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68AUTOMAG
Operation, Maintenance and Parts
Level 7
Airgun Designs, Inc.
804 Seton Court
Wheeling, Illinois 60090
USA
WARNING
THIS PAINTBALL GUN IS NOT A TOY. THIS PAINTBALL GUN
SHOULD BE TREATED AS A DANGEROUS INSTRUMENT AND SHOULD
ALWAYS BE TREATED WITH RESPECT. IF MISUSED OR IMPROPERLY
MAINTAINED, THIS PAINTBALL GUN CAN CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY
INJURY, INCLUDING BLINDNESS, OR EVEN DEATH.
THE PRESSURES EMPLOYED IN THIS PAINTBALL GUN ARE HIGH
ENOUGH TO ENDANGER HUMAN LIFE. THE AIR SOURCE MUST BE
REMOVED BEFORE DISASSEMBLING AND MAINTAINING THIS
PAINTBALL GUN IN ANY WAY.
READ ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND DIRECTIONS IN THIS
MANUAL BEFORE USING THIS PAINTBALL GUN.
NOTES TO USERS
1. This manual is based on a stock 68AUTOMAG equipped with a back
bottle adapter and a right hand feed into the breech.
2. WARNINGS emphasize an operation or procedure that if not
strictly observed could result in injury or death.
3. CAUTIONS emphasize an operation or procedure that if not
strictly observed could result in danger to or destruction of
the equipment or loss of paintball gun effectiveness.
4. NOTES point out an operation or procedure that it is desirable
to highlight.
5. Warnings and cautions precede the procedure to which they
apply. Notes follow the items to which they apply.
6. Directions in this manual are based on looking forward over the
barrel as if aiming the paintball gun. Front is the muzzle.
Rear is towards the back bottle adapter. Right is the feed
tube side. Top is the surface with the loader. Bottom is the
surface with the grip.
7. O-rings are classed as either active or inactive. An active
O-ring continuously seals and releases CO2. An inactive O-ring
only continuously holds CO2 pressure.
8. Dry firing means firing the 68AUTOMAG without any paintballs
being shot. Live firing means actually shooting paintballs.
9. The following abbreviations and symbols are used:
a. Feet per Second fps
b. Pounds per Square Inch psi
c. Degrees Fahrenheit F
d. Degrees Celsius C
e. Outer Diameter OD
10. Comments and suggestions to improve this manual should
be submitted to:
Airgun Designs, Inc.
804 Seton Court
Wheeling, Illinois 60090
USA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1 - FAST START 1-1
Intended Use 1-1
Getting Started 1-1
Common Problems 1-3
General 1-3
Poor Paintball Feeding 1-3
Bolt Stick 1-4
Air Venting 1-4
Total Shutdown 1-4
Velocity Drop Off 1-4
Liquid CO2 in the Paintball Gun 1-5
Cut Paintballs 1-5
Excessive Paintball Breakage 1-5
Double Feeding 1-5
Spontaneous Barrel Leaks 1-6
PART 2 - INTRODUCTION 2-1
General 2-1
Valve Body 2-3
Regulator 2-4
Power Tube 2-5
Bolt 2-5
Foamie 2-6
Bolt Spring 2-6
Back Bottle Adapter 2-6
Air Hose 2-6
Air Source 2-7
O-rings 2-7
Barrel 2-10
Nubbin 2-10
Loader and Elbow 2-10
Paintballs 2-10
Accessory Rails 2-11
Theory 2-11
Design Deficiencies 2-12
General 2-12
Using Pressure Regulators 2-12
Using CO2 2-13
Performance 2-13
Normal 2-13
Cold Weather 2-13
Rate of Fire 2-14
Updates and Upgrades 2-14
PART 3 - OPERATING THE 68AUTOMAG 3-1
Safetying the Paintball Gun 3-1
Disengaging the Safety 3-1
Inserting the Barrel 3-1
Removing the Barrel 3-1
Gassing up the Paintball Gun 3-2
Adjusting the Velocity 3-4
Unloading the Paintball Gun 3-5
Degassing the Paintball Gun 3-6
Field Stripping 3-7
PART 4 - MAINTAINING THE 68AUTOMAG 4-1
Viewing the Video 4-1
Cleaning 4-1
Lubricating 4-5
Replacing the Foamie 4-6
Adjusting the Nubbin 4-7
Disassembly of the 68AUTOMAG 4-8
Disassembly of the Regulator 4-9
Disassembly of the Power Tube 4-10
Disassembly of the Valve Body 4-11
Assembly of the Valve Body 4-13
Assembly of the Power Tube 4-15
Assembly of the Regulator 4-15
Assembly of the 68AUTOMAG 4-16
Safety Summary
The following are safety precautions not necessarily
related to any specific topic in this manual and therefore they
may or may not appear elsewhere in this manual. These are
precautions that users must understand and apply whenever
operating or maintaining this paintball gun.
