Here at Paintball Times, we like to take our time with our reviews and really put the equipment through the ringer. We do this with all types of equipment, but especially electronic equipment. Electronic devices usually function very well when you first get them, but as time goes by, so does the device. How many cell phones have you had that stopped working? In order to fully appreciate an electronic device, you have to put it through a large battery of tests and see if it withstands the test of time.
Having been a faithful Halo user for some time now, I was skeptical of how well the Q-loader would hold up to the rigors of today’s paintball markers and their high rates of fire. After getting my hands on one, most thoughts of disbelief were abolished as I discovered that not only is the Q-loader fast enough to feed some of the more hungry beasts out there, it also provides a lower profile to your marker.
For those that do not know what the Q-loader is, I will explain it’s basic workings so you will better understand the review. The Q-loader is a paintball hopper that force feeds paint to your marker at a rate of 30 balls per second through what the manufacturer calls “helical drive technology”. In short, the Q-loader is a hopper that requires no batteries and feeds faster than the Halo and EvoII.
Helical drive technology basically functions through the use of a spring that pushes the paint from the on-gun mount system and pod to your marker. Loading the Q-loader is simple. You simply take the empty pod off the mount system and pop on another. By utilizing the helical drive technology there is no place or direction the Q-loader can’t feed your maker. It doesn’t matter if you aim down, up side-to-side the Q-loader will continue to force paint into your marker at a rate of 30 balls per second.
Between games you can quickly refill your pods by using the reloading system that comes standard. The Q-loader’s reloading system is set up so that you fill a paint container full and connect it to your loading cap. Taking the empty pod you slap on the loading system connected to the large paint container and rotate the crank on top of the loading cap. In seconds you have a full pod ready for use.
The Q-loader is a great feed system for the price but the feed rate is not the entire reason for buying one, unlike most other loaders the Q-loader mounts nearly anywhere on your marker. With that in mind you can understand why the Q-loader can be said to have the lowest profile of any if not all hoppers out there. The low profile helps the user keep from getting hit in the hopper and can also keep your hopper out of harms reach when taking some nasty slides. I have seen most Q-loaders mounted to the regulators of particular markers but I have also seen some people go as far as to manufacture brackets to allow them to be attached to the drop forwards and such. It is even possible to place the Q-loader on your barrel.
The package sent to us by Ancient Innovation Corporation (AIC) was the 500 round Q-loader pack and retails for $129.95. This package consisted of 5 Q-pods, a Mounting System, a Reload System and the Manual. As with all Q-loaders this package came to us with AIC’s lifetime warranty. Not only are you getting a great loader with a fast feed rate and low profile but also you are getting an outstanding warranty from a company with an impeccable reputation.
In conclusion, I can honestly say that the Q-loader is one of the best loading systems out there and with a feed rate of 30 balls per second it is the fastest production loader to date. With its low profile and sheer mechanical functionality it is perfect for those interested in putting a scenario marker together but don’t want the hassles of swapping out batteries every other game. It is also great for tournament ball and can keep most if not all high-end markers happily fed through some of the toughest of tournaments.
Having been a faithful Halo user for some time now, I was skeptical of how well the Q-loader would hold up to the rigors of today’s paintball markers and their high rates of fire. After getting my hands on one, most thoughts of disbelief were abolished as I discovered that not only is the Q-loader fast enough to feed some of the more hungry beasts out there, it also provides a lower profile to your marker.
For those that do not know what the Q-loader is, I will explain it’s basic workings so you will better understand the review. The Q-loader is a paintball hopper that force feeds paint to your marker at a rate of 30 balls per second through what the manufacturer calls “helical drive technology”. In short, the Q-loader is a hopper that requires no batteries and feeds faster than the Halo and EvoII.
Helical drive technology basically functions through the use of a spring that pushes the paint from the on-gun mount system and pod to your marker. Loading the Q-loader is simple. You simply take the empty pod off the mount system and pop on another. By utilizing the helical drive technology there is no place or direction the Q-loader can’t feed your maker. It doesn’t matter if you aim down, up side-to-side the Q-loader will continue to force paint into your marker at a rate of 30 balls per second.
Between games you can quickly refill your pods by using the reloading system that comes standard. The Q-loader’s reloading system is set up so that you fill a paint container full and connect it to your loading cap. Taking the empty pod you slap on the loading system connected to the large paint container and rotate the crank on top of the loading cap. In seconds you have a full pod ready for use.
The Q-loader is a great feed system for the price but the feed rate is not the entire reason for buying one, unlike most other loaders the Q-loader mounts nearly anywhere on your marker. With that in mind you can understand why the Q-loader can be said to have the lowest profile of any if not all hoppers out there. The low profile helps the user keep from getting hit in the hopper and can also keep your hopper out of harms reach when taking some nasty slides. I have seen most Q-loaders mounted to the regulators of particular markers but I have also seen some people go as far as to manufacture brackets to allow them to be attached to the drop forwards and such. It is even possible to place the Q-loader on your barrel.
The package sent to us by Ancient Innovation Corporation (AIC) was the 500 round Q-loader pack and retails for $129.95. This package consisted of 5 Q-pods, a Mounting System, a Reload System and the Manual. As with all Q-loaders this package came to us with AIC’s lifetime warranty. Not only are you getting a great loader with a fast feed rate and low profile but also you are getting an outstanding warranty from a company with an impeccable reputation.
In conclusion, I can honestly say that the Q-loader is one of the best loading systems out there and with a feed rate of 30 balls per second it is the fastest production loader to date. With its low profile and sheer mechanical functionality it is perfect for those interested in putting a scenario marker together but don’t want the hassles of swapping out batteries every other game. It is also great for tournament ball and can keep most if not all high-end markers happily fed through some of the toughest of tournaments.
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