.

[nerdcore]

I still miss my Gen E Matrix. The choice between modern electro and retro electro (relectro?) ain't even a choice...

... provided the electronics are in working order, which is one of the reasons i went to mech & pump. Electronics have a relatively short lifespan.

[Slapshot Vrref]

I agree eith Chuck E Daddy ... get an Emek.... super reliable,, relatively inexpensive,, low maintenance,, and paintslinging masterpiece!! Since you already play mech you'll find the Emek with the Deadly Winds Hair 45 valve to be incredibly fun and a fast shooting marker ... Plus it's PE !! WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID !!??