Pilot performance - less than satisfied

[Darkh2o]

I bought my Pilot ACS '05 in May 2006, but haven't had time to shoot it. It has less than 2000 rounds shot thru it. I played this weekend and had several breaks while playing and can't figure out why. If anyone could give me some guidance on what could be causing the problem that would be great.

My setup is: Pilot ACS '05 stock, except for Trinity clamp feedneck and J&J S2 14" barrel. Hopper: Halo Frontman TSA LED (I know, not the best, but it was free). Nitro 68/3000 tank. The bolt has been "broken-in"; 3 hours of compressing spring by hand (wife was very annoyed at noise ).

The night before, I disassembled it completely, checked all o-rings, cup seal, etc. and lubed what needed to be lubed.

Paint: new box of Marbalizers

Weather: sunny, 75-80 degrees, 70% humidity

Chrono: 280-285 fps

The low down: Shot fine after chronoed and first few games of woodsball. Then, YUCK, bolt break. Take apart to clean. Bolt is coated, inside feed neck broken paint, paint oozing out of ball detents, a little paint inside neck of hopper. Paint in barrel. Cleaned it and reassembled. Went to play and half way thru the next game, the same thing happened. Cleaned it and reassembled. Played a couple of game and it worked fine, then...well you get the point.

I talked with several people at the field about it, but no one could figure it out. I ended up switching to my TL-X to finish out the day.

Any ideas of what could be the problem??? Is this normal performance of this marker? I'm at a loss at what to do.

[vikingshadow]

Sounds to me like you've got a loader that's too slow. Bolt breaks usually happen either because of blowback or the loader isn't feeding fast enough to keep up, causing balls to get chopped by the bolt. I know you have the ACS, but from what I've heard, the ACS from Kingman isn't that great.

When these chops happen, is it towards the end of the loader, or when you have a full loader? If it's the last couple of balls, that could be blowback - the air in your gun is pushing the ball back up the feedneck a little and causing the chops. Only thing I know to fix that is by either making your gun low pressure, getting a different bolt, or driling extra holes in the feedneck.

So, IMHO you can either get a different ACS bolt from someone else, a faster loader, or take your gun the low pressure route...

[Darkh2o]

Originally Posted by vikingshadow

...When these chops happen, is it towards the end of the loader, or when you have a full loader?

The first time it happened, the hopper was half full empty (or half full if your an optimist ). The second time it was a full hopper. The third time, I think it was pretty full, but I'm not sure.


I guess I can try a different hopper and maybe a new bolt.

[vikingshadow]

Sounds like a slow loader then. First, try new batteries, if you haven't already.

Anyway, that's what I would diagnose and what I would try first. Good luck!

[vwjimmy]

I can outshoot my Pilot with anything less than my zeggy with ease.....(y boarded eggy was too slow)
Try breaking in your ACS with the gun too...mine is really soft now and I know that helps....I bought a rear cocking one for my sons Flash used and was shocked how soft it was....he never breaks with it!

[Darkh2o]

Originally Posted by vwjimmy

Try breaking in your ACS with the gun too...mine is really soft now and I know that helps...

With or without paint? My spring is still somewhat stiff. I know it's softer than when I first got it, but I wouldn't say it is "soft".

Originally Posted by vwjimmy

I can outshoot my Pilot with anything less than my zeggy with ease.....(y boarded eggy was too slow)

Do you recommend an egg?

Thanks in advance!

[vwjimmy]

Without paint.....shove a swab down the feedneck when cocked and fire away.....a full bottle worth....
As for the eggy....I use them and I like them...I would love to have a Halo/Empire B hopper but I started with eggys and I have stuck with them. It is a matter of prefrence untill you get to high rates of fire, then the eggy won't compete compaired to Halo B/Empire B/VLosity.....

[shunut]

When talking about loaders VLocity >>>>> all

[JMotioN]

if i where you id call kingman tell them like it is (AKA tell them your problems), and see what they say. they should help you out, tell you whats going on.

[Darkh2o]

So if I buy a new loader, which one do I get???

Shunut's opinion:

Originally Posted by shunut

When talking about loaders VLocity >>>>> all

VLocity, Halo B, Empire Reloader B, Zeggy? I know that the Halo B is pretty heavy (after batteries), is the Empire and VLocity the same weight?