Airgun Designs 68 Automag Users Manual D3MANUAL.P65

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Instruction

Manual

Level 7

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AIRGUN DESIGNS, INC.

804 Seton Court

Wheeling, Illinois 60090

USA

Telephone: 847-520-7507

Tech Support: 847-520-7225

Fax: 847-520-7848

68AUTOMAG and MINIMAG are Registered Trademarks of Airgun Designs, Inc.

Micro C/A and 6-Pak+ are trademarks of Airgun Designs, Inc.

Several trademarks and Registered trademarks appear in this manual. The companies

listed below own the marks following their names:

CM Support: ViewLoader. Worr Game Products: Sniper

© Airgun Designs, Inc., 1998

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Table of Contents

Warranty..................................................................................... 6

Safety ......................................................................................... 8

Fast Start.................................................................................... 8

First Time Problems ................................................................... 9

History and Theory of Design ................................................... 10

Performance ............................................................................. 12

Lubrication ................................................................................ 12

Velocity Adjustment .................................................................. 12

Constant Air Tanks ................................................................... 13

Field Stripping........................................................................... 13

Cleaning and Maintenance ....................................................... 14

Paintballs .................................................................................. 14

Liquid in the Valve .................................................................... 15

Loader ...................................................................................... 15

Barrel........................................................................................ 16

O-Rings .................................................................................... 16

Nubbin ...................................................................................... 16

On/Off Valve ............................................................................. 16

Power Tube .............................................................................. 17

Diagram of Valve Internals ....................................................... 18

Regulator Valve ........................................................................ 19

Blow-Off Valve.......................................................................... 19

Re-Assembly of Valve .............................................................. 19

Re-Assembly of Body ............................................................... 20

Updates .................................................................................... 20

Accessories .............................................................................. 20

Troubleshooting ................................................................... 20-24

WARNING: This is not a toy. Misuse/careless use may

cause serious injury or death. Eye protection designed

specifically for paintball use must be worn by the user and

any person within 200yds(183m). Read Operation Manual

before using.

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Parts not manufactured by Airgun Designs

In evaluating in-house repairs, we have found that about 20% of the time we

are fixing problems caused by modifications and/or aftermarket accessory parts

installed in our markers. In most cases we must replace these aftermarket parts

with our own parts to make the marker work again. We are sure you can see

that this is very unfair to us and eventually to you in higher prices. We will no

longer fix markers for free either under the limited warranty or the punch

card warranty if the marker has an aftermarket part and/or accessory that

causes a problem. Some examples of modifications and/or parts that can

cause problems include: painted mainbodies, two finger triggers, wooden grips,

aftermarket o-rings, aftermarket seals, aftermarket bolts, aftermarket on/off

assemblies and aftermarket trigger frames.

In many cases, aftermarket accessories such as barrels, expansion chambers

and grip frames do not cause a problem and will not void the warranty. Many

aftermarket parts and accessories are available. We have no problem with

aftermarket parts being installed in our markers. However, please keep your

stock parts on hand and replace them first if you have problems with your

marker. If you are still having problems when all the original parts are installed,

then call us for assistance or to arrange for your marker to be sent to us for

repair. *****Return Authorization Required*****

We have always required that you call and get a return authorization number

before you send in your marker. This is for your safety and insures a speedy

repair. With an RA number we know your name and address, the problem, and

the date promised as soon as the marker arrives at our factory. If a marker

comes in without an RA number someone has to track down the owner, find out

what’s wrong, and then enter the information in the computer system. Therefore,

we will no longer accept repairs without an RA number. Packages without

RA numbers clearly marked on the outside of the package will be returned

to the sender! Technical Support

Our technical support hotline (847-520-7225) will not change. Technical

support is available by telephone any time from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and

1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. (Central Time) on Mondays through Fridays. Please

note that our telephone lines are busiest on Mondays and Fridays. Please have

your serial number ready so that we can look up your file quickly. Send in your

warranty card so we will have you on file when you call.

Our Commitment

Here at Airgun Designs we want to continue our long history of producing

quality products and providing quality service. Airgun Designs is focusing on

giving you, the player, the best possible value for your money. We hope that this

new policy reflects our commitment to you, the player, now and into the future.

Tom Kaye

President

WARRANTY

Congratulations on the purchase of your new Airgun Designs marker! There

have been some important changes in the way Airgun Designs handles warranty

repair work, so please read this thoroughly.

In the past, Airgun Designs produced markers of the highest quality and

provided premium service by fixing most markers for free. We charged a

correspondingly high price for this combination of quality and service. In

reviewing our policies and realizing that the majority of players in today’s

paintball world are on a limited budget, we have changed both our pricing and

warranty policies. In the past, by charging a higher price and repairing markers

for free, we rewarded the people who did not take the time to fix or maintain the

markers while excluding the people on a more limited budget.

