The Spyder is an open-bolt blowback marker. Which means that when the firing sequence begins, the bolt is in the rear (open) position. When the marker is fired, excess air pressure is used to re-cock (blowback) the striker. Spyder's are designed to be economical and operate off of a CO2 tank's normal 850 psi output pressure. This makes the marker high pressure. Because the marker is designed to run off of CO2, most come stock with an expansion chamber instead of an inline regulator. The expansion chamber allows the CO2 to expand and stabilize before the pressure enters the marker. It also cuts down on liquid CO2 entering the marker.

To begin the operation of the marker, you must first cock the striker by pulling the bolt to the rear. If you forget to do this and install the tank, then air pressure will leak through the cup seal because the striker will be pushing against the cup seal stem. Now thread on the air source. CO2 will now be released from the tank, through the air source adapter (ASA) and into the expansion chamber. The CO2, once in the expansion chamber, will continue to expand and stabilize. From here the pressure fills the marker's air chamber. Inside the air chamber is a valve body (guide), cup seal and stem, and valve spring. The valve spring is holding pressure against the cup seal causing it to seal against the valve body so no air pressure can get past it at this point. The marker is now ready to begin the firing sequence.

When the trigger is pulled, depending on what style trigger frame is installed, it will mechanically or electrically lower the sear. The sear keeps the striker from moving forward when the marker is not firing. When the sear releases the striker, the striker and bolt are accelerated forward by spring pressure. The striker then contacts the cup seal stem, opening the valve, and allowing an air burst to enter the bolt assembly.

Now let's back up some, when the bolt was pulled back, it pulled the striker back and cocked it. This is because the bolt is attached to the striker via a pin. So when the bolt moves, so does the striker, and vice versa. So as the striker is moving forward to contact the cup seal stem, the bolt is moving forward to load a paintball and seal the breech.

Now to get back where we left off. The valve has opened and allowed an air burst to enter the bolt. The air pressure is channeled through the bolt and accelerates the paintball down the barrel. At the same time, back pressure is pushing the bolt to the rear and cocking the striker. This completes one firing and re-cocking sequence.

Spyder's are available with an electronic trigger frame installed. This offers multiple firing modes and higher rates of fire (ROF), but it doesn't change the operation of the marker. The marker is still an open-bolt blowback, it is just now electrically assisted instead of mechanically releasing the sear.

The above description of operation is applicable also to 32 Degrees Rebel & Icon, M3 Black Dragun, Dragun Empire Dragunfire, PMI Pirahna, and other budget open-bolt blowback markers.

If you have any questions about the components of an Spyder™ then visit our Description of Components page here.