Azodin KP review

[sn toter]

I've been reading so much positive press on this marker ever since it came out last year that I just had to get my hands on one.
 
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Azodin Kaos Pump (KP)

Azodin's site - www.azodin.com
The KP - www.azodin.com/kp/default.asp
The KP Manual - www.azodin.com/support/images/KP+_MANUAL.pdf

Azodin Owners Group - http://www.azodinowners.com/index.php

About the KP:

Features:

Built on the Kaos chassis, the Kaos Pump provides closed-bolt performance in an entry level package
Optimized valve and main springs of the Kaos pump gives you the efficiency you need when you are out at the field
Pump action is smooth out of the box so you don't have to worry about breaking in the pump action
Innovatived TRIAD ball retention system that prevents roll-out even when you are using the smallest of paintballs
Cocker threaded barrel
Ion threaded feed neck
Standard ASA threads
Bottomline mounting for both straight screws and dovetail
Weight: 2.53 lbs.

Packaging:

The Kaos Pump came in a nice thin two piece cardboard box.  When I removed the lid I was greeted by the marker itself, nestled in form fitting cardboard and covered with a sheet of bubble wrap. It came packaged with a barrel, Azodin barrel bag, a complete rebuild kit(orings, screws, and a spare cup seal), a manual, and a uninstalled 'hitman' rod.  The manual is simple and straightforward.  It outlines the basics(maintenence, breakdown, and velocity adjustment) but itsn't anything too impressive.

First Impressions:

I have to say that my first impressions were very good.  The marker doesn't feel 'cheap' at all.  The milling is nice and the dust black ano is flawless.  I was going down the list of features in my head and I still can't believe that it all came stock in a sub $150 marker.  It's got a clamping feedneck, a very nice pump kit, a stock 'hitman' rod, delrin bolt, ion threaded clamping feedneck, cocker threads, and the gripframe has a buld-in rail in addition to being able to take standard 2 hole bottomlines.  I was leary about a double trigger on a pump, but it's actually quite comfotable.  The trigger itself, however, does have some side to side play and a long pull.  My only initial complaint is that it did not come stock with a single trigger frame.  As comfortable as the double trigger frame is, I still think a single would be better.

Pump Stroke:

I really am having a hard time understanding how the stock pump kit on here can be so damn good with the cost of this marker.  The pump kit has it's own built in pump guide that eliminates side to side play in the handle.  The pump grip itself is matching dust black aluminum and is threaded on the bottom to accept the included SS 'hitman' rod.  The pumpstroke is very smooth and firm(no sloppy side to side play in the handle), and a tad long.  Due to the design of the KP(stack tube), the amount of resistance on the pumpstroke is going to be dependant on the mainspring(hammerspring).  That said, it's fairly light in it's stock form but mine is a bit heavy as I replaced the mainspring with a stiffer one to help eliminate the 'farting' noise.  I'll elaborate on this later.  A tad heavy, but super smooth.  I can feel a bit of drag on it when I pump via the hitman rod, but none when I hold the handle.  With the stock spring I can't feel the drag with the hitman rod at all. 

Teardown and Maintenance:

The first thing I did with my KP was a complete teardown, inspection, and lube.  One of the nicest things about this marker is how simple it is.  The bolt slides out the back once you lift on the pull pin.  Next, the rear cap unscrews without tools and the mainspring and hammer can be accessed.  The gripframe is held on with two screws, as is the ASA.  All in all it took about 15 minutes to dissassemble, lube, and reassemble the entire marker.  There we no aluminum burrs inside.  All good here.

Performance:

I'll be updating this with details as I continue to break this bad boy in.

Stock Barrel - Is cool.  It has a 'triad' ball retention system that uses an oring in a groove before the threads start to hold paint in the breach and prevent rollouts.  I'm not sure the exact bore size on the stock barrel, but it seems pretty close my .690 empire.  The triad system definitely does work well with med-large paint brands, and the barrel shoots very nicely to boot.  I put 4 different paint brands through it, sizes ranging from.684 up through .690.  When I went with couple hundred marbalizers(this batch appears to be about a .682 or so), I did experience a coule rollouts. A great feature of the triad barrel is that you can simply replace the thin ball retaining oring with  thicker one for smaller more paints.  I did this and viola, no small bore paint rollouts! It's fairly quiet and adaptable to all bore paints - a great stock barrel.  No breaks yet either.

