Changing the mini-reg

[gx3man]

Okay, I just purchased an angel 4 and have been tinkering with it. So far I love it, but the only tank I have is a high pressure fixed output tank. I know the angel prefers an input of 400 psi, but I was wondering.... The gun doesn't care what the reg gets, as long as the pressure going to the gun is correct. So a max-flo plugged straight into the gun at 200 psi will be the same as an adjustable set at 400 psi plus a mini reg set at 200. As far as I can tell, the only reason the angel needs 400 psi input to the reg is because the mini reg can't lower the pressure from a high output tank down low enough. However, there are plenty of aftermarket regs that can.

So my question is this... Plenty of other high end guns work great with a high pressure tank, as their regs can lower the output to the pressure they need. Is there any reason anyone can think of why instead of shelling out 300 bucks for an adjustable tank, I could just throw another reg on the gun that can handle high output and just turn the output down to where I need it? I was thinking of either an AKA sidewinder or cp reg, both which can be adjusted from 0 to 1000 psi. I don't see why this wouldn't work just as well as the mini-reg with an adjustable, as both are rock solid and extremely consistent in their output, even at low pressures. Thanks for any feedback.

EDIT: And yes, I know you can take a spring out to make the mini-reg work, but that will never perform as well as a reg that can handle high pressure from the beginning like the sidewinder.

[Vantage_TeS]

Accually you are wrong on that. By removing the spring it WILL act just like a HP reg.

[gx3man]

Hmm, I thought I'd read in another post that removing the spring from the min-reg isn't nearly as good as having a low output tank and leaving the reg as it is. So if what you're saying is true, does that mean that just by taking the spring out I can use a high pressure tank and use the same settings that most would use if they had low pressure? I saw that Emmit had said if you use a high pressure tank you can't use any volumizers and to be very careful with the input pressure. Was that without the mini-reg modification? I know that's a lot of questions, I just want to understand this better. Right now I know that with a high pressure tank and a sidewinder I could feed the angel 200 psi consistently and reliably and, unless I'm way off, be able to turn the lpr down and dwell up with the largest volumizer. With the mini-reg mod would the result be the same? Thanks.

[Vantage_TeS]

When he said there are problems with a HP tank and volumizers he ment with the minireg in original configuration due to the fact that there would be too much pressure to start with, you dont need MORE too much pressure.

With the minireg mod, it allows the reg to fuction perfectly normal with more pressure coming in.

The mod would give the same results as the sidewinder (same settings etc).

[gx3man]

Ah, okay. I noticed that in some posts I read, however, that people were having problems with inconsistancies and such with the mod. If it works just as well as a normal reg such as a sidewinder, why do most people tell you to avoid it if possible? Thanks for the help so far by the way.

[Vantage_TeS]

The mod is recommended by the MT Ken Crane, and I haven't seen any problems except for when people put the springs in wrong or it gets dirty.

[gx3man]

Okay, guess I'll give it a shot then and not worry about getting an lp tank for now. Thanks for all the responses

[HaVoCA4]

I just bought my A4 and I did the mini reg mod. The gun shoots awsome! I'm shooting 275fps with +/-2fps. The Dwell is at 12 and the mode is semi 2 and no volumizers.
The output on my tank is 800psi. And it shoots awsome and no drop off.