Spyder Sonix

Spyder Sonix
Amazon

The Bottom Line

The Spyder Sonix is one step up from Kingman's most basic paintball gun and is a good looking choice for the beginner player. Whether the upgrades that improve on the base Spyder model are worth the extra cost is entirely a question of preference.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Very upgradeable
  • Simple and reliable design
  • Quick-release bolt

Cons

  • Not particularly accurate or consistent
  • Has a tendency to chop cheap paint
  • All components are low-end

Description

  • Entry-level blowback paintball gun
  • Commonly available from specialty stores and large retail outlets
  • Many upgrades are readily available
  • Can run on CO2 or compressed air

Design

Kingman's Spyder Sonix 2007 is the most recent incarnation of the venerable Sonix, and its design hasn't really changed. It is still a very simple blowback gun with just a couple of upgrades over the base model Spyder Victor. It comes with a bottom line, standard ASA, double trigger, sight rail and a vertical feed tube (you have to use a removable vertical feedneck). Its upgrades over the Victor include a gas-through foregrip and a front expansion chamber under the barrel. It comes in several colors, and the overall milling is top notch. It has a top-cocking delrin bolt.

Performance

The Sonix's overall performance isn't too bad for its price. It will fire as fast as you can shoot, but its got a long and somewhat stiff trigger pull, so don't expect any crazy rate of fire. It's not particularly consistent, so paintball muzzle velocity will vary from shot to shot. Despite this, the Sonix does shoot fairly accurately as long as you use decent paintballs. The foregrip and front expansion chamber don't seem to add much too in terms of performance, but the foregrip is much more comfortable to hold on to than the Victor's bottom line - whether or not the extra money makes the Sonix better than the Victor boils down to preference.

Reliability and Maintenance

As long as you don't abuse it, the Sonix should work well for years - just make sure you clean and oil your gun after each use. If there is a leak in your gun, you probably just need to replace your O-rings. One very nice feature is the quick-release bolt, which makes cleaning the chamber a snap.

Upgrades

The Sonix is an excellent beginner gun because it can be heavily upgraded. Whether you want to get a barrel kit, electronic trigger frame, upgraded bolt or custom grips, the Sonix can support it.

Reviewer's note: This review depends heavily on user reviews of the Sonix.