Over the past few months PGI has many articles such as, " The Case for the Angel", or, " The Case for the Automag".  However it seemed to me that out of all these great paintball guns, one had been excluded.  I mean, the Palmer Typhoon, Automag, Autococker, and Angel had each received their own article.  I just thought, "What about the Kingman spyder"? That is right, the Spyder.  I feel that the Spyder deserves to be considered as an equal to each of the guns listed above. I bet some people now think I am crazy.
        Having owned many guns from the 3357 spotmarker to a mag, I think it is safe to say I know my share of paintball guns, their qualities, and their weaknesses.  Yet, having had all this experience, I still use a spyder.  It was the gun I started out with, and after a host more, is what I have ended up with again. Why do I like the spyder?  Well while there are many reasons, there are a few ones that I think validate my claims listed above.  I will break them down into the following: price, performance/upgrades, support, reliability, and different models.

PRICE:
 
         When I am looking through a paintball magazine or a paintball store's catalog one thing that strikes me as incredible is the price of the spyder.  With guns starting to debut in the $1000+ price range, this sport can get very expensive.  However I am seeing spyders starting at prices as low as $140!  I can get 7 stock spyder for the price of one $1000+ tourney gun.  That is a lot of spyders.  But of course why would I do that. The real advantage to this price is the fact that I have more cash in my pocket for buying paint, gun accessories, or just plain PAINTBALLING!  Bottom line, that is a good deal.

PERFORMANCE/UPGRADES:

         Now you are saving a big chunk of cash buying a spyder, but what about performance?  Out of the box the spyder performs very well.  It has a very decent stock barrel, and a great trigger pull, and a power feed to insure correct ball feeding.  A person who buys a spyder also get the assurance that he or she is able to upgrade just about every part of the gun!!!  Just about every part of the spyder is replaceable, and about a billion companies make products for it.
        I think it is safe to say that just about every company that makes barrels, such as DYE or Smart Parts, all make a spyder variant of their product.  There are countless venturi bolts out for the spyder too, such as the Bob Long force 2 cyclone bolt.  I could keep going on. Strip screws, grips frames, sight rails, regs, expansion chamber, vertical adapter, triggers, valves, straight feeds, low-pressure chambers, and thumb adjusters.  Not to mention, the ever-popular rear cocking upgrades, and quick strip pin mods.
        With all of these performance upgrades it is very easy to make a spyder compete with anything out.  In addition, a fully loaded spyder will not cost as much as the $1000+ tourney gun, giving you the same benefits listed earlier.  One may say, still the thousand-dollar gun may still perform better.  Well I think that accuracy has been covered.  I mean after you use good paint, put on a good barrel, a nice bolt, it will not get any better than that.  So that leaves the trigger.
        I must say, there are guns such as the angel that have a damn nice trigger.  However, it is simple for any common person to do their own spyder trigger job.  There are few articles on the net I have seen, giving insight as to how to accomplish this task.  In addition just about any airsmith can give a spyder a trigger job of some sort.  The pull can be shortened and lightened.  It may not be as fast as an angel, but it is damn fast and easy to pull!  You know have a gun that is as accurate as any and you can shoot insanely fast.  That to me sounds very good.  But there are some other areas that must be addressed.

SUPPORT:

        I am going to make this simple.  Kingman gives decent support.  But in addition, the spyder is so well known, and as mentioned above, just about every part can be replaced.  Thus, just about any owner, if feeling up to it, can fix their spyder right at home.  If you are not comfortable with that, I would say ANY airsmith could do it for you.  That is support that is very hard to beat!

RELIABILITY:

        The spyders I have owned in the past and present have given be awesome reliability.  The only thing I had to really do was cut the main spring, a simple task, to lower the velocity.  Cleaning is simple.  Just remove the side screws and sight rail.  Take out the bolt and hammer and lube them.  Of course you should clean them with some warm water, then dry then first.  Also make sure your barrel is VERY CLEAN.  However, this holds true for all paintball guns.
        What has raised some concern is that the spyder is made in Taiwan. However, it is designed in the U.S.A.  Even though people have brought this to my attention, it has in no way changed my opinion of the spyder.

*It is totally normal to see scratching on the side of the bolt.  This is totally normal and happens with all spyder makes and models, with all bolts.

MODELS:

There are many spyder models available at this present time.
 
 

Spyder standard: This has a bottom line setup which features:   - Power Feed System   - Anti-double feed   - Venturi bolt   - Steel Braided hose   - External velocity adjuster   - Built-in trigger pull   - Mirror finished removable brass lined muzzle    brake barrel   - Filter System.   * Suggested Retail Price $225.00	Click on Thumbnail
Compact P: This is a vertical bottle spyder with a plastic grip frame which features:   - Revolutionary vertical adapter with filter   - Power Feed System   - Anti-double feed   - Venturi bolt   - External velocity adjuster   - Light striker spring   - Built-in trigger pull   - Mirror finished muzzle brake brass lined    removable barrel   - Plastic Frame & Grip   * Suggested Retail Price $199.00	Click on Thumbnail
Compact A: A vertical bottle spyder with an aluminum grip frame which features:  - Revolutionary vertical adapter with filter   - Power Feed System   - Anti-double feed   - Venturi bolt   - External velocity adjuster   - Light striker spring   - Built-in trigger pull   - Mirror finish muzzle brake brass lined removable    barrel   - Metal Frame & M16 grip   *Low-pressure chambers cannot be mounted on compacts, or elites.  On the special edition, the barrel shroud must be removed to mount a low-pressure chamber.  * Suggested Retail Price $225.00	Click on Thumbnail
Spyder Elite: Is a spyder with a duel function system.   This means you can mount a bottom line or vertical setup on it.  I believe both are included.  It also includes Kingman's new turbulence bolt and .45 frame.	Picutre Not Available
Spyder Special Edition: This is the model I own.   It is one of the best all around setup on the market. It includes features:   - Special Edition Receiver   - Turbulence Venturi Bolt   - Two Finger Metal Trigger   - Expansion Chamber  - 45 Grip with Rubber Grip cover   - Deluxe sight Rail   - Power Feed   - Bottom Line Set-Up   - Micro-Polished Muzzle Brake Barrel   - Tournament-Level Thumb Velocity Adjuster   - Metal Trigger Assembly   - Light Spring   - Metal Detent Cover   - Light Weight &Easy Maintenance  - Green camouflage splash anodizing, very cool.   * Each marker comes with a spare parts kit and     barrel plug   * Suggested Retail $285.00

Well I have given you my two cents on the spyder.  I hope you will have the same findings as I, and enjoy playing paintball with this wonderful gun.  You can visit the Kingman International Webpage for more information at  www.spydergun.com

Brian Speiser
MPN Columnist