Need some help deciding what it should look like?

[pneumagger]

Retro mags with hardlines look awesome in my opinion.

I also like the look of black shrink wrap over stainless braid.

[Cal440]

Interested also in the availability of hard line and fittings used?

[pneumagger]

Tubing is McMaster 89785k824; 316SS, 1/4 OD, .180 ID (3250psi @ 3x SF).

Fittings were Oregon Paintball “machined fittings”. Completely serviceable like CCM fittings but also half the price (not “cheap” but not terrible either). But really, any quality 1/4” macro fittings would work.

Just used an old $8 harbor freight small 1/8-1/4 tubing bender and basic tubing cutter I already had lying around and skill from lots of plumbing over the years. Just gotta deburr the inside and outside of the tube so it doesn’t cut the macro fitting oring.

Things worth mentioning:

The bottom tubes are clearly double bend. The top tubes are as well - the fitting on the valves sits further outside than the foregrip fitting because the valve OD is larger than the vertical ASA OD. It’s slight, but it is double bent and you want the hardlines feeding *straight* into the fittings so there’s no leaks.

putting hardlines in a regular mag makes disassembly harder. I used a mill to straighten out my z-pin slot on the rail so I could pull my valve straight out after removing the thumb screw.

Using push to connect (“macro”) fittings, especially swivel, without retention means bends shouldn’t be 90° and should be <45° or so so the assembly is self-confining. Pressure is putting ~40 LB of force trying to push the tube out of the fitting and the fitting can’t “bite” into a metal tube like it does to a nylon tube. The proper solution for this is using flare or swage collar fittings actually rated for 800+ psi (like the factory RT Automag hardline). But that’s a bit less clean looking and adds even more effort to assembly/disassembly.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this tube with these fittings I used. The fittings were machined nice and tight and the largest pin gauge they would accept was .2500 … however the McMaster tube I selected was a little on the thick side and was .2505–.2520 OD. I had a bunch of other Camozzi macro fittings that the tube slid into nicely, but these swivel fittings did not like it. I couldn’t get the tube significantly past the O-ring. So my solution was to disassemble each fitting, degrease it, use a .253” carbide reamer to open the hole up, clean then, degrease and reassemble.

[Criticalhammer]

This reminds me of my electrician days of bending EMT conduit.

[Olsson]

To my surprise the marker in question was exactly where it was supposed to be.

The macroline isn't 100% horizontal. It can be aciehevd depending on which fittings that are used. Also, there are different vert-ASAs for the Automag, and as far as I know the outlet hole differs slightly. So it is possible to get that hose to be completely horizontal.

Word of advice on this setup. Depending on the fittings in the valve, there is a risk that the fittings will prevent the valve from being easily field stripped, since twisting the valve might have the lower fitting bumping into the rail before the valve has cleared the Z-lock.


Also, if any of you guys have a matching ASA, I would greatly appreciate it. No need for a fancy on/off-ASA. I just want an ASA that matches the rest of the setup. Oh, and also a twist lock plug, if anyone has one lying around.

[Hobbes]

I'm going to propose another variation that works better than you would think, at least for me! The hose fitting doesn't get in the way, and the hose itself runs perfectly through my palm. You can still hold it normally, and if you shoot with your middle finger it actually provides a little support.

[romeoecho84]

I've got those chunky thick wooden grips. Not sure how much these slimmer ones work as a benefit, but I'd reckon more than the wood ones. My biggest issue with the direct mount was the outside of my palm pinky rubbing on the 90-fitting. I'm an index finger guy for the Mag it seems. I tried middle but the ergonomics with my hands just aren't there. Cocker sure, Mag, nope