Why The Chopped Balls?

You could be having chopping problems for a couple different reasons.

1) bad paint to barrel bore match

2) Velocity is to high

3) bad quality paint or paint that had been sitting around to long

4) colder weather can cause paint breaks

5) Your hopper isn't feeding fast enough.

adrenalinejunky wrote: the hopper is most likely your problem, standard hoppers are very inconsisent, you wouldn't necessarily have to being going that fast for it to cause that, a minor jam and the ball could be late even at low BPS rates. it could just be anomolies as well, 2-3 out of 1500 isn't that bad, and while marbs do have a decently thick shell, they are specified for low breech pressures by RPS.

Great info. I didn't think 2-3 was really bad...but I wanted to hear what the experienced players were getting. Funny thing you mentioned the RPS for low pressure, I saw that noted on there website and called them. I was told I could shoot it in my 98c without problems. I'm going to try another paint and see if the numbers stay the same.

Last sat. I put 2000 rounds of Draxxus Blaze into my 03 vert feed autococker with Evolution II hopper. I did not have a singe ball chopped or a barrel break. The balls were in great condition with very few minor flaws, and were a perfect size for my barrel. Then I put through 1000 of my friend's PMI Menace, I think it was. These balls were to small small for my barrel and had many flaws. Still i did not have a single ball break or be chopped. Keep in mind that i have never chopper or broken a ball before, not even in my 98c(Which I did not shoot that much before i sold it to my friend, who has yet to break or chop a ball in it.)

I hope this data helps in your on going search to find the cause of ball breaks and chops in your gun. We all know you want to solve this problem. All i can say is that I think it is your hopper. you may or maynot be out shooting your hopper but that the balls are being delayed from entering the feedneck and enter the breach at a later end of your fireing cycle and being chopped. Try sanding down the inner walls of your feedneck in your hopper or buy a electronic hopper.