The “wisdom” of this issue has changed over the years, and the “truth” simply has not. The “wisdom” is now that they don’t do anything for you and are a total waste of money. The “truth” is that small ones do very little for you but if you get a 6 stage or larger they DO help more than not having one at all. I know this for a fact because my wife has a 6 stage on her custom Spyder and it does help VS without it.

How much it helps VS other methods however can be debated. But that was not the question, nor hardly ever is. The question was if they help at all. And if you get a large one, yes, it can help.

The same thing applies to remotes, which allow the CO2 to expand. There is a notable difference between consistency (and therefore accuracy) when running an unregulated CO2 setup directly into the marker and one set up exactly the same but using a remote.

There is another myth which is false floating around out there…. that HPA is not affected by temperature. This is simply not true. If you think it is, take a look at your tires sometime and watch how much pressure they have with the same amount of air when warm or cold. ALL gas expands when warm, including the air they put into your HPA tanks. And I have seen HPA setups require velocity turn-downs as the day goes on just like CO2 does. But they usually require much smaller adjustments as opposed to CO2 which is affected by temperature MUCH more than HPA.

But the differences between the two can be seen a lot more when folks try to set their velocities at field limits. I usually set mine for what is best for the marker on any given day of play, which for me is usually someplace around 260-270, but sometimes even lower. This allows for wiggle room as the day warns up and the last time I played (granted it was fall, so it didn’t get really warm anyways) I didn’t have to adjust my velocity all day. And the field I played at had the markers checked before every game. Oh…. and I run CO2.

However, I did see other people have to turn their markers down. And some were using HPA.

So in my opinion depending on your needs, budget, and other factors, an expansion chamber is not always a waste of money. But it depends on many factors. It is not the “best” way to get performance increases, no argument there. However, to dismiss them all together because the fast majority of smaller ones on the market will not show any discernable difference is not correct.

Then again, I could care less what folks use or buy. A great deal of the add-ons we use are cosmetic, and could be argued successfully that they do little to improve our game. But I would argue that our “game” is about more than pure performance.

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I agree whole-heartedly with Shartly.

I use ACI 8-stage chambers with GREAT success on both Mags and were on some Spyders at one time.

They don't do anything for accuracy...other than allow the liquid/gaseous mixture to expand to a certainly higher % of gas before it hits the ball...but then again, that's largely affected by how fast a person shoots too.

Mech Mags, mech Spyders, mech Tippys all fire at about the same bps (low-~10) and thus are largely accomodating to X-Chambers because of the slower speed. I wouldn't put it on my Ion or anything that fast though...

Think of the words that describe Expansion Chamber.........

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I got the hookup from a friend about a week ago w an x-chamber... i cant tell much of a difference in accuracy, but it seemed to help a lot with the gas issue i was having due to the FREEZING temps in alabama !

X-Chamber ... it does NOT help accuracy.

A stabilizer does ... An accurate barrel does ...

but not expansion chambers ... thats what it all does .. it allows CO2 to expand to gas ...

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I have had good results with expansion chambers but have never run them on a tippmann. I had an electric black dragun that I ran on hpa, then I tried to sell it to someone who ran co2 and it was worthless. It burped and spiked like crazy over like 1bps. I threw a 6-stage x-chamber on it and it has worked flawlessly. I also have a friend who uses a mech spyder and we played at below 40 deg F and she had lots of problems. I let her use my pro-lite and it worked flawlessly. Then I got her an x-chamber and it was a night and day difference for her spyder. She feels it is more accurate and consistent as well and I would have too agree. In short go for the regulator in the long run but, depending on how long the saving up process will take, you might want an expansion chamber for now. You can find good ones on ebay for $10. Just don't get a gas through foregrip marketed as an expansion chamber, get at least a 6-stage.

I have an X-chamber on mine right now. I first bought it when I was living in Wyoming and playing in the snow with CO2. It really did help, but not with accuracy. Plus, at $30, it was a good investment. Now, I still have it eventhough I am running HPA in Florida, but just because I like having a grip there. I recently ordered an air through grip that will be replacing it when it comes in. If you really want one, PM me and we can talk.

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I've never used an x-chamber myself, but I have noticed a huge difference with a remote line. I'm curious about how well a really large x-chamber (like the RAP4 flexi-air stock) works. I know there was some talk about them on here when they first came out, but then nothing afterwards... Maybe that in itself is the answer though.

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A5, 12" PPS Brass (.690) with Apex tip, Tacamo HK 416 shroud, Tacamo AK-47 Sight Cover, JCS Gold Powertube, E-Grip (APE), Core CQB Wire Stock w/ RVA, Palmer Inline Stabilizer, Lapco Cyclone Ratchet, 450 round Hopper, 48 oz CO2 with remote line. Metadyne Havoc Launcher coming soon...

The reason I would have to say no is that in the 3 years that I have had my A-5, I never had a velocity issue. Once I put on the expansion chamber, I couldn't chrono over 246... period....

This diminished my accuracy for the simple fact that I couldn't get the distance I was used to so as to keep a good group. I am in the Barrel Manufacturing Business and I make Carbon Fiber / Kevlar mix barrels for the sport and the greatest accuracy comes from the paintballs and barrels. (Also the open or closed bolt systems but since this is the A5OG, we are only dealing with open bolt)

But hey, for more consistency if you DON'T have a remote line, do it, but a remote line will serve the same purpose.

Palmer all the way!!!. I get + or - 5 fps with my setup that equals accurate and consistent shots.

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you could just use a remote line and that'll act as an expansion chamber.

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