IThe Eclipse EMek is a simple mechanical marker built around their low-pressure, softtouch in-line Gamma Core drive train that, thanks to its 135psi operating pressure, will be gentle on paintballs. This, combined with an off-set Deftek clamping feed neck, will go a long way towards preventing broken and chopped paintballs. The marker’ s outer shell is made from lightweight yet strong and game-proven glass-reinforced nylon and the bottom-line bottle adapter is made from aluminum. A replacement on / off ASA is available and might be a good buy for serious players. The EMek accepts Autocockerthreaded barrels, making a replacement for the basic ten-inch tube that, although clean, simple and well-honed internally with a few ports at the brake, will likely be replaced by more serious players with a kit to allow bore sizing to whatever paintballs may be available. A pivoting single trigger actuates a simple and robust mechanical three-way valve that initiates the firing sequence of the EMek when the trigger is pulled and a mechanical safety lever is built-in. The marker’ s wraparound rubber grips are comfortable and can be removed without tools, and unlike it’ s more expensive GMek brother, the EMek requires no external macro-line air hose.
A player’ s first impressive on the EMek once it’ s out of the box and in the hands is that this marker is very light. At under two pounds, that’ s an understatement. Adding a compressed air bottle and a hopper won’ t change things much unless a massive bottle and a high-end force-feed loader are slapped on, but the average EMek will hit the field at between five and six pounds ready to fight. I chose a lightweight 68 cubic inch Imomrtal Air bottle and, because I wanted to take advantage of the marker’ s light weight, a JT Revolution loader. Players who don’ t want any batteries at all could surely make-do with
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