[push]

Depends, although I don't think you can go wrong with either one really. I personally own and have played with both.

Pros of Reflex (2012):
Eye-pipe - if you get chop (rare) there is a pipe that should clean itself (or make it easier for you to clean) as you play. Keeps the eyes protected from paint.
Awesome Ergonomics
Reliable
Lighter than the axe
Spoolie so it shoots super soft -not a whole lot of felt recoil
Quiet
Shares many of the same parts as the DM
Hyper 3 reg - arguably one of the best regs out there today - easily serviceable
Pretty good factory trigger
Factory 14" two piece barrel, which is pretty decent
Nice case

Cons:
Back cap can come unscrewed leading to pressure loss if you don't tighten it every once in a while or take other precautions.
Little heavier\temperamental on maintenance - I do clean/re-lube after every day of play regardless of marker, so doesn't bother me. But it's easier to over lube this gun and get bolt stick/inconsistent FPS
Less efficient than that Axe



Axe
Pros:
Tool-less disassembly
Reliable
Lifetime warranty
Great factory trigger - one of my favorites
Also pretty quiet, almost a toss up between it and the reflex - add a boss/lurker/etc bolt and run at lower pressure and it's probably quieter
Awesome flip switch on/off ASA
No macro-line

Cons:
No eye pipe - not a huge deal, but having one is nice - cleaning the eyes is a little more involved - but chops are rare so I wouldn't weigh this too heavily against the axe, but the reflex DOES have an eye pipe.
Factory barrel - it shoots fine, but only 12", I prefer 14"
Factory box - for the price I would have really like a nice case to carry it in, instead of a box.
Non-user serviceable reg - while you CAN work on it, it's nowhere near as easy as the hyper 3 reg, and it it will void the warranty
Ergonomics - hesitant to put this here, they aren't BAD by any means, just not as good as the reflex, the banana fore-grip takes a little getting used to

You really can't go wrong with either, both are awesome guns and parts are everywhere for them. If you break down at the field someone will be able to help you out. If you can go shoot each and see which you prefer more.

[Irish725]

I think the Axe is the best "bang for your buck" marker out there.


The Reflex Rail is nice, I have shot one and it's a decent marker. However I felt the trigger felt really slack, not as snappy as the Axe trigger, and the trigger frame felt small (to me because I have wide hands and long fingers).


However, I have found that the Axe is almost a perfect fit for me. Where others complain about the "awful ergos" I love them. The banana grip doesn't effect me much, as I just use it to brace while I'm walking the trigger as I am shooting, so I don't really notice it. I got a Redline board for 100 bucks, brand new, so I now have an OLED board, which kicks ass, but with the new shockwave board, it doesn't really need it, since you can adjust the gun with out opening the front grip. The trigger is nice and snappy. I would say the barrel is not the greatest, but even though it's only 12 inches, there is a lot of porting on it and it makes it shoot pretty quiet. I think with the money you'd save buying a new 2012 Reflex, if you were to get a new Empire Axe, then get a Lurker Bolt for it, once you break it in and follow Mikes Axe Tuning guide, you'll ahve the smoothest shooting mid-end marker there is.

[push]

I will also say I think Kee's tech support/warranty is much better after having to work with Dye tech support.

[asthmaticrhino]

I own a relfex rail, i'd take an axe with a numech grip extender to fix the ergonomic problems i have with it

[nauseousalmond]

Axe! Pros use em!

[A&MBaller]

nauseousalmond, on 09 January 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:

Axe! Pros use em!

Doesn't matter at all. I have a friend that is in D1 and I can assure you that he would wreck shop with a tippmann. Skill is the decider, not the gun. I'm not saying the Axe is bad, it is a great gun. I have one and personally recommend it. Just don't think that since the pros use it, you should get it.

[epic woodsballer]

Get the reflex! It's smoother, quieter, and overall better shot quality. It also feels better in the hands because the axe feels a little loose the way you hold it. The reflex also has better barrel. Overall get the reflex you won't be disappointed.

[marceldacs]

A&MBaller, on 09 January 2013 - 10:23 PM, said:

nauseousalmond, on 09 January 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:

Axe! Pros use em!

Doesn't matter at all. I have a friend that is in D1 and I can assure you that he would wreck shop with a tippmann. Skill is the decider, not the gun. I'm not saying the Axe is bad, it is a great gun. I have one and personally recommend it. Just don't think that since the pros use it, you should get it.

i agree. And the reason teams are using the axe is because they have empire sponsoring them and the axe is empires best marker. Correct me if i'm wrong but i think Pros don't shoot reflexes because dye, which owns proto, has high ends like the DM and NT.

I own an axe and I like the ergos. The way i hold it is i wrap my hand around the foregrip and i stick my thumb up instead of wrapping it around the trigger frame. Also the 12 inch stock barrel on the axe isn't a problem for me because i switched it out for a barrel kit anyways.

[PaintSlinger510]

As is it hasn't already been said enough, AXE! A friend of mine tuned his Axe perfectly and it shot better than some Luxes I've shot. Axe all day long.