Last updated on November 6th, 2023
October 11th 2022
“I need a mid-end marker with specs as good as high end, yet on a low budget” – Yep! Being a paintball enthusiast, We all have been there.
So, Back in 2019, I needed to upgrade my marker for a tournament where veteran paintball teams like AC Diesel, DMG and ML kings were participating.
In the quest for a new marker, I read the hype about the newly launched upgrade of 160R , Planet Eclipse 170R. Affordability, simplicity of design, high end features, everything looked good. Some paintball players out there didn’t agree on calling it a High End marker while others would agree. I didn’t agree too until I finally tried.
It did take me some time to finally make the decision provided that I was already using guns like M3 and DSR+. So I placed the order at Amazon, and one fine morning, I had the package at my doorstep from Amazon.
So here’s my hands-on review of Planet Eclipse 170R – GTEK after playing 5 paintball tournaments.
Performance
Planet eclipse 170R is CS2 in disguise – This is a common notion among paintballers about 170R. Although there are some actual differences, to some extent I agree.
After playing my first 5 tournaments with my GTEK 170R, I could say I was surprised by its performance. It shoots very accurately without chopping any paintballs. With shooting tournament level paint, I never had any issue with stock bolt. On top of that, it’s lightweight, low-profile and is extremely easy to control on the field.
Its sleek metal frame is so much better at proofing the sound when compared to other models. The only problem I faced with 170r is the shock trigger needs some adjustment. I wish it was a Scythe trigger instead of the blade one. However, after playing my first match, i got comfortable with it.
I found it far better than other models Etha 2 or GTEK 160R in terms of its stability and shot quality. The best thing is that I can use it with one hand easily and give the tough time to the opponents. Chrono’d to ~295FPS, 170R is just so much quieter than my ETHA 2
Another improvement that I wish it can have is the fast ON/OFF button to speed up the boot time. Planet Eclipse high-end markers have flawless switch ON/OFF buttons. But, I think the company reserves this feature for the high-end models to make them more appealing.
Performance wise, I would say, Planet Eclipse 170r is a perfect mechanical marker for intermediate and pro players to deliver performance on the first day of the tournament.
Design – Is it that simple ?
If i have to define the design in three words, those would be “Minimalist, sleek and Thin“.
When I had this marker in my hands for the first time, it seemed breakable anytime. But, I was wrong. I have been using it since last 3 years, and still, it performs like a pro! Planet Eclipse’s intelligent design keeps the player’s hands lightweight without compromising its reliability.
The 170r has minor design improvements as compared to its previous model GTEK 160R. It has no air transfer pipe, has a blade trigger instead of the conventional curved trigger and a compact foregrip. The frame grip is separable and under it, the gun has eye covers and a battery. You can access the battery and eye covers without any tool. All you need is to pull the grip frame out.
Talking about using tools, the overall design of the gun has been put together on twist and turn parts. You don’t need any tool throughout its assembly or disassembly.
Air Efficient
So Most of the paintball players out there face the issue of refilling gas in their tanks after a few shots. This is not the case with 170R as GTEK Engine has the ability to conserve the air. It lasts even after the 20 paintball shots. It works for fragile paints and low-quality paints as well by using its 3-stage bolt acceleration system.
The sleek paintball marker is equipped with Gamma Core engines that perform really well even at a mid-range price. The working mechanism of the Gamma core engine is to release the right amount of air for every shot.
Air efficiency of 170r makes sure that every shot is accurate and smooth. The model features the breech sensing technology to cover the firing chamber and save you plenty of air. It can set up 30 PSI of air for your next shot.
Another aspect of the Gamma Core engine is that it performs under extreme weather conditions –20F to 100F. It didn’t disappoint me even during a cold winter or burning summer.
Trigger – Adjustable ?
I am more comfortable with a curved-shaped triggers. So initially, I was a bit unsure about the Blade trigger. But I was at ease to see that it’s adjustable. You can adjust the setting of screws; post-travel, pre-travel and actual set. It will let you tighten or loosen the screws how quick the trigger should come back. After playing a few practice sessions, I just got used to this trigger and found it fast, responsive and efficient.
GTEK 160R vs GTEK 170R?
There are few noticeable differences between 160R and 170R. Firstly, the planet eclipse has excluded the air transfer pipe feature in this improved version 170R which makes this model more spacious and controllable. I personally didn’t like that air transfer feature in 160R while shooting and holding as it restricted my moves. It was honestly overfilled in terms of design. However, it comes down to your personal preference whether you like the transfer pipe or not.
Secondly, 170R paint gun has a small foregrip which might not a big deal for some but could be a problem for people with large hands.
Lastly, the difference I found is the blade trigger in 170R model. Whereas, 160R has a curved trigger. Although both the models are exceptional I prefer the curved blades due to my compatibility with this type of trigger.
Nitty gritty
Pros
Cons
- Doesn’t have long-range shots
- A bit expensive than 160R
- Oddly shaped eye covers
Final Thoughts
This model has peculiarly gained famous due to its budget-friendly price tag as well as equally likely performance like the high end expensive markers. Not the cheapest but certainly one of the best mechanical marker for this price.
