[8765]

Is there any velocity consistency difference between a spring and shim regulator? The FX and G4 are spring, while the G3, E1, and Rev-i are shim. In my experience between the G3 and G4, they're about the same range. Yet from the videos I've seen, Rev-i has a narrower range.

I could imagine a spring would be less consistent if the spring oscillates, even a little. Whereas as shim stack is a limited range spring (if that makes any sense or if there's a better term for its motion).

Practically speaking though, springs can't be reordered improperly (aside from directional springs), unlike shims. But really just for people new to marker maintenance.

[Yeti6669]

I prefer spring personally. They seem to hold up better under heavy use (I've had shims go nearly flat after a season or two) most of my tank and hpr regs are spring

[DocMoody]

^^^^ What Yeti said.

Spring regs seem to hold up better over time.

You can tell by all of the spring regs he carries on his website, that he's familiar with them.

[l1ryan1l]

has already been said, some marker shims are known to flatten/flatten over time.. both are equally consistent. some might argue servicing a spring reg is easier since there are no shims to lose or to put in the wrong order

[X20DTL]

ok but is there a difference in consistancy between a shim reg and a spring reg.

that is what i would like to know

[8765]

Originally Posted by l1ryan1l

has already been said, some marker shims are known to flatten/flatten over time.. both are equally consistent. some might argue servicing a spring reg is easier since there are no shims to lose or to put in the wrong order

If shims can flatten over time, won't you get a velocity drift, over the long run, assuming you don't manually adjust anything? Also I'd imagine the marker would choke at high fire rates as well.

[l1ryan1l]

Originally Posted by 8765

If shims can flatten over time, won't you get a velocity drift, over the long run, assuming you don't manually adjust anything? Also I'd imagine the marker would choke at high fire rates as well.

if you didnt manually adjust anything, probably.... and for it to flatten enough to starve the marker of air probably wouldnt happen for a long long time

[i8somepie]

Jack Wood has a great post about spring versus shims, but I cannot find it to save my life.

Anyways, Belleville shim spring stacks allow for a greater range of adjustment when used. The downside to this is that it doesn't allow as easy tuning as a spring regulator. Also, like mentioned previously before, stress can wear the shims down over time, which will decrease the maximum amount of pressure the shims can regulate. If you were to lose one shim from a spring stack regulator, you most likely will not be able to regulate the PSI.

Spring shim regulators allow for smaller ranges of pressures to be used, allowing for finer tuning throughout that range. They also don't wear out as fast. AKA 2 Liters use springs and come with 2 sets of springs for LP (up to 350) and HP (up to 550) adjustments, which shows the restricted range. AKA 2 Liters though are known to be the most consistent regulator on the market though.

I'm pretty sure the consistency just comes down to the design of the regulator and tolerances though.

[CA_Tectonics]

Originally Posted by i8somepie

Jack Wood has a great post about spring versus shims, but I cannot find it to save my life.

Anyways, Belleville shim spring stacks allow for a greater range of adjustment when used. The downside to this is that it doesn't allow as easy tuning as a spring regulator. Also, like mentioned previously before, stress can wear the shims down over time, which will decrease the maximum amount of pressure the shims can regulate. If you were to lose one shim from a spring stack regulator, you most likely will not be able to regulate the PSI.

Spring shim regulators allow for smaller ranges of pressures to be used, allowing for finer tuning throughout that range. They also don't wear out as fast. AKA 2 Liters use springs and come with 2 sets of springs for LP (up to 350) and HP (up to 550) adjustments, which shows the restricted range. AKA 2 Liters though are known to be the most consistent regulator on the market though.

I'm pretty sure the consistency just comes down to the design of the regulator and tolerances though.

I thought I'd just add to the bolded above for anyone who is interested in the subject of consistency. This may likely be true but there are so many other variables in play when it comes to consistency at the chrono (which, I think would be the ultimate goal). Many of those other variables have such a relatively huge consistency range in themselves that the difference of shims vs. spring becomes negligible. The reg could control the psi to +/- 0.1 or to 5 but if bad, dimpled, deformed paint is used, the chrono fps +/- is still going to be crap even though the reg is top notch.

[i8somepie]

Originally Posted by CA_Tectonics

I thought I'd just add to the bolded above for anyone who is interested in the subject of consistency. This may likely be true but there are so many other variables in play when it comes to consistency at the chrono (which, I think would be the ultimate goal). Many of those other variables have such a relatively huge consistency range in themselves that the difference of shims vs. spring becomes negligible. The reg could control the psi to +/- 0.1 or to 5 but if bad, dimpled, deformed paint is used, the chrono fps +/- is still going to be crap even though the reg is top notch.

Well yep, if you're shooting paint that has a deviation of +/- 0.005 then it's going to affect consistency too.

[8765]

Well if you're trying to prove regulator consistency, you wouldn't use paintballs over a chrono. That would add an unnecessary variable. It would make more sense to measure (volume of air displaced) * (rate of change of pressure) * (some random BS formula I'm making up right now).

If you want to use the chrono method effectively, you would need a fancier chrono that can record high rof. Of course practically speaking, the point of a consistent reg is to get consistent paintball trajectories.

[CA_Tectonics]

Originally Posted by 8765

Well if you're trying to prove regulator consistency, you wouldn't use paintballs over a chrono. That would add an unnecessary variable. It would make more sense to measure (volume of air displaced) * (rate of change of pressure) * (some random BS formula I'm making up right now).

If you want to use the chrono method effectively, you would need a fancier chrono that can record high rof. Of course practically speaking, the point of a consistent reg is to get consistent paintball trajectories.

Correct (except for that random formula part ) and that was my point. In the end, you can have a super consistent reg but what does that really get you?.......... a super consistent reg - O.K. now what? Doesn't have a large impact (relatively speaking) when it comes to putting paintballs downrange. Getting all those other variables in line then it may make a difference. Just my 2 cents for what it is worth.

[i8somepie]

Once you got all of those things all perfect and stuff, the next thing you know is that wind is going to **** with you.