Getting my first phantom

[Magmoormaster]

Ok technically I had a RF/BB phantom that I flipped immediately. But anyway, I’m getting a vsc phantom in a trade and have some questions regarding upgrades and accessories.

#1 are detent rings still a thing? I can’t find them on the cci/ev website. I know asp detent mods are probably better, but they’re more expensive. And at that point, I’d just get a roundhead body, use my cocker barrel kit, and wouldn’t need one to begin with.

#2 are the cci regulators worth using? I probably won’t play true stock class and will likely run a 9oz or something, but I’m curious if they’re worth using in either scenario.

#3 how are the “new” cci springpheeds? Do they feed well?

I’m looking forward to getting back into pump. I’m hoping Arizona fields will be more conducive to playing pump/sc compared to utah.

[Sottyman]

#1 never liked them personally. Probably shredded more paint with them than anything else (again, my experience/opinion). ASP mod and/or freak bored stock barrel is my standard/go-to now.

#2 never used one, but they're already pretty dang good as is?

No experience with #3

[Greentorpeedo]

#3 meh 6.5/10 stars for function. 11/10 for cool looks.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Feed it 800-850psi HPA (stock sliver springs)

Keep it clean lightly oiled.

skip the spring feed they work meh,

invest in an ASP detent body.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I don't oil the cup seal (Mike recommended that you didn't as well). You want just enough to make the Orings look wet. If you use too much it blows down the barrel effecting accuracy. I'm super happy with outlast oil it stays thin and slick even under the chill off a 12g. You don't need to clean a phantom that much. If I break paint I clean it, if I start to notice dirt or grime in on the bolt or in the breach I clean it. If I shoot a lot of cheap 12g (oiled) I clean it. One of my favorite things about food grade 12g is it keeps the marker cleaner longer. A dirty neglected phantom will always shoot, but a clean one will shoot better.

[Braws]

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[Chuck E Ducky]

Yeah I took mine off it’s been in the parts bin since. I want to drill it out maybe add more volume and see what happens eventually. But as of right now it’s a paperweight as far as I’m concerned. I just don’t have the time to play around with it. I should have attempted to return it when I first got it but I had a hell of a time getting the trigger frame plug to seal up. Maybe I cross threaded them. But honestly looking at it, it looked like they forgot to thread the hole. I had to chase the threads it to accept the plug. I think I can fix it by making all the feed lines larger and re tapping all the ports for larger plugs. Drill out the valve body for more volume/ and make the valve feed port hole larger. I have the tools to do it right but not the time unfortunately.

[Handy]

I'm also in AZ and I've got far too many Phantom parts. You're welcome to a set of rings if you'd like to try them.

I'll agree with Chuck, if you're running HPA, just using a tank set to 850/900 has worked well for me while only needing to adjust the TPC.

[JeepDVLZ45]

#1 yes, I have a pile I can send you if you really want them. If you want something that works and you don’t want to go with the detent modded body (worth every penny though) find some free dummy detents and call it a day

#2 don’t worry about a reg

#3 never had one, but haven’t heard great things about it


# 4 see ChuckE’s post

[Nish]

I second what JeepDVLZ said. Rings are not great, the 3D printed ones are better, just remember they don't last forever, ASP detents are better still.

No direct experience with thecreg. The people I have talked with that do have them like them but it's only likely to be of any help if you are running CO2 which it sounds like you plan on doing. Call that not needed but why not.

[XEMON]

I've had good results with the rings, but the asp mod/round head body is hard to beat ...

I have one 3D printed with carbon fiber tube left on this batch of you want one 😁

[Hobbes]

The real trick will be getting used to aiming it if you're coming from something like a Sniper 2.

[redsquirrel]

An undercocking kit can be a game changer if your not able to get comfortable with the over the barrel pump.

[Chuck E Ducky]

The biggest issue for me with an over barrel handle is I need a long enough barrel so I'm not aiming with the outside edge of the handle. I need to see the barrel tip when aiming. I look down the outside edge to aim and the over barrel handle can get in the way while aiming if it's to short.

[Magmoormaster]

Good to know on all counts!! Thanks guys.

I didn’t have problems aiming with my R7 the one time I used it, so I don’t think I’ll have problems with this. That said, it does have an undercocking kit already so that should help.

couple of follow up questions that I forgot about earlier.

#1 pump shims. Are they still around? Don’t know if I’ll need one with the undercocking kit, but with the regular pump handle they seemed to do wonders. I hear some people use .22 shells but just buying one would be easier for me.

#2 fluted hammers. I remember hearing good things when they came out (back when project leprechaun was a thing), but now it seems nobody likes them?

#3 triggers. I’d love to find a slider, but I know those are pretty rare. I’ve heard of people shimming the trigger pin with washers, and I’ve heard of the roller trigger. What’s the consensus there?

