| The Smart Parts Ion paintball marker is a high end | | | | inside is clean, you are ready to rock and roll. While |
| electronic gun for just a little more than the average | | | | most folks will prefer to upgrade their barrel regardless, |
| entry level package price. That low price tag comes | | | | the Smart Parts Ion really has decent accuracy for a |
| with many perks as well as a few drawbacks and | | | | stock barrel. |
| items that you may wish to upgrade on your own. | | | | Regulator - For the most part, the Ion's regulator |
| While it is better to start out playing paintball on a | | | | preforms very well. Occasionally folks have been |
| mechanical marker, once you are ready to move up to | | | | known to get a faulty regulator that won't chrono |
| electronic, the Ion is an excellent investment that won't | | | | consistently. Obviously this is a problem with the |
| leave you broke. | | | | manufacturer. If you happen to get a bad regulator, |
| Feedneck - The stock feedneck provided with the | | | | make sure to communicate with the manufacturer |
| Smart Parts Ion is perhaps its biggest negative. There | | | | especially if you purchased your marker new. |
| have been numerous complaints from users about the | | | | Trigger - The trigger on the Ion is sturdy and |
| inability to properly fit their feeders to the feedneck. | | | | unforgiving. It takes a lot of getting used to and without |
| The best solution is to replace the standard Ion | | | | practice may make for a difficult pull. The trigger itself |
| feedneck as soon as possible. If you choose a | | | | is plastic which means that it can, and will occasionally, |
| clamping feedneck to replace the stock on with, you | | | | break. The magnets that are included with the stock |
| should have no problems after that. | | | | trigger are pretty strong and will make for a hard pull. |
| Barrel - The stock Ion barrel has a powder coated | | | | You can choose to either upgrade your trigger with an |
| finish, some people don't like the look as well as other | | | | after market part or spend some time adjusting it to |
| barrels that have a high gloss finish. Don't let the look | | | | your liking. |
| fool you, though, the performance from this stock | | | | For a high end electronic marker at virtually entry level |
| barrel is actually surprisingly good. Occasionally you | | | | prices, the Smart Parts Ion is an excellent deal. The |
| may run across a stock barrel that has had too much | | | | polymer body stands up to abuse and proves to be |
| powder coating applied and it may have gotten inside | | | | very sturdy. There are probably some modifications |
| of the barrel itself through the ports on the weapon. If | | | | that you will want to make yourself after purchasing |
| that is the case with your marker, clean out the | | | | your Ion, but then for many people that's half the fun |
| powder from inside of the barrel with a rifle or shotgun | | | | right there. Make sure a new feedneck is one of your |
| barrel cleaner. Powder coating is itself fairly rough and | | | | first upgrades and you will enjoy many years of |
| without doing this, your accuracy will suffer. Once the | | | | spreading paint. |