Electric vs gravity

[Cuatela]

In the past several years since I started playing, hoppers have developed from simple gravity-fed to electrics with a variety of methods. Usually, they give something of an advantage...but what happens when the battery dies? Oh sure, you should always have a fresh battery, but there is always the player who forgets.

Perfect example was the Aliens vs Predator game at Reactive Battlegrounds last year. I was watching a guy who had an autococker with an electric hopper (don't remember the brand). Midway through the game, his battery died, and he was shooting air until he noticed it. Even then, he was forced to shake his hopper to get a single ball to drop inside. Pretty embarrassing when you're shooting one ball per minute with an Autococker.

So yes, you can change the batteries, but I can safely say I won't have to change my batteries with my gravity-fed hopper. saves me money too :P

[SirRod]

I'm not sure what your question is!!!
It all depends on the type of game you want to play.
If your a pump player gravity feed is all you need.
If your a mad multy ball per second shooter then a electric hopper is what you need.
There is the question of price, a gravity feed will be much less expensive than electric.
Another concern is the field owners/producers game rate of fire.
Over shooting is becoming epidemic, and at least one field has banned use of electric power feeders in recreational play.
Many of the Tournement producers have lowered the rate of fire for thier events to 12bps. NPPL for one.
All in all its a matter of personal preferance, style of play, field/producers restrictions.
During the FEAR game at blanding I shot my sniper II, I was only one at the base and 5 opposing players, attacked running at me. I was shooting about one ball a sec. needless to say one opposing player shot me multipical times, and was saying"How many does it take???" I said "How many rounds can you shoot a sec." I was hit at least 20 times and the producer rate of fire limit was 15bps. It took at least one or two seconds for me to realize im hit and another second or two to raise my hands. The opposing players didn't bother to check to see if they were hit, just kept running and shooting me. I know I hit the demo guy at least one time, but he continued to deliver his demolition to the base.
No matter how fast an aftermarket board and hopper can make your marker shoot(35bps) it still dosen't make it right to over shoot an opponent. When you see the first ball break stop shooting and allow the opposing player to call him or her self out.
I usually carry an extra battery on the field.

[SaharaJunkee]

Depending on what I'm shooting, I prefer an electric hopper just to eliminate those situations where I dry fired in the heat of battle because the paintballs got binded in the gravity feed hopper's feed neck.

If playing pump, I typically use a gravity feed because they're smaller in size than electric hoppers, and I've gotten into the habit of checking and shaking the thing to make sure paint doesn't bind.

[Wubby]

electronic hoppers are made for fast shooting, and in most styles of play that you shoot fast a lot, batteries won't just give up the ghost on the field. in a scenario just remember to replace your battery, and if you don't and it goes dead, theres nothing that you can do but go and replace it. electronic hoppers are the best bet for any gun except pumps, imo. sure they have batteries but with electric you greatly reduce your chances of shopping or not even feeding.

[ace007]

Originally Posted by Wubby

electronic hoppers are the best bet for any gun except pumps, imo. sure they have batteries but with electric you greatly reduce your chances of shopping or not even feeding.

I'm not sure my shopping has decreased since buying my Halo's, but I'd do almost anything to shop less.

[SirRod]

There is an exception to the Hopper dead battrey syndrom.
The Halo has the ability to feed even if the batterys are dead.
It has a wind up spring that will feed at least 15 balls before you have to rewind it.
I'm not a fan of halo but that one inovation gives it an edge over all the rest.

[tate0301]

There are several electronic loaders out there that will act like a gravity fed loader when the battery dies as Sir Rod said. So if its that big a deal find one with that feature.

[CANNIBAL]

It never hurts to be force fed on demand.

[loop]

Originally Posted by Cuatela

Perfect example was the Aliens vs Predator game at Reactive Battlegrounds last year. I was watching a guy who had an autococker with an electric hopper (don't remember the brand). Midway through the game, his battery died, and he was shooting air until he noticed it. Even then, he was forced to shake his hopper to get a single ball to drop inside. Pretty embarrassing when you're shooting one ball per minute with an Autococker.

In my opinon whats embarrassing is the fact that the D/A didnt check his batteries before hand. Next is this thread a question are you just venting because you dont have a electric hopper? Your not the only person that doesnt have a electric hopper alot of people have gravity fed hoppers and love it but in the same sense alot of people love there high dollar hopper also.