We are reducing the prices significantly on most of our product line to make

them more affordable to the majority of the paintball public in 1998. We don’t

have to tell you that when you reduce the selling price something else has to go

to reduce the cost. WE DID NOT REDUCE THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCT

IN ANY WAY in order to reduce the selling price to our customers. The marker

you purchased today is the same in every way as the markers we produced in

the past. The only thing that has changed is the warranty policy.

Our New Warranty Policy

We now offer a 90 day limited warranty from the date of original retail pur-

chase. This warranty covers parts, labor, manufacturing defects, and malfunc-

tions. It does not cover abuse such as wrapping the gun around a tree when you

lose a game nor does it cover damage that occurs as part of an accident such as

a house fire.

After the 90 day limited warranty ends we now have what we call the punch

card warranty program. There is no actual punch card, but there are one to four

stars laser engraved above the serial number on your marker’s valve assembly.

Each star entitles you to a free repair of your marker. When you send your

marker in for repair we will remove one star and so “punch” your card. After we

have punched a star there is a 30 day warranty to ensure we fixed your marker

properly. If the marker still has the same problem it was sent in for we will fix it

again without punching another star as long as the marker is returned to us

within 30 days.

Once the stars are used up we will still service your marker, but we will charge

you a standard rebuild fee which covers the replacement of soft parts and return

ground shipping. There will be additional charges for hard parts such as bolts or

sear assemblies. Just as there is a 30 day warranty of repairs done under the

punch card program, there is also a 30 day warranty on rebuild repair work. This

punch card warranty program is good for three years from the date of manufac-

ture. In this way you can save the punches for times when you really have a

problem and we will be happy to fix it for you.

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full lock. The regulator nut is on the back of the valve body and requires only one

turn to adjust from 200 to 300 fps. Air venting out of the back of the regulator

indicates that the internal blow-off valve is responding to over pressure in the

system and the velocity should be turned down.

Field stripping is accomplished by unscrewing the field strip screw underneath

the frame after removing the air supply. THE TRIGGER MUST BE PULLED TO

SLIDE THE VALVE BODY OUT. There is a locking pin for alignment in the

regulator body which allows the valve body to only come out part way before you

must twist the valve body clockwise to continue sliding out the back. Reinstall in

the same manner. Once removed, the entire valve and bolt assembly is available

for cleaning.

Maintenance on all active o-rings can be accomplished without tools. See

specific headings for valve body disassembly.

When adjusting the regulator nut, shoot several times before chronoing to allow

the regulator piston and spring to seat properly. Always start below your in-

tended velocity and work your way up. When firing the paintball marker, it’s

important to remain aware of how many balls are in your loader. If the quantity

runs too low the slight blowback past the bolt will bobble the balls in the feed

tube, thus preventing a positive ball feed. This increases the likelihood of ball

breakage.

Always use high quality, fresh paintballs. The blow forward action aggressively

pushes the ball into the barrel before firing and we have found that lower grades

of paint cannot withstand the acceleration.

A slide-on sight rail is available from your local dealer or Airgun Designs, Inc.

FIRST TIME PROBLEMS

There are several first time problems to watch out for. Many times the paintballs

will not feed because the recoilless design does not jiggle the loader. You must

remain aware enough to keep the balls feeding.

Next, the bolt can stick forward causing the trigger to lock due to either paint

chips wedging between the bolt and breech or, when degassing the paintball

marker, caused by turning off the tank and shooting those last few blooping

shots. When the bolt sticks forward the trigger will not come forward. Remove

the barrel and push the bolt back until the trigger clicks forward.

The paintball marker will give very little indication that it is running out of gas; by

the time you see the velocity drop you are 20-30 shots away from total shut-

down. Additionally, if you use a constant air tank with an on/off valve make sure

you open it all the way. The same is true for pin valves; you must rotate the tank

at least one full turn after initial gas up or the tank will not feed enough air.

DO NOT USE A SIPHON TANK. IT WILL NOT WORK AND WILL MOST LIKELY

DAMAGE THE PAINTBALL MARKER!!

SAFETY

THIS PAINTBALL MARKER IS NOT A TOY! This paintball marker should be

treated as a dangerous instrument and should always be treated with respect.

Never point a paintball marker at anyone not properly attired. If misused or

improperly maintained, this paintball marker can cause serious bodily injury,

including blindness, or even death. Please read all safety instructions and

directions in this manual

before

using this paintball marker.

Do not point or shoot this paintball marker at animals. Do not point or shoot this

paintball marker at any person unless you and your target are engaged in

paintball activities and are wearing proper safety gear including approved

paintball goggles, mask, and pads. Follow all maintenance instructions carefully.

If you are unsure about any aspect of the maintenance procedures, contact your

local dealer or the Airgun Designs, Inc. Tech Line at (847) 520-7225.

