Proto Primo

[sn toter]

I was interested in these since I first heard about them and finally grabbed one.  Initial review was from Feb, 2010 - updaets are posted with the dates they were made below.

Retailer description:

Features:
Featuring an 8+ (or 8-10) balls per second feed rate.........and no batteries required.
Powered by minimal agitation of the gun, the Primo Loader helps sort and funnel as you shoot for a consistent vertical feed.
The patent pending Proto Primo Loader is the first of it's kind with a positive feed shelf designed to relieve pressure on paint reducing jams and increasing feed rate.
Comes with a clear spring lid for easy reload.
The large opening works well with Proto Alpha pods for the ultimate paint carrying system.
Large capacity durable shell holds 200 paintballs.

First Impressions:
It's got a sleek external design, nice silver Proto badges, and a flip top lid that stays up via a spring.  The shells feel very sturdy/durable, too.  Not like a cheap plastic.

Packaging:
It's a non agitating hopper that comes in a box nicer than what most guns come in, probably could be a couple bucks cheaper to slap it in a plastic bag with a folded name stamp instead.

Tacamo/Archon copy?
I heard a lot of people before this was released saying how it was a ripoff of the shelf hopper Tacamo made.  It is not.  The shelf is a seperate piece that has a very unique design.  It is a long shelf that angles down towards the back of the hopper from the nose.  The top has a 'channel' running down the center of the shelf from the nose end of the hopper to the back of the hopper.  Also the bottom of the shelf has a ridge that runs the length of the shelf.  I don't really know how else to describe it, but the ridge is shaped like a serrated blade, only the serations are much larger, make sense?.


Size:

It's a 200 rounder, nuff said.  I lined it up with two other 200 round hoppers to show a profile size comparison.  The Primo is a tad thinner than both the SSL-200 and the VL200 too.  I put a 50 rounder in there as well for comparison. 

Size comparison:
From left to right(GXG pocket hopper, VL200, Proto Primo, Tippmann SSL200)



Performance?

I tried this on two markers to give it a fair test.  First with my Azodin KP.  It sits a little high for what I like, but it's not uncomfortatble.



I shot this thing as fast as I could and it didn't skip a beat.  Perfect, especially considering this is what I bought it for.

Next I ran about 2 pods through my ND freestyle with it.  I was in semi only and with the eyes on I didn't break a single round.  I did have some skipped shots when I really got on it, but when I was shooting conservatively, 6-8 bps, it fed incredibly well and very consistantly.  It's an incredible difference over a VL200.  I'd actually put it on par with a revvy.

Overall?
For $14.99 you get a hopper that doesnt' take batteries but feeds almost as well as a reloader or revvy.  It's a good design, a nice value, and it's well built.   I'd like to see a 100 round option as well, but this is perfect for my KP for now.  Nice job Dye.

*UPDATE 5.25.2010*

After a full day of hard play in crummy weather on an Automag RT the Primo continues to impress me. I went through just over 2300 rounds on 5.22.10 in the mud at TRP with this setup and I have to say, the Primo is badass. Now, bear in mind that my RT is euro highrise so there is a higher ballstack than on, say, a new ULE mag. That said, I had many occasions throughout the day where I really laid it on the trigger. The only time that the Primo missed a step for me was when it was down to the last 10 or so rounds.

*UPDATE 8.2.2010*

Saturday, 7.31.10, I took this setup to the UWL(Automag RT classic/Primo/Marbs).  About 1200 rounds in two matchups went through this thing and I still have yet to bust a round in the hopper or have it jam on me.  I haven't had to shake or rattle it to coax a round out(except when it gets down to the last 10 rounds or so).  I didn't skip a single shot and this was in a tournament where I was putting out some decent BPS. 

This pretty much concludes my testing of the Primo.  Honestly, I don't see myeself using another hopper.

[Hudd]

I thought it was awful. I chopped and dry fires all day with it.

[sn toter]

I thought it was awful. I chopped and dry fires all day with it.

really?  On what marker?  I've only shot on markers that kick a tad and pumps. 

Thinking about it, I might have so much success with my RT because of how high the ballstack is.  Either way, no issues for me yet.

[Hudd]

I was using it on a cocker and Enhander was using it on his T9. We both had the same results.

[Caboose]

guess it depends on the marker srry hudd

[Hudd]

No big deal. I was going to buy one regardles of your advise. I had my suspesion  that it was nothing more than your every day rental vl200 and I was right. I was just hoping it worked well. The only way it would work on a gun is if it had eyes. For now I'm sticking with my 12v revy.

[Caboose]

Now ur not likeing my advice.? thats cold man im supposed to be your boy. Lol but yeah, looks like it depends on your marker if u have a gun with a little kick to her u should be good to go but i liked it for the money and my markers.

[sn toter]

I had my suspesion  that it was nothing more than your every day rental vl200 and I was right.

Hrmmmm.  I have to disagree, but again, could just be marker dependant.  I should be at the next MM game, I'd like you to hit the chrono range with my RT so you can see what I'm talking about.  It really works amazingly well with it.

[Hudd]

Is your mag lvl 10?

[sn toter]

Is your mag lvl 10?

Yes, it is. Honestly it wouldn't have made a difference though, it really never even chuffed from pinched paint.  Again, I think the success might be due in part to a higher ballstack.  I'll update when I get my automag parts back from the anodiser for my current build which will be a lowrise centerfeed body.

[sn toter]

Okay haters, let's revisit this!

I took this out to TRP at RE.  This is the third major field outing with this hopper for me.  I used in two different setups. 

The first was on my orange/black wash Automag.  In each of the first two games I went through all 3 of my pods and in both cases was down to the last 30 or so rounds in my hopper at the end of the missions.  I do NOT have a level 10 in my Automag.  No skips at all, no misfeeding, it was flawless.  I didn't take a care to NOT outshoot the primo, either.  In several instances I really laid on the trigger, as Cuda and Riddler can attest to - as I was near them on several occasions while raining paint.

The second setup was on my Phantom for the rest of the day.  No issues there, but not so impressive a story as I can't shoot that more than a couple BPS.

I stand by the Primo as a spectacular value that works as advertised.  Here's my concession though - it might have a lot to do with the marker you're using it on.  On both my classic mag and the Olive Rt there were high ball stacks.  Neither was a low rise center feed.  Also, mags have a good amount of kick, which the Primo uses to agitate the paint. The phantom didn't have a high stack, but it was shooting a lot slower than my mags.  Maybe my setup is ideal, I dunno, but the thing is amazing, imo.  That, or yours is a lemon.

[Hudd]

That is what I have thought aswell. I used it on a cocker which doesnt have a ton of kick but it has more that your average spool valve electro, and JJ used it on his T9. The only time I broke paint all day is when I switched from the Revy to the Primo. I would shoot out the ball stack then I would have to shake it. I know that I wasnt out shooting what gravty could feed because I never outshot the Revy. Which leads me to believe that the primo does not do a good job getting the balls into the neck. Its not like I broke one ball with the cocker either, I broke one, cleaned it, broke another, cleaned it broke another and so on. My cocker does not have a mega high oldschool smoke stack feedneck so Im thinking that must be a key ingredient in making the primo work on a mech gun.

[Enhander]

You know what. I may try this for my Phantom. Hudd, do you wanna sell yours? Ill buy it off ya. If not ill throw it in my order from Rockstar.

[Varnel]

TRP has them in their pro shop.

[Enhander]

I didnt see any at RE..then again I could have missed them and I didnt ask. Hudds selling me his

I held one in my hands at RE. Almost bought it. They had 5 when I was in there.