The 'Noise' - Out of the box the KP can make a 'farting' noise.  Mine did this when I held the pump handle while shooting and it would be louder if I put forward pressure on the pump handle.  This doesn't affect performance but it is fairly annoying.  From what I've read it's an issue of airflow vs valve design. I added a Bob Long Torpedo HPR and turned the input pressure down a few hundred PSI in addition to increasing the tension of the mainspring. This eliminated the noise but it also increased the weight of the pumpstroke.  I plan to pickup a high flow valve soon and return to the stock spring tension.  I heard that Azodin just released, or is releasing soon, a high flow valve, and AKA and 32* made some high flow valves for spyders that are drop ins for the KP. I'll get one of them and see how they do.

Overall? - Very nice.  The marker's firing cycle, from pumping it to firing a round, is very smooth.  It's setup stock to run either unregged CO2 or HPA.  I put about a hundred rounds through it with CO2 using the stock gas thru just to see how it performed and it worked fine.  The stock barrel performs well and is versatile and fairly quiet.  I should also mention that the marker itself does has a small amount of kick when fired.  I have a lot of good things to say about Azodin after shooting this.  So far, I'm very impressed with initial quality.  It's loaded with features and came stock with a full repair kit.  Teardown is a cinch and has pretty smooth operation.  Honestly, I'd expect a pump with these features that shoots this nice to cost double what these go for new.  If you want to pick up a really nice pump that's loaded with features without dumping $300-500, buy one.

My setup:
Azodin KP(Obviously)
Azodin Hitman Rod
Bob Long Torpedo Reg
Empire Barrel kit
GenXGlobal pocket hopper
47/3000 Centerflag HPA(preset 850psi)

Pics!

Marker Profile:


Pump Assembly:


Back:


Bolt:


Triad Barrel (Sorry for the bad pic - will update):


3/4 view:


Top:

[Hudd]

I considered buying one befor I bought my sniper but I decided on a sniper. It looks like it may be akward to hold. I would like to shoot one though. The metal pump Handel turned me off aswell.

[sn toter]

I considered buying one befor I bought my sniper but I decided on a sniper. It looks like it may be akward to hold. I would like to shoot one though. The metal pump Handel turned me off aswell.

It's actually very well balanced, not awkward at all.  I wasn't sure about the pump handle when I read about it, but it's actually very nice in person.  I can see why so many people have good things to say about this guy.  I'll have it at the MM opener if you want to shoot it some!

[Hudd]

I think I may take you up on that.

[sn toter]

I think I may take you up on that.

Please do!


I spent a couple more hours last night with it and have a couple things I added to the initial post.  I'm looking forward to finding a new single trigger frame for this - there's some side to side play in the double and I think I'd be able to secure a more firm 'pump-n-fire' grip on the amrker with a single frame, give extra support with my free finger.

[sn toter]

updated after a lil more use and some play with the stock 'triad' barrel.

still impressed.

[Varnel]

Looks pretty good, but the double trigger is killing it for me....what were they thinking putting it on there in the first place?

[sn toter]

Looks pretty good, but the double trigger is killing it for me....what were they thinking putting it on there in the first place?

cost - they already had a double designed for the kaos semi auto that was a direct fit - why machine two?  They listen to the players though, a single frame just came out last month.  I'm getting one asap

[Hudd]

I don't think the singel trigger would be worth it. It looks pretty uncomfterable since they left the bump where the old trigger frame was. I think I would rather just use the double.

[sn toter]

Hudd - Have you seen them?  There's not an extrusion where the old one was, it's milled clean off - the frame has a slight curve there but nothing that would be uncomfortable. Looky at the pic I'm getting one. 



From an MCB review:

short review of the azodin single trigger frame.

theres really not much to say about it,the trigger pull is 20% or so better than the stock double with considerably less side to side slop,the lack of slop is the biggest improvment,also the ability to grip the frame much better.

the frame itself is a modified version of thier double and not a new frame design.

the double trigger guard was milled off then a single guard is bolted to the frame along with a new trigger plate.

the frame comes packaged with replacement asa screws and frame screws in a fancy box.

the only negative's i can think of is,i would've liked to see this offered with the gun and seperate instead of seperate only. the packaging is overkill and i think to reduce cost it should be limited.

the average retail i have seen is 44.95.