This paintball marker is always armed and cocked when an air supply is in-

stalled. Always use the safety located behind the trigger on the grip when an air

supply is attached or installed. Disengage the safety only when on a playing field

and the game has started. The safety is off and the paintball marker

will

fire

when the red ring of the safety pin is showing.

Always chronograph this paintball marker before using it. Never shoot this

paintball marker when the chronograph readings exceed 300 feet per second!

There is a blow-off valve incorporated into the valve mechanism that will release

air pressure if pressure exceeds a predetermined amount. This blow-off valve is

factory set and is not user adjustable.

Always remove the air supply from the paintball marker and dry fire in a safe

direction before disassembling. The velocity adjusting nut is on the back of the

regulator body. Do not disassemble the velocity adjusting nut while the paintball

marker is under pressure. If air is leaking out the back of the velocity regulator

nut the paintball marker is over-pressurized and will shoot at a higher than

intended velocity. Reduce the regulated pressure by backing off the velocity

regulator nut and re-chronograph the paintball marker. If problems persist call

your dealer or Airgun Designs, Inc. Do not put your fingers into the breech

area or down the ball feed tube while firing the paintball marker!

The pressure regulator allows gas under pressure to push the trigger forward

after shooting. An excessively hard trigger pull may indicate the system is

overpressurized. Do NOT fire a paintball marker that has excessively hard trigger

pull; call your local dealer or Airgun Designs, Inc. immediately.

FAST START

This is a quick overview of how to use the 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG™ for the

experienced player. Introducing air pressure to the paintball marker will charge

and cock the system. The system is a blow forward from open bolt, similar in

concept to a cork in a champagne bottle.

The barrel utilizes a twist lock mount; a one-quarter twist is all that is required for

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This was a tough list but the team, undaunted, used the two years of accumu-

lated knowledge and evaluated sixteen different combinations of valves and

bolts and focused on what was soon to become P3. We knew that pressure in

the tank could vary as much as 100% and the only way to get everything

consistent was to incorporate a pressure regulator that would provide consistant

velocity and infinite velocity adjustment. Second, any air not coming out behind

the ball would be wasted and would be coming from a hole that would allow dirt

in. Third, a light weight bolt for good efficiency combined with a trigger mecha-

nism that did not try to stop the bolt while it was moving all resulted in a totally

new design for us and the sport of paintball.

The paintball marker you have just purchased is P4, a further refined version of

P3. Its function can be broken down into three independent stages: regulation,

chamber fill, and chamber dump. Stage one occurs when an air source is

connected to the paintball marker and the system builds up pressure. At a

predetermined pressure, set by the regulator nut, the regulator valve closes, thus

sealing off the air source from the rest of the paintball marker. The pressure

inside the paintball marker is now approximately 400 psi even though CO2 tank

pressure may vary from 600-1000 psi under different temperatures. Stage two

happens when the trigger is released, opening the ON/OFF VALVE and allowing

the air chamber to fill to a regulated pressure of 400 psi.

Stage three is where everything happens. The air chamber is designed like a

champagne bottle with a cork (the bolt) stuck in the opening. The cork (or bolt, in

this case) wants to pop out, but is held in place by the sear. When you pull the

trigger the sear first closes the ON/OFF VALVE (just before releasing the bolt)

shutting off the air chamber from the regulator. This gives the paintball marker a

precise amount of regulated air charge. Next the sear releases the bolt and, like

the cork, it starts moving forward out of the bottle(power tube). At some point

after the ball has been pushed into the barrel, the cork leaves the end of the

bottle and all the air rushes out. Once the air is gone the BOLT SPRING which

has been collapsed from the bolt moving forward pushes the BOLT back into the

now empty air chamber. The process starts over when the trigger is released.

As with all designs, nothing is perfect and there are some inadequacies in this

design. All pressure regulators, by the nature of their design, cannot fill a

chamber instantly but must fill most of it quickly and then taper off to hit the

desired pressure. (You do the same when pouring a glass of water.) When firing

faster than three shots a second, the air chamber will not be fully filled and you

will experience a 10-20 fps drop in average velocity. The other problems revolve

around CO2 itself. We usually think of CO2 in terms of a liquid or a gas, but in

reality it also takes the form of “steam.” CO2, like water, boils when heated and

becomes steam; the steam will still exist as a form of “humidity” until its tempera-

ture is above 87 degrees. Pressure changes will also cause water or CO2 to boil,

but this is usually less understood by the general public. Everyday examples of

water boiling caused by pressure are cavitation by boat propellers (boiling

caused by low pressure) and car radiators (not boiling caused by high pressure).

What does this mean to your average paintball player? Simple! When you shoot

HISTORY AND THEORY OF DESIGN

The 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG is the result of three years of development from the

Airgun Designs research team. At the 1988 Poconos tournament we displayed

our first semi-auto prototype, the PANTHER. The PANTHER was a blowback

single-barrel design that was very advanced for its time. The paintball marker

design and prototype were sold, but never produced.

