T68 Paintball Marker
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The T68 is a .68 caliber semi-automatic CO2 or HPA (high compressed air) powered paintball marker, designed and distributed by Real Action Paintball. It is intended mainly for milsim (military simulation), woodsball, or recball play.
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[edit] Setup
The marker primarily resembles an M-16 rifle, but can be configured in other ways as well. The core is a basic design patterned after Spyder markers, but with various external cosmetic additions to turn it into an M-16 simulation. These include a carry handle (fixed or removable with RIS weaver rail), T-charging (cocking) handle (Gen 3 upwards), pistol grip with trigger guard, faux clip housing with working magazine release, fake magazine with hollow interior (for storage), M-16 handguard assembly with interchangeable front handguards, M-16 forward sight with bayonet lug and sling loop, and either 3-position M4 Carbine or fixed M-16A2 style stock. Various barrel lengths and styles are available, from 1" through 20", with interchangeable muzzle flash suppressors or faux silencers. The barrels use Spyder threads, so aftermarket barrels are also capable of being used. Made from machined aircraft aluminum, it is extremely rugged and simple to operate and maintain. The marker is purely mechanical, with no electronic parts in its factory form. A velocity adjustment screw is provided under the stock for tweaking of shooting velocity, and a simple push-safe safety is situated just ahead of the trigger on the core.
[edit] Versions
Thus far the T68 has the following forms:
| Generation | Improvements |
|---|---|
| Generation 1 | Initial release, hopper fed. |
| Generation 2 | Upgraded internals, hopper fed. |
| Generation 3 | Upgraded internals including Derlin bolt, working T-charging handle, hopper fed |
| Generation 4 | Upgraded internals including Derlin bolt, working T-charging handle, hopper fed, magazine fed, internal air system |
| Generation 5 | New core, working 18 round magazine or hopper fed (convertible), air feed located forward of trigger. |
The Gen 5 features massive changes made to the marker core and body to accept the working 18-round magazine. Whereas the generations 1 through 3 of the T68 are based on a stacked bolt design, the T68 Gen5 core has a simplified in-line bolt system and a receiver that closely resembles a Tippmann A-5 body. The similarity with the Tippmann A-5 benefits the T68 Gen5 in form of greatly simplified maintenance, improved sturdiness and compatibility, as the T68 Gen5 will accept a lot of the widely available A-5 modifications and accessories such as barrels, stocks and grips (with the exception of the Response-Trigger). The design change also implied that the air feed had to be moved between the trigger guard and magazine well, effectively stretching the marker body by 2", which frustrates some Mil-Sim aficionados that prefer the design of the Gen3.
The Gen 4 is to incorporate the working magazine system featured in the Gen5, but relocate the air feed back to the stock as on the earlier T68 versions, and use a configuration much closer to that of the Gen 3. The Gen4 eliminates the gap between the trigger and the magazine receiver, this improvement allows the trigger finger to reach the magazine release button for tactical reload. The most significant difference in the Gen4 from the Gen5 is the air system. The Gen4 air system is completely internal and thus allow the unit be self contained.
[edit] Accessories
Like the RAP4 .43 caliber marker, the T68 can use any weaver mounted accessory and be made into any configuration of the M-16/M4 Carbine, as well as working M203 grenade launchers that can be mounted on the marker. There are also AK-47 stocks and handguards, and MP5 accessories, allowing custom configurations.
