If you've been around the particular paintball scene intended for more than a moment, you probably have a soft place for the bob long vice and the period of stacked-tube poppets it represented. It's one of those markers that will, even years right after its initial release, still commands the certain degree of respect when you pull it out of your gear bag at the regional field. Back within 2008, when it first hit the particular scene, it was marketed as a kind of "mid-range" alternative to the high-end Marq series, but anyone which actually shot a single knew better. The Vice wasn't simply a budget choice; it was a high-performance workhorse that could keep up with—and often outshoot—markers that cost twice as much.
The transition from the classic Intimidator line to the Generation 5 architecture was a big deal for Bob Long Technologies. The Vice took everything individuals loved about the particular "Timmy" and sleek it. It lost the bulk, improved the air efficiency, plus simplified the internal domestic plumbing. Even today, in the world dominated by hoseless spool valves that feel such as shooting a drinking water pistol, there will be something incredibly rewarding about the tactile, rhythmic "pop" of a Vice.
A Masterclass in Efficiency and Speed
One of the first things people usually talk about with the bob long vice is the efficiency. We're talking about the marker that can practically sniff an air tank and still offer you a complete day of firing. It wasn't unusual to see men getting 12 or even 13 pods away a standard 68/4500 fill, which, with regard to the time, had been absolutely insane. In the event that you're playing a long woodsball sport or a heavy x-ball match, without having to worry about your air degree is a huge tactical advantage.
This efficiency comes down to the Gen five poppet engine. Bob Long's team was able to optimize the airflow so that extremely little energy is usually wasted. Because it's a stacked-tube style, the bolt plus the rammer are usually separate, allowing regarding an extremely fast cycling rate. If you've got a quick trigger finger plus the board is definitely uncapped, the Vice sounds like a literal chainsaw. It's aggressive, it's noisy, also it lets everybody on the other side of the snake know exactly where you are.
The Significance of the Pressure Tester
I can't talk regarding a bob long vice without mentioning the one thing that scares off new owners: the tuning. Unlike modern "plug-and-play" markers to just grease the bolt and go, Bob Long guns require a bit associated with a relationship. To get a Vice running perfectly, a person really need a pressure tester.
The Vice utilizes two regulators: the HPR (High Pressure Regulator) and the LPR (Low Pressure Regulator). The HPR controls your velocity, while the LPR handles how hard the particular rammer hits the particular valve. If your LPR is actually higher, you're putting unneeded wear on your internals and increasing kick. If it's too low, the marker won't cycle or you'll get enormous consistency issues.
A lot of people attempted to "tune by ear" back in the particular day and finished up frustrated when they blew a solenoid or couldn't get a steady chrono reading. But here's the key: once you use a tester in order to set those stresses to the manufacturer defaults (usually close to 190 HPR / 75 LPR, although it varies), the marker becomes incredibly reliable. It's such as an old muscle mass car—it needs a little fine-tuning underneath the engine, but once it's dialed in, it'll scream.
Ergonomics and Field Feel
Holding a bob long vice feels various than holding a contemporary Planet Eclipse or even Dye marker. It's got that classic "Bob Long" thinness. The grip framework is slim, and the distance between the particular trigger frame and the regulator provides you a really stable platform intended for off-hand shooting.
One point you'll notice instantly is the weight—or lack thereof. For the marker made nearly entirely of high-grade aluminum, it is usually surprisingly light. It doesn't have the particular "brick" feel associated with some older paintball guns. However, this does have the macroline. For younger players who increased up on internal gas lines, the macroline may appear such as a relic, but it actually makes the particular marker easier to work on relatively. If you have got a leak, a person usually just exchange a ten-cent part of hose rather than tearing down the particular entire frame to find a concealed O-ring.
The trigger on the Vice can also be the standout feature. It's a 4-point adjustable "Scythe" style trigger that uses bearings rather than bushing. This gives this a very "walkable" sense. It's snappy plus responsive, which is definitely exactly what you want when you're seeking to lane somebody off the break.
Why Buy the Vice Today?
You might become wondering why anyone would hunt down a bob long vice in the 2020s when there are therefore many new available options. Honestly, a great deal of it is about the "soul" from the marker. Modern weapons are great—they're clean, quiet, and reliable—but they can also feel a bit sterile. The Vice has character.
There's furthermore the value element. You can usually find an used Vice for the fraction of the price of a brand-new mid-range marker, plus it will most likely outperform them in terms of organic speed and air flow efficiency. It's an excellent project gun with regard to someone who desires to learn the "old ways" of gun maintenance. Plus, the aftermarket for Bob Long parts is still surprisingly active. You can discover specialized bolts (like the Pillow Bolt to reduce paint breakage), different sparks, and upgraded planks like the Tadao or Frenzy techniques.
Another cause is the "cool factor. " There's a specific type of respect you get at the particular field when you're rocking an old-school Bob Long. This shows you know your own history and you know how to maintain a top of the line machine. It's not just a tool; it's a piece of paintball design history.
Normal Quirks to consider
Now, to be fair, the bob long vice isn't perfect. It's a good older marker, and contains its quirks. The most typical issue people encounter is the eye cables. Because of the particular way the body is machine made, the wires for the break-beam eyes can be a bit pinched in case you aren't cautious when putting the frame back on.
Also, as I discussed earlier, you absolutely can not skip out on the pressure tester. If you buy an utilized Vice, the initial thing you need to do—even before you gass it up—is check those pressures. People like to "tinker" with settings, plus you never know when the previous owner had the LPR cranked up to 120 simply because they didn't know what they were doing.
Lastly, paint handling. While the Vice is generally gentle on paint, it's the poppet valve, therefore it's naturally the bit "snappier" compared to a spool valve. If you're capturing incredibly brittle tournament-grade paint in abnormally cold weather, you may need to be a bit more careful with your tuning. But intended for your average Weekend on the field shooting mid-grade bore-matched paint? It'll handle this great.
Final Thoughts
With the end associated with the day, the particular bob long vice represents a high point in the "Golden Era" of paintball. It was built during a period when manufacturers had been enthusiastic about making guns faster, lighter, and more efficient every single year. It's a marker created by a guy (Bob Long) who lived and breathed the competitive side of the sport, and that pedigree shows in every photo.
If you have the opportunity to buy one, perform it. Even in case it just sits inside your collection since a backup, generally there will come the day when you're tired of your "perfect" modern gun and you want something with a bit more personality. When that day comes, you'll gass up the Vice, hear that iconic pop-pop-pop, and keep in mind exactly why all of us fell in love with this video game in the initial place. It's fast, it's loud, and it's a complete blast to shoot.