The second, completely new paintball marker was developed during the follow-

ing year and was code named P2 (for PANTHER #2). It was a blowback design

that featured interchangeable barrels, no tools takedown to all seals, and

reduced parts count. During this time we saw a tremendous improvement in

pump paintball marker technology, giving the players field strip capability,

doubling efficiency, and reducing weight. We knew that players would not be

content with a semi-auto that simply shot when you pulled the trigger if it did not

also meet the performance they had come to expect from their pump paintball

markers.

After two years of research and development, we knew there were two inherent

problems with a blowback design. First, while the heavy bolt being blown back

was necessary to slow the action down, it reduced efficiency. The heavier the

bolt, the more energy it consumed; lightening the bolt made it harder for the bolt

to open the valve far enough. The second fundamental problem was in allocating

how much energy went to blow back the bolt (requiring a fixed amount) versus

propelling the ball (variable with tank pressure and velocity setting). With all of

our blowback designs velocity was dependent on tank pressure which caused

velocity to drop when firing enough to chill the tank down.

The semi-auto firearm from which the blowback design comes has a relatively

fixed energy source (gunpowder) which burns the same no matter what the

temperature, humidity, etc. There has not been a semi-auto firearm made that

can shoot a clip of bullets all at the same velocity with only half the powder in

some shells.

After two years, it was with some disappointment that we closed the book on our

blowback designs and wiped the drawing board clean. We knew what our

customers wanted and after the successes of the MICRO-C/A™, 6-PAK+™ and

the TURBO VALVE, we didn’t want a letdown. Starting fresh, the team took a

“bottoms up” approach in starting with a list of performance specifications and

then coming up with the design. The specifications list was as follows:

Light weight

Pistol size for one handed use

No tools takedown

High efficiency

Interchangeable barrels

Consistant velocity

Infinite velocity adjustment

No internal parts exposed

No premature parts breakage

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rapidly, the pressure in your tank drops causing the CO2 to boil, the steam goes

into your paintball marker’s air chamber, you fire the paintball marker discharging

the air chamber behind the ball (dropping pressure again), the steam boils into

gas (steam is still a liquid and boils into 30 times its volume in gas) and the ball

velocity varies. Switch tanks and you now have warm steam going into a cold

paintball marker and, just like the mirror in the bathroom, you get liquid condens-

ing in the paintball marker.

PERFORMANCE

The paintball marker will get a minimum of 400 good shots from a 7 oz. CO2 tank

under normal conditions. An eleven inch barrel gives the best efficiency; longer

or shorter barrels will reduce these numbers.

Cold weather performance (below 50°) on CO2 will be poor. Since the paintball

marker is designed to function at a predetermined pressure, outside tempera-

tures below freezing will not generate enough CO2 tank pressure for adequate

velocity. If you regularly play in these conditions, we recommend that you invest

in a quality high pressure system (i.e. compressed air or nitrogen setup).

Take-up is the movement of the trigger before it comes in contact with the sear,

after sear contact continuing to pull through fires the paintball marker. The trigger

in the 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG has been designed to have a “snap” action with

no take-up to give the shortest possible stroke and thus the highest possible

firing rate. The average person can fire 4-5 shots per second but, when charged

with adrenaline, this can climb to 6 per second. Note that the loader can only

feed 7 balls per second under ideal conditions, so be careful!

LUBRICATION

We find that customers who properly lubricate their paintball markers once a

week have the fewest problems. To lubricate your 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG

properly, drip 4-6 drops of AUTOLUBE into the air inlet closest to the valve. Then

gas up and dry fire the paintball marker several dozen times with the barrel

removed (to prevent oil build-up in the barrel).

In addition, once a month remove the valve body and spray oil into the holes

marked -OIL-. You may also use automotive grease (i.e. wheel bearing or any

light grease) on the spring pack and Regulator Piston O-ring.

VELOCITY ADJUSTMENT

The velocity of your 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG is adjusted by increasing or

decreasing the regulated pressure. This is accomplished by turning the REGU-

LATOR NUT located on the back of the regulator body. Only a minimal amount

of rotation is necessary to adjust the velocity. We recommend that you always

start at a low velocity setting and turn the adjustment screw clockwise to your

desired setting.

Always shoot several shots to seat the regulator piston and spring. High veloci-

ties will cause the blow-off valve built into your system to vent air out the back of

the regulator body. If you ever hear air venting, stop and re-chrono the paintball

marker immediately. We find the best performance to be in the 270-280 fps

range. Occasionally grease the threads of the regulator nut.

We offer an optional 3-piece Tournament Cap that is designed to prevent the

regulator nut from backing out and thereby reducing velocity under severe

playing conditions.

