[VALOR]

I'm looking to get a new marker for my son on Boxing Day (same as Black Friday for the US but in Canada) and looking at either an ETEK 4 or Reflex Rail. I personally have a DM11 and an ETEK 3 so I have some experience with both markers as they are similar but I was looking for opinions. Also where I'm going, one local store has the ETEK and another has the Reflex and I think I'll be getting a better deal on the Reflex and honestly rather give that store my business.

What would you guys go for?

Thanks for any suggestions..

[BurningPlaydoh]

Personally, I would buy a used Ego or DM instead of a new Etek or PRR, but if used isn't an option you should know the performance difference between these two markers. The Reflex will be much smoother and quieter than the Etek (but not as much as a DM), and the Etek will be more efficient and much easier to maintain/fewer possible problems.
If your son will be maintaining the marker himself and doesn't have a lot/any experience with maintaining electros the Etek would be a good choice considering you can neglect it for weeks or months after beating the hell out of it and it'll still work.

[VALOR]

If I was buying it for myself I agree, used is usually the best option for the money and you can get some good deals. Since this is for my son I'd like him to have a new marker so he can learn to maintain it and respect the gear as he will be the first to put any scratches on it. It's also nice to get something new and know what's been done to it as well, I figured boxing day would be a great opportunity.

Also you're right, I know the Reflex is going to be quieter than the ETEK and has better ergos (opinion) but will have more maintenance and be less efficient.

Just looking for more opinions I guess, thanks for the reply man.

[BurningPlaydoh]

VALOR, on 21 December 2012 - 04:38 PM, said:

If I was buying it for myself I agree, used is usually the best option for the money and you can get some good deals. Since this is for my son I'd like him to have a new marker so he can learn to maintain it and respect the gear as he will be the first to put any scratches on it. It's also nice to get something new and know what's been done to it as well, I figured boxing day would be a great opportunity.

Also you're right, I know the Reflex is going to be quieter than the ETEK and has better ergos (opinion) but will have more maintenance and be less efficient.

Just looking for more opinions I guess, thanks for the reply man.

No problem! I can totally understand wanting to buy new; I didn't think about it being a gift. A friend of mine got a Rail as his first marker a few years back and didn't really know how to maintain it, therefore it had a lot of problems. You could obviously provide your son good advice where my friend had none, so its kind of a wash maintenance wise. Another good spool marker in the same price range (there was recently a huge price drop actually) is the MacDev Drone DX. I don't personally have any experience with it, but several people at my field have Clones and swear by them. Drones apparently shoot like a Reflex and have nearly the same efficiency as an Etek while having a much simpler bolt engine than the Clone or even the Reflex.

My opinion, get the Reflex or Drone unless you need something absolutely bomb-proof (woodsball or dirt speedball field). The Etek really is a cannon when it shoots, but then again you and your son might not care about how quiet the shot is. Also keep in mind that the bolt on the Etek is not enclosed like the Reflex or Drone though.

[Orange Chicken]

Poppit vs spool. I prefer spool, so id go with the reflex rail. But if I really want my gun to match my jersey, pants, and mask, ill go with the etek4 in titan white.

[iStansbury77]

Well the Etek is sexy. very well made gun but the I dont prefer the rails trigger. :|