A short review and pictures of the "Golden Gun"
By Brent Hoefling AKA RamboPreacher PoG#6- "A Player, Not A Pro"
Pictures first: (warning
- some pictures are rather large and may require a couple minutes to download
with a MoDem)
Well, I got to take my new Gold Stroker out to the field and use it this
weekend. I had many questions that I politely answered, and (dang) my pictures
aren’t back yet (they were supposed to be back Saturday, I hope they didn’t
lose them). I’ll post them and let you all know here, when they get up on my
paintball pages.
Performance – The Stroker performed very well. It was obvious (to me) that the
new bottom line stabe hasn’t taken seat, or was broken in yet. It’s a good
thing I play mostly Rec. Paintball. I was fluctuating a bit in velocity (as I
chronied about every other game to make sure I wasn’t hot) +9 at one point and
–6 at another, for example. It’s accuracy and range (debatable subject by
some) was extremely good, in comparison to my Phoons and blazers. The efficiency
was not that hot, but was still better than most other non-pps guns. I got about
1000 balls from a 20 oz, probably could have got more, but the gun needs about
600psi to run (hay it’s a Stroker, not a blazer), so I couldn’t shoot the
tank dry. The trigger work that was done on this gun makes for a very short and
crisp pull – just like I like. Basically it performed just like any other nice
PPS Stroker (though it seems my trigger might be a lot better, imho)
Aesthetics - The polished nickel highlights and the clear revolution and clear
vl-bow added to the overall effect of the “beauty” of the gun. When I added
the special ordered (for this gun) “Midas Touch” paintballs were added to
the revolution, it was really sharp looking. The full-length lugging sight rail
was also a conversation maker. The players started calling me the “man with
the golden gun”, and that led to james bond, then RamBond – geesh –
another nickname – I hope it doesn’t stick. Oh, yea - after a few
games, I didn't use the front grip, just the gas through grip, so I pulled it
off so more gold would be glittering - hehehe. So for the guy who normally
proclaims aesthetics are not necessary - I now have a very aesthetically
pleasing paintgun. (and it performs exceptionally!)
Cleanup – A breeze. Typical of any PPS gun, I took it to my laundry room sink
and gave it a bath, after drying it off, and lubing it back up, I dry fired it a
couple times, then added a few drops to the asa and shot a few more times. Man I
love the maintenance free care of these Palmer guns. – Oh yea, I did run a
squeegee down the barrel after I was done to get the oil and water residue out
after the dry firing. – Pretty much typical for clean up of any of my PPS
guns.
A negative issue - The clear coat finish I had done didn’t last long. (No
fault of PPS – I had this done locally when Glenn sent me the body before it
was completed into a Stroker) I am not too worried about it, you can’t tell it
is coming off, unless you look really close (since it is clear anyway). I will
have to just handle it a bit more carefully to not wear/scratch the finish. I
splooged one ball, and guess what – it was my fault for getting excited and
short stroking. It was a particularly messy splooge as I got paint all up in the
elbow and the neck of the revolution. The new clear revolution had a problem
too. After a day’s play – the black paint inside the neck (presumably to not
allow light to interfere with the IR), started peeling off. I don’t know if I
should return it (just got it last week) or just take it apart and re-paint it.
Questions and Answers:
Q - How much was that?
A - more than you can afford if you have to ask, or well over $1000 - depending
on who was asking, and my mood
Q - Is that real gold?
A - yes, it is Gold Plated, not solid gold
Q - Did you make it?
A - No, Palmers Pursuit Shop built it custom for me.
Q - Why didn't you have a gold plated Typhoon, instead of a Stroker?
A - It's been done (Even though Glenn owns it)
Q - Are you going to stop using your blazer?
A - NO!
990726 Addendum:
I have now used the Golden Stroker many times in the recreational play
field. This gun is truly amazing. I have some fellow teammates (Team
Neurotic Commando's) that are also "Palmerites" and they have
never seen or felt the likes of a trigger so sweetly done on a Stroker, a
Typhoon, yes, but never on a Stroker. Anyway - The gun performs
flawlessly. I can get at about 1000 rounds from a 20 oz remote, maybe more
but that is where I stop and change tanks (If I get that far.) Here are a
couple more recent pictures of the Golden Stroker and the new Grips I made for
it.
Golden Stroker 1
Golden Stroker 2
Golden Stroker 3
Golden Stroker 4
Golden Stroker 5
Golden Stroker 6
I also found a place that has paintballs that were apparently created for my
gun. I don't know if anyone else uses Accuball from Paintball
Online, but I started and they are great. They are very round
and very good in all my Palmer guns. Besides Midas Touch, I also use the
"Invisiball" version of the Accuball as well. The Invisiballs
are black with a white fill. The Midas Touch have a bright green fill.
Midas Touch 1
Midas Touch 2
thanks - Brently
