Shocker AMP

[The Jayster]

I was looking at my marker collection and realized that for the first time in 15 years I don't own an electro. While I really want an LV2, there's no way I'm forking out $2k+ for a marker. Used Geo 4? Meh, love Geos (had the 3, 3.1 and 3.5) but hate the new shape. I mainly wanted something that I could use to sling a lot of paint those rare times I feel like it, and a loaner as well. I narrowed it down to the 170R and the Shocker AMP. Since I've had several Gamma Core markers already, plus the nostalgia factor of having owned a Shoebox Shocker 22 years ago, made me go towards the Shocker. Plus their colour offerings are much nicer (got mine in purple). Now, I know that there was some controversy over the fact that SP, hum, borrowed the GC concept from PE for the AMP, but I figured since I gave PE SO much money in the last 15 years or so it should be enough to atone for my sin and not get excommunicated.

When I opened the package, I found the gun case to be very nice. Upon opening it, I was surprised at how nice the ano is. When looking at the colours online they look much glossier, like 'old school' ano. You get SP grease (Dow Corning 33 really), a very nice allen key set, but a very anemic parts kits. I'm used to the beefy PE kits. Freak barrels have always done fine by me, so there's that, although I'm a skeptic of the new school thought of needing inserts longer than 6" - seems more like a gimmick to me.

So I took it to the field last Saturday for some woodsball action. Hooked up my 68/45 Ninja Tank and DYE Rotor. Shot a full case on semi (although I did try PSP ramping for a game). Indeed, the shot quality is very reminiscent of the Gamma Core. I read that SP actually took the AMP design from the GC Pro, so I was expecting a smoother shot to be honest.

The only issue I've encountered was that I got several barrel breaks throughout the day (5-6... I seldom even get one per 5 cases or so). To be honest, there were at least two other players with 170Rs that had the exact same issue - and both were running the stock barrel (0.689), while I was using the stock XL insert (0.687) so the issue wasn't related to grossly underboring.

Here are random observations, likes/dislikes:


- The marker is very light and compact; I Iove the looks, the milling and the ano;

- I'm not crazy about the ergos. Nice but meh. It will take me some time to adjust to them;

- I like the feedneck and the ASA. I usually prefer POPS style ASAs, but that knob works very well and only requires the slightest of twists to be turned on/off;

- I like the board - easy to read and easy to use. However, that damn button was hell to use with my gloves on. I hate it intensely;

- The grips are actually nicer that initially thought - on the online pictures they look kinda cheap;

- I got a lot of comment on how small the reg grip was and how it was a turn-off, but I don't have a problem with it;

- The bolt removal mechanism works well, but looks over-complicated/over-engineered to me;

- I really don't like the eye cover system. The allen screw seems to be a bit wider than it should and I can see how easily strippable it can be if one is not careful with it. There are tiny o-rings around the screw that are fiddly - I learnt that you shouldn't try to remove the screws completely, just back them off until the cover can be removed. Also, one of the eyes would pop out of its socket due to the wiring, making the cover installation difficult;

- Oddly, my bolt system came with a ton of grease on it;

- Whilst I was playing, I felt the tank wiggle a little. I needed to tighten the ASA screws;

- I really like the trigger; good job on that one. Didn't need to adjust it, it was perfect for me right out of the box;



Overall, very nice marker. Seems solid to me and you get a fair amount of value for the price. While I do like it, I wasn't 'wowed' by it either. Maybe we've become too spoiled with how good markers have become? All things being equal, I would say I slightly prefer the 170R over the AMP, but that's me. OTOH, a purple marker on my gun wall does look good...

[Shan1Fat]

Thanks for the review! I own an M107R and was wondering what people thought about them vs. the AMP.

[The Jayster]

You made a good choice, don't look back. To be honest, I almost snatched up instead a used Green/Predator edition of the 170R at a good price but slept on it and it was gone before I replied back. I now wished I had been more alert. Oh well!

I also hear lots of good things about the DYE DSR. I think that it's a very tight race between the 170R, the Shocker AMP and the DSR. If I had to go back and pick one brand new, I'd go for the 170R just because I'm already very familiar with the Gamma Core and I know exactly what to expect where the usual PE amenities are concerned (POPS, barrel, etc.)

Many will disagree with me but in some ways when you look at the price difference between a Geo 4 or the LV2 and the 170R, I think that the 170R wins in the design category. For instance, the 170R has the wireless eyes while the Geo 4 and the LV2 still use wires, etc.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Nice job on the review. Toss a couple pictures up when you get a chance! Would like to see the purple.

