WGP Autococker Hinge Trigger Review
You will never look at an autococker the same way again. This small, but enormous, upgrade will change your marker from a precision tool, to a precision tool with unbelievable firepower.
The latest from WGP, is the hinge trigger, or a swing trigger, as some may call it.
The hinge trigger, came in a nice plastic case, with excellent instructions. It was very easy to install and the instructions sheet is designed so that a novice could figure it out. The only thing missing from the instructions was the size of the hex screw used to shorten the trigger pull. We used a 5/64 hex wrench to adjust the trigger pull. We started by adjusting the hammer lug nut (1/8 hex wrench as far in (clockwise) as we could. Then attached the trigger frame and adjusted the timing rod. We loosened the back screw on the timing rod and turned it clockwise a full turn and a half. After that I adjusted the trigger pull to the shortest possible pull. The marker stopped firing. I then lengthened the trigger pull slightly. I kept tinkering and adjusting until I had a good balance between reliability and shortness of trigger pull. This may sound complicated, but honestly, if you just put it on, it will work. Oh yeah don’t forget to flip the hoses on the 3 way around, regardless of which 3 way you are using.
More tweaking tips:
If you are using a very short 3-way like the Bomb from Shocktech or the ANS 3-way, you can shorten the trigger pull even more. We tried a bomb 3-way, shortened the trigger pull as short as we possibly could. It became so short that the o-ring in the 3-way would not clear the opening completely, and hence, we had to raise the input pressure to get the marker to cycle properly. A quick call to Jeff Orr resolved the situation. We lengthened it back out again, and commenced using the marker at 200 psi. Wow!
Testing:
I arrived early at Toledo Action Games on testing day and chronoed the marker. I showed it to field operator Sharif Joseph and we tinkered with the marker to try to shorten the trigger pull even more. We didn’t really want to, but were just curious. How could you blame us? Here we are on the brink of a paintball revolution, and we were just satisfied? Not us. We wanted to push the envelope. Eventually, we began testing. I tested the marker on the woods field in game situations and did a complete bench test.
This hinge trigger was unlike any of the others in that it shoots very differently. I almost had to take a few games “off” just to get used to the new style. After my first game in the early morning I was not very comfortable with the way the trigger felt. I was not used to a quick pivot-type of pull. The pull seemed too unreal or too “toylike”. Eventually, by the third game I became very comfortable with the trigger pull. Not just comfortable, it was more like jumping-out-of-your-pants elation. Awesome personified!
Can it be short stroked? It was very hard to do. This hinge trigger did not short stroke very easily. In fact, I had to put my other thumb behind it and push the opposite way in order to get it to short stroke. The only reason it would short stroke when I did that was because the o-ring would not clear the opening. It just could not cycle. It was practically impossible to short stroke. This may be the cure for all you short strokers.
Richard Cook, Paintball Times columnist and staff reporter said, “I have an autococker that I use all the time, but this is awesome. I am definitely going to get a hinge trigger for mine. I love the way it feels. It has great response and is very quick. I can’t freaking believe this!” Richard spent a lot of time with the hinge autococker and really enjoyed the new innovation.
After half a day’s worth of actual paintball game play, I had decided that I would never shoot another slide autococker again. I simply could not believe it. I once owned a Spyder and an AutoMag and really enjoyed the feel of pivot style triggers. But I turned them in for a custom Autococker, I simply could not give up accuracy and design just for the trigger feel. But now players can have the best of both worlds. You can have the best accuracy and a short snappy trigger pull. With the Hinge Trigger, you can now have your cake and eat it too!
Conclusion:
Buy the new Hinge Trigger frame and do not upgrade anything else. It has such a tremendous effect, that you won’t need to change anything else. If you want to spend extra money, spend your extra cash on buying quality paintballs. The Hinge Trigger autococker is a top performer. It is truly the most customized stock paintball marker available for sale today. None of the parts need to be upgraded. The only upgrade that could possibly be recommended is a short throw 3 way, such as the Bomb from Shocktech or the ANS 3-way. But even that is not necessary.
If you already own an autococker, the first thing you should do is get a hinge trigger. An autococker without a hinge trigger, is no longer an autococker.
Bud Orr and the WGP staff have done a tremendous job with the hinge trigger. Is the marker that revolutionized paintball about to start another revolution? We are very close to finding out.
Special thanks:
Special thanks to Bud Orr of WGP for sending us this work of art and to Erich Garber from Action Enterprises for allowing us to test the marker at his facilities.
