The Bottom Line
The Smart Parts SP-1 is a solid, entry-level, electropneumatic paintball gun designed for the woodsball crowd. It's not as nice as more expensive electros, but it shines in its price range.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Very upgradeable
- Easy-out bolt
- Low Pressure
Cons
- Requires Compressed Air or an Anti-Siphon CO2 Tank
- Somewhat difficult to change firing modes
- Capped rate of fire on stock board
Description
- Entry-level electropneumatic paintball gun
- Designed for woodsball/scenario use
- Requires one 9-volt battery
- Smart Parts threaded barrel
- Manufacturer's Site
Guide Review - Smart Parts SP-1
Design
The SP-1 is Smart Parts' entry-level electronic gun aimed at the woodsball/scenario player. Its composite body construction feels solid and durable and it comes with tactical rails for mounting accessories and has an included clamping feedneck. It comes with a standard 45 grip, single trigger and a front regulator to accommodate its 180psi operating pressure. The stock SP-1 weighs in at just under 2.5 pounds and has a solid, comfortable feel in your hands. While it lacks anti-chop eyes, it does have a low-force bolt which does a good job at eliminating chops. It does have several firing modes including full-automatic and 3-round burst.Performance
The SP-1 is one of the cheapest electronic paintball guns available, but shooting it does not feel cheap at all. It's much quieter than a comparably priced mechanical gun and it does have a decent rate of fire at 11bps, though that can be improved with an upgraded circuit board. The SP-1 is fairly accurate and is rugged enough to survive some contact with trees and rocks out in the woods. One interesting aspect of firing the SP-1 is the trigger pull: it's a very light pull, but pulling it reminded me of pushing into a sponge - not a bad thing at all, but a little different.Maintenance
The SP-1 is simple to care for with it's bolt-out-the-back design and it should be relatively problem free. Make sure that you regularly clean and lubricate the gun and always make sure your 9-volt battery is charged. If you ever have to completely take apart the gun, be prepared to spend a little time to get everything taken apart and put back together afterwards.Upgrades
There are multiple upgrades that fit the SP-1 including rail attachments (scopes, sights, flashlights, etc.) and performance upgrades (circuit boards, barrels, etc.). The SP-1 uses standard Smart Parts threading.
