A short review and pictures of the "SQUALL"
By Brent Hoefling AKA RamboPreacher PoG#6- "A Player, Not A Pro"
Warning, The following pictures may take several minutes to download if using a MoDem:
This particular Squall is almost completely stock (as I am told, since there are very few of them). Based on the Typhoon body, it bears a Palmer Typhoon moniker. The addition of a very short sight rail was added, to allow my personal touch of a named sight hood. "Faith" is the name of this particular Palmer gun in my collection. There were a few things I noticed right off the bat, after opening the box.
I have never owned a Palmer gun with a Quick Silver device, so some off this review includes my first views of the QS. Initially, the gun seemed a bit heavy. After actually gassing it up and loading some balls (holds 11 balls and a 12th if I chamber a ball), I realized that I don't have a separate tank, or a hopper. Adding a 12 gram cartridge added almost no weight, and neither did loading the feed tube. (I suppose it did add weight, but not appreciably enough to make a difference).
Although I am still waiting on my Radar Chroney from back order, and I have yet to chroney the gun, it seems to be pretty consistent. I will append this review when I get more documented information on velocity. I am also able to get about 15 good shots from the 12 gram cartridge. Again, I do not know the velocity, and I could be shooting at 350fps, for all I know. If it is anything like my other Palmer guns, I will see an increase in the number of balls shot when I dial down the velocity to 275/280 range.
Though this is not a comprehensive covering of the Squall, it is a recreational players judgment. I will refrain from getting into technical details as there are other better suited writers and reviewers. In my humble opinion, and being versed in many kinds and forms of markers, I would have to give this baby two thumbs up (as I did with my Blazer). Worth the $545 (stock) price? That is a subjective call. You will have to have a "need" for this type of gun. You can get a plastic semi-auto that is less efficient and springfed for about $100, but you get what you pay for. (you will not have the accuracy or range) The best comparison for this gun in accuracy and range is with the "big-dogs", and not with the "Wal-Mart specials".
The Squall is a bit heavy, and a bit expensive, but in my opinion, well worth the "price". I will probably have two before the end of the year, so I can have the gunslingers use of them. I have not yet actually used it in the field, but I have already run about a dozen or so 12 grams through it, just playing with the feed, and trigger. If you want a really cheep semi holsterable backup - this is not the gun for you. If you have need of a "10 round" springfed, semi-auto, that is holsterable, and you need accuracy and "full" range capabilities, then look no further (as if there were anywhere else to look for such a gun).
990726 - Addendum:
The Squall has now been thoroughly broken in and I use it all the time. I
almost never go to the rec. play field without it either holstered or as my
primary paintgun. Many times I don't even have to run out of paint or air
(I have yet to have to use it because of any kinds of failure on my primary), I
just find that I run into circumstances that in the last 30 seconds of the game,
I drop all my heavy gear and run for the flag with the Squall. I don't
always make it, as usually the renters are pretty "defensive"
players. But I do get a last chance to go for the flag and also get to
take out a player or two on the way! Another point I forgot to finalize from the
initial review... I can get about two full tubes (20 balls) out of a 12
gram cartridge. Actually get more than that, but If I change the cartridge
then, I don't have to count balls (gets a few more than 20). So every
other time I do a full reload, I also change the cartridge. - Paintball is FUN! Here are a couple
more recent pictures of the Squall:
(it was kind of bright that day, but I wanted to get some outside pics too)
991208 Addendum: A couple months or so ago, (heat of the summer) I was using the Squall as my primary gun for some open rec play. This time, unlike others, I found myself wanting to re-load more often (4 or 5 times in a game!). and that I was in more "tight situations" than I had found myself in at other times when using it as my primary. What this lead to was that the feed tube plug was too small and too hard to grasp when trying to be in a hurry, in the heat of summer and having sweaty, gloved hands. In response to this situation, I asked Craig about it and he made me a custom feed plug. Much larger, made of aluminum and with a knurled grip. I'll get pictures of it up as soon as I get my digital camera (for Christmas).
thanks - Brently
