Eclipse Etha 3 and M170r are the same

[Chuck E Ducky]

I liked my modified Emek as well over my M170R so I sold the M170R even purchased a second one only to sell it. Still use my Emek and probably will for the foreseeable future. I would like to own a CS2 Mech but I’m not spending the money on something I’m going to beat the breaks off of in 10man. The Emek is all business don’t need flash to clap lens.

[ketzer7]

I heard a guy one time describe German car manufacturers' philosophy as "They are experts at selling the same sausage in three lengths"

Eclipse just took a page directly out of their playbook. Isn't Jack a big Porsche connoisseur?

[uglyduckling]

All of the etha markers (except for the original etha) and the gtek markers have always been the "same" internally, and it's not as if PE was pretending otherwise. They will tell you it's the same gamma core in all of these guns and have done so numerous times in their facebook lives. They have the best bolt system in the game, and they get to streamline their production and offer the best performing gun to compete at several different price ranges. It's a win win for them and the consumer. There is more to the product than the bolt system to most players.


I also think just calling the body "plastic" is doing the quality a disservice. The GRN is incredibly durable.

All parts are the same as far as I can tell other than the valve body, and they added wrench flats to the bolt guide at some point. I think they have probably adjusted tolerances (oring glands) on some parts along the way.
The GP core is a different story, but the simple explanation is the valve closes in a "poppet valve" fashion, with an oring on the spool shaft being used as a face seal to close the valve faster, resulting in slightly better efficiency. It's also very satisfying to shoot in mechanical form, it's a very different feel.

Gtek, emek, and etha 2 internals pictured

[MrBarraclough]

The one thing I can't seem to understand is why PE has never offered a version of the FL 3-way for the M170R. Without one, the Etha 3M and upgraded EMEKs actually have a slight performance advantage over the pricier M170R.

[ketzer7]

Deadlywind asked/paid them not to so they could keep selling hAir 45 valves? It's definitely a good question. For my Predator M170R I went with the hAir 45 since it was the only option.

[Ecapnation]

Pretty sure the m170r didn't sell great

[latches109]

I also think just calling the body "plastic" is doing the quality a disservice. The GRN is incredibly durable.

Glass Reinforced Nylon is plastic. Created by a thermoplastic engineer.

[uglyduckling]

I understand that it is a plastic, just wanted to point out that it's a particularly nice one. Many would assume that something plastic will be cheap/easy to break.

[Jonnydread]

I wish they would offer the Emek series with a slide trigger like they did for the OG Gmek. I get that speed is what most people are looking for, but the Gmek had loads more personality and was way more fun to shoot than the hinge frames on the Emek & Co.

[zinger565]

I recently picked up an original GMEK for this exact reason: The slide trigger. I also grabbed the Liquid "bang" switch which supposedly drastically reduces the trigger pull.

[Brokeass_baller]

I love my Gmek. It's become my primary marker, which is really tough to admit because I've ALWAYS been an Automag guy.

I have a trigger gauge, and yes, the Bang Switch reduced my trigger weight by about 33%. Went from a 14-15oz ballpark to about 9-10oz

[Trbo323]

I also think just calling the body "plastic" is doing the quality a disservice. The GRN is incredibly durable.

Why does this always come up when absolutely nobody has said the opposite?

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

[uglyduckling]

Many have poopoo'd these guns because "it's plastic!"

[latches109]

I wold be curious to see how a GRN 3d filament would workout

[Fossilhead]

I guess because there are so many types.

Kinda like saying metal. Well, what kind?
Even saying aluminum. Well, what kind?

For gear that gets banged around it can make a difference.

[latches109]

I was shooting both today and noticed I can half stroke my hAir valve’d M170, but could not half stroke the 3M.

does anyone else have issues half-stroking M170Rs?

[uglyduckling]

The hair valve seems to make all of them a little more susceptible to short stroking. I feel they waste a little bit more air too

[Chuck E Ducky]

That’s just Trigger adjustment. Put the safety shorten the adjustment of the trigger to stop just before you can’t apply it. Then back it off a little bit. Also Using a pen spring for trigger return helps a-lot too.

[marx1029]

does an etha 3m frame fit a 170r?

[Ecapnation]

No. Completely different guns

[Psycho91]

Any chance any of thier mech frames would fit a first generation etha, I got one just sitting in a pile of parts lol

[Ecapnation]

Different operating system no

[Brokeass_baller]

Anyone know if a 170r pull tab will fit an OG Gtek? That's the one plastic part left on my gun.

[Brokeass_baller]

Yes. Sorry. Had a brain fart.

[Ecapnation]

Nope....

[Brokeass_baller]

Laaaame. ☹️

[iamthelazerviking]

Different ergos though. I can't stand the feel of the 170. Emek/Etha 3M feel better. But mech CS2 wins hands down.

[MrBarraclough]

Too spindly?