Spyder MR1

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Spyder MR1

Written by Joshua D. Silverman

Monday, 02 February 2009 13:45

The MR1

Manufactured by Spyder

When Kingman introduced the Spyder semiautomatic paintball gun in the mid-nineties, it brought affordable, feature-rich semiautomatic paintball guns into the reach of the masses for the first time in the history of the game. Since that time Spyders have evolved to become all sorts of things like electronic, colorful, smaller, lighter, faster and more reliable, yet serious scenario and tactical paintball players never took them seriously, favoring tougher, more military-looking paintball guns instead. This all changed with the recent release of the Spyder MR series of models featuring a paramilitary look, solid performance and improved durability to create a competent and successful mil-sim paintball marker line. The mechanical marker in the MR line is the simple but effective MR-1.

The MR-1 retains the basic concept that makes the Spyder go “bang,” functioning via a basic stacked-tube, blowback operating system that has been around the sport since the earliest days of the semiautomatic paintgun. When the standard double trigger is pulled, the hammer is released and as it comes forward, pushed by a spring, it takes the gun’s bolt with it, which rides in a tube above it. When the hammer strikes the MR-1’s valve, air is released that is channeled through the bolt as it pushes a paintball into the barrel and that paintball is propelled towards the target. The MR-1’s bolt can be quickly removed from the matte black, aluminum receiver via a quick-pull pin, and the top of the MR-1’s receiver features a Picatinny rail for mounting scopes or sights. The gun’s vertical fore grip is large made to look like a submachine gun’s magazine, and air is fed through it via a stainless steel hose attached to a small, angled drop forward. The gun’s stock barrel is long and ported near the muzzle to slightly reduce noise during firing.

While simple and relatively inexpensive, the Spyder MR-1 performs well on the paintball field, especially when used in the environment for which it was designed; wooded scenario or tactical play. With a twenty-ounce bottle attached, a motorized hopper tightened into the plastic elbow and paintballs loaded, the MR-1 shot extremely straight and delivered very impressive accuracy over all ranges, thanks largely to its outstanding stock barrel that features an exceptional internal hone that allows paintballs to slide effortlessly through it. Often only one or two shots were required to eliminate opponents dozens of yards away through thick trees and underbrush, not something that can be honestly said about many paintball guns costing a great deal more than the MR-1.

With high quality paintballs and a motorized loader, chopped and broken balls will rarely be a problem, but in colder weather or when attempting to shoot quickly, players must be careful to use only fresh, thick-shelled recreational grade paintballs or chops will occur more often. Owners of the MR-1 are encouraged to replace their basic feed neck and the plastic “elbow” that comes with it with a metal hopper adapter, which will eliminate the chance of a cracked or broken feed elbow from ruining a day of play.

Spyder’s MR-1 military-style paintball gun is a solid piece of equipment for its price class. Simple, extremely accurate, easy to maintain and reasonably reliable so long as the gun is kept very clean and well-oiled, players on a budget or new to the scenario scene will find it a quality paintball gun to take into the heat of the action.

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