CONSTANT AIR TANKS

DO NOT USE A SIPHON TANK ON YOUR PAINTBALL MARKER!!!

Liquid CO2 in this paintball marker will cause all the active o-rings to leak and the

velocity will not be controllable. Make sure the tank valve is feeding air into the

paintball marker fast enough when rapid firing; make sure the valve is completely

open. Paintball markers that dramatically lose velocity often have this problem.

For vertical tank and remote vertical tank setups, always use standard tanks that

have been weight checked to ensure proper fills. Horizontal tanks should be anti-

siphon. Contact your local dealer for information on an anti-siphon tank.

The vertical bottle adapter is an accessory for the 68AUTOMAG and a standard

feature on the MINIMAG. It helps reduce the possibility of the paintball marker

“going liquid” by mounting the standard air tank vertically.

When using CO2, steps must be taken to keep liquid from entering the valve. The

most effective setup we can recommend is a full size expansion chamber

vertically mounted in front of the trigger frame and a remote tank. The hose

would run from the A.I.R. valve to a vertical adapter mounted on the bottom of

the rail, in front of the trigger frame. The expansion chamber screws into the

adapter just like a tank. A hose would then run from the bottom of the chamber

to remote tank positioned vertically on your back (in a pouch, on your belt?).

Many people who do not like remote tanks mount their tanks horizontally off the

bottom of the trigger frame or main rail. Any horizontal tank should be anti-

siphon. Anti-siphon tanks are tailored to specific adapters. They are setup for,

and cannot be interchanged with other CA adapters. Remote tanks should be

standard (Neither siphon nor anti-siphon).

Overall, remote tanks are more effective because they are vertical. Keep in mind

that no setup is 100% effective in keeping liquid CO2 out.

Below 50oF freezing will still occur, even with an expansion chamber and remote.

If you plan on playing in cold weather, seriously consider a high pressure

system.

FIELD STRIPPING

Field stripping the 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG is accomplished by first degassing

and removing the air supply, then unscrewing the knurled field strip screw at the

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rear of the frame. To remove the valve body you must FIRST pull the trigger and

THEN pull the valve body out. The valve body has a pin that slides in a Z-shaped

slot in the rail. To remove the valve body pull it straight back 1/4 inch, rotate the

valve body slightly(being careful to keep the 68AUTOMAG logo aligned). The

valve body should then pull straight out the back, opening the paintball marker

for cleaning.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

To quickly clean the paintball marker without disassembly simply use a bucket of

clean water and swish the paintball marker body in it WHILE THE PAINTBALL

MARKER IS FULLY PRESSURIZED! Keeping the paintball marker pressurized

keeps the water out of the internal workings of the valve body. After hard use the

paintball marker should be taken down and all exposed parts cleaned and

inspected for wear or problems. Lightly lubricate all surfaces and re-assemble

according to instructions. To deep clean your paintball marker start by field

stripping down to the valve body. Remove and clean the POWER TUBE O-RING

(see POWER TUBE section), lightly lubricate and reinstall. Then remove and

clean the REGULATOR VALVE and REGULATOR SEAT (see REGULATOR

VALVE). The spring on the REGULATOR VALVE will catch particles of debris

that come from your fill tank. Always clean the spring thoroughly; pay particular

attention to the sealing edge that contacts the REGULATOR SEAT. The REGU-

LATOR SEAT should be cleaned carefully and inspected for eny embedded

particles; these particles can cause the regulator to leak slowly and can also

cause the gun to shoot hot.

Install with the wide end ot the REGULATOR SEAT in first (see REGULATOR

VALVE). With the REGULATOR BODY off, unscrew the REGULATOR NUT

completely and remove the SPRING PACK; it will fall out. Use a paper clip to

push the REGULATOR PISTON out by inserting the paper clip wire through the

REGULATOR SEAT hole in the other end of the REGULATOR BODY. Clean the

REGULATOR PISTON, lubricate and reinstall (see RE-ASSEMBLY OF VALVE).

PAINTBALLS

There are many different kinds of paintballs on the market, all with different

specifications. The one thing that is consistent is that low quality paintballs will

perform poorly in the 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG. Always use fresh, high quality

paintballs and try many different types and colors to find the best type suited for

your paintball marker and playing conditions.

A common problem that we are all concerned about is ball breakage. Ball

breakage was the one area we spent the most time on in the 68AUTOMAG/

MINIMAG’s development. There are two ways balls break in your paintball

marker: first, because the ball did not feed all the way into the breech and was

cut in half by the bolt; this is addressed in the LOADER section and is not a

concern here. Second is the impact from the air blast. Because the paintball

marker can shoot twice as much paint in the course of a game it will appear that,

on a per game basis, you are breaking twice as many balls. Our trials show that

a properly setup paintball marker shooting quality paint will break approximately

3-4 paintballs per thousand. In comparison, low quality paint will break 1 in 50. A

good test for shell strength is to drop several hundred paintballs one at a time

from a height of 6 feet. Balls that consistently survive 6-7 bounces are consid-

ered fresh; balls that break within 3 bounces are either stale or have weak shells.

