I was interested in these since I first heard about them and finally grabbed one.
Retailer description:
Quote:
Features:
Featuring an 8+ (or 8-10) balls per second feed rate.........and no batteries required.
Powered by minimal agitation of the gun, the Primo Loader helps sort and funnel as you shoot for a consistent vertical feed.
The patent pending Proto Primo Loader is the first of it's kind with a positive feed shelf designed to relieve pressure on paint reducing jams and increasing feed rate.
Comes with a clear spring lid for easy reload.
The large opening works well with Proto Alpha pods for the ultimate paint carrying system.
Large capacity durable shell holds 200 paintballs.
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First Impressions:
It's got a sleek external design, nice silver Proto badges, and a flip top lid that stays up via a spring. The shells feel very sturdy/durable, too. Not like a cheap plastic.
Packaging:
It's a non agitating hopper that comes in a box nicer than what most guns come in, probably could be a couple bucks cheaper to slap it in a plastic bag with a folded name stamp instead.
Tacamo/Archon copy?
I heard a lot of people before this was released saying how it was a ripoff of the shelf hopper Tacamo made. It is not. The shelf is a seperate piece that has a very unique design. It is a long shelf that angles down towards the back of the hopper from the nose. The top has a 'channel' running down the center of the shelf from the nose end of the hopper to the back of the hopper. Also the bottom of the shelf has a ridge that runs the length of the shelf. I don't really know how else to describe it, but the ridge is shaped like a serrated blade, only the serations are much larger, make sense?.
Size:
It's a 200 rounder, nuff said. I lined it up with two other 200 round hoppers to show a profile size comparison. The Primo is a tad thinner than both the SSL-200 and the VL200 too. I put a 50 rounder in there as well for comparison.
Size comparison:
From left to right(GXG pocket hopper, VL200, Proto Primo, Tippmann SSL200)
Performance?
I tried this on two markers to give it a fair test. First with my Azodin KP. It sits a little high for what I like, but it's not uncomfortatble.
I shot this thing as fast as I could and it didn't skip a beat. Perfect, especially considering this is what I bought it for.
Next I ran about 2 pods through my ND freestyle with it. I was in semi only and with the eyes on I didn't break a single round. I did have some skipped shots when I really got on it, but when I was shooting conservatively, 6-8 bps, it fed incredibly well and very consistantly. It's an incredible difference over a VL200. I'd actually put it on par with a revvy.
Overall?
For $14.99 you get a hopper that doesnt' take batteries but feeds almost as well as a reloader or revvy. It's a good design, a nice value, and it's well built. I'd like to see a 100 round option as well, but this is perfect for my KP for now. Nice job Dye.
*UPDATE 5.25.2010*
After a full day of hard play in crummy weather on an Automag RT the Primo continues to impress me. I went through just over 2300 rounds on 5.22.10 in the mud at TRP with this setup and I have to say, the Primo is badass. Now, bear in mind that my RT is euro highrise so there is a higher ballstack than on, say, a new ULE mag. That said, I had many occasions throughout the day where I really laid it on the trigger. The only time that the Primo missed a step for me was when it was down to the last 10 or so rounds.
*UPDATE 8.2.2010*
Saturday, 7.31.10, I took this setup to the UWL(Automag RT classic/Primo/Marbs). About 1200 rounds in two matchups went through this thing and I still have yet to bust a round in the hopper or have it jam on me. I haven't had to shake or rattle it to coax a round out(except when it gets down to the last 10 rounds or so). I didn't skip a single shot and this was in a tournament where I was putting out some decent BPS.
This pretty much concludes my testing of the Primo. Honestly, I don't see myeself using another hopper.
Proto Primo hopper review
You got to see firsthand too! Like when that guy on Fraction ran the road after the first insertion. We both put paint on him and I was giving the trigger some work - no skips!
Linear Mode
