Wanting to get a new Nova N1 or N3

[Prometheus]

man I want one. But nervous about dropping that mula for it to not work consistently.

[Cyberpyr8]

I have put about 4 cases through mine so far. Played in the rain with it one day too. I need to reset it to get the velocity set right again now that it has broken in some but it works great. You can get one used between 3-400. I picked that purple one up for $250 not working right. I sold it before it came in and the guy found it was just some orings that needed to be changed out. There's one for sale right now on facebook for 400. It's not a bad deal for one if you can get it around that price.

[Nish]

I can understand that. I struggled with the idea as well but am close enough to they're shop that I can bring it to them to fix if needed. I know that I have seen them building guns at games when they sell it off complete ones. Make me wonder if the people haven't problems are ones that bought guns that were put together in a hurry and more tested.

They have sold enough at this point that I think issues with the 1 and 3 need to be something like that. Otherwise there would be a huge uproar that I haven't seen yet.

[Prometheus]

Yea I’d potentially get a used one if they popped up. Seems more reasonable. If I lived close to them like you I’d have no problem buying one full price. Just seems like mixed reviews so far. But I’m definitely intrigued.

[Myrkul]

I had a pretty bad experience with my N1 if I'm being honest, especially considering how much I paid for it.

The 50 durometer 222 "O" Rings it came with were way too soft, and caused incomplete cycles. I had to replace all the "O" Rings with 70 durometer to get it to cycle correctly. Nova confirmed with me via a phone call that this was a known oversight on their part, as they didn't account for the different climates the gun would potentially be exposed to. They told me they planned on swapping to the tougher durometer for subsequent sales, but I can't confirm that they did.

I never was able to get it to handle the local field paint. It broke paint like crazy. I did reach out to Nova about the paint breaks, and they were unable to come up with a solution that worked for me. It was completely unplayable, breaking 1 every 50 shots or so. Closer inspection revealed that the insert was ripping off the bottom of the second paintball in the ballstack, so I suspect my field paint (0.675) was just too damn small for it.

I would try to buy used, and I would definitely try to test one with the local paint you have access to before dropping any cash for it.

[Hellion360]

I had this issue on mine. The issue I had was that the soft orings used as a bumper were causing a vacuum between the barrel seal and the breach and then it would stick open. They made a design change to the barrel to ensure it wouldn't be an issue and offered to replace mine. I haven't sent it in as it seems swapping to a harder oring solved the problem.

[Myrkul]

Yah, the tougher "O" Rings worked great for getting it to cycle correctly. Annoying, but a cheap & easy fix. The ball breaks were the final nail in the coffin for me. I do understand that my local field paint is absolute garbage, but it's also all I have access too, and there are plenty of guns out there for a small fraction of the price that handle it fine.

[Prometheus]

Yea that’s what I was worried about. Seems you’re not the only one with those problems. For that price I want it to work flawlessly out the box. I could under stand after a year of normal use needed to replace things and all that. Don’t know if anyone around me that has one so don’t see me getting to test it. I’ll just have to try to get a used one for under $300 eventually. Definitely think you’d need the insert kit. With the sounds of it.

[Myrkul]

You unquestionably need inserts, at least with the N1. There is inexplicably no detent, which means force feed loaders have trouble unless you turn them way down, and even then, paint breaking issues will likely persist unless you have above average field paint.

You have to bore it pretty tight too to prevent rollouts, but that's pretty normal for any closed bolt platform.

[Cyberpyr8]

Yeah the N3 has a detent that helps position the ball. I have had some breaks but mostly with bad paint or the wrong size insert. With good paint and the gold insert (687?) it's been fine. I've put 2 cases through mine without a break. The case prior was so bad I threw the remainder I had out. Before that I didn't have the bigger insert in and broke a few.

[redsquirrel]

Haven’t had problems with my N1 besides 1 chop due to putting the insert in backwards and one chop to bad paint.

[Cyberpyr8]

So I bought my N3 second hand. Recently I noticed I couldn't get the velocity below 300 and after doing a reset I contacted TJ. He told me a few things to try and it still wouldn't go below 300 so I sent it in. Got there today and it's on it's way back after a complete rebuild and some upgrades. He called me and said it was really dirty and the reg was basically stuck. I played at a field a few weeks ago and I think their air system was dirty. I also had an issue with my tank reg after going there.

He added the trigger shoe and it's on it's way back better than before. If they can continue to do service like that, they have a customer for life. I love this gun and it's customer service like this that will help them to do well. My first real encounter with them directly and I'm impressed. I'll probably look at buying the N4 when it comes out.

[Prometheus]

Yea I seen that on Facebook! That’s awesome! Would be nothing worse than being excited to play a weekend, get there and it not work and have to send it in though. :/

I’m still considering it, I talk myself out of it. Then think dang I really want one. That dang shipping is pricey though. Those N4 do look sweet not guna lie. May hold out for one of those.

[Cyberpyr8]

Yeah the shipping is why I bought one used. I wish they had better (cheaper) options. I did the same thing with one in my cart for months. I'm glad I got one and I have more confidence buying new from them the next time.

[zinger565]

So I bought my N3 second hand. Recently I noticed I couldn't get the velocity below 300 and after doing a reset I contacted TJ. He told me a few things to try and it still wouldn't go below 300 so I sent it in. Got there today and it's on it's way back after a complete rebuild and some upgrades. He called me and said it was really dirty and the reg was basically stuck. I played at a field a few weeks ago and I think their air system was dirty. I also had an issue with my tank reg after going there.

He added the trigger shoe and it's on it's way back better than before. If they can continue to do service like that, they have a customer for life. I love this gun and it's customer service like this that will help them to do well. My first real encounter with them directly and I'm impressed. I'll probably look at buying the N4 when it comes out.

How much did they charge for the trigger shoe? I'm debating reaching out to them to see if they'll swap my N3 to a single trigger with the new trigger shoe.

[Cyberpyr8]

It was $50. It's a little pricey considering LiquidPB sells theirs for $30, but it's made for the Nova and they had it there so I didn't pay for shipping, which is a killer with Nova.

[Drunkscriblerian]

I'm in the same boat as OP. I got to try one (a Nova N1) this weekend and man, that trigger is seeeeeexy. Very Autocockerific even. Between that and how beefy it felt in my hands I was totally sold. Also, during shooting the N1 I tried was like a goddamn sniper rifle; splat-on-splat-on-splat accurate it was.

I wanna buy one, but I'm held back by the mixed reviews regarding build quality. Anyone care to weigh in on this?

[Nish]

My take on my N1.
It's fun to shoot, fun enough to make it worth putting up with its personality.

When I take it out of know that I need to get decent paint and take somecte to size it. I need to make sure it's well lubed. If the barrel insert isn't tight in the barrel I will have chops and everything will go to hell until I really clean it.

[Prometheus]

I eventually got a N1 it’s an awesome shooter super accurate and quite. But doesn’t like crappy paint. And Deff have to size your paint. When it breaks a ball it becomes a real pain. But man when it’s working there is nothing like it. Deff one of my favorites.

[zinger565]

IMO quality has gotten better with the feedback Nova's received over the last year or so, and, as always, they're very eager to help if things aren't working.