If you know the paintball marker is setup properly and you still experience

problems, switch to a different brand or color and try again.

LIQUID IN THE VALVE

Liquid CO2 can enter the air chamber of an airgun and when expelled into the

barrel behind the ball it instantly boils into gas that is many times the volume of

the liquid. This causes a hotter than normal shot and, depending on the volume

of liquid, can show velocity readings in excess of 350 fps. This action is known

as supercharging and is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all

times. The blow-off valve will not protect against supercharging because

the liquid is at the normal pressure when it is in the air chamber! To

prevent supercharging follow these basic rules: 1) never shoot the paintball

marker at the ground since this allows the liquid to run straight into the valve; 2)

never overfill a bottle since a higher than normal liquid level will drain fluid into

the valve; 3) keep your paintball marker at outside temperature because a cold

valve body allows liquid to remain in its liquid state instead of boiling into gas.

In addition, we have found that putting a warm bottle on a cold paintball marker

causes the warm CO2 vapor to enter the air chamber where it condenses into

liquid; this is identical to freezing down a 7 ounce tank before filling from the

warmer 50 pound tank — avoid this.

LOADER

When you receive your 68AUTOMAG PowerFeed or MINIMAG you also receive

a free ViewLoader™ and elbow. Always keep at least twenty balls in the loader

when fast firing. This will keep the balls from being blown up into the loader from

the bolt blowback. The blowback WILL help the balls feed when the hopper is

full.

Ball breakage is common with first time users of the 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG due

to the recoilless action and the tendency of the balls to hand in the loader.

Become aware of the need to shake the paintball marker to keep the balls

flowing and listen for the balls bobbling telling you to reload. If you find that the

balls are cut in half in the breech, look at the loader or your technique.

Some elbows used with the ViewLoader will require smoothing out on the inside

for maximum flow; make sure that there are no sharp corners or edges to catch

balls on. The most reliable firing method is tri-burst until you become accus-

tomed to keeping the balls feeding.

- 16 - - 17 -

BARREL

The barrel on your 68AUTOMAG PowerFeed and MINIMAG is made from the

same aluminum stock as the famous Bud Orr Sniper™, long known for its

accuracy. The barrel lock is a stainless detent pin mounted in the paintball

marker rail. To remove the barrel, twist the barrel counter clockwise one-quarter

turn and pull straight out. To reinstall slide the barrel up to the stop; then, while

exerting steady pressure, rotate the barrel to find the detent slot and continue to

push straight in and then rotate clockwise into the detent position. The o-rings on

the barrel serve to give the barrel a friction fit; they do not seal air pressure.

O-RINGS

The o-rings in your 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG are all high quality 90 durometer

urethane or teflon for long life and abrasion resistance. Replace any damaged o-

rings with Airgun Designs, Inc. supplied replacements.

O-rings should only be lubricated with Autolube.

NUBBIN

Airgun Designs barrels utilize a wire nubbin to retain the paintball in the breech

and to prevent double feeding. The wire nubbin will automatically compensate

for all size balls and should give long life if not abused. If double feed problems

develop, bend the wire so it protrudes slightly further into the bore. When

properly installed, each nubbin should protrude about the thickness of a

matchbook cover into the breech.

ON/OFF VALVE

The ON/OFF VALVE assembly is located on the bottom of the valve body and is

actuated by the back end of the sear. Its function is to shut off airflow to the air

chamber when firing and recharge the chamber when the trigger is released. It

consists of three parts: the ON/OFF TOP, the ON/OFF BOTTOM, and the ON/

OFF PIN (see diagram below).

There are four o-rings in the assembly: two in the top of the valve body hole (one

inside the other) and two more on the ON/OFF BOTTOM. There is an assembly

diagram laser engraved on the valve body to show the proper assembly order.

There are two small and two large o-rings in the assembly; only the small teflon

o-ring in the bottom of the valve body is an active o-ring. The small active teflon

o-ring can be swapped with its teflon double.

POWER TUBE

The Level 7 marker incorporates a POWER TUBE that is welded on to the air

chamber. There is a blue urethane bumper at its base to keep the bolt from

impacting the valve body on its return stroke. The brass POWER TUBE TIP is

screwed into the front of the power tube and is prevented from unscrewing by a

urethane o-ring seated in its base. It is important that this POWER TUBE TIP is

tightened properly to avoid stripping the POWER TUBE TIP threads. To remove,

use a coin to unscrew the insert from the POWER TUBE. Directly underneath

the POWER TUBE TIP is the POWER TUBE SPACER and beneath that is the

POWER TUBE O-RING. The POWER TUBE O-RING is an active seal that

receives substantial abuse and should be inspected for wear regularly. It is 90

durometer urethane and should only be replaced with an identical replacement.

