Paintball

[installer020]

I bought a NIB Thunder Cat from my local shop a couple months ago. I put a Lapco icd to cocker barrel adaptor on it and played with it for the first time this weekend. Shot pretty good. I do have a couple questions and hope you can help me.

http://[URL=http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7832577][/url]
http://[URL=http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7832578][/url]


1. Would it be better to just buy and ICD barrel or will my accuracy be the same with the adaptor and my Redz barrel kit?

2. does anyone make an aftermarket grip frame for it. Not fond of the stock plastic one, would love to get an on/off on it and a double trigger.

3. I don't have a manual, what is the recock adjustment?

4. is there anyway to convert it to vert feed?

5. Is there any upgrades I should be looking at for it?

I thought it shot pretty good, I donb't have a manual and didn't pay attention to the efficiency. It has a rather larger expansion chamber on it, but since i run hpa, i am thinking about just switching to a gas through front grip that is smaller.

Anything else you guys can tell me would be great.

Thanks,
Matt

[Surestick]

I don't have a manual, what is the recock adjustment

Unlike most other blowbacks the ICD Cat line lets you adjust the amount of gas diverted to the front of the hammer to re-cock.

when/if you chose to fiddle with it remember that it will also affect velocity - the more gas goes to re-cock the less goes to the ball. Same goes for velocity. If you turn down velocity you might need to turn up the re-cock adjustment.

[Quacker]

1) ICD Barrels are dirt cheap b/c the threading is no longer used. I'd use your Redz barrel kit until you stumble upon a stupendous deal...My Alley Cat with the stock barrel and really high quality paint is ball on ball.

2) Your grip is secured to the gun with a single bolt. You can only change the grip itself, and not the whole trigger assembly. Any standard grip replacement will work, including Phantom .45 grip adapters and the APP Gator Grip. If you want to add a double trigger, you'll have to hack off the trigger guard and replace the trigger shoe with a double trigger shoe.

3) Surestick explained it pretty well. I will add that the recommended starting point for recock and velocity is to screw them all the way in, and then turn the recock screw one turn out and the velocity screw three turns out. You don't want to have the recock screw too far out because that will add up in terms of wear and tear on the gun. If it's over 275 fps and recocks reliably, the settings are good.

4) Not easily.

5) Not really. Works great on straight CO2 or compressed air. You'll definitely need an agitated loader.

You won't see any efficiency gains by going to a gas thru over an expansion chamber.

Originally Posted by installer020

I bought a NIB Thunder Cat from my local shop a couple months ago. I put a Lapco icd to cocker barrel adaptor on it and played with it for the first time this weekend. Shot pretty good. I do have a couple questions and hope you can help me.

http://[URL=http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7832577]http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/3/7518115995.jpg[/url]
http://[URL=http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7832578]http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/3/7518115958.jpg[/url]


1. Would it be better to just buy and ICD barrel or will my accuracy be the same with the adaptor and my Redz barrel kit?

2. does anyone make an aftermarket grip frame for it. Not fond of the stock plastic one, would love to get an on/off on it and a double trigger.

3. I don't have a manual, what is the recock adjustment?

4. is there anyway to convert it to vert feed?

5. Is there any upgrades I should be looking at for it?

I thought it shot pretty good, I donb't have a manual and didn't pay attention to the efficiency. It has a rather larger expansion chamber on it, but since i run hpa, i am thinking about just switching to a gas through front grip that is smaller.

Anything else you guys can tell me would be great.

Thanks,
Matt

[installer020]

I currently have it chrono'd at 290 fps and it shoots great. With the Lapco adaptor and my 16" redz barrel, the barrel i had on it was close to 20". I did get a little fun poked at me for that, but what can i do, lol. I am ssuming since the bolt that holds the grip frame on goes through the bottom, I would be hard pressed to add an on/off no matter what grip i purchase. The trigger shoe on the trigger is plastic. Will any aluminum trigger shoe work fine to replace it.

