Good(ish) paint still exists!

[iamthelazerviking]

The field I frequent only offered GI, and Empire Premium sometimes (still made by GI lol). After getting fed up with the junk quality, even the "high end" stuff, I told the owners they need to get Valken. He ordered it on the spot. I was surprised and thankful but wasn't able to get out again until last weekend.

They had the Graffiti platinum stuff and then a higher level. I was told the Graffiti had better shot groupings but the other stuff broke better.

It all looked so ROUND and clean. It still sized smaller, around I'd say 680-682ish. And a bit bouncy like a lot of people have mentioned, BUT it shot better than anything I've used in the past couple years. So I'm grateful they listened and able to land paint on target easier for once.

[Jonnydread]

All the Valken I've used since they moved production to the USA has been pretty solid. Similar to your experience it's a bit on the bouncy side, but not like marbles and certainly better than stuff that's hyper inconsistent or breaks in the marker.

My biggest gripe with paint these days isn't that good paint doesn't EXIST, it's that it doesn't exist consistently. We will occasionally get a great batch of GI or Evil or whatever, but the next week it sucks. I'm hoping Valken can help create a consistent product now that production is state-side.

[ChuckLove]

I really like the new Graffiti. Valken worked hard to come up with a ball that was similar to their old formula made in S. Korea.

[Hellion360]

I had a batch of graffiti a couple weeks ago that was 684, round, worked amazing. I was thrilled.

I bought another case the same day but it was a different batch. womp womp. 679, but still shot alright.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Do you still have the boxes by chance I’m curious if they were manufactured in different factories or just an inconsistency issue. I miss standerd redemption that stuff use to shoot lasers for me. Like a tournament fill ball but a nice shell easy to see broke nicely all the way down into the low 50’s.

[Hellion360]

I don't have the great batch box.

[SignOfZeta]

I’ve never had a problem with Graffiti. Everyone would be using it if not for GI Sportz’s mob tactics.

[Chuck E Ducky]

It’s been super inconsistent lately that new world crap with the bubbles in the shell is even worse.

[RedLeaderSB]

Does a system for traceability exist?
I want to scan a QR code and find out what location date time my box was made.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Some of the boxes will show manufacturers origin. But I don’t think you can check batch. I buy bags as I need it and case’s when it’s good.

[Frmrspec]

not like it would matter much... how it is stored is more important than how long it was stored.....

Ive got a case left of Evil that still shoots great that is from before covid (2019) I bought 6 cases and have been whittling through them, kept in a temperature controlled house and rotated frequently.

[Moodog]

My coworkers and I play a big stock class game in our boss’ back pasture every few months. I was able to convince flyweightnate to come this last time - he was pretty surprised when he sized the graffiti at .685. We’ve been using it for years and love it, I don’t plan on buying anything else if I can help it.

Side note: if anyone in DFW wants to play stock class with us, shoot me a PM. I will make sure to let you know the next time we plan on playing.

[flyweightnate]

That stuff was amazing, even the old dimpled case that had been in your garage forever. It felt like 2004

[RAZRBAKK]

Always had good luck with Graffiti, and anything Art Life has been exceptional. When you can get it, that is.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Who makes Art Life? I haven’t shot it.

[ATBen]

I think it's Russian made? So nonexistent on this side of the planet at the moment for the foreseeable future I'm sure 😂. We used to get Bumblebee (banana scented), Commander, and Berserker. They were all great and the Berserker was big, like .687 insert big. It arrived at the field packed like the Holy Grail was in the last scene of Indiana Jones.

[SignOfZeta]

Does a system for traceability exist?
I want to scan a QR code and find out what location date time my box was made.

I don’t know the answer to your question but it lasts for years and every batch is good so I’ve never cared. I seem to get a different color every year but I don’t know how often they change it.

[glaman5266]

I tend to buy Graffiti when I can. Only ever had one iffy case over the years. GI can *sometimes have a good run of paint in their Evil line, but that’s their only remotely good paint IMO. Last time I shot Evil it was pretty good, but it’s not always that good.

As long as GI has a stranglehold on the paint market we will continue to get crap paint. People need to understand that quality paint means a quality time. Buying the more expensive stuff will generally help, but there’s no good consumer-oriented reason for not having good paint at an affordable price point. Game Face Scorch and Draxxus Wal-Mart paint from the mid-2000s shot better than most of the stuff GI puts out today. So don’t buy from GI if you can help it.

GI can suck a bag of dicks.

[PBGunny]

I shot some Marballizer at SuperGame this summer that was really good, shot straight and no breakage.
The other field I go to I usually always buy Graffiti and I has been good, but the last game a couple of weeks ago it shot really crappy.
Egg shaped and small (.679") along with lots of confetti shots (breaking in mid-air and at the front of the barrel).
I still have a whole case left and I will try to get a pic of the QR code to post.
It was really different from the usual Graffiti, white fill with a weird green shell.
I think the field requested it special because they get really funny about people using paint from previous sessions.
I'm betting they will have a different color next time around.

[Jonnydread]

I'm glad you had a good experience with marbs v2!

When I got back into playing after my hiatus I was stoked to see marbs were still around, but I was greatly disappointed that they were nothing like the marbs of yore. I have yet to have a good experience with them.

[ATBen]

I've had great and goodish paint from Valken over the last 3-4 years. My local field (Adrenaline Paintball near London, ON) has been getting Valken's GFX recently and has always carried Graffiti as their top grade. The big game/recball and OPL crowds love them both. Not that the GI 2 star is bad, I just find it's really bouncy at anything further than 20m away. More so when it's hot/humid from June to September, aka prime paintball playing time. The only complaint I heard about graffiti was that some yellow shell stuff was a bit "oily". The other complaint was from a magfed guy on our team who was using GFX. It compressed in his mags after a few hours out in the July heat (duh?). He switched to Graffiti and had no further issues.

It's still not PMI Big Ball or RPS Premium in the big zip tied plastic bags tho. I fear those days may be gone. I'd happily pay $120 CAD a case for that stuff again!

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

I almost never see good paint any more, let alone anything great. But it's usually shootable. Sometimes it's pretty round. Sometimes it's not tiny. I don't have a favorite brand. I just like what shoots the straightest that day. I'll take more bounces for better accuracy any day. Paint can be too fragile too. .

[PBGunny]

Here is the only code off the box.
Also took a pic of the paint.
The seam around it almost looks like a basketball when you look at it.

[SignOfZeta]

I don’t have that color. Must be 2024. I used all old paint this year.

Can you measure it’s out of roundness (min/max)?

[PBGunny]

Yep, I will get my calipers out and get some measurements tonight.
Might even see if I can get a pic of it in the insert.