Last updated on November 6th, 2023
In this article, I am going to share my hands on review for Planet Eclipse Emek.
Back in 2018, for a local entry level tournament, I wanted to get a mechanical marker. I had a chance to use PE Emek of my friend once, when my PE Pal went down during a game. Its super smoothness grabbed my attention!
So I made up my mind, and one fine evening, the Emek was at my door step. Let me try to address everything in this Emek Review. This review is going to focus on the features and benefits of this new marker. Whether you are an experienced player or just starting out, the Emek is sure to meet your needs. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at it!
Performance – Robust & Smooth
I am a person who like simple tech and I have found Emek super simple in terms of reliability and maintenance. The marker doesn’t care even if it’s hot or cold outside. It performs like a workhorse!
After testing it, in more than 30 games, I can say that the Paint handling is really cool! Its so capable of handling the brittle paints and working on a single tap. However, if you want to play speedball with this gun you need an electronic gun that lets you play speedballs. It is advisable to stick to the paintball that mechanical markers allow playing.
The best thing about this model is you can forget about that irritating voice that reminds you when you lubed the O-rings last time. It is efficient and easy to use.
The shot quality was very impressive, it strikes where I intend to hit. I found it quite better than other non-gamma core makers I have used yet. If you find suitable paint then it is very consistent between the shots.
One limitation that i found is that it doesn’t have an ASA on/off button like in other advanced models of PE. Just like old duckbill type ASA, they pop noise when you switch it on or off.
Engine – Gamma Core Technology
The Eclipse EMEK is equipped with gamma core technology as its Etha series used to be. That’s why this model is capable of performing like professional high-end paintball guns.
The gamma core engine was first launched in Gtek and was affordable to the Etha 2 and 160R. It’s an efficient engine that doesn’t care about weather challenges, brittle paints or when you lubed the 0-rings last time. It works & works really well.
It delivers accurate and efficient shots with the use of minimum air. The purpose of this technology is that players take the least refills of the gas tanks. In addition to it, there will be less kickback and recoil. One thing I noticed is a moderate jerk whenever I shoot, like other entry-level markers that strike back with the force.
Key Features:
- PAL Loader System (Battery-Free)
- Vivid Accessible Safety Buttons
- Tool-Less Maintenance
- Industry-Standard Bolt Assembly
- Simple to Operate – Twist & Turn the latch to fire
- Unstoppable Mechanical gun
Durable Material – Aluminum & Nylon
PE has made up this model with two primary materials – First one is an outer shell that is made up of nylon and the second one is aluminum. The PE utilises aircraft-grade aluminum in the inner covering of the body and bottom line. These two materials reinforced the overall frame and gave additional strength to the other parts.
Smooth Trigger
The trigger works on a single pull and shots very smoothly. Consecutive shots were great. The trigger is a traditional spring-style hinge that doesn’t allow adjustments to the trigger settings. I shot about 8 to 10 paintballs consecutively. Tigger is good but a little hard to pull.
Moreover, I found the trigger area a bit small to move my fingers, I think it will be an issue with the people having large hands to control it comfortably. But, you can’t resolve this issue except by enjoying its smoothness.
I even face some issues with consecutive shots with VSL Valken Switch. I changed the hopper to LVL 1.5 to improve the quality of its shots. The assembly of the Emek trigger is quite flexible. I think if a person wants to rebuild it with an upgrade kit, then it will not take much effort.
Tool-Free Grip Access
No need of tools to open or get access to the internal parts of this marker. I found these features quite helpful as they give quick access to the inside during the tournament. In addition to this, the Emek has a hoseless Air transfer system that makes this model a compact one!
Barrel
I found the barrel quite short as it is almost 10-inches in one piece. I later replaced it with 14-inches when I had full command over the gun. Moreover, the stock barrel is quite loud compared to the other barrels out there. The tip is milled properly to avoid any sort of wear & tear to the ball.
Its not mandatory to replace the barrel, it may work well for you with factory settings. This decision boils down to personal preference.
Budget Friendly
Emek is definitely a budget-friendly version by Planet Eclipse available for under $300. Its a perfect mechanical marker for the entry-level or new players to get their hands-on practice with this hardcore paintball gun. PE takes some features from its high-end markers while eliminating some features like OLED or LCD.
Difference from Other Entry-level markers
(Performance, Reliability and Maintenance)
The unique feature of this gun has its patented technology to make this marker extraordinary. The gun takes small amount of gas from the tank for every shot, hence give a number of days for the tank to last.
That’s not all, the paintball gun is super easy to maintain. Therefore, you don’t need to know the technical aspects of your gun, hence making it one of the perfect guns for newbies. If you forget to lubricate its parts from the last few weeks, it still performs well.
PE ensures performance and quality. It is hard to find a good price, great mechanism and quality material in one unit.
I found some similarities in the design of Emek with Tippmann Cronus. I have used both markers, and to my analysis, the features are almost the same. However, Emek is far better in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
When compared, every paint gun has its own pros and cons. But as compared to the other mechanical guns including Gmek and CVO, all of these felt different in hands. I have no clear favorite yet, they all shot really fast and accurately.
You can definitely find many entry-level paintball guns under $250. But I recommend you to invest $50 in this budget friendly mechanical paintball marker – PE Emek. Its high performance won’t disappoint you.
Nitty Gritty
Things i Liked
- Wise investment for an entry level marker
- Weighs only 18.7 pounds
- Compact design
- Easy to use – no extra buttons or controls
- Nylon and aluminum made
- Gamma core technology for consistent shots
- Easy to maintain
- Don’t chop the paintballs
- Efficient beginner gun
- Rubber grips and smooth trigger
Things i didn’t like
- Limited trigger area
- Short barrel
Final Thoughts
Finally, If you’re looking for an entry level marker with high performance, that Planet Eclipse EMEK would be the best choice. This gun has some mid-range paintball gun features that will let you perform to the intermediate level. You can make some minor changes to the gun to boost its performance with the passage of time.
It is worth buying this paintball gun as it offers low-maintenance, fewer fuel tanks and consistent shots. Under $300, it gives you ultimate performance, durability and maintenance. In short, robust, quiet, smooth and ergonomic gun.
So, what are you waiting for? Go have fun in the field my G.I Joe.
More Hands on Reviews
