this is the one that started it all. it wasnt the best looking thing out there but what do you expect with the first?
This review has been rated:
Currently 5/5 stars.
Nelson Paintball Nelspot 007So like most of us that have played paintball since the 80s ~ the 007 was my first marker. To those it wasn't their first marker they probably definitely remember them. I had to give it 5 ratings...
So like most of us that have played paintball since the 80s ~ the 007 was my first marker. To those it wasn't their first marker they probably definitely remember them. I had to give it 5 ratings for each as it was the first ~ and therefore it lead the pack! In terms of history ~ every paintballer should appreciate it's place in history.
I honestly don't remember what it cost so I put $200 but I know it set my parents back when I begged them for a marker.
I loved it and now 20+ years later wish I never got rid of it (I was young).
5 stars and 10/10 rating from me for it's place in history.
This review has been rated:
Currently 5/5 stars.
Nelson Paintball Nelspot 007This is where paintball began. Every paintball gun today, and the sport itself, owe its existence to this piece of history.
The Nelspot 007 is too old school to even be a pump gun. In its stock...
This is where paintball began. Every paintball gun today, and the sport itself, owe its existence to this piece of history.
The Nelspot 007 is too old school to even be a pump gun. In its stock form it is bolt action! The gun works the same way a Phantom does: cock the bolt, let a ball fall into the chamber, push the bolt forward, lock the bolt, shoot, repeat. Notice because it is bolt action it has the ability to lock the bolt. Whether that's a plus or minus is up to the user.
It uses 12 gram CO2 cartridges. To reload you open up the left panel grip, untwist the cartridge lock at the bottom of the grip frame, throw away the empty cartridge, replace it with a new one, twist the lock back up, then put the panel grip back on. It is a tedious task and subsequent upgrades have offered numerous ways to improve upon this.
Like most guns that predate speedball, the 007 looks nothing like a toy. In fact, it was designed to mark trees, not people. The gun in its stock form has a black stacked-tube body and frame with brown checkered plastic grip panels. All the mechanisms are in the lower tube. The top tube is nothing but a place to hold paintballs, and is a thin layer of steel welded onto the lower tube. Depending on the age of the parts it may have differences. Some top tubes have a screw going across the feed neck to prevent paintballs from rolling past it; some barrels have a removable sheath to attach barrel extensions. The grip frame is the only part that shows a definite age: there should be a date stamp hidden by the right grip panel.... if a previous owner wasn't foolish enough to paint over it.
If you run into a chrome one with Charles Nelson's autograph on it, that's a keeper. They were made for a limited amount of retailers as keepsakes, so not many exist. It has so much historical meaning I'm not sure if you should even use it.
Parts are still available today. Phantom internals are almost totally compatible with this gun. Lapco's Grey Ghost is another example of a compatible gun. In addition, the 007 has its own specific upgrades dating back to its heyday. If you are tired of changing cartridges the old way, there are Battle Grips that let you slide out the CO2 cartridge without taking off the grip panels, in addition to a speed cap for the cartridge lock, and even a lever lock to replace the whole thing; those who dislike cartridges can buy a dummy one to attach it to a tank, or a valve body with back bottle ASA threads to attach your favorite air source; pump arms are available for those whose hands are hurting from too much bolt action; left handed people who don't want to get used to the right handed panel grips have ambidextrous replacements to choose from; stocks are available for the baller who likes to have a steady aim; barrel extensions are made for those who dislike the pistol look; there are even direct feed bodies available for using a modern hopper; the most impressive would be the semi-automatic conversion kits made by numerous companies, including I think WGP of the Autocockers. That long list is just a small sample. There are almost enough after market parts to build your own Nelspot.
As far as tuning, you can get yourself some power tubes with various diameters, along with a spring kit. There is no regulator to worry about. Get the right spring combination and go wild.
There is, however, a down side. The gun was designed prior to modern paintball knowledge and technology, thus the main body (and I think stock hammer and bolt) is made of steel. It will rust when given the chance. You have to maintain this pistol like a real firearm: keep all exposed surfaces oiled well. Most people attempting to restore these tend to blue them for better wear resistance. The gun is also loud, since it has no barrel porting at all. If you want to stay hidden you should fire one shot at a time.
On the other hand, when you fire out a paintball from your Nelspot 007 and it lands in a satisfying splat on its newest, fresh-off-the-factory-this-year high end electro-pneumatic descendant, it is the ultimate reward. As a fellow owner of this gun, if I see another owner on the opposing team, I'd be the last one to laugh and first one to run away.
Appearance: this paintball gun is not a toy and does not look like one either.
Performance: it is a very efficient design. It had to deal with 12 gram cartridges, after all. Given the right treatment it will shoot where you want it. It is loud, but if you are using this gun and you are winning, then you are probably hitting people on the first shot anyway.
Reliability: there are working models of this gun from more than 20 years ago. How's that for reliability?
Value: it is in the eye of the beholder. A good condition one may still be worth $200 if it was in perfect shape. I miraculously got one that was still in mint condition just a few years ago, with the original receipt and all.
This review has been rated:
Currently 5/5 stars.
Nelson Paintball Nelspot 007The Nelspot is a true classic, and continues to perform to this day. Proven in every sense of the word, so this review is mostly redundant. Various upgrades are available, the marker can be operated...
The Nelspot is a true classic, and continues to perform to this day. Proven in every sense of the word, so this review is mostly redundant. Various upgrades are available, the marker can be operated in either pump action or bolt action (I like the second one in particular). Quite accurate for such a small marker as well, and efficiency is not bad at all. The only downside that exists is the steel barrel, which remains in fine condition if its kept clean.
This review has been rated:
Currently 3/5 stars.
Nelson Paintball Nelspot 007I love taking my Nelspot out - gets people asking about it, I run it stock class with a pump - the "bolt" action just isn't for me. Easy to work on, consistent and overall a great platform...Get an...
I love taking my Nelspot out - gets people asking about it, I run it stock class with a pump - the "bolt" action just isn't for me. Easy to work on, consistent and overall a great platform...Get an Avratech R7 - you'll love it too!