A paintball gun, under $1000, having great features including a Gamma Core engine, Air efficiency, turn and twist access and low maintenance. I believe PE 170r is one of the best mechanical paintball available in the price range. Whoever doesn’t agree needs to pick it up and play a few tournaments with it!
It has never failed me on the paintball field in last three years. So, Whether you are just getting started with paintball or a pro paintballer, if you’re looking for a smooth mechanical marker, then that is it. It is reliable, sturdy and efficient. Its lightweight construction and minimalist designs offer great control even to the newbies.
170r vs Etha 2 – Which ones better ?
Barrels:
If we look at the barrels of these two, they look exactly the same. They both come with .689 barrels. However, If we talk about the feedneck, the Etha 2 being more budget gun, has compatibility with the house loader which I found great.
If we talk about better functionality of the barrel, I would give it to 170r because of its reasonably big thumb screw where no Allen wrench is required for extra adjustment. While on Etha 2, you have this extra screw that you need to pull down and turn it, which I never find convenient and you may need an allen wrench as well.
Bolt System:
Same bolt system in both guns, gamma core, with an operating pressure of 135 PSI. They operate in the same way. Even by looks, the bolts look exactly the same. Our test results shows the have exactly the same operating pressure.
Build Quality:
For build quality, 170r being a bit more pricey, definitely is better. It’s a lot lighter, thinner and the manoeuvrability is easier. ETHA 2, on the other hand, is made up of a combination of aluminium parts and composite material. For a budget gun, the material is still nice. But the 170r has that premium and you can say a lot more smarter feel in your hands.
PAL Loader:
So PAL Loader is a unique design loader, which without requiring any batteries, provides a faster and consistent feed of paintball into the marker, without the balls getting stuck. Both Planet Eclipse 170r and ETHA 2 are PAL-Loader compatible.
Upgradeability:
For 170r lots of aftermarket triggers are available. Moreover, you can swap different parts for any colour changes of your choice. For ETHA 2, in the past there was no option to change triggers, however, now deuce triggers by infamous are available.
Colors:
There are plenty of options available for Planet Eclipse 170r. Some of the options available are Navy black, teal black , HDE earth , stock black and dustish color. The colors of 170r are more brighter and more aesthetic.
For ETHA 2, there are also a good choices of colors available i.e, Urban Camo, all black, Black earth & HDE earth. Both companies keeps adding colors time to time.
Summary of 170r vs ETHA 2:
170r is more lighter gun with easier navigation of settings around the gun with nicer feedneck and that more premium feel in your hands. Its the overall material and build quality that makes the shot quality in your hands better, despite having same barrel and bolt system.
The navigation of settings and usage in 170r is easier, for example if it comes down to changing the bolt system, you just pull out a BOLT in 170r in one second, while in ETHA 2, you have to unscrew it for a while.
ETHA2, on other hand, is still a very decent marker for the budget. Check Latest Price of ETHA 2 here
170r vs GEO 4 – A Comparsion
IV Core v/s Gamma Core Engine:
The Geo 4 is equipped with a legendary IV Core. This engine is controlled by the adjustable and onboard SFR. It ensures the super smooth shot quality and blazing fast fire rate. The adjustable air pressure and velocity of shoots is an incredible add-on to the Geo 4 paintball gun.
On the other hand, Gamma Core is no less than IV Core. I found it air-efficient, quiet and smooth throughout the game. The best part about gamma core derivation is that t can work in extreme weather conditions. You will not face any sort of jamming issues in cold weather.
Although, both the engines are extremely reliable the winner would b IV-core, since its advanced than Gamma Core.
Paintball Handling:
The Geo 4 is equipped with an FL barrel system with an aluminium tip. I found it really soft on the paintballs. There are minimal chances of paintball chopping even with the low-profile paintballs.
Planet Eclipse 170r on the other hand is equipped with Shaft5 threaded 2-piece 14 inch barrel, which has been been long known for its high quality. The paint handling capabilities of 170R are extremely gentle even on fragile paint. The paintball handling quality of both guns were equally good and there was hardly any paint chopping.
Easy to clean eyes:
One of the exciting features of these two models is toolless access to the eyes. You can clean the chopped paint through these eyes without getting inside the bolt mechanism. You will see a bit of a difference inside the eyes as a wire is running down in the GEO 4 into the board, Whereas the Gtek 170 R has a little reflector. However, both wins in this category and are very easy to clean.
Batteries:
Geo 4 is equipped with two AA batteries whereas Gtek 170 R has a single 9-volt battery. Both the batteries are easy to access without using any tool. Just slide down the covers on the battery you’re going to access the batteries.
Price:
You can buy 170R for around $900 whereas the Geo4 is available for under $1300. There is a difference of $400 between the two guns. Both the guns justify their price tag relevant to their offered features. However, if you have a flexible budget then you can go for planet eclipse Geo 4. On the other hands, for a budget around $900 there’s no better choice than Planet Eclipse 170r.
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