Hellions Press: Review of the M-16 Curved Magazine Kit

HELLIONS REVIEW THE TIPPMANN PHENOM MAGAZINE KIT

Tippmann X7 Phenom with M-16 Curved Mag Mod Kit.

Reviewer: Lonnie "Grendel" Colson, Hellions SFG Company Commander and Team Captain.

Manufacturer: Tippmann Sports, LLC., 2955 Adams Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46803.

Description: "The new Tru-Feed 7-Ball Magazine will now come standard with every TPX Pistol. It uses a straight feed, low tension spring system that allows players to use a wider variety of paint, and is less affected by hot or humid conditions." (From Tippmann Sports' Facebook press release)

Period of Product Use: Approximately one week

Paintball Experience: Almost 20 years (1990)

Similar Products Used: Tippmann X7 Magazine Mod

Marker Setup: X7 Phenom (serial no. 0006112) with M-16 foregrip, collapsible stock, front sigth and carry handle.

Recommended Upgrades: Tippmann Phenom mods to complete the look.

Strengths: While the X7 Phenom performed exponentially better than the X7, it did have fewer compatible mods. Only submachine guns mods were possible if the user wished to maintain a mil-sim look. Previous X7 mods such as the AK-47 and G-36 would not look right with the standard X7 Phenom straight 9mm magazine. The possibility of adding a new magazine and trigger well to give the marker the appearance of a larger magazine such as the AK-47 curved magazine, the M-16 curved magazine and the smaller M-16 "shortie" magazine greatly increase the overall look of the Phenom marker. Assebly only took a few minutes.

Weaknesses: Requires disassembly of the entire lower receiver (grip) frame.

Review: To add the M-16 curved magazine mod kit to my X7 Phenom, I only needed a screwdriver, allen wrench and 5-10 minutes of time I already had the M-16/M-4 accessories installed. While there are conversion kits to make an M-16/M-4/AR-15 fire 9mm, prior to installing the curved magazine kit there was definitely something missing from the Phenom's look of "realism".

The process was realitively painless. I popped out the push pins and removed the lower receiver. Once removed, I took out the two allen bolts and four screws to disassemble the grip. The standard trigger guard was swapped out with the one in the kit and the lower receiver was put back together and installed on the marker. The M-16 curved mag snapped quickly into the standard well and fit seamlessly with the new trigger guard. The entire process took less than 10 minutes.

The same, simple process is the same for the AK-47 and M-16 straight ("shortie") magazine kits. Depending on the look you are aiming for, you can swap them out with little trouble. For the G-36 or sniper mods, the M-16 straight kit is recommended.

No test firings were conducted as the modification is for cosmetic purposes only..

Conclusion: The M-16 curved magazine mod kit definitely improves the overall look of anyone's marker who is looking to give it that M-16/M-4 look. Used in combination with the M-16 foregrip, sight, carry handle and collapsible stock, it does a great job of completing the X7 Phenom's appearance. With a listed price of $19.99, it is a very affordable recommended accessory.

Anyone who does not see an improvement (reduction) in their rate of breaks should contact the Tippmann Techincal Support Team at (800) 533-4831, especially if they are using one of the original models. Tippmann has come out with several updates/upgrades and their techs will repair or exchange parts free of charge. Visit them at any one of the many major big game events literally around the world.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

For More Information: Tippmann Sports X7 Phenom M-16 Curved Magazine Kit

Photos: Images of the Tippmann X7 Phenom M-16 curved magazine mod kit.