DO NOT POINT OR SHOOT THIS PAINTBALL GUN AT ANIMALS. DO NOT
POINT OR SHOOT THIS PAINTBALL GUN AT PERSONS NOT ENGAGED IN
PLAYING PAINTBALL.
While engaging in paintball, you and your target must wear
proper safety gear including goggles, masks and pads.
FOLLOW ALL MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
Do not attempt to repair this paintball gun by yourself.
If you are unsure about any aspect of the maintenance procedures,
contact your local dealer or Airgun Designs, Inc. at (708) 520-
7507 or Fax (708) 520-7848.
ALWAYS USE THE SAFETY LOCATED BEHIND THE TRIGGER ON
THE FRAME WHEN AN AIR SOURCE IS ATTACHED.
This paintball gun is always armed and cocked when an air
source is attached. Disengage the safety only when absolutely
necessary for play or testing. The safety is off and the
paintball gun will fire when the red ring of the safety pin is
showing.
ALWAYS CHRONOGRAPH THIS PAINTBALL GUN BEFORE USING. NEVER
SHOOT THIS PAINTBALL GUN WHEN THE CHRONOGRAPH READING EXCEEDS
300 FPS. ALWAYS RECHRONOGRAPH THE PAINTBALL GUN IF VENTING
OCCURS FROM THE REGULATOR NUT AT THE REAR OF THE PAINTBALL
GUN.
The 68AUTOMAG is designed to vent off overpressures that
cause unsafe shots, but, it is possible to fire over 300 fps
before the overpressure vents off (See Part 2, Para 11.). Liquid
CO2 in the paintball gun at a normal pressure also can cause shots
over 300 fps (See Part 1, Para 11.). If problems persist after
adjusting the velocity, contact your local dealer or
Airgun Designs, Inc.
ALWAYS REMOVE THE AIR SOURCE FROM THE PAINTBALL GUN AND DRY
FIRE IN A SAFE DIRECTION BEFORE DISASSEMBLING THE PAINTBALL
GUN.
The pressures in this paintball gun are dangerous and must
be vented before any servicing. Unloading and degassing the
paintball gun (See Part 3, Paras 7. & 8.) are required for safety.
DO NOT FIRE A PAINTBALL GUN THAT HAS EXCESSIVE
TRIGGER PULL.
The regulator allows gas under pressure to push the trigger
forward after shooting. An excessively hard trigger pull shows an
overpressure in the system. Contact your local dealer or
Airgun Designs, Inc. immediately.
DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGERS INTO THE BREECH AREA OR DOWN
THE PAINTBALL FEED TUBE WHILE FIRING THE PAINTBALL
GUN.
PART 1 - FAST START
Intended Use
1. This part of the manual is intended for players familiar with
the operation of paintball guns. It presents a quick overview
of the 68AUTOMAG.
Getting Started
2. To ready the 68AUTOMAG for play:
a. Insert the Barrel into the Main Body then twist the
Barrel 1/4 turn clockwise.
b. Push the Safety Pin located behind the Trigger from
right to left to disengage. Check that the RED ring on
the Safety Pin is showing.
c. Hold the paintball gun upwards. Squeeze and hold the
Trigger.
WARNING
Introducing CO2 pressure to the
paintball gun will charge and
cock the system.
CAUTION
Do NOT use a siphon type constant
air tank. Liquid CO2 will damage
the seals.
d. Attach the CO2 source to the Back Bottle Adapter by
turning the Air Source clockwise.
NOTES
1. It is recommended to
lubricate any air source O-ring
with a little Lithium Grease
(White Grease) before attaching
the Air Source to the Back Bottle
Adapter.
2. If the Air Source is a pin
valve constant air tank, rotate
the tank at least one full turn
after initial gas up.
3. If the Air Source is a
constant air tank with an on/off
valve, open the on/off valve
fully after attaching.
e. Release the Trigger.
NOTE
At this point, the CO2 pressure
within the paintball gun will
push the Trigger Rod forward
against the Trigger with a loud
click. The paintball gun is now
cocked and armed.
WARNING
Only fire the paintball gun in
areas where firing is permitted.
WARNING
An excessively hard trigger pull
shows overpressure in the system.
Do NOT fire a paintball gun that
has excessive trigger pull.
f. Dry fire the paintball gun several times in a safe
direction to seat the Regulator Piston and Regulator
Spring Pack properly.
g. Push the Safety Pin located behind the Trigger from
left to right to engage. Check that the RED ring on the
Safety Pin is NOT showing.
h. Attach the Elbow to the Ball Feed Tube, then insert
the Loader into the Elbow. Load the Loader with
.68 calibre paintballs.
i. Chronograph the paintball gun velocity to meet the
field safety speed limits. Adjust the velocity by
turning the Regulator Nut with the Allen key supplied.
Turning the Regulator Nut clockwise increases the
velocity; counterclockwise decreases the velocity.
Common Problems
General
3. The 68AUTOMAG, like any other paintball gun, can have problems
during play. Some problems are common to any paintball gun
while some are unique to the 68AUTOMAG. Solutions to any of
the common problems are not difficult.
