Need some help deciding what it should look like?

[romeoecho84]

Hello All. With a new Automag in hand, I've got some decisions to make as to how I want to feed the beast its air supply. I currently some macro line with push-connects, brass elbows with a 15" Braided line, but sadly no quick disconnects. I do have a proper lower gas through grip coming from Airgun Designs now, and I very much like having a front grip, so please try to mentually picture the new AGD Gas through grip instead of this oddball 32degrees one. Ignore that bottom swivel push-connect coming out of the lower connector, I just left it on for now, as I'm not sure if I want it or not yet.

Pardon the image sizes, but I'm welcome to suggestions and ALL inputs. This is my first Mag, but played alongside them "back in the day", so I'm caught between period correct vs functional marker. This is not a wall hanger, 100% plan to bring it out every other month or so.

Simple:
Just a duckbill with some swivel 90 push-connects. My lower palm barely clears the lower push connector. This isn't bad, but it looks "empty". I think front grip is off-balacing the look.



Gas Through:
When ran the gas-through grip, while functional, it starts to look a bit like a MiniMag maybe? Not that thats a bad thing, but I wasn't overly happy with it it looked - something about it looks "off" I think? Also getting the line to not be obstructionate to the powerfeed was quite complicated to cut correctly while not overstressing the line.



The Big Ugly:
Now, at the risk of being flamed; How about this design with a big ol' drop forward and an Air America Apocalypse reg feeding it "up and over"? I realize this is overkill, but I also know this 100% in no way looks like "Classic Automag". Does this look offensive (at best an affront to Automag aesthetics) or is it "function over form" category? I'm drawn to try it out, but at the same time I feel like I'm mixing two aesthetics here, of "Class Marker expected look" with "yesteryears drop forward & regs". This designs picture was cropped and edited on a tablet, so forgive the sloppy crop and edits.. its 2 photos, since I dont currently have a tank on the Apoc reg, but it would be this one (a 68/45)

[Fossilhead]

I like the simple setup.
Maybe... You could just throw a tank extender with an asa plug in it instead of the gas through.

Shorten it up a bit.

[Olsson]

Regarding going for a classic look, there was a mind blowing amount of players rocking set ups like your Big Ugly in the nineties. Another variant of clearing the power feed was to loop a braided hose from the vert-ASA to the reg over the power feed. So in my mind, your Big Ugly is on the point.

About having a classic look - as long as you are using braided hose, it will look pretty much as back in the day. Actually, for a very brief period of time microline was the current hot thing, so for shits and giggles you could use that, if period looks is the foremost thing to consider.

My personal preference regarding classic Automags is variants of your Gas Through setup. I usually run braided hose and a quick connect, trying my best to clear the power feed on the mags with it. I like that with that kind of setup there is no hose that is in the way of my hands when I switch sides, and no hose that might bump my visor.

A very neat looking way to clear the power feed is to use four 90-degree fittings in total, regardless of if you are using braided hose or macroline. The first fitting from the valve goes straight down, and will connect directly to the next fitting, routing the hose vertically alongside the rail. The third fitting will turn downwards right above the vert-ASA, and the fourth fitting plugs into the vert-ASA.

I have one Automag set up in this way, but it is in storage right now. I'll see if I can dig it out to post a photo of the setup.


In any way - go for what you prefer from a playing perspective - if you are indeed going to play with it.

[romeoecho84]

I really like your 90-90 idea.. do have a total of 5 90's, so, I'll try that out too. Finding the correct length braided hose would come in time I suppose. I do have a 6" braided one pulled form an old Prostock autococker ASA I could try..

[scottieb]

For the Simple, how about flipping the duckbill? That should put the macroline out of your way.

I for one like The Big Ugly. It's reminiscent of my 90's tourney set up.

[romeoecho84]

I have never cosidered flipping the duckbill! I'll certainly swap the sides of the fittings and give that a feel tonight

[FredMnkyDad10]

I like the look of The Big Ugly. You will be one of few or maybe only one running that at the field.

[Drcemento]

If you like spending money this is the cleanest set up i've been able to come up with on a MAG. I have more yor lock fittings and tube if you want me to make you up one, but they are about about as much as the gun is worth. I really like the inception ASA's

[Not-required]

Beautiful. What front grip is that?

[Drcemento]

Docs Gas through form Docs machine.

[pneumagger]

Clean and simple. Gotta love hardlines on retro styled mags.

Swageloks, too. Doin it right. 1/4” lines in Macros look slick, but make me nervous.

