The Bottom Line
The Smart Parts SP-8 is not the fastest or lightest gun around, but it's upgradeable, durable and well-designed for the woodsball or scenario player who wants to delve into the world of electronic paintball guns.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Fast firing rate
- Multiple firing modes
- Anti-chop eyes
- Many upgrades and customizations available
Cons
- Heavier than many guns
- Somewhat bulky
- Very difficult to disassemble
- Front regulator cover sometimes falls off (be sure to snap it in very carefully)
Description
- Electropneumatic paintball gun
- MilSim design based on the XM-8
- Requires a 9-volt Battery
- Manufacturer's Site
Guide Review - Smart Parts SP-8
Design:
The SP-8 is an electronic paintball gun with a MilSim design intended to look like the US Military's XM-8 rifle. The SP-8 has a pistol grip with a front plastic magazine-shaped cover over the gun's regulator. It has a handle that runs from the 45 degree feedneck to the front of the gun and comfortable rubber grips on both the handle and the front of the body that shrouds the barrel. The SP-8 has a standard sized top rail for mounting scopes and sights. The gun operates on less than 200 psi, runs on either compressed air or CO2 and can fire in four modes: semi-automatic, ramping, 3-round burst and fully automatic. The internal components of the SP-8 are the same as the Smart Parts Ion and made of aluminum while the shell is a composite plastic.Performance and Reliability:
The SP-8 is relatively easy to setup and shoot. The stock regulator needs some time to break in, so don't expect super consistent shots during your first case of paint, but after use, the regulator works well. The low pressure gun is relatively quiet and there is little kick so an agitated hopper might be necessary. With a broken in regulator, the SP-8 is quite consistent and I was able to get a 10 inch spread at 40 feet with the stock barrel. The gun is on the heavy side but it is comfortable to hold, though I favor holding the cover over the regulator rather than the front grip. One major disadvantage of the SP-8 is the difficulty in disassembling it if you need to clean out a break or lube the internals.Upgrades:
The SP-8 is designed for those that want to customize the look of their gun. Smart Parts has after market stocks and barrels and many other company's cosmetic upgrades are compatible. Since the internal components are the same as the Ion's, there are many performance upgrades available such as improved bolts, QEV valves and regulators.