4. Simple problems that can occur are:
a. Poor Paintball Feeding;
b. Bolt Stick;
c. Air Venting;
d. Total Shutdown;
e. Velocity Drop Off;
f. Liquid CO2 in the Paintball Gun;
g. Cut Paintballs;
h. Excessive Paintball Breakage;
i. Double Feeding; and
j. Spontaneous Barrel Leaks.
5. Each of these problems is discussed and the solution(s)
underlined in the sections that follow.
Poor Paintball Feeding
6. Poor paintball feeding is usually caused by one or more of:
user technique, bolt blowback, elbow hangups or nubbin depth.
Explanations and solutions are:
a. The 68AUTOMAG lacks recoil to shake the Loader and help
feeding. Occasionally shake the paintball gun gently
during play.
b. The Loader provided can only feed at most 7 paintballs
per second. Control your rate of fire.
c. Bolt Blowback helps feeding if the Loader is full but
can blow the paintball up the Ball Feed Tube when the
Loader is near empty. Keep at least 20 paintballs in
the Loader.
d. Paintballs may hang up on edges or corners in the
Elbow. Make sure there are no sharp corners or edges
in the Elbow. Sand the inside of the Elbow if
necessary.
e. The Nubbin is adjusted to prevent two paintballs from
feeding into the breech. If the Nubbin is in too far,
oversize paint will not feed. Adjust the Nubbin
outwards.
Bolt Stick
7. The Bolt can stick forward causing the Trigger to lock. Bolt
Stick is due to either paint chips wedging between the Bolt
and the breech or, when degassing the paintball gun, firing
the last few shots with no CO2 pressure. When the Bolt sticks
forward, the Trigger will not come forward. To clear Bolt
Stick:
a. Unload the paintball gun;
b. Remove the Barrel;
c. Push the Bolt back with a wooden rod until the Trigger
clicks forward.
Air Venting
WARNING
Air venting out the back of the
Regulator Nut shows that the
internal Blow Off Valve is
venting an overpressure in the
system.
8. Air Venting can occur from the rear of the Regulator Nut due to
an overpressure in the system or liquid boiling off in the
Valve Body or Regulator. The paintball gun is shooting at
approximately 340 fps. ALWAYS check the velocity any time the
Blow Off Valve vents to prevent injuries to players.
Total Shutdown
9. Total shutdown is caused by an empty Air Source. The 68AUTOMAG
gives little indication that it is running out of gas. When a
noticeable velocity drop occurs, only 20 to 30 shots remain
till total shutdown. Change the Air Source.
Velocity Drop Off
10. Velocity drop off can be caused by the Regulator being unable
to fill completely between shots, insufficient CO2 flow or a
near empty Air Source. Slow your rate of fire. Ensure the
Air Source is fully open. Change the Air Source.
Liquid CO2 in the Paintball Gun
11. Liquid CO2 can enter the Air Chamber and, when expelled into
the Barrel behind the paintball, the CO2 boils instantly to
30 times its volume. The resulting shot will be above the
velocity setting. Depending on the volume of the liquid, the
speed may exceed 350 fps. The rapid boil off is known as
supercharging . The Blow Off Valve will NOT prevent
supercharging because the liquid is at normal pressure when
it enters the Air Chamber. Liquid CO2 also will cause all
the active O-rings to leak resulting in no velocity control.
To prevent liquid in the paintball gun:
a. Never shoot at the ground because this allows liquid
CO2 to run straight into the paintball gun.
b. Never overfill a constant air tank because a higher
than normal liquid level will drain liquid CO2 into the
paintball gun.
c. Keep the paintball gun at a warm temperature because a
cold Valve Body will stop the liquid CO2 entering from
boiling into a gas as designed.
d. Never put a warm Air Source on a cold paintball gun
since the CO2 may condense into a liquid when the CO2
enters the Air Chamber.
Cut Paintballs
12. Paintballs in the breech being cut by the Bolt shows a
feed problem (See Para 6.).
Excessive Paintball Breakage
13. A properly set-up 68AUTOMAG, using quality paintballs, will
break approximately 3-4 paintballs per 1000. Paintball
breakage is due to one of the following; physical impact of
the BOLT, CO2 blast or poor paint quality. Check the Foamie
located on the front of the Bolt for damage or debris.
Reduce the velocity to reduce CO2 blast. Try a different
batch of paintballs by changing the colour or the brand of
the paint.
Double Feeding
14. Double feeding occurs when two paintballs feed into the
breech simultaneously. The size and shape of paintballs may
vary. Temperature and humidity will affect both size and
shape. The Nubbin is designed to prevent double feeds.
Adjust the Nubbin inwards.
Spontaneous Barrel Leaks
15. Spontaneous barrel leaks are usually short lived but are an
annoyance on the field. Poor lubrication of the Power Tube
O-ring or ice crystals on the Power Tube O-ring are the
cause. An unlubricated o-ring will usually seat itself after
a few shots. If ice is causing the leak, continued firing
will only prolong the problem. Pause long enough to warm up
the Power Tube O-ring.
