Smart Parts SP-1: Smart Corps secret weapon?
by Ian "Lo" Ebersole on Nov 18, 2008
When the 2006 SPPL champion team Smart Corps showed up to the 2007 finals with a new marker in their hands, it started a buzz throughout the woodsball and scenario community. This new marker, the Smart Parts SP-1, was labeled by some to be merely a dumbed down Ion. Others, however, quickly noticed several of the advantages offered, particularly the easy bolt removal and maintenance, abundant rails, and the single trigger, a longtime favorite feature of woodsball players everywhere. Whatever the criticisms and complements, the on-field performance of the SP-1 soon spoke for itself, powering Smart Corps to a repeat SPPL championship. Ever since it’s subsequent release to the public, the SP-1 and it’s sleeker cousin the Vibe have been providing similar performance for players around the country. Here is the lowdown on one of the newest entry-level makers to enter the paintball scene.
When I got the SP-1, I was immediately impressed by the packaging. In contrast to some products in the early days of the sport, the SP-1 packaging has a very professional look which screams “Open me!” I did. Inside sat the SP-1, a few allen wrenches, and a barrel sock, and underneath, a set of instruction manuals and added information on the firing modes and the differences between using CO2 and HPA. Surprisingly, there was not any oil or lubricant included, although this may have changed since. Being of the inquisitive sort, I began by taking the marker apart.
One of the major disadvantages players have noted about the predecessors of the SP-1’s design, such as the Smart Parts Ion, was the difficulty in disassembly. Markers such as the Ion required near-complete disassembly in order to thoroughly clean the breech or the bolt. The SP-1 is refreshingly different. In order to remove the bolt assembly (which when completed, gives a clear path through the entire marker), first one removes the back plate, attached with two smaller screws, and then removes the back plug, using a large allen key. Players who have used the original Matrix markers or SFT shockers will feel right at home. With the back plug removed, push on the bolt from the front (SP recommends of all things, a chopstick!) to remove that, and basic fieldstripping is complete. Reassembling the marker is likewise painless.
The second feature I fiddled with, and one of the features that drew me to the SP-1, was the integrated flashlight mount. I personally tested a Mini-Maglite in my SP-1. After removing the bottom picatinny rail, a small locking pin was revealed. This sits inside the lanyard hole on the flashlight, in order to lock the flashlight into place. Once the pin is removed, the flashlight slides into place, and is locked once the pin is replaced. Once I played with the mount a bit, I found that a piece of tape wrapped around the flashlight snugged it up perfectly. Unlike other markers, which require the installation of an expensive taclight, my SP-1 was now perfectly set up for night-play, for a cost of about ten dollars.
Another item I noted to be especially nice was the feel of the marker. While the SP-1 isn’t a featherweight, it’s still easy to handle, and balances well. The front grip is well shaped, which makes one of the most comfortable vertical grips I’ve held. The main grip is also excellently formed, with a nice tactile feel, similar to a Hogue style grip. In addition, the styling and finish of the marker are both excellent. The marker is covered with Weaver rails, which are arranged in a practical and aesthetic manner.
A few days later, I was able to pick the SP-1 back up for some testing on the firing range. To set my SP-1 up properly, I followed the instructions to tell my SP-1 that I’d be using High Pressure Air (HPA) rather than CO2. This required touching the battery to the connector while holding down the power button. A single flash of the LED indicates the SP-1 is in CO2 mode (the default), while a double flash indicates the SP-1 is prepared for HPA. A similar method is used to lock or unlock the firing modes, except that the trigger is held down instead of the power button. I unlocked the firing modes, and was ready to roll. For the testing, I used an entirely stock SP-1, with Draxxus Recon paint (no affiliation there, but it’s dang good paint), a 68/4500 HPA tank, and an old Revolution hopper.
To begin, I left the hopper turned off, to simulate an average beginning player with a gravity hopper. Airing up the marker provided no problems, and I turned the marker on by holding the power button. I should mention that the SP-1 power button is a much easier and more responsive button than the membrane-type used on the Smart Parts Ion. This was a huge relief for me. For my first shots, using Semi-automatic mode, I aimed at a small patch of concrete about 35 yards away. The marker was very consistent in shots, with no noticeable velocity fluctuations (later tested to be within plus or minus 3 fps), and a very smooth operation. Accuracy with the stock barrel and Recon paint was very good, and I didn’t experience any errant shots.
One item I should especially mention about the SP-1 is how quiet it is. While I did not compare the two side-by-side, the report given by the SP-1 was significantly less than that of any other entry level marker, such as a Spyder or Tippmann. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that I could speak louder than the marker when firing paint, and even dry-firing there was only a slightly louder sound signature. If a player is looking for a quiet, stealthy marker that’s easy on the budget, he should definitely consider the SP-1. The well ported barrel, along with the low pressure operation, likely contribute to the quietness of the marker.
Returning to the firing tests, in semi-automatic and with the hopper off, the SP-1 performed flawlessly. Shooting was easy and smooth, with virtually no perceived recoil, and the minimal noise I mentioned earlier. When I chose to use three round burst, the marker also fired very well, with no dropoff between shots. However, when I went into full auto, the lack of recoil prevented firing any more than five or six shots without shaking the hopper. Turning the hopper on solved this problem, and I was able to fire long strings in full-auto without any problems at all. If a player plans on using the full-auto capability of the SP-1, he will want to invest in an agitated hopper.
One of the limits set on the SP-1 by the stock board is a maximum rate of fire of 11 balls per second. On one hand, this will not allow a player with an SP-1 to attain the rate of fire other players can, without a board upgrade at the least, however it does also reduce paint consumption and the risk of overshooting. Which of those considerations is more important will depend on each player, however I find that 10-11 well placed balls per second is more than sufficient for me to keep players heads down, so it’s a very livable limitation for me.
The other main limitation often remarked on in the SP-1 design is the lack of eyes, which have become almost standard on electronic markers in the past few years. Instead, Smart Parts boasts that their low pressure bolt system will bounce off mis-fed paint, and reset to allow the paintball to settle fully into the chamber. This is also assisted by the low rate of fire, which gives a hopper plenty of time to load each shot. In my firing tests I did notice this system in action a few times. The SP-1 would skip a shot, pause for a fraction of a second, then continue sending paint downfield with no apparent ill side effects. After my tests, I found a completely clean breech and barrel, showing that the system worked as intended. Players who commonly shoot ultra-fragile tournament paint may do well to avoid the SP-1 for this reason, however, for the players this product is marketed to, the anti-chop should be more than sufficient.
In regard to the customizability of the marker, the Weaver rails allow for the most versatility, and a great deal of modification and customization can be accomplished based solely on those. In addition to this, Smart Parts has released a double trigger kit and an adapter to take Tippmann 98 Custom style stocks. Finish the lot with an integrated flashlight mount, and the SP-1 can be customized to nearly any Milsim or scenario look that you desire. If Milsim isn’t your style, the SP-1 has a cousin, the Vibe, which is internally identical to the SP-1 with a sleek body style similar to most of today’s electronic markers.
Starting at a price of $149.99 for a complete marker, the SP-1 is another step forward in the entry-level market, giving reliable, affordable electro-pneumatic performance to a new demographic of players. While it has a few limitations which will not make it ideal for every player, Smart Parts has put out an excellent marker which can serve the needs of the vast majority of the recreational, woodsball, and scenario paintball communities, and can do so in style.