Paintball Journal

What a gorgeous gun. The remilling is truly something that turns me onto the Ego series this time around. The Ego7 definitely got it right.

Anyway, here are the specs and commentary!

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Something that has a lot of players excited is the release of the Invert Mini. It’s specs speak for themselves as one of the most unique markers ever released takes the stage this fall.

-Weighing in under 2 lbs (including barrel, ASA, 9volt battery and regulator) the Invert Mini will be one of the lightest markers in its class ever.

-Break Beam Anti-Chop Eyes Standard

-Multi-mode (NXL, PSP, NPPL & Millennium) firing capability with easy tournament lockout

-Clamping feed-neck with Ion (Smart Parts)/ICD threads

-’Cocker threaded barrel

-No hoses to crimp or break! Now there’s something to gape about. No hoses at all means that everything is internalized on the Mini.

-MSRP: $449.95. Enough said.

Its price puts it in contention with several other guns being released about the same time, most notably Smart Parts’ Epiphany Ion and the Proto Rail, as well as all other guns in the $400-$600 price range.

The Mini will definitely put Invert, associated with Empire, on the map for years to come.

The Proto Rail

Here is another marker that’s going to be competing with the Epiphany and the Invert Mini. Only time will be able to tell which will come out on top. I’d put money on the Rail or Invert, but it will be interesting to see. Anyways..

Proto Rail will have an all aluminum body with 3D milling. Polymer co- molded frame with a co-molded trigger and clamp feed. No on board LPR. All standard tournament programming modes are featured and 3D milled ASA which is direct mounted. Retail price will be $399.95

Matching single piece Proto barrel
Hyper2 in-line air regulator
Anti-chop eye system
Composite eyeplate
150psi operating pressure with Boost Forward technology
Continuous three-dimensional contoured body design
Compact and lightweight body styling
Proto dual-durometer sticky grips
LED program control
Dual-durometer composite ergonomic 45 grip frame
Re-engineered 1 piece bolt system
Adjustable dual-durometer trigger sensitivity and rate of fire
Stamped metal insert logo
New Proto bottom line
Adjustable locking dual-durometer feedneck

Smart Parts will now be releasing a new marker – the Epiphany, or the “Epiphany Ion�. I’ve already seen plenty of negative feedback, but I’m not so sure that I agree with it this time. First off, the starting price will probably be around $400 U.S. So what is different about this Ion on steroids?

-Magnesium body frame. Magnesium is famous in the bicycling world for being an extremely durable metal, yet lighter in weight compared to other common metals.

-The internals have been stepped up. Hoses and solenoids have been strengthened.

-Higher regulator settings and faster recharge rates prevent drop off.

-Includes a Freak barrel and inserts

-Smart Parts Firebolt pushes even the most fragile of shells while decreasing vibration and increasing air efficiency.

-New trigger configuration pulls smooth, and has virtually eliminated any side to side slack.

-Standard Barrel Threads – The Epiphany uses the Smart Parts standard barrel thread found on the Shocker NXT, Impulse, Nerve, Ion and SP-8.

-17+ BPS Performance – The standard Epiphany circuit board will deliver rates up to 17 balls per second, while the Blackheart and aftermarket boards can take it to 20 and beyond.

There you have it; or the shortened version at least. People are complaining that it’s just a $400 Ion, but I don’t think Smart Parts is trying to pull a fast one and pass it off as something else. After all, they have named it the Epiphany Ion…

After owning an Ion myself, the most appetizing parts of the Epiphany are the new looks, new trigger, and the FREAK barrel. The only downside I can see is the doubled price, and the fact that all of this could be done by just spending the money on upgrades for a regular Ion.