NOTE
If the Barrel continues to leak
and the action of the game
prevents repairs, hold the
Trigger down to stop the leak and
allow the Power Tube O-ring to
warm up. When ready to fire,
release the Trigger and fire
quickly. Expect lower paintball
velocity since the Air Chamber
will not have time to fill fully.
PART 2 - INTRODUCTION
General
1. The 68AUTOMAG can be broken down into pneumatic components and
mechanical components. Pneumatic components are explained
fully in this manual since they relate directly to function
and maintenance. All mechanical components are listed for
identification. Most mechanical components are not explained
since they are not critical to proper functioning of the
paintball gun. Those mechanical components that need
explanation are detailed.
2. Pneumatic components are:
a. Valve Body with:
(1) Valve Body Hole with:
(a) Valve Body Hole Large O-ring,
(b) Valve Body Hole Small O-ring,
(2) On/Off Valve Assembly consisting of:
(a) On/Off Top,
(b) On/Off Pin,
(c) On/Off Bottom with:
i. On/Off Bottom Large O-ring,
ii. On/Off Bottom Small O-ring,
(3) Air Chamber;
b. Regulator with:
(1) Regulator Body with:
(a) Regulator Body Detent Pin,
(b) Regulator Body O-ring,
(2) Regulator Piston with:
(a) Regulator Piston O-ring,
(b) Blow Off Valve,
(3) Regulator Nut,
(4) Regulator Seal,
(5) Regulator Valve with:
(a) Regulator Valve Spring,
(6) Regulator Spring Pack;
c. Power Tube consisting of:
(1) Power Tube Insert with:
(a) Power Tube Insert O-ring,
(2) Power Tube Spring,
(3) Power Tube O-ring,
(4) Power Tube Bumper;
d. Bolt with:
(1) Foamie,
(2) Bolt Spring;
e. Back Bottle Adapter;
f. Air Hose; and
g. Air Source.
3. Mechanical components consist of:
a. Frame with:
(1) Trigger,
(2) Safety Pin,
(3) Safety Spring,
(4) Safety Detent Ball,
(5) Front Frame Screw,
(6) Field Strip Screw;
b. Rail with:
(1) Sear with:
(a) Sear Pin,
(2) Trigger Rod,
(3) Z-shaped Slot,
(4) Accessory Rails,
(5) Barrel Lock Pin;
c. Main Body with
(1) Ball Feed Tube;
d. Barrel with:
(1) Nubbin,
(2) Barrel Detent Slot,
(3) Barrel O-rings; and
e. Loader with:
(1) Elbow,
(2) Paintballs.
Valve Body
4. The Valve Body is a critical component of the 68AUTOMAG. The
Valve Body is easily identified by the Air Hose attached to
it. Installed correctly, the Valve Body screws into the
Regulator so that the 68AUTOMAG logo on each part lines up.
5. The Valve Body Hole is on the bottom of the Valve Body. The
On/Off Valve Assembly fits into the Valve Body Hole. At the
bottom of the Valve Body Hole, placed in before the On/Off
Valve Assembly, are two o-rings pressed within each other. The
two o-rings prevent CO2 escape past the On/Off Pin and through
the On/Off Valve Assembly. The inner of the two o-rings, the
Valve Body Hole Small O-ring, is an active o-ring made of
teflon. The outer of the two o-rings, the Valve Body Hole
Large O-ring, is an inactive o-ring made of urethane.
6. The On/Off Valve Assembly is used to control the flow of CO2
between the Regulator and the Air Chamber. The On/Off Valve
Assembly consists of the On/Off Top, On/Off Bottom and On/Off
Pin. Located in the Valve Body Hole and moved by the Sear, the
up and down movement of the On/Off Pin seals the Regulator from
the Air Chamber. To prevent CO2 escape, the On/Off Valve
Assembly uses two o-rings. The On/Off Bottom Large O-ring is
an inactive o-ring made of urethane. The On/Off Bottom Small
O-ring is an inactive o-ring made of white teflon.
7. The Air Chamber receives the measured charge of CO2 from the
Regulator. When the Air Chamber vents, the CO2 gas expands
through the Power Tube and pushes the Bolt forward. Level 7
paintball guns have slightly larger air chambers than previous
models to decrease the pressure within the chamber and reduce
paintball breakage. In Level 7 paintball guns, the Power Tube
is welded to the Air Chamber. The Air Chamber cannot be
opened.
Regulator
8. The Regulator is the heart of the 68AUTOMAG. The Regulator, as
the name implies, controls the pressures within the 68AUTOMAG
and therefore the velocity.
