To bore or not to bore

[The Last Snood]

That is the question.

Going back and trying to finish my build project, I would like some input on this from the hivemind. I have a midblock Kaos body that I am want to do some work to, I would like a detent added to it but I am also wondering if I should get it bored out to an 11/16th or just keep it at its 9/16th now.

I have tried searching this forum and reddit but could never come to a finite conclusion, it seems to be a grey area in my mind. So what do you guys think I should do; further details follow: This marker will be set up to flip between pump and autococker (although it will probably be pump more), my tank of choice for my pumps is a 15/4500. I think I care more for efficiency than that quiet shot people talk about.

The only 11/16th bore I had was an Empire Sniper, which I liked the snappy shot profile it had. Although, I never played a game with it because it was giving me problems with other valves besides the stock one and couldn't set it up how I wanted so I ended up getting rid of it. So I'm not sure how its effciency would have been for a set of matches. (Also don't really know if that low pressure business of the 11/16th means much)

So what are the pros and cons between the bore sizes that you guys know? Help me out because I would like to finish this project and start shooting people with it, instead of it sitting for ages a box.

[JohnB]

9/16 imo; good amount of valve options

[Handy]

I like not having to break out a valve tool to mess with things, but I can't say I've noticed a difference in shot quality between the different valves outside of the Lazarus. I'm usually not chasing the edge of performance though, just dependable.

[ChuckLove]

Don't bore it out. I did a ton of testing with 11/16th's valves in a sniper and couldn't really find any advantages. If it we're mine I'd buy a CCM mid/half block lower tube kit and call it a day.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I agree just drop any quality 9/16 lower internals with the right springs and input pressure you can make anything shoot really smooth. I’m real happy with my CCM lowers. Autococker parts has a pretty good kit as well the “Gold kit”

[warbosschoppa]

I'd bore it out, get the wider transfer tube from Jason at Angry Paintball and just wait for the valve Dan V over at Killshot is gonna drop which is a modded Meteor valve. Docfire has teased some crazy efficiency numbers with it in his testing.

[superman]

It isn't actually a modded meteor valve. It just has the port on top to match the larger meteor hole.

[The Last Snood]

I already have a few 9/16th valves: AKA, Rat, and there's a CCM lower tube kit in one of my other pumps (which I do like). I also have a Phat Rat that I bought for my Empire Sniper but that gun didn't like it so now it is just sitting in the parts bin for now. I also have CCM and ID midblock hammers, so I could put a full CCM lower tube system in it.

I looked through Angry's FB posts and it does seem interesting on what he is doing, but that is why I came to ask what people think about the bore sizes since it seems there really isn't a complete consensus on which is better. People say 9/16th for more efficiency or reliability, and 11/16th for low pressure and quiet, soft shot. Although Angry seems to be getting a good amount of efficiency with his mods but it also seems to limit the set-up options.

I just didn't know if people vastly prefer a big bore set-up compared to the tradional set-up.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I haven’t noticed a difference in valves. However My favorite setups are tuned pumps 280-290 psi hpr input pressure CCM lowers 9/16 with a Powerhouse tank reg. I get good consistency and a very smooth operation on both CO2 12g and HPA.

It’s all in the springs the better they match the hammer weight the closer you can get to that sweet spot. Spend enough time finding that balance the better the performance. But I’m really happy with CCMs kit right out of the box.

I guess it depends what you are looking to get out of it. For me I want well rounded reliability. I don’t see any benefit worth boring a perfectly good body out to 11/16. I never noticed a difference, and all my favorite shooters are 9/16 valves.

You might see a difference with the 11/16 as a cocker Hellion has some super smooth Cockers but they are detacated Autocockers.

I think Trigger sear hammer sear and hammer lug play a large part in how a marker feels as well.

[superman]

Personally i like the 11/16 valves but have been siding more with the phat rat. I do not like the lazarus valve because of all of the orings.

I would also check the fit of your back block to your body. I know of one body that was sent to ano and the back block didn't fit just right.

[Chuck E Ducky]

The laz sucks in the cold. It’s got way too many trade off for low pressure. It’s not reliable enough for me to use.

Great for people that want to tinker. I want my markers to work 100% of the time. That Laz valve is finicky.

I have seen 2 of them go down in the same day with that valve in the cold.

[The Last Snood]

Hmm, thanks for the input guys. I'm still on the fence but I may just keep this one as is at 9/16th and get another project to fullfill my 11/16th itch. Maybe just a trilly project, or if I'm feeling really ambitious a Meteor.

[Cunha]

No reason to drill a hole in a perfectly good body.