I was also wondering if adding an inline regulator and dropping the pressure down will hurt my performance. I seem to remember the Thunder Cat requires about 850 PSI input to operate properly, but i could of couyrse be wrong as it came with no manual.

I was only thinking of adding the gas through as it would be smaller than the huge expansion chamber that is on there now.

Thanks,
Matt

[Quacker]

I'm not sure just any trigger shoe would work, but if you want to add an on/off, all you need is a .45 grip block. Those are tapped to take bottomlines. Also, the Gator Grip has an adapter you can buy for a bottomline.

A regulator wouldn't hurt, but it basically has to run at around 800 psi. No hope for a LP 'cat.

Originally Posted by installer020

I currently have it chrono'd at 290 fps and it shoots great. With the Lapco adaptor and my 16" redz barrel, the barrel i had on it was close to 20". I did get a little fun poked at me for that, but what can i do, lol. I am ssuming since the bolt that holds the grip frame on goes through the bottom, I would be hard pressed to add an on/off no matter what grip i purchase. The trigger shoe on the trigger is plastic. Will any aluminum trigger shoe work fine to replace it.

I was also wondering if adding an inline regulator and dropping the pressure down will hurt my performance. I seem to remember the Thunder Cat requires about 850 PSI input to operate properly, but i could of couyrse be wrong as it came with no manual.

I was only thinking of adding the gas through as it would be smaller than the huge expansion chamber that is on there now.

Thanks,
Matt

[installer020]

Originally Posted by Quacker

I'm not sure just any trigger shoe would work, but if you want to add an on/off, all you need is a .45 grip block. Those are tapped to take bottomlines. Also, the Gator Grip has an adapter you can buy for a bottomline.

A regulator wouldn't hurt, but it basically has to run at around 800 psi. No hope for a LP 'cat.

I think I am going to purchase the CCI 45 Gripframe. It is aluminum, comes with grips and the needed harware for mounting and is tapped for an on/off. I believe i will like this much better. I am also looking at a CP or Rubberized front grip as it will be smaller, more comfortable and in my opinion look nicer.

Now I just need to find out if a standard trigger show will work.

Thanks,
Matt

[capitalpaintball]

ICD trigger shoes are more a part of the trigger then just a shoe. If you remove it there will just be a post sticking down and standard "shoes" are not going to do much. Proline use to put out a double trigger for the Thundercat/Alleycat. also the stock ICD Desert fox double triggers would fit. I would say stick to the plastic one, its an exact copy of the metal ones that came on the older Creek guns. and I have never seen one break.

[installer020]

Originally Posted by capitalpaintball

ICD trigger shoes are more a part of the trigger then just a shoe. If you remove it there will just be a post sticking down and standard "shoes" are not going to do much. Proline use to put out a double trigger for the Thundercat/Alleycat. also the stock ICD Desert fox double triggers would fit. I would say stick to the plastic one, its an exact copy of the metal ones that came on the older Creek guns. and I have never seen one break.

After reading this post i think i will do that. The plastic one is comfortale and works just fine. I am very impressed with how the marker itslef works. I am wondering if there is anything i should be doing for general maintenance. I have been putting a little Gold cup oil in the asa and shootying it through before and after playing. Will this be enough?

Thanks,
Matt

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by installer020

After reading this post i think i will do that. The plastic one is comfortale and works just fine. I am very impressed with how the marker itslef works. I am wondering if there is anything i should be doing for general maintenance. I have been putting a little Gold cup oil in the asa and shootying it through before and after playing. Will this be enough?

Thanks,
Matt

Pretty much. The other thing you can do is to unscrew the back cap when you're storing it, to help preserve the mainspring.

[installer020]

Originally Posted by Quacker

Pretty much. The other thing you can do is to unscrew the back cap when you're storing it, to help preserve the mainspring.

I have seen some Thunder Cat/Alley Cat pasrts kits on eBay, would it be worth buying one just to have?

Matt