(originally posted by Cavalry on the old OG site)

Alright, it had to be done, and I was more then happy to do it. I own the DOP Delrin, Shocktech Superfly (original), starfire and original bolt, from various upgrades of the A-5. Now I figured I may as well get the Rufus Dawgs Wicked bolt and Superfly#2 and settle this once and for all.

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2 weeks later, and here we go:

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Testing was preformed at the University of Calgary Mechanical Engineering - Concrete Lab. The lab was closed for outside access (end of semester so my teacher was nice enough to let me use the lab for 3 hours (Thanks Dr. S)).

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The same A-5 was used for all tests, and the marker was attached to a lab bench with vice-grips. The A-5 had a LPK, Flatline, CP Reg (405-415 psi), e-grip (semi-auto with max ROF) and JCS trgger with permanent "q-tip" mod, and JCS Gold Powertube. The A-5 ran was also using HPA.

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All factors were kept constant (as constant as could be for all tests).

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The A-5 was aimed at a target 100 feet away. Accuracy, ROF, and factors like ball breakage were measured. The results were as followed. The initial velocity of the A-5 was set between 285 and 300 feet/second. If velocity changed out of this range, the velocity was re-adjusted to fit in that range and was noted. Each test consisted of 200 shots

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Stock Front Bolt

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Diameter of Spread: 9.07 inches

Velocity (as stated above): 285-300 feet/second

ROF: 14.34 bps (balls per second)

Breakage (none in the 200 rounds fired)

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Dead On Paintball Delrin Front Bolt with Teflon Insert

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Diameter of Spread: 8.56 inches

Velocity (was not re-adjusted): 287-296 feet/second

ROF: 14.34 bps (balls per second)

Breakage (none in the 200 rounds fired)

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Shocktech Superfly Original Front Bolt (Black)

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Diameter of Spread: 11.13 inches

Velocity (was not re-adjusted): 283-313 feet/second

ROF: 12.81 bps (balls per second)

Breakage: 3/200

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Starfire Front Bolt

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Diameter of Spread: 11.36 inches

Velocity (was not re-adjusted): 279-316 feet/second

ROF: 12.34 bps (balls per second)

Breakage: 7/200

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Rufus Dawg's Wicked Front Bolt

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Diameter of Spread: 8.98 inches

Velocity (was not re-adjusted): 280-301 feet/second

ROF: 14.34 bps (balls per second)

Breakage: (none in the 200 rounds fired)

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Shocktech Superfly Mark 2 (white with O-ring insert)

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Diameter of Spread: 9.04 inches

Velocity (as stated above): 287-303 feet/second

ROF: 14.34 bps (balls per second)

Breakage (none in the 200 rounds fired)

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Now to state, a mechanised device was used to fire the trigger, which pulled at a speed that should fire 14.46 bps. As such the 14.34 bps was taken as the maximum rate of frie of the e-grip in semi-auto mode, which agrees with a test I did last month (see "scientific tests..." in the cyclone forum for more information).

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Velocity was taken as maximum and minimum values, using statistical analysis to dismiss any outling or statistically insignificant values. Only the Starfire bolt produced a velocity outside its listed range, and only then for one shot.

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The rate of fire (ROF) was determined through computer analysis of sound files.

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Breakage was counted easily. But to insure accuracy, a high speed camera/computer showed the number of times the target was hit. No shot during this entire test missed the four foot by four foot target.

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To be fair, once breakage occured, the test was reset using the number of balls not broken, and the barrel was cleaned. Weighted averages were used in calculation of the ROF in these cases, as sometimes multiple breaking occured.

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So looking at all the above data, it appears the DOP Front bolt is the best overall, having a narrower velocity range and greater accuracy (smaller spread diameter). However, the stock front bolt preforms equally as well, if not better then some after market bolts. The choice is up to the consumer, infer from this data what you will.

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Hope it Helps, and Happy Hunting

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ﾠCav


Special thanks to Cavalry for this info, and allowing me to repost it here.

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