[BurningPlaydoh]

etekbeast, on 06 January 2013 - 06:03 PM, said:

I have an axe and don't like it as much.Its a good gun and is quieter and smoother but, the Etek 4 have been little brothers to the Egos. There have been more models of the Etek compared to the Axe. Customer service is better than Empires. Packaging is just so much better then the Axe. Yeah it might out beat an Etek but I just like Eclipse Guns better I guess.

So just because the Etek is the "little brother" to the Ego (which is one of the worst performing high end markers except in needing little maintenance) it's a better buy than the Axe? How often is a hard case going to be more important and useful than a quiet, soft shooting marker? Personal preference and all that, but considering the price and performance difference between the Axe and Etek, to me its clear which one I see as the winner; the Axe.

[Fssto]

I slammed my barrel into concrete, smashed my etek against spools, slid it into mud and It worked every time. The time I smashe my barrel into concrete it was one of those two foot tall things that they use for like blocking off roads. The tip of my barrel slammed into the corner as I swung my arm forward to run and there wast even a scratch on it. My arm hurt like hell but the etek was perfect

[BurningPlaydoh]

Fssto, on 06 January 2013 - 09:39 PM, said:

I slammed my barrel into concrete, smashed my etek against spools, slid it into mud and It worked every time. The time I smashe my barrel into concrete it was one of those two foot tall things that they use for like blocking off roads. The tip of my barrel slammed into the corner as I swung my arm forward to run and there wast even a scratch on it. My arm hurt like hell but the etek was perfect

Its not like they make Eteks out of some magical material that resists scratches dents and bending. If there are scratched dented and bent Egos and Geos the lower end Eclipse markers are just as susceptible to danage from the abuses of playing paintball. Take note I love both Eclipse and my Etha and this is true of any marker or brand.

[LegionPB]

The Etek 4 is an amazing marker for the price, you cannot go wrong with it. Yes, the Etek line is loud which may or may not bother you in the woods. I have an Etek 3 that has all the same upgrades as the Etek 4 and more and I use it as a backup for speedball (I can always count on it to work). I have a couple teammates who use the axe and they sometimes have problems but it's not all that bad. All of them have the Boss V2 bolt and I must say it is a very smooth shooting gun, much smoother than an Etek. I personally use a GoG G-1 in the woods because sound signature matters to me in woodsball. Then again its all personal preference in the end, if you like the Etek 4, go ahead and get it. I can vouch for it and say it won't let you down. I have to disagree with the Etek being crap in all honesty. I can wreck just as many people with it as I can my Luxe, its all about the person behind the marker. People who like axes will always have this silly rivalry with people who like Eteks, always expect the other side to throw in the other even if you really don't care to hear about it

Etek 4 takes the cake in this well put together video by Hustle Paintball:

[PREDATOR 47]

I think trying to sell Cookybiscuit on anything Planet Eclipse is a losing battle, don't even try it.

But for the price get the Axe. And any tournament style gun will handle the woods just fine. Woodsball guns being better in the woods than tourney guns is a myth.

And to the guy that smashes his Etek into various hard surfaces, stop doing that.

[Cookybiscuit]

PREDATOR 47, on 06 January 2013 - 10:05 PM, said:

I think trying to sell Cookybiscuit on anything Planet Eclipse is a losing battle, don't even try it.

SL8R

[Rhino1909]

I heard and etek at the field today... My eardrums almost ruptured when he was dry shooting

[Big Walt]

Yea all these people telling you to get an Axe can just go away now. It's your money, spend it the way you want to. I would say go get your Etek 4. It will definitely hold up during woodsball. Anything that can work on a speedball field is guaranteed to work on the woodsball field. Like most people have already stated, the Axe is smoother but you also don't notice a difference when you're actually playing - ergo the Axe is not really smoother. And second, even if the Etek 4 is loud... people will probably still tell where you are once you start shooting paintballs in their general direction - as in the Axe will still "give you away". Even if someone is super hardcore into woodsball and can tell exactly where you are from sound signature, there's like what 1-3 of those guys tops? With a good chance of them being on your team? These people posting about the Axes are wasting posts. Go get yourself the Etek 4. I would take it over the Axe as well. Packaging is very nice (much better than the axe), Trigger - better than the Axe, Ergonomics - better than the Axe, Customer Support - better than the Axe, and lastly it's what you want... The two markers do the exact same thing, so why not get the one you think looks better and appeals to you more.

[gibbeepbroxzor]

The argument that kick/barrel rise is unnoticeable when playing is a joke. You are sighting down the barrel, once you start rolling that trigger, or ramping, the barrel of an etek is going to rise like 2 inches. That can translate to up to 4 feet difference at the other end of the stream of paint. Yea, you can adjust, but that's wasted time and paint. Also, I'd argue that the Empire Customer Service is on par, if not better than, Eclipse. If you want an etek, get it. Won't let you down, just won't be the best performing marker for your money. Annnddd, if you slam your barrel into a chunk of concrete, it's going to scratch. Not like Planet Eclipse anodizing creates a magical force field around the gun, as much as we all wished it did.

[Fssto]

I'm not saying its made of something special. All I was trying to say is that when put through rough play it still preformes flawlessly.

[unfated33]

Big Walt, on 07 January 2013 - 03:46 AM, said:

Trigger - better than the Axe

I think that most people would not agree with this statement, or perhaps not have any idea what makes a good trigger.

The original poster can choose whatever marker he wants in the 450-600 new marker range and be fine. Many people like the Axe, the Etek 4, Drone DX, or the Reflex Rail. Some argue for the inclusion of the Etha and Crossover. Personally, and I don't even much care for anything other than a mechanical marker on the field, the Axe is hands down the winner of this comparison. It's cheaper than all of the others save the Etha and Crossover. It's got a nice customization upgrade in the Lurker or Boss bolt. Before the bolt it's smoother than the Etek. It has the best trigger of any new marker out under $600.

Aesthetics are a bit lacking on the Axe compared to the Etek. And if you're doing a full disassemble for cleaning, the Etek is going to be simpler for that kind of maintenance. There are plenty of arguments for the Etek. If I was making the argument, I'd say I'd get an Etek if maintenance was of little concern/interest and noise didn't matter to me, and I wanted to see the poppet pin move on the back of my marker.

Honestly, that might be enough reason for me to take the Etek over the Axe, but I'd do so knowing I was paying a premium for slightly inferior gun performance. If you feel like you'd be okay in the same situation, then have at it.

[Matrixrail_Louie]

kingJurzy, on 04 January 2013 - 11:51 PM, said:

Cookybiscuit, on 04 January 2013 - 08:30 PM, said:

stefan_rj, on 04 January 2013 - 08:23 PM, said:

The Etek 4 with the Zick 2 is a lot quieter and smoother.

I died laughing.

Same

me 2