9. The Regulator Body is at the rear of the paintball gun and
screwed into the Valve Body. The air seal is maintained
between the Regulator Body and the Valve Body by the Regulator
Seal and the Regulator Body O-ring. The Regulator Valve with
the Regulator Valve Spring is used to close the Regulator from
the Air Source. Located on the bottom of the Regulator Body,
the Regulator Body Detent Pin is a small metal pin which slides
into the Z-shaped Slot in the Rail. The Regulator Body Detent
Pin is designed to prevent the Valve Body and Regulator from
springing back clear of the Rail when the Field Strip Screw is
removed.
10. The Regulator Piston is inside the Regulator Body. The
position of the Regulator Piston is adjusted by turning the
Regulator Nut which compresses the Regulator Spring Pack. By
moving the Regulator Piston, the pressure of the CO2 in the
paintball gun and thus the velocity is controlled.
11. The Regulator Piston also contains the Blow Off Valve. The
Blow Off Valve vents off any overpressure in the Regulator or
Air Chamber. The Blow Off Valve is factory set for
approximately 550 psi and is not user adjustable. If fired
when venting, at the factory pressure setting, the paintball
gun is firing at approximately 340 fps, an unsafe speed.
Power Tube
12. The Power Tube delivers the blast of discharged CO2 from the
Air Chamber to the Bolt. The Power Tube contains the Power
Tube Spring and the Power Tube O-ring. The Power Tube Spring
holds the Power Tube O-ring in place to seal the Air Chamber.
13. The Power Tube Insert is made of brass and screws into the
Power Tube. The Power Tube Insert is open on the end which
allows the central shaft of the Bolt to slide into the Power
Tube, through the Power Tube Spring and against the Power Tube
O-ring to complete the seal on the Power Tube.
Bolt
14. Held in place by the Sear, the Bolt sits overtop the Power
Tube and blows forward when the paintball gun is fired. The
central metal shaft of the Bolt slides into the Power Tube to
seal the Power Tube from the Air Chamber until the paintball
gun is fired. Because replacing a bolt is easier than a
sear, the Bolt is made of a softer material than the Sear.
Eventually, the Bolt will wear along the edge where the Sear
rests. A worn down edge will prevent the Bolt from locking in
place and the paintball gun will go fully automatic.
Foamie
15. The neoprene rubber Foamie is designed to cushion the
paintball as it is pushed past the Nubbin into the Barrel by
the Bolt. The Foamie is the only part of the paintball gun
that will require regular replacement (generally once a
season). The Foamie is glued to the front of the Bolt using a
commercial super glue.
Bolt Spring
16. The Bolt Spring is made of high tensile square spring steel.
A squared spring was chosen to help in seating the Bolt Spring
onto the Bolt. Installed over the Bolt, the Bolt Spring
compresses as the Bolt moves forward. When the CO2 escapes
the Bolt, the Bolt Spring expands and pushes the Bolt back to
where the Sear can catch the Bolt.
Back Bottle Adapter
17. The Back Bottle Adapter is attached to the rear of the Rail by
two screws and is the attachment point for the CO2 source. It
is also used to deliver lubrication to the internal components
of the paintball gun.
Air Hose
18. A braided metal Air Hose delivers CO2 from the Back Bottle
Adapter to the Valve Body. An external hose was chosen so
that the design of the 68AUTOMAG did not require an internal
CO2 delivery passage. An internal CO2 delivery passage would
require constant resealing when the paintball gun was broken
open for maintenance. The Air Hose is connected by brass
fittings that remain sealed during normal maintenance. This
limits the chances of a leak from the Air Hose.
Air Source
CAUTION
Do NOT use a siphon type constant
air tank. Liquid CO2 will damage
the seals and o-rings.
19. The 68AUTOMAG can be used with any standard source of CO2
either constant air tank, 12 gram or back bottle pack,
provided the source can be attached to the paintball gun. The
Air Source used must be able to feed CO2 fast enough into the
68AUTOMAG to support rapid firing.
O-rings
20. The O-rings used in the 68AUTOMAG are all made from either
high quality 90 durometer urethane or teflon. The O-rings are
designed for long life and abrasion resistance. The O-rings
were selected for easy access and interchangeability.
21. O-rings are classed as either active or inactive. An active
O-ring continuously seals and releases CO2. An inactive O-ring
only continuously holds CO2 pressure.
22. All active O-rings are accessible without tools, still,
removing the O-rings without a tool may be difficult. If a
particular active O-ring starts to wear and a replacement is
not available, the active O-ring can be exchanged with an
identical inactive O-ring from another portion of the
paintball gun. It is highly unlikely that inactive O-rings
will ever wear or leak, but, they can be traded with their
identical active counterparts on the field if necessary.
Swapping a leaking inactive o-ring into an active position is
not recommended since active o-rings are critical to the
paintball gun working correctly.
Barrel
23. The standard Barrel on the 68AUTOMAG is made from aluminum
stock. The Barrel Lock Pin is a stainless steel detent pin
mounted in the Rail. The O-rings on the Barrel serve to give
the Barrel a friction fit. The Barrel O-rings do not seal air
pressure.
