I’ve had my Tippmann TPX for about a year now. Few things in paintball are more bad-ass feeling as taking down a full-auto kiddie with a pistol. However the TPX marker is not without its flaws. The first common issue is with the inconsistency in the size of CO2 cartridges. My suggestion is to try out many different sizes of cartridges until you find one that works, then use that brand exclusively. Otherwise, you’ll need to use a spacer of some kind (dimes, springs, or a wad of paper come to mind) in order to get the cartridge to fit snugly inside the housing.
The second issue, and far worse is the frequency of jams and ball chops which occur. All too often you get lined up for that perfect shot, or are making a suicidal dash only to have the marker fail on you. These issues can be mitigated in a number of ways. First, try to use a thick/hard shelled paintball. If necessary, buy a 500 shot bag of really good paint just for the TPX (at 8 shots a clip it will take awhile to get through one bag). The problem is that softer shelled paint will get crushed under the pressure of the clip. This will cause it to either get stuck in the receiver, or load too slowly and get chopped.
I would not recommend using the TPX as an on-field backup. If you’re using your primary marker and carrying the TPX as a just-in-case backup, I’ve found that you’d be better off just walking off the field than switching to it. Leaving paintballs in the clips for long periods of time, or getting warm because the clips are close to your body heat will cause jams and chops more frequently (even with better paint). I’ve had the most success when I used the TPX exclusively for a game, as there will be less time for the pressure in the clip to warp the paintballs. If you are using it as an on-field backup, leave the clips empty until you decide to switch markers, then bunker down and load your clips.
The Tippmann TPX is a fun marker, but it takes a lot more care to keep it working as desired then I’d like. The accuracy is good, though an upgraded barrel or barrel sizing kit might go a long way to improving that accuracy. When the marker is working, it is a fun and exciting way to play paintball. You can move fast and quiet since you need very little gear and you’re going to take very few shots.
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