If you need to replace it on the field, the o-rings in the ON/OFF VALVE are the

same, giving you two potential spares to swap out.

Problems with the POWER TUBE O-RING occur when the paintball marker is

not kept lubricated or when liquid CO2 passes through the system creating ice

crystals that prevent the o-ring from sealing. Insufficient lubrication or ice causes

spontaneous barrel leaks that are usually short lived but are an annoyance in the

field. If ice is causing the barrel leak, continuing to fire will only prolong the

problem; you must pause long enough to warm up the o-ring. An unlubricated o-

ring will usually re-seal itself within several shots. If the barrel continues to leak

and the action of the moment does not allow you to make repairs, hold the

trigger back to stop the leak. When ready to fire, release and fire quickly; holding

the trigger back after each shot, or during any pause. This method will give you

reduced velocity, but will keep you in the game.

REMEMBER when reinstalling the POWER TUBE parts: O-ring first, POWER

TUBE SPACER next, and then the POWER TUBE TIP.(See diagram below)

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REGULATOR VALVE

The REGULATOR VALVE is the heart of the system. It is accessed by unscrew-

ing the VALVE BODY (which has the air inlet) from the REGULATOR BODY

(which has the velocity adjusting nut). Once unscrewed, you will find the REGU-

LATOR VALVE and SPRING protruding from the VALVE BODY.

The REGULATOR VALVE and SPRING are held in by spring pressure and can

be pulled out as one unit. On the REGULATOR BODY you will see a urethane

washer(REGULATOR SEAT) snapped inot its hole; this is the most critical seal

in the marker and must be inspected regularly and kept completely clean. If this

seal leaks the paintball gun goes full pressure, the trigger gets hard, and the

BLOW-OFF VALVE vents out the rear of the gun. Paintball markers venting out

the BLOW-OFF VALVE usually have dirt on this seal; to prevent problems,

regularly wipe this seal with a clean cloth. To reassemble, snap the REGULA-

TOR SEAT back in its hole; it will only snap in and stay one way, but it can be

reversed and carefully reassembled if a problem develops. Next push the

REGULATOR VALVE and SPRING assembly back in its hole in the VALVE

BODY until the 68AUTOMAG/MINIMAG logo lines up. If you forget how the parts

go together, there is a diagram laser engraved on the VALVE BODY showing the

correct relationship of the REGULATOR VALVE and the REGULATOR SEAT.

BLOW-OFF VALVE

The BLOW-OFF VALVE is self contained in the REGULATOR PISTON and is

NOT user adjustable. It is a safety device for venting air from the paintball

marker if abnormally high pressure occurs in the regulator or air chamber. It is

factory set to vent automatically at 650 psi. Occasional short bursts of air venting

out the VELOCITY ADJUSTING NUT usually means that liquid was present in

the system; this liquid boiled, causing increased pressure and was vented off.

Always check your velocity any time the BLOW-OFF VALVE has vented.

RE-ASSEMBLY OF VALVE

Assuming you have all the valve parts identified in front of you, begin with the

REGULATOR BODY (rearmost end of paintball gun). Find the REGULATOR

PISTON (brass 1/2” round with o-ring) and insert o-ring end first into the back of

the REGULATOR BODY followed by the SPRING PACK, large washer first(looks

like a bunch of washers stacked on a pin). Next screw in the REGULATOR

ADJUSTING NUT finger tight to complete the back end of the paintball gun. On

the end of the REGULATOR BODY that has threads and a large o-ring snap in

the REGULATOR SEAT, which completes the subassembly.

Next, find the VALVE BODY (air inlet on one side) and the ON/OFF VALVE

parts. Insert the ON/OFF VALVE parts according to the diagram on the VALVE

BODY: large and small o-rings first, ON/OFF TOP next, ON/OFF BOTTOM

(small stainless part with two o-rings) and finally the ON/OFF PIN (silver pin 1/8”

diameter, 3/4” long). The REGULATOR VALVE ASSY(small silver pin with large

head and small coil spring) goes into its hole (central hole in VALVE BODY) with

the spring end entering the hole first. The REGULATOR BODY can now be

screwed into the VALVE BODY until the logo lines up.

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Finally, reassemble the POWER TUBE end. Find the POWER TUBE O-RING

(cream-colored 1/4” OD) and place it into the POWER TUBE, followed by the

POWER TUBE SPACER (small brass ring) and finally the POWER TUBE TIP.

Tighten the POWER TUBE TIP as tight as possible with a coin to complete the

assembly. Don’t forget to slide the BUMPER over the POWER TUBE until it rests

against the VALVE BODY.