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m absolutely the type who won’t leave well enough alone lol

[Grendel]

#1 - Pump Shims there is someone on here who had a bunch recently but you can just take a spent 0.22 LR case and drill it out and they work great.
#2 - do not waste money on fluted hammer I have never seen any evidence they make any improvement and the whole premise was decreased contact area inside the body but that actually will not decrease friction it can actually increase it.
#3 - I love slide triggers but honestly I have never felt the Phantom trigger lacking. You can shim them for less side to side movement and that will improve the off the field feel of the trigger but really you do not notice on the field actually playing.

[JeeperCreeper]

#1 pump shims - PM me, I'll send you one for the cost of shipping

#2 no need for a fluted hammer. Ive never actually seen one being used

#3 if you really want to upgrade the trigger, someone just made roller bearing triggers. Again, I don't find it necessary. I bought shims for RC car motors, and just eliminated the side to side slop, and it's a damn fine trigger.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Pump shims work great. Just keep them clean they keep a tighter tolerance on the pump arm but are more susceptible to binding if they get dirt and grime built up in them.

Fluted hammers don’t help much of anything, the stock phantom internals are great just the way they are.

Same goes for the trigger. The stock one is great. I have a Rocker trigger on one of my Phantoms it’s nice looks a lil more fancy it trips very quickly and is smooth. It also comes with different tension return springs. I went with the lighter one. But honestly you can’t tell the difference without picking it up side by side. It’s very minor.

As far as Sliders go RTR makes the best one hands down. Carter makes the 2nd best slider for Nelson’s, the Dookie has the trick in grip 12g slider is smooth and dose it job nicely but not as beefy as the others. LNT frames work well but I’m not a fan of the trigger guard it’s a bit uncomfortable (wide and sharp angle) reach feels a bit long for me as well with the slide trigger design. They are smooth operating. Vindicate looks to be the same design but I haven’t tried them. All in all the price to get a slider is not really worth it IMO. Unless you got a marker with one of those on it already.

The stock phantom performance is great it really needs nothing and most things sold as “upgrades” just change it and do very little for performance. More often then not they effect the marker negatively.

Only one I highly recommend is the ASP Detent mod or Freedummy detent rings. The rest of the marker performs flawlessly as is. Keep it simple.

I recommend you Shoot it in stock form then if you really like the Phantom platform go and change it up. That’s the best part about the Phantom making it your own. But only way to find out what works for you is to try them out yourself. Look through the Phantom show off thread you will see a a ton of unique setups.

My personal favorite is a Long barrel VSC with a Stock. I went down the rabbit hole and came right back to what I started with very little changes.

[Magmoormaster]

It got here fast



It's pretty beat up, and has a number of nonfactory parts. Outside of the obvious, it has an open faced TPC and different springs. The open TPC doesn't bother me, since I'll probably use constant air on it. I just need to find the correct size allen key.

I'll be honest guys... I'm not sure. While I've never owned or played with a Phantom, I've definitely handled them before. I was hoping the undercocking kit would make me like them more, and it does to an extent but I'm not sure if it's enough. I'll be sure to play with it, but I'm not at all confident this will stay with me for very long.

[Grendel]

So my Vindicate Pump Kit came un-anodized and the pump guides are not loctited in, once I tightened up the guides it started working better (less wobbly) the only issue I have is the pump arm hole is drilled just a tad too low on the handle so the pump arm hits the front of the guide slot and binds a little. I plan on putting a small kink in the pump arm to compensate.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Looking at the picture it dose look like the pump rod is at a bit of an odd angle. This may be pushing the bolt up into the top of the body causing it to bind a lil. Or just not be as smooth as it should. Shouldn’t affect the shot this way but it might affect feel. Probably best to shoot one that hasn’t been modified before you write it off. A stock definitely helps if you don’t shoot pistols much. The Phantom is to lightweight for me to shoot without a stock.

[Magmoormaster]

Grendel this one is raw as well, and yeah the rods were a bit loose. The bottom rod is still a bit wobbly but not enough to cause any binding.

Chuck E Ducky it is a little droopy, but it's about as smooth as the other phantoms I've messed with. Like I've said before, I've handled several phantoms, just haven't really owned one. So I'm familiar with how they feel in a normal VSC setup.

[flyweightnate]

Get a stock if the ergonomics are weird.

I simply can't shoot a gun without a good third point of contact. I've run a Phantom VSC with an empty 13ci on a bottomline, just to have something on my shoulder.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I concur 👍🏻 I think it’s due to how lightweight they are. If I take the stock off my Phantom I can’t hit the broad side of a barn. With a stock it’s probably my most accurate shooter. At the same time my brass K framed single shot pistol (no stock) is a tack driver for me I think due to how heavy it is.

[Magmoormaster]

I have never gotten along with stocks. T stocks, longbow stocks, tank butts, etc, never really work for me. I'm going to bottomline this, and run either a 15/45 or a 9oz, just depends on how much money I feel like spending.