Nubbin
24. A wire Nubbin prevents double feeding. The Nubbin is woven in
a machined channel on the barrel upper surface and held in
place by the Barrel O-rings. A properly installed Nubbin
protrudes about 1-1/2 to 2 thicknesses of a matchbook cover
into the breech of the Barrel. The Nubbin will automatically
compensate for all size paintballs and should give long life
if not abused.
Loader and Elbow
25. Included with the 68AUTOMAG is a 90 round VIEWLOADER and
Elbow. Under ideal conditions, the Loader provided can feed
paintballs at a maximum rate of seven per second. The plastic
Elbow connects the Loader to the Ball Feed Tube on the Main
Body. To permit maximum feeding, the Elbow should be smooth
on the inside and without sharp edges or corners. Any
obstructions will cause the paintballs to hangup in the Elbow
and Loader.
Paintballs
26. There are many brands of paintballs on the market; all with
different specifications. Differences in shell thickness,
shape, fill colour and fill density will result in performance
differences. Low quality paintballs will work poorly in the
68AUTOMAG. With a properly set up paintball gun using quality
paint, users can expect to break only three to four paintballs
per thousand. Low quality paint will break one in 50.
27. Paintball breakage is caused two ways: poor feeding or
impact. Poor feeding will result in the paintball not being
fully in the breech and the bolt cutting the paintball during
firing. Impact comes either from the bolt or from CO2 blast.
When the Foamie is damaged or missing, the Bolt will break the
shell of the paintball. Blast from the CO2 will break thin
shelled paintballs.
28. A good test for paintball shell strength is to drop a few
paintballs, one at a time, from a height of six feet.
Paintballs that consistently survive six or seven bounces are
considered fresh. Paintballs that break within three bounces
are either stale or have weak shells.
29. If the Foamie and the Nubbin are in good shape and the
paintball gun still experiences breakage problems, switching
paintball brands or colors within a brand may solve the
problem because the paint batch has changed. Experimenting
with different type of paintballs and colors will decide the
best paintball for each individual 68AUTOMAG and playing
conditions.
Accessory Rails
30. There are two Accessory Rails molded into the side of the Rail
for mounting various accessories. The Accessory Rails can
hold anything that would bolt to a regular sight rail.
Theory
31. The 68AUTOMAG is a semi-automatic paintball gun using the
design idea of blow forward from an open bolt. The action
takes place in three stages: Regulation, Chamber Fill and
Chamber Dump.
32. Regulation begins when an Air Source is connected to the
paintball gun and the pneumatic system builds up pressure. At
a predetermined pressure, set by the Regulator Nut, the
Regulator Valve closes and seals off the Air Source from the
remainder of the paintball gun. The pressure in the paintball
gun is now approximately 400 psi though the air source
pressure may vary from 600 to 1000 psi under different
temperatures depending on the air source used.
33. Chamber Fill, the second stage, happens when the Trigger is
released. The On/Off Valve Assembly opens and allows the Air
Chamber within the Valve Body to fill from the Regulator to a
regulated pressure of 400 psi. To prevent flow into the Power
Tube, the forward seal of the Air Chamber is created by the
Power Tube O-ring and the central shaft of the Bolt.
34. Stage three, Chamber Dump, is the critical phase. The air
chamber design is like a champagne bottle with a cork stuck in
the opening. The Bolt, like a cork, wants to pop forward, but
the Sear holds the Bolt in place. Pulling the Trigger pushes
the Trigger Rod which tilts the Sear. The Sear first closes
the On/Off Valve Assembly shutting off the Air Chamber from
the Regulator. This gives the paintball gun a precise amount
of regulated CO2 charge within the Air Chamber. The Sear next
releases the Bolt. The CO2 pressure pushes the Bolt forward
and breaks the forward seal of the Air Chamber. Like a cork
moving out of the bottle, the Bolt starts moving forward into
the breech area. The Bolt pushes the paintball past the Nubbin
into the Barrel. As this has been happening, CO2 has been
entering the Power Tube, expanding and moving through the
Power Tube Insert and the front face of the Bolt. The
escaping CO2 blows the paintball down the Barrel and out into
the atmosphere. As the Bolt moves forward, it compresses the
Bolt Spring located in front of and around the Bolt. After
all the CO2 escapes the Bolt, the Bolt Spring expands and
pushes the Bolt back into the starting position where the Sear
locks the Bolt down again and reseals the Power Tube from the
Air Chamber. Releasing the Trigger begins the process again
by opening the On/Off Valve Assembly and filling the Air
Chamber from the Regulator.
Design Deficiencies
General
35. As with all designs, the design of the 68AUTOMAG is not
perfect. There are inadequacies in this design caused by
using regulators and using CO2. Airgun Designs, Inc. is
investigating using alternate technology and power sources.
Using Pressure Regulators
36. All pressure regulators, by the nature of their design, cannot
fill a chamber instantly. Regulators must fill most of the
chamber quickly then taper off to reach the desired pressure.