RE-ASSEMBLY OF BODY

First set the mainbody on the rail, lining up the “pem”(spot welded) nut into its

hole in the rail. Next fit the trigger frame assembly up to the rail. Carefully feed

the TRIGGER ROD into the trigger frame until it pokes out behind the trigger.

The rod must be fed in from back to front finding its way underneath the safety

pin; when properly installed you should see the tip of the pin from the side of the

paintball gun about midway down the trigger. To finish the frame sub-assembly,

screw in and tighten the front frame screw firmly with the supplied 1/8” allen

wrench.

The assembled VALVE BODY and BOLT can now be slid into place in the back

of the mainbody being careful to line up the logo on the valve, and lock pin in the

rail. The final step is to tighten the FIELD STRIP SCREW and your marker is

ready to go.

UPDATES

We are constantly pushing the leading edge of paintball marker technology and

are continuing to make refinements in our paintball markers. As a service to our

customers, we offer updates to Level 7 for Level 5 and Level 6 markers at no

charge. Please note that all 68AUTOMAGS since serial number CF3456 and

ALL MINIMAGS have been built as Level 7. The update from Level 6 to Level 7

reduced ball breakage by enlarging the air chamber to function at a lower

pressure.

ACCESSORIES

Call your local dealer or Airgun Designs, Inc. at (847) 520-7507 for information

on replacement parts or factory produced accessories for the 68AUTOMAG/

MINIMAG series of paintball markers.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Does marker shoot at all? If not go to debug chart on following page.

Does marker exhibit erratic velocity? Debug chart on following page.

Does marker shoot but exhibits shootdown? Debug chart on page 22.

Does marker leak? Debug chart on page 23.

Is tank full?

Is regulator nut turned in far enough?

Are obstructions cleared from air supply?

Is bolt sticking?

Does trigger have pressure and spring

back when pulled?

Check for proper gap between:

1) Trigger & rod; 2) Trigger & frame

(before fire gap) (after fire gap)

1/16” 1/16”

Call AGD Tech Line

847-520-7225

Turn nut in until marker shoots

or vents out back

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

Install next size longer power

tube spacer

Field strip marker and check bolt for

foreign objects/obstructions

Adjust trigger rod to

proper gap

NO

MARKER WON’T SHOOT

First shot in a string of shots hot:

Replace Regulator Seat.

Velocity gradually drops off:

(Possible reg. nut backing out)

Make visual mark on regulator nut and check

how far it has backed out after play.

Install 3-piece Tournament Cap.

Reg. Piston/Piston o-ring problem:

Replace Reg. Piston o-ring and apply (common

automotive) grease to o-ring and Spring Pack.

ERRATIC VELOCITY

Shot to shot inconsis-

tency not explained by

shootdown Spring Pack Binding:

Disconnect air source, screw

reg. nut inward until it stops;

then back out reg. nut until

loose again, reattach air source,

and re-chrono marker.

Call AGD Tech Line

847-520-7225

NO

LEAKS

SHOOTDOWN

Velocity drops off

rapidly under rapid

fire

“Short Stroking” trigger may cause shootdown--

be sure trigger is allowed to travel completely

forward after each shot

Check for proper gap between:

1) Trigger & rod; 2) Trigger & frame

(before fire gap) (after fire gap)

1/16” 1/16”

Call AGD Tech Line

847-520-7225

CO2

System Compressed Air or N2

System

Make sure tank valve/pin

valve fully open

Check for line restrictions

such as crushed/clogged

filter, kinked hose, etc.

Ensure liquid CO2 not

getting into valve

Is tank valve fully open and

output pressure set to

800 psi?

Is supply tank filled

to over 800 psi?

Determine leak location

Down the barrel of

the marker Out the back of the

marker In the trigger area

Possible PT o-ring failure:

Replace PT o-ring.

Still leaks?

Poss. incorrect spacer:

Try shorter PT spacer.

Still leaks?

Poss. bolt problem:

Try a different AGD bolt.

Still leaks?

Poss. PT base crack:

Examine area carefully

using magnifying glass.

Still leaks?

Call AGD Tech Line

847-520-7225

Possible Reg. Seat failure:

Replace Reg. Seat.

Still leaks?

If using HP system:

Using a HP piston assy.? If

not, install HP piston assy.

Still leaks?

Possible Piston failure:

Replace Reg. Piston assy.

Still leaks?

Call AGD Tech Line

847-520-7225

Isolate location of leak:

Fire marker & hold trigger back.

Still leaks?

On/Off Top leak:

Replace both o-rings in On/Off

Top area (above the Brass On/

Off Top). Still leaks?

Call AGD Tech Line

847-520-7225

YES

On/Off Bottom leak:

Replace both o-rings in On/Off

Bottom (Stainless piece).

Still leaks?

On/Off Pin failure:

Replace On/Off Pin.

Still leaks?

Call AGD Tech Line

847-520-7225

NO

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