Proto Matrix History?

[latches109]

mikew

I've had a few of these over the years, lot more than pictured here. I have owned and shot every matrix version produced - except the new DLS.


Proto was Dye's low to mid-range brand.

Protos featured simpler milling, and lower-end components; such as molded eye covers vs milled aluminum on the DM5. First year of proto production was 2005, the fuse bolt system was shorter than a the high-end DM, and operated at a higher pressure. Much in the first year was the same/similar, HPR and LPR were both the same, the solenoids are the same, The bolt systems operated the same, but differed in dimensions. The shot and sound is different between the two.

Dye ran the proto line till 2008 when then it was dropped and "became" the DM, most likely due to the 2008 crash and subsequent downturn in the industry, not necessarily because it was the better design, but cheaper to make. Also the bolt tail became 11mm vs the 9mm on the previous years, and incensed the rear diameter of the top hat. They also moved an oring from the front cylinder, and a few other parts but those are the most important. The LPR, HPR, and solenoid became smaller over the years, for example the LPR lost its shell/cover, moving to use the body of the marker instead. Moving to eye wires vs ribbons was also a notable change.



PM5's are great markers and fairly easy to maintain, especially once you learn the main failure points and how to tune the shot. It's fun to play with the bolt system - try out all the mods people had over the years to make the marker better on air or consistency etc.. Most common was to lower the dwell and run higher pressure with a smaller dump chamber(tophat mod), OR increase the dwell, lower the LPR for a softer shot. I have ran all the mods, they all have pros and cons, some are pointless. You also can put a DM9+ bolt in a PM5 by swiping the front cylinder.

DM4 is my pinnacle matrix, I like the excitement that surrounded the complete redesign on the original matrix.

[Schultz98]

mikew

I've had a few of these over the years, lot more than pictured here. I have owned and shot every matrix version produced - except the new DLS.


Proto was Dye's low to mid-range brand.

Protos featured simpler milling, and lower-end components; such as molded eye covers vs milled aluminum on the DM5. First year of proto production was 2005, the fuse bolt system was shorter than a the high-end DM, and operated at a higher pressure. Much in the first year was the same/similar, HPR and LPR were both the same, the solenoids are the same, The bolt systems operated the same, but differed in dimensions. The shot and sound is different between the two.

Dye ran the proto line till 2008 when then it was dropped and "became" the DM, most likely due to the 2008 crash and subsequent downturn in the industry, not necessarily because it was the better design, but cheaper to make. Also the bolt tail became 11mm vs the 9mm on the previous years, and incensed the rear diameter of the top hat. They also moved an oring from the front cylinder, and a few other parts but those are the most important. The LPR, HPR, and solenoid became smaller over the years, for example the LPR lost its shell/cover, moving to use the body of the marker instead. Moving to eye wires vs ribbons was also a notable change.



PM5's are great markers and fairly easy to maintain, especially once you learn the main failure points and how to tune the shot. It's fun to play with the bolt system - try out all the mods people had over the years to make the marker better on air or consistency etc.. Most common was to lower the dwell and run higher pressure with a smaller dump chamber(tophat mod), OR increase the dwell, lower the LPR for a softer shot. I have ran all the mods, they all have pros and cons, some are pointless. You also can put a DM9+ bolt in a PM5 by swiping the front cylinder.

DM4 is my pinnacle matrix, I like the excitement that surrounded the complete redesign on the original matrix.

I actually just picked up a pm7 off ebay that is actually gonna be my first spool valve. I always had cockers, angels, Timmys and E-bolted Tippys. I always wanted a pm7 back in the day, they were brand new up on the wall when I was a 16 year old working at a paintball shop. My buddy also had a pm5 with a techna trigger that he left at my place for a weekend once, and while I thought it looked a lil chunky, it felt really amazing in the hand. I was always surprised that everyone was so quick to rip off the original trigger frames, so I looked for a pm7 with the original, and I can always try a UL later on.

I am looking to research into some of the mods that you were mentioning, I'll look on here and PBN. DM/PMs always caught my ear and intrigued me when I was younger because of the way the dm4 and 5 sounded when I first heard them on the field. I really would like to tune mine to shoot as softly and with as much of that unique Matrix sound as possible, even at the expense of little efficiency.

I completely agree about the DM4. The dm3 made a huge stir and I remember hearing someone I knew rant about how the NYX matrix was the best gun ever, but then shortly after that the dm4 came out. It looks HUGE now, but back then it was significantly more milled down than the dm3s. I really loved the look and sound of the dm4, but they were way out of my price range. They were extremely unique , and I think that is what I liked most about that era in paintball. Most of the big names all had their own very unique designs, and that made it really fun to talk about or debate with your friends over.