Chamber Fill on the 68AUTOMAG takes roughly 1/3 of a second.
Because of the Regulator tapering off, when firing the
paintball gun faster than three shots per second, the Air
Chamber will not fill fully and the average velocity will drop
by 10 to 20 fps.
Using CO2
37. The other problem revolves around the CO2 itself. Usually
thought of as either a gas or a liquid, in reality CO2 takes
the form of steam. Like water, CO2 boils when heated and
becomes a steam. The CO2 steam will still exist in a moist
form until its temperature is above 87 F (31 C) at normal
atmospheric pressure. Boiling temperature of any liquid is
affected by the pressure; higher pressures raise the boiling
temperature, lower pressures lower the boiling temperature.
Firing rapidly lowers the pressure in the Air Source and
causes the CO2 to boil at a lower temperature than normal.
The CO2 steam then enters the Air Chamber. The Air Chamber
empties when the paintball gun fires and lowers the pressure
yet again. The steam in the Air Chamber boils into a gas and
expands its volume by 30 times. The result is velocity
variation in firing the paintballs. Placing a warm Air Source
onto a cold paintball gun will allow warm CO2 steam into the
paintball gun where the steam will condense into a liquid in
the Air Chamber. When the Air Chamber empties, the liquid
rapidly boils off and results in a dangerous overspeed shot
(See Part 1, Para 11.).
Performance
Normal
38. Using the 11 inch barrel, the 68AUTOMAG will get an average of
400 good shots from a 7 oz. constant air tank under normal
conditions. Using a twelve gram source will usually give 20
good shots if time is allowed between shots for pressure
recovery. Firing 5 paintballs per second using a 12 gram will
give 10 to 13 good shots. Using a longer or shorter barrel
will affect the gas efficiency and change the number of good
shots from any CO2 source.
Cold Weather
39. 68AUTOMAG performance at temperatures below 40 F (4 C) will be
poor because gas pressure is affected by temperature of the
gas. Since the paintball gun is designed to function at a
predetermined pressure, temperatures below freezing will not
generate sufficient air source pressure for adequate
velocity. Some method of keeping the Air Source above
freezing will be necessary, but this increases the risk of
warm CO2 condensing in the cold paintball gun and dangerous
overspeed shots.
Rate of Fire
CAUTION
Rates of fire higher than 6 shots
per second may result in feeding
problems. The standard
VIEWLOADER supplied with the
paintball gun can only feed 7
paintballs per second under ideal
conditions.
40. The average person can fire 4 to 5 shots per second due to the
68AUTOMAG trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism was
designed for the highest rate of fire possible. Trigger
takeup, the distance the Trigger is pulled before moving the
Trigger Rod, has been kept to a minimum. Charged with
adrenaline in a game situation, a person may increase their
rate of fire to 6 shots per second.
Updates and Upgrades
41. Airgun Designs, Inc. is constantly pushing the leading edge of
paintball technology and making refinements in their paintball
guns. As a service to the customer, the company offers
updates and upgrades to keep the customer and the paintball
gun at the forefront of paintball technology and firepower.
42. Updates are changes that improve the original design or
function of the paintball gun. For one year from date of
purchase, Airgun Designs, Inc. will provide to registered
owners free updates.
43. Upgrades are options that add new features to the
original design. A few examples are specialty barrels, differing
air hose lengths, front bottle adapter kits, left feed main bodies
and power feeds. Upgrades are available from the company at a
reasonable cost.
44. Contact Airgun Designs, Inc. at (708) 520-7507 or Fax
(708) 520-7848 for information on the latest updates and upgrades
available. If sent a self addressed stamped envelope and the
serial number of the paintball gun by the owner, Airgun Designs,
Inc. will return a complete history of that particular 68AUTOMAG.
PART 3 - OPERATING THE 68AUTOMAG
Safetying the Paintball Gun
1. To safety the paintball gun:
a. Push the Safety Pin located behind the Trigger from
left to right to engage.
b. Check that the RED ring on the Safety Pin is NOT
showing.
Disengaging the Safety
2. To disengage the safety:
a. Push the Safety Pin located behind the Trigger from
right to left to disengage.
b. Check that the RED ring on the Safety Pin is showing.
Inserting the Barrel
3. To insert the Barrel into the Main Body:
a. Slide the Barrel, Nubbin on top, into the Main Body to
line up the Barrel Lock Pin with the Barrel Detent
Slot.
b. Push the Barrel gently straight in until the Barrel
stops moving.
c. Turn the Barrel 1/4 turn counterclockwise to line the
feed hole with the Ball Feed Tube.
Removing the Barrel
4. To remove the Barrel from the Main Body:
a. Turn the Barrel 1/4 turn clockwise.
b. Pull the Barrel gently straight out of the Main Body.
NOTE
Hold the paintball gun up to
prevent paintballs from falling
out of the paintball gun if the
Loader is still attached.
