Over the past few years, the mag-fed market has taken off. There are many companies making magazine-fed guns, from the Dye DAM to the Spyder MR6. An area of the mag-fed market that was missing was a good budget or entry-level gun; yes Spyder makes the MR6 and RAP4/MCS have various different guns but I said, “good”. The Spyder MR6 has its issues, and the RAP4/MCS guns are all around horrible; can Tippmann make a gun that will entice new players into playing magazine fed paintball?
BUILD
The TMC in a way isn’t a new gun for Tippmann, it is rather a mag fed version of the Cronus. The Cronus is a wildly popular gun for Tippmann, since its release it has been Tippmann’s best selling gun and for good reason. The Cronus is a very well built and affordable paintball gun and the TMC looks to be no different.
- Wont unravel and easy to wash
- Disk seal retracts during insertion to prevent paint going up your barrel
- Built to last, this beast of swab is forged out of tough and flexible plastic
- 100% interchangeable and 100% replaceable
Tippmann over the last 20 years have been essentially using the same blowback style valve only adding minor changes. That same blowback style bolt/valve can be found in the TMC and many of Tippmann’s other guns like the Cronus, 98 and A5.
The main body of the TMC is made from Aluminum, or everything that is black is Aluminum. All of the tan parts are made from nylon or in terms of the grips they are made from a firm rubber. The only part that may seem like it could give problems is the charging handle, where the TMC is re-cocked at. The charging handle is made from plastic and every time you re-cock the gun you need to pull it back. I do see how that over time this may become a bit weaker and break, although it may be a problem for some, I don’t think it will be a widespread issue.
A nice feature to the TMC is the gun can be used with a hopper or magazines. In the box, the TMC comes with a hopper adapter that is super quick and easy to install. Unlike the Spyder MR6 or Dye DAM, the TMC can not use the hopper and magazine at the same time.
the TMC can only use a hopper or magazine and not both at the same time.
SHOT QUALITY
If you have shot a Tippmann (ever), then you should have a pretty good idea of how the TMC shoots.
The TMC uses a blowback style bolt/valve that operates at tank pressure, which means that the TMC runs at around 750 PSI.
Due to its high-pressure operation the TMC kicks a bit and is somewhat loud. In saying that, the TMC is not overly loud and kicky. Unlike other guns that run at high pressure like the Azodin or Spyder guns, the extra girth of the TMC helps reduce some of the kick and the added material of the body helps dissipate some of the sounds. So, in other words, the kick is not bad and the gun is not that loud.
FEEL/ERGONOMICS
The first thing that I noticed when I picked up the TMC was how light it was. You would think that a larger mag-fed/milsim gun would be heavy and typically they are. For comparison, the Tippmann TCR a gun that is smaller in overall size weighs in at 4lb 6oz and the US Army Project Salvo comes in at 5lbs 4oz and the TMC tips the scales at 4lbs even. For comparison, a gun that is much smaller than the TMC is the Planet Eclipse CS1 and the CS1 weighs 2lbs 3oz. I think by now you get the point, the TMC is light.
Just like the internals the TMC uses the same trigger frame as the Cronus. The best thing about the Cronus is the trigger frame, it is just downright comfy. The frame is wrapped in rubber, making it extra comfortable and grooves on the front of the frame fit my fingers perfectly letting me get a good grip on the frame. It really is great, but it is something that you need to feel for yourself.
The stock on the TMC is also great. It is adjustable to 4 different positions; most players should be able to find a length that fits them well. As with any paintball gun that has a stock it is always going to work best when used with a remote line, having the stock and tank on the gun at the same time just makes for a weird combo.
MAGAZINES
The magazines that come with the TMC and that be bought separately in a two-pack for $24.95 are stellar.
I have nothing to complain about they are great. They are built very well, feel great, are inexpensive. I love them.
It’s important when buying a mag fed gun to look at the magazines, it is likely the most important part of the whole setup. If you get stuck with magazines that don’t feed well or break then you are out of the game.
The TMC magazines should hold up to a lot of abuse and are priced well enough that you could have some backups or go out with a lot of extras.
RELIABILITY
Something that has been known since time—if you want reliability you buy a Tippmann.
Tippmanns without question are the most reliable paintball guns ever built. They can be used every weekend for 5 years and they will still work, they could not be used for 5 years and they will still work, they can be outright abused and still keep on plugging away, quite simply they just work and work.
The TMC will be no different. As I have labored over, the TMC uses the same great internals as the Cronus a gun that has proven itself over and over and the TMC should be no different.
- Full Pneumatic marker
- Proven high performing in-line bolt system
- Dual Feed option: can be hopper or magazine Fed
CONCLUSION
I love the TMC.
The build quality is excellent, the ergonomics are comfortable and the magazines are great.
The whole point of the TMC is to capture the player that is new to magazine fed or grab that new paintball player that likes the versatility of the TMC.
The TMC might just be the perfect starter paintball gun, because of its versatility. You can use the TMC in mag fed mode with the stock and gasblock or you could use the hopper adapter and take the stock and gasblock off to create a more traditional lightweight paintball gun setup.
Having the ability to use the TMC in many different situations and its stellar build quality is what makes the TMC stand out against its competition.
TIPPMANN TMC PHOTO GALLERY
