Your Favorite Nelson-Based That Isn't a Phantom or Carter

[iamthelazerviking]

Tell me about your favorite Nelson-based marker, and why it is "the best" in your opinion. I want to hear about others aside from CCI and Carter.

[glaman5266]

My experience with Nelsons isn't very extensive (mainly a sniper guy), but my favorite is the PMI Trracer/ACI Maverick. They're not as nice as a Phantom in the fit/finish department, but they're rock solid, the factory grips are super comfortable IMO and they pump WAAAAY easier than a Phantom thanks to the side-cocking pump arms. I think they're a great bang for the buck as well.
I've never owned a Carter, but I wouldn't mind trying one some day.

[Carp]

Only thing I can add is..you can also, swap-in any phantom grip, on to a maverick or tracer...👍

[coyote]

The 2006 Lapco Grey Ghost has a very elegant trigger and comes with a built in Spyder detent to prevent rollouts.

It was a very nice shooter.

[Ecapnation]

Taso Spartans... Dumb clunky but I love them

[Havoc]

I like the 2nd? Gen Hammers the A / P series. Ajustable velocity by ajustable bolt. Spyder threaded so barrels are easy to find, and the pump handle has a removable inner sleeve to fix different diameter barrels. The only thing they are lacking is a ball detent.

[Chappy]

Line SI. Those old deluxe Bushies were so damn sexy with their wire sticks and dropouts .

[WORR13]

id have to agree. and what a pump stroke

[Ironnerd]

CASL Reb
All the Nelson bells and whistles (in 1991 anyway)

The feed can be swapped left or right
The barrel came off with a single knurled nut.
The pump handle comes off with quick releases
The bolt does not kink
Delrin bolt with a diffuser bolt face available
The trigger could be locked aft with the safety to allow auto-trigger with your finger off the trigger (not sure about the value of that, but it was available).
Nice, adjustable slide trigger.
Velocity was adjusted by a hex rod down the barrel.
Mine had a ball detent (home brewed).

It could have used helicoils in the screw holes and a 'cocker-threaded barrel, but other than that, it was a sweet old marker.

[JonM]

If we’re excluding Phantoms, then I would have to say the Sterling. The pump stroke on mine is butter smooth.

[coyote]

I have a Sterling that landed just before Covid. I have to get the springs right for HPA , as it shoot s in the 240s.

I love the pump stroke and the trigger.

[SignOfZeta]

If we are to consider the Sterling a Nelson (very borderline, IMO) then that’s the clear winner for me. Otherwise I like Bushmaster, Spartan, Rebline, PMI Trracer, whatever. The dual pump arms are way better than the standard Phantom pump rod. The CCI Phantom was never better than any other Nelson clone, it just had way better support and outlasted all the others.

[moving_target]

Nelspot. Especially if it has the "newer" style pierce pin assembly, or a back bottle or dropout changer.

Every one I own(Ed) shoots 260 +/- 5 and just works. Also if you keep em oiled the pump stroke is pretty nice. And that's before doing any phantom internal mods or anything like that.

[JonM]

If the Sterling has a Nelson valve and a Nelson bolt, then it’s a Nelson. It’s a stacked tube marker, sure. But there’s no rule stating that a “real” Nelson has to be a single tube marker.

[netsurferdude2]

My main shooter is a Bushmaster and it has the best nelson pump stroke I have ever tried. Add in a freak-bored barrel and you are good to go.

[Ironnerd]

Bushmasters, like Rebs, had an Anti-Kink Bolt/Hammer to "butterize" the pump-stroke. They took two different paths to arrive at the butter, but they are both great markers. My Tiger Shark kinks so bad, I have to apply bicycle grease to the power tube.

[SignOfZeta]

If the Sterling has a Nelson valve and a Nelson bolt, then it’s a Nelson. It’s a stacked tube marker, sure. But there’s no rule stating that a “real” Nelson has to be a single tube marker.

It doesn’t have a Nelson bolt, it has a hammer catch and its own bolt. The grip frame is set up different. Very little is compatible. IHMO it’s it’s own thing and happens to use some Nelson parts.

[JonM]

What I should have said is that the hammer works essentially the same as a Nelson bolt. It’s a modified design, sure. But they work the same way at its core. Even the manufacturer considers it to be a Nelson valve.

[BigRed]

Double RR for the win!Trracer for me, especially when you consider price and over all performance.

[flyweightnate]

Line SI, mostly for the frame. The trigger guard is tiny but the rest "feels right".

If it came in center feed or stock class I'd probably still have one. Which means I'm remiss for not having yet tried a PRP.