Gassing up the Paintball Gun
5. To gas up the paintball gun:
a. Safety the paintball gun.
b. Hold the paintball gun upwards. Squeeze and hold the
Trigger.
WARNING
Introducing air pressure to the
paintball gun will charge and
cock the system.
CAUTION
Do NOT use a siphon type constant
air tank. Liquid CO2 will damage
the seals.
c. Attach the CO2 source to the Back Bottle Adapter by
turning the Air Source clockwise.
NOTES
1. It is recommended to
lubricate any air source O-ring
with a little Lithium Grease
(White Grease) before attaching
the Air Source to the Back Bottle
Adapter.
2. Rotate pin valve tanks at
least one full turn after initial
gas up.
3. For constant air sources with
on/off valves, open the on/off
valve fully.
d. Release the Trigger.
NOTE
At this point, the CO2 pressure
within the paintball gun will
push the Trigger Rod Forward
against the Trigger with a loud
click.
e. Disengage the safety.
WARNING
Only fire the paintball gun in
areas where firing is permitted.
WARNING
An excessively hard trigger pull
shows overpressure in the system.
Do NOT fire a paintball gun that
has excessive trigger pull.
f. Dry fire the paintball gun several times in safe
direction to seat the Regulator Piston and Regulator
Spring Pack properly.
g. Safety the paintball gun.
Adjusting the Velocity
6. To adjust the velocity:
WARNING
Only fire the paintball gun in
areas where firing is permitted.
WARNING
An excessively hard trigger pull
shows overpressure in the system.
Do NOT fire a paintball gun that
has excessive trigger pull.
a. Dry fire a few shots in a safe direction, if the
paintball gun has not been fired, to seat the Regulator
Piston and Regulator Spring Pack properly.
NOTE
To prevent paintballs from
firing, either remove the Loader
and empty the Ball Feed Tube and
breech OR hold the paintball gun
upside down with the Loader below
the paintball gun and the Barrel
pointed up, then shake gently to
move the paintballs back into the
Loader.
b. Live fire over a chronograph to find the initial
velocity.
c. Adjust the velocity by turning the Regulator Nut with
the Allen key provided. Turning clockwise will
increase the velocity; turning counterclockwise will
lower the velocity.
d. Turn the Regulator Nut counterclockwise to lower the
velocity if CO2 begins venting out the rear of the
Regulator Nut.
e. Repeat live firing and turning the Regulator Nut as
necessary until the desired velocity is set.
NOTES
1. Start at a low velocity
setting and screw the Regulator
Nut clockwise up to the desired
velocity.
2. A complete clockwise turn
of the Regulator Nut will
increase the velocity from
approximately 200 fps to 300 fps.
3. If CO2 vents from the rear
of the Regulator Nut, the Blow
Off Valve has opened because of
an overpressure. The velocity
will likely be over 300 fps.
4. Airgun Designs, Inc. has
found that the best performance
of the 68AUTOMAG is in the 270 to
280 fps range.
Unloading the Paintball Gun
7. To unload the paintball gun:
a. Safety the paintball gun.
b. Turn the paintball gun upside down.
c. Shake the paintball gun gently to roll all the
paintballs from the breech and Ball Feed Tube into the
Loader.
d. Remove the Loader and Elbow while still holding the
paintball gun upside down.
e. Set aside the Loader and Elbow.
Degassing the Paintball Gun
8. To de-gas the paintball gun:
a. Safety the paintball gun.
b. Unload the paintball gun.
c. Unscrew the pin valve constant air tank one full turn
counterclockwise or fully close the on/off valve of the
on/off valve constant air tank.
d. Disengage the safety.
WARNING
Only fire the paintball gun in
areas where firing is permitted.
e. Dry fire the paintball gun until the paintball gun no
longer fires.
f. If the paintball gun continues to fire, unscrew the pin
valve constant air tank another full counterclockwise
turn and repeat the dry firing.
g. Repeat unscrewing the constant air tank and dry firing
as necessary.
NOTE
Firing the last shots when
degassing the paintball gun may
cause bolt stick.
h. Stop firing once the paintball gun has been degassed.
i. Safety the paintball gun.
CAUTION
Tightening the Air Source back
onto the paintball gun before all
gas is vented from the Back
Bottle Adapter will damage the
Air Source O-ring.
j. Unscrew counterclockwise the Air Source until all gas
vents from the Back Bottle Adapter and the Air Source
is free of the paintball gun.
Field Stripping
9. To field strip the 68AUTOMAG:
a. Safety the paintball gun.
b. Unload the paintball gun.
c. Disengage the safety.
d. De-gas the paintball gun.
e. Hold the rear of the Regulator and remove the Field
Strip Screw.
f. Hold the Trigger down and guide the Regulator and Valve
Body back along the Rail until the Regulator Body
Detent Pin reaches the stop in the Z-shaped Slot.
g. Press down on the Air Hose to rotate the Regulator Body
Detent Pin free of the Z-shaped Slot.
h. Draw the Regulator, Valve Body and Bolt back until free
of the Main Body