Let's see, what is the most controversial topic around?   I know, I know…….MAGS SUCK!   Oh wait, Cockers SUCK!   Which do you prefer?   This debate will go on, as cockers (autocockers for the paintball illiterate) and mags (automags) will continue to be improved on for years to come.  The basic design of both guns has not changed much, this for the mag more so than the cocker.  WGP (Worr Games Products) just introduced their newest version of the autococker (the '99) while AGD likes the Mag the way it is, however, has come out with a verticle fed version.
        Let's start out with the new version of the autococker.  This gun gives a redesigned bolt for field stripping, a threaded timing rod, new ram, and a smoother trigger.  Overall the cocker is for tinkerers.  With the pneumatics so accessible you will most likely replace something sometime, especially those of you who like to show off different varieties and colors of your pnuematics.  An autococker can run on CO2 pretty well as long as you have a regulator, or expansion chamber and siphon tank.
        The most difficult problem with the gun is that the timing can get off (timing is the point at which the trigger releases the sear).  This is probably the main reason people get fustrated with the Autocockers.  It is, however, not dificult to remedy.  Many stores have local gun techs (airsmiths) which can show you how to fix this with a simple twist of a few screws here and there.  The main thing you need to have when you own an Autococker, is patience.  It can be a little fustrating when you have problems with it, but is a quite remarkable gun when it is working properly.
        The automag is a gun that has all of a special low pressure valve in it.  You can get the mag with or without a powerfeed, with a variety of options.  This gun is a gun that performs its best on nitrogen, CO2 tends to choke the gun unless you have an expansion chamber and a remote.  And this even sometimes doesn't work.  The mag is a gun for those who do not like to tinker.  Most of the time you have to make sure when purchasing the mag that you make sure you get a barrel and hoses.  A lot of places sell the gun w/o these.
        The prices on both guns are pretty close to one another.  It all depends on what you like.  Most people say the autococker tends to be a better long range gun.  While the mag can obtain some incredible rates of fire.  It all depends, both guns also have large ranges of upgrades.  Both guns also run really well on nitrogen.  So if you are willing to shell the money out and get a tricked out gun, I suggest you go out and ask someone at your local field to fire their mag and find someone with a cocker and ask to fire their gun.  Once you have gotten the feel of both then you can make your decision.  Again remember if you decide to purchase the autococker you want to make sure you have no problem working on your gun by yourself.

Timothy Young
Columinst