The US*5 and speedball, need help with upgrades

So I have a US*5 mechanical with a benchmark expansion chamber, Shocktech 5 inch drop forward, a JCS 5.5 barrel, and a Trinity sight rail. I am using a Ricochet AK hopper but have a TORQUE on the way.

I just played with the marker for the first time yesterday. Indoor speedball. I was running around 280 like the field wanted us too.

I had my @$$ handed to to me!

I need a double trigger for sure, they run for about 15 bucks, so I will order one. The marker seem off. The short barrel works as well as an 8 inch, I like it. But, I hate to say it, my JT TAC 5 totaly rapes, and hits hard at 270. The US*5 seems. so slow. I don't mean rate of fire but the speed of the balls.

I need a Apex maybe.

I want my US*5 to be a good marker. Are there better internal? A better bolt?

When I get my Smart Parts SP8 in December, I don't want the US*5 to be dust collector. I know it can do better.

sorry to say it, but the US5 is a recball (woodsball/scenario) marker. It wasnt made for speedball, its to big/heavy for hugging bunkers and even if you get the etrigger, it really wont keep up with the high end guns.

My US5 is in my "scenario" group of markers, my ion and cocker are the speedball guns and my mags are the only guns that actualy cross over well.

I know. I have had all my focus on woodball and milsim. If I get a speedball marker I don't even know were to start. I know I don't want a thousand dollar gun in my hands. I had no intrest in speedball until last night. Now I will get to play every friday for free.

get an ion or a new vibe, there actually not that bad.

I say go for a Proto SLG. Two of my teammates have them and from all I have seen, it is superior to IONs/Vibes/all SP markers in the same price range ($150-ish). The SLG is definitely a quality marker, for a price that cannot be beat. I would venture to say that it is even far greater than the DP G3 and Invert Mini. I have not seen problems with this marker yet (though I also don't see many SLGs either), unlike the G3 and Mini of which I have never seen a working one. The PMR also seems to be a great marker, lots of them around and all I've heard is good things. They are great quality markers for the price (which is pretty low), and can easily compete with high end markers. From what I have seen they are every bit as good as my buddy's old 05 Ego (which is still a very decent marker).

I advise against the SP8. I feel that it would not be satisfactory. It is an ION inside of a real-sim body, and performance wise I'd rather run a Tippmann.

The balls may seem to be traveling slowly from your US-5, I cannot come up with any cause for that. If each ball leaves the barrel at 280 FPS from each marker, there is no difference. Some days it seems as though the paint is flying a tad slow for me too, but that's likely something more to do with my adrenaline than anything.

If you do not have an e-clip for your US-5 then as far as I can tell a double trigger is useless. You will still have a heavy mechanical trigger pull.

Well, I am going back Friday for an other spanking. It's not the marker, it's the player holding it. Welts are good for you!

Funny, my wife offered me an Ion for my birthday in September. It's kind of ugly.
It might be okay.

ION's shoot pretty good, and they seem to work when you need them to. I just don't like them because they are made by the company I shall not mention.

What barrel do you have on your US-5?

It's a JCS 5.5 inch barrel. Very nice.

If you are technically inclined at all, look into a used high-end. I bought a Bob Long Defiant 2 for $200 recently. Light, fast and accurate, and all for the price of a new Ion. And frankly, I'll take anything with the name 'Bob Long' attached to it before I'd buy something by SP.

Sure, it's a little "out of date". It doesn't have a thousand fancy modes, but it has eyes, and a lightning fast semi-auto, which is all I need.

Yep, I saw an Intimidator (forget what year, I am pretty sure it was 2k2) for $150 last week. And BL makes markers that are much better than anything the Gardener's will come up with.

Okay, what is the deal with SP? I have only read good stuff about 'em. Bad customer support?


How about the PCS US5 Venturi Star Aluminum Bolt by RAP4? Anyone have one in there marker? It is the only "upgraded" bolt I can find. pcs-us5-venturi-star-aluminum-bolt RAP4 is an other brand people say "too bad it's RAP4" but no clue why they don't like it.

SP has done a lot of shady crap, from buying up of patents and forcing others out of business to downright lying. From what I understand, back in the day there was a very friendly competition between gun makers. SP came into play, and through some very underhanded methods, killed some of the competition.

My ICD BKO is a perfect example - Indian Creek Designs were one of the innovators of true ep markers, and they are no longer in paintball because SP bought some patents and then sued them.

Yep, that is pretty much the only reason people (myself) discriminate against them. that and the fact that they cannot make an ASA for their life! They are the reason for the discontinuation of the E-Mag.

Real Action Paintball - I have seen some people who love their RAP markers very much, absolutely swear by them and will tell you that they make very good quality products. But there are just as many people out there who will say the opposite and who have never been pleased by anything RAP manufactures, and many seem to say that they have very poor quality control.


I advise not purchasing "upgrade" internals, from what I have seen, special bolts and power tubes and such things make little or no difference... Aside from the TechT cyclone upgrades, those are amazing!

I have the ION and a HPA now. I put a 14 inch All Americam barrel and clampingfeed neck on it. And have been messing with drops and ASA combos. I have a 'In Yo Face' stock and a Benchmark sideways offset drop forward I am gonna try. I need to mess with the dwell more but it shoot so good. Well worth the money I paid for it. I'll get a picture when I get back from Cali.

I am getting use to playing speedball with the US*5. But, playing with the ION takes less skill, LOL.