TOO O-RING OR NOT TOO O-RING?

A COMMONLY ASKED QUESTION, WHICH IS BETTER A BOLT: WITH OR WITHOUT O-RINGS????

MY OPINION AND EXPERIENCE IS THAT A BOLT WITH NO O-RINGS REQUIRES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE, HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DRAG, AND DOES NOT EVEN HAVE TO BE LUBRICATED. THE DOWNFALL HOWEVER, IS THAT BECAUSE THE BOLT IS A SLIGHTLY LOOSE FIT IN THE BREECH, IT IS THE LEAST EFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO AIR CONSUMPTION AND CAN ALSO CREATE A PROBLEM CALLED "POPCORNING".  THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE SOME OF THE AIR GOES AROUND THE BOLT AND "POPS" THE BALL(S) UPWARD TOWARDS THE HOPPER AND CAN PROMOTE BALL CHOP.

BOLTS WITH 2 O-RINGS: IN THIS DESIGN THE O-RINGS ARE LOCATED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AIR INLET HOLE INTO THE BOLT. THE AIR SEAL PROVIDED BY THE 2 O-RINGS INCREASE EFFICIENCY, HAS VERY LITTLE DRAG, AND MINIMIZES THE "POPCORN" EFFECT. BOLTS WITH O-RINGS SHOULD BE INSPECTED, CLEANED, AND OILED ON A REGULAR BASIS, FOR EXAMPLE, AT LEAST A MINIMUM OF EVERY 2000 ROUNDS. THIS IS THE MOST POPULAR STYLE THAT I SELL AND IT IS ALSO THE ONLY WAY I OFFER THE "LOW BLOW" STYLE BOLT.

BOLTS WITH 3 O-RINGS: WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST EFFICIENT BOLT FOR A PAINTBALL MARKER. THE THIRD O-RING LOCATED AT THE END OF THE BOLT PROVIDES THE EXTRA SEAL AGAINST THE BOLT AND THE BARREL. ITS GREATEST PITFALL HOWEVER IS THAT THE THIRD O-RING AND THE BALL DETENT(S) MAY EXPERIENCE A HIGH DEGREE OF WEAR WITH EACH CYCLE OF THE BOLT CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE THIRD O-RING, DETENT(S) OR BOTH. THE 3 O-RING DESIGN FOR THIS REASON CREATES THE MOST AMOUNT OF DRAG FROM THE DETENT(S)/ O-RING RESISTANCE. THIS STYLE SHOULD ALSO BE INSPECTED WITH A GREATER FREQUENCY.

HOPE YOU WILL FIND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL IN SELECTING THE BOLT BEST SUITED FOR YOUR MARKER. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO  e-mail US.

THANXS, RON

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