[Calvin]

I have played around with all 3. Gas through is preferred. I do the classic 4.25" braided to quick disconnect for the top and Macroline on the bottom. I usually cant find just the right size braided line for that lower connection, hence the macroline.

[herncrek]

Personally, I think your gas-thru setup looks (and would probably play) the best.

If it were mine, I’d get a shorter foregrip — something about as long as the black section is on yours would look more balanced!

[romeoecho84]

I agree, the grip is just too dang long as is. I'm hoping the AGD Gas through grip will take off a good inch+ .. it's just so tall/long right now

[oats944]

I’ve been setting up my mags one by one with steel braided line with some type of quick (or quickish) disconnect. 1/2” shrink tubing cut to size gives it a nice look I think. All my other mags run the same way but with macro line and 90’s.

[romeoecho84]

That shrink tubing really completes the blackout look. I’d wonder how it holds up over time?

[oats944]

The RT’s seen maybe 2-3 days of play with it on there and it still looks new. Pretty easy to replace though should it get messed up or start to look worn. I haven’t checked online but Harbor Freight sells it pretty cheap.

[Alexndl]

Foward look like oats944 944 is my prefered config too

[Cdinnova76]

The all have a retro feel. The simple is pretty close to the early automag classics when they moved the tank connect to the bottom of than handle. The gas through gives it a great automag rt or minimal feel. But everyone had similar gas through grips once they upgraded so it’s retro. But I am biased and love the big ugly. It reminds me of my dad’s micromag 1 line and is just cool. The farther opposite you go of today’s markers, the cooler it is. Screw internal lines. Obnoxiously long steel braided is the way to go. I feel like so many people I know had the same look because everyone seemed to have a steel braided hose from some prior project. I think at one point we repurposed one from a CO2 fuel station to put on my tippmannn 98 sub zero expansion chamber. Markers used to have so much character and unique traits. Classic is cool.

[romeoecho84]

Lots of small cuts, nicks and other injuries later, taking in all inputs, I've got some reporting in and a tentative choice made:

I used a 6.5" Macroline and that works pretty well and I like the look of the new grip on it. Using an autococker ball detent to plug up the gas through grip. I kind of like that Nickel pop it gives. I also took off the TASO tube and put on a cut ADG one. The tapered neck opens it up a bit I think. If there are even 'stubbier' forward grip gas through top tubes, I'm happy to be educated on that. I'd like the grip to be up a little higher, but not sure how to get there...

I tried with the braided 15" line coming from the other side (left) duckbill. It works, but it rubs on the feedneck. While functional, I know that'd be long term wear (it rubs below where the elbow sit, pretty much right above the ball window).

Big ugly is still big and ugly but with the new AGD gas through grip, one of the mount screws sits right at the gas through elbow screw in, so that's a non starter, as using the grip is essential.

Going Simple for now for the next outing at the field and give it a days use to see how right it feels to play with. I do wish I could get the big ugly working, but the AGD grip feels outstanding and I really don't want to give that up. Short of sourcing short 4" and 5" braided lines, I suppose I'll just have to get a Minimag so I can get the braided gas through setup (a valid excuse I'd reckon). Getting the lines to fit under that powerfeed, alongside the chassis and bend into the gas-through was a real bear, and not flush (from the rear-reg, it had a downward tilt)

[Criticalhammer]

I find crossover is the most ergonomic as the line does not cut into my forearm nearly as much right and left handed while giving me full access of the front grip without anything getting in the way. I can really man handle the setup with little interference.

[nak81783]

This is my preference as well.

[romeoecho84]

This looks easy to handle! How long is that tube? it also looks a little thicker than the 1/8 ID macro ? I tried this setup but I only have 1ft line and it was a little taught

[nak81783]

I always just used normal macroline and fittings. Anything 10-12" worked for me. Did you have it crossed when you tried it? If both macroline fittings are on the same side, it'll press into your wrist.

[romeoecho84]

After a day of trying to make it work, it just simply wasn’t comfortable to play with. While the “Simple” was working, that bottom fitting was still causing me to do a quick readjust every time I brought the marker “up”; I had to choke up the grip to get it off the side of my hand.

When I got home, I immediately went to the bench and proceeded to build a “Lil Ugly” with a smaller drop forward and a MiniMag barrel. It feels very comfortable to hold but it brings me to a “tucked in tight” feel. I was able to find the right angles to not have the line be rubbing on anything but also clearing the grip so my left hand can grab it without line on my knuckles!

Looking forward to taking it out next weekend, but also bringing the left side duck bill and some swivel connects to a field adjustment if needed (as depicted in the post above).

[FredMnkyDad10]

Only thing i would do is put a quick disconnect at the valve end of the line.