[The Jayster]

Well, here's my current gun wall as well as a close-up pic of the Shocker:

[zinger565]

Oooh, I do like that Purple. I must say, I'm very intrigued about this newer generation, especially with the mech conversions, although I have a tough time purchasing anything Smart Parts.

[iamthelazerviking]

zinger565 Eclipse is far superior in my opinion. I tried a mech CVO and while it looks cool and sleek, too dainty for my hands. Also the bolt system just felt reallllly cheap and fragile.

[Melrosejedi]

Congratulations on the sp amp purchase. I personally fell(own) for the hk shocker amp in December when it came out. The upgrades on the hk and the ergonomics are nice. The engine for both shockers are identical,and rumor is this is almost identical to pe gamma core. Slight bolt acceleration on the amp and a rear qev. I suggest a new bolt like stanchy or the f16,as ball roll back is a reported issue by some. I have both and both work great.i know players running the pe guns and all seem solid,but im an nxt shocker guy and fit me to stay with this name.hope you have great success on the field with that beautiful gun .

[glaman5266]

Maybe we've become too spoiled with how good markers have become?

I don't think that's necessarily the case. Most high end paintguns today are built similarly & feel somewhat similar. It's the little differences that make/break our experiences. There are people out there that prefer the Shockers over the PE stuff. Case in point: I got to hold a LV2 this past weekend at ICPL and I wasn't thrilled with it despite my preference for stacked tube setups. Honestly, I'd take my Etek 5 over a LV2 (based purely on feel/ergos).

Or perhaps you just need more time behind it. I didn't care for midblock cockers, but I've never acclimated to a paintgun faster than I did with my Resurrection. Maybe give it some time?

EDIT: I know I sort of contradicted myself a little, so take my post for what you will. I say give it some more drive time & see how you feel about it.

[The Jayster]

I get what you're saying. This week-end I played a few games with my friend's CS2. Awesome marker, no doubt, and it was my first time playing with one. On one end I immediately liked the ergos and I was surprised by how smooth it shot. I expected the Gamma Core Pro to have a more 'nervous' or 'reactive' shot. On the other hand I thought the CS2 was otherwise pretty standard and would not fork out extra $$ for what it offers. I promptly went back to my upgraded Emek and that was it.

An interesting tidbit is that it is said that the Shocker AMP copied the design of the Gamma Core Pro, yet my Shocker is definitely not as smooth as the CS2 was. I wonder if that has to do with the fact that the Shocker is a very thin/light gun?

[pc2012]

I was stuck between the 170r and the amp but luckily the store let me shoot both markers and i ended up going with the amp. I felt like they shot smoother and because they were smaller i could snap a little better with it.

[The Jayster]

Awesome. Let us know what your thoughts are after a few games. I'll do the same.

[The Jayster]

The only think that worries me are those rollback/chopping stories about the AMP. I'll be damned if I spent $1K+ on a marker to then have to buy an aftermarket bolt. While I didn't get any chops the only time I played with it, I did get an usual amount of barrel breaks but as I said I saw at least two other players with 170Rs with the exact same issue. I'll try to shoot my AMP as much as I can for the remainder of this season (we usually stop playing in late November) to confirm if that's really an issue.

[JCC]

I am not sure there is any real issue, but admittedly I did buy a techt bolt and install it before ever using my amp. I think it would take very small paint and a force feed hopper before you would have any problem with rollback. That being said, any open face bolt marker could potentially have same thing happen. The opening in the bolt will nicely cup a ball letting it push back into it if it’s small enough detents do not grab it securely and it’s being pushed(forced feed loader). If it ever happens to you, check detents, check force setting on loader, check how small paint is, and you will finally find your issue. Then if those conditions are likely to be in play for you on regular basis by a $50 bolt. No need to go crazy and pay $100+ for a version with a “special” coating.

[The Jayster]

Thanks for the input, I'll keep that in mind.

[The Jayster]

Well I played with my Shocker again yesterday. I still mostly stand by my review, with a few exceptions. I had a much better time where ergos where concerned and it turns out it wasn't the gun's fault: along with the AMP I ordered a small 50ci Ninja tank and that's what I used with it initially. Yesterday I used my 68ci tank and the whole set-up felt much more natural. Somehow I could swap hands or snap shoot much easier. I shot about half a case on semi and did not experience a single break or chop. I was using GI 2-star paint and the temperature was 17 degrees celsius (60ish Fahrenheit?).