SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker Review

The mechanical paintball marker is an interesting choice in today’s paintball game as it is so filled with electronic markers that you would think it may put you at a disadvantage. This couldn’t be further from the truth as the SP Shocker CVO mechanical paintball marker rocks the pro circuit!

Summer is a time for painting up the paintball fields while enjoying being outdoors! Whether you’re engaged in a woodsball, speedball or other activities the energy you burn when you’re in play gives even more importance to the marker you choose to enjoy.

SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker (Pewter)
  • Precision Trigger
  • Roller Bearing Lever
  • Roller-Actuated Pilot Valve
  • Adjustable ASA
  • Freak XL with All-American Porting

Prices pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Here’s a rundown of what we’ll provide in this SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker review:

  • First we’ll share the features and benefits that you’ll find useful
  • Next, we’ll take a look at the drawbacks you might need to know about
  • Then, we’ll tell you a bit about the Shocker Paintball company
  • And finally we’ll provide a sampling of actual customer and Independent reviews to give you better insight into the product.

Sound good? Let’s get started!

Features and Benefits of SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker

  • Precision Trigger – One of the key features that draws serious players to the Shocker XLS is its fully adjustable trigger. This sets the Shocker CVO apart from its mechanical competitors. A matched pair of sealed bearings provide a clean pivot without side to side slop. The Shocker trigger’s rear and forward limits can be fully adjusted as well as its magnetic return pull. Each of these adjustments can be made without disassembling any part of the Shocker.
  • Roller Bearing Lever – Linking the trigger to the pilot valve is the Shocker CVO trigger lever. Not only does this lever ride on sealed bearings, but each end is also equiped with a roller bearing set. As the trigger is pulled, the front end of the lever rolls over it. The contact surface with the pilot valve is also able to roll as it depresses the valve pin. This unique arrangement provides mechanical advantage with minimal friction. The trigger lever’s return tension may be adjusted by using one of 8 spring attachment positions.
  • Roller-Actuated Pilot Valve – This is what makes the shocker CVO tick. Replacing battery, microprocessor, power circuits and solenoid valve is a roller actuated pilot valve. The result of years of development and field-testing around the world, this precision-machined aluminum valve only needs to move less than 6 hundredths of an inch to operate. What’s more, the valves fixed seal design utilizes a valve core sliding through the center of fixed position o-rings. With less contact area in the o-rings inner diameter compared to its outside, both friction and wear are reduced. Close-before-open actuation closes the gas supply before venting the exhaust gas to maintain consistent air efficiency.
  • Adjustable ASA – The benefits of a sleek gas-through grip design don’t require a trade-off in flexibility. The Shocker CVO’s new ASA is position adjustable over 1/2 inch for individual balance preferences.
  • Freak XL with All-American Porting – The Shocker CVO comes equipped with the Freak XL barrel featuring a gloss black barrel back and match anodized barrel front. The Freak XL back features modified Autococker threads, permitting faster removal while maintaining compatibility with legacy barrels. The Freak XL tip brings the overall barrel length to 14″ and features the famous All-American porting, providing an accurate shot with minimal sound signature.
  • Hose Free – INSIDE AND OUT – That common failure point for paintball markers is gone. Hose and hose fitting leaks are impossible because all gas paths in the Shocker CVO are machined channels through the ASA grip frame, pilot valve and body.
  • Spool Valve – The proven and refined XLS power plant is the heart of the Shocker CVO. Serving as both bolt and valve core, the XLS skeleton bolt weighs in at a mere 13.87 grams. There are no springs or strikers, only the gas pressure biased bolt. As the only major moving part in the firing cycle, this light moving mass provides virtually no recoil, making modern Shockers among the smoothest shooting platforms in the world.
  • Highly Efficient – When the Shocker fires, the XLS bolt closes off the gas supply to the main chamber. Not only does this make for a highly efficient system, it also keeps inconsistent long dwell times from spiking velocity, a critical factor in keeping every shot consistent with the Shocker CVO’s mechanical pilot valve.
  • Low Pressure – The trifecta of the XLS power plant efficiency. XLS regulator reaction speed and longer Freak XL control bores make the Shocker XLS and CVO work at an ultra-low operating pressure of only 145psi. The Shocker is gentle with brittle tournament paint, and offers a smooth, stable, quiet shot. Shot after shot.
  • Carry Case – From home to the fied or to the tournament, the Shocker CVO travels in armored style, protected in its included zip-sided hard case.

Special Features (Pros) of the SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker

Fast Trigger – Many reported the ability to pull and fire accurately without issues to too much recoil.

Trigger Guard – Nicely chamfered and devoid of sharp, not-finished-enough edges

Drawbacks (Cons) for the SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker

Level of Refinement Is Almost Too high – Described as feeling closer to a mouse-click on the single trigger.

Video: SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker

Video Credit: Lone Wolf Paintball – Click Here to watch directly on YouTube

About the Shocker Paintball Company

Originating with Smart Parts until their bankruptcy the Shocker was reborn or rebuilt under the Shocker Parts name and branding.

The original Shocker ushered in the age of electronic paintball and now the legend has come full circle. Through progressive advancements each Shocker generation has become smaller, lighter and faster than the one before. The Shocker has become mechanical bringing its lifetime full circle.

SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker Reviews

Looking at the features and benefits is great, but taking a look at what real-and-actual customers have to say about a product offers a deeper dive of insight. Here we’ve curated reviews that reflect the SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker, providing feedback from product users and reviewers on independent review sites as well as on Amazon.

Independent Reviews and Recommendations for SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker

ANSGear

The Shocker CVO takes the smoothness and efficiency found in the ultra-light and compact Shocker XLS and strips away the electronics, replacing them with a purely mechanical control system featuring a cam-actuated pilot valve.

The result is a cutting edge paintball marker with a trigger pull so short and light that it matches its electronic cousins while diving into the resurgent world of mechanical tournament paintball.

What Customers Have to Say About the SP Shocker CVO Mechanical Paintball Marker

Rated year-after-year consistently with good reviews on numerous websites and forums, this marker comes highly recommended.

As a current Shocker RSX owner, my first impression on picking up the CVO was “Wow, I wish my RSX felt like this when I pick it up”. The 1911-patterned grip frame felt like home. I love my RSX but my play style veers decidedly away from trigger-walking and laning and more towards sneaking and carefully placed single or double taps, and I have never liked how I can’t quite get my hand wrapped around the RSX frame in a comfortable manner for single-finger use of the trigger.

The CVO just felt right, like what I had always wanted out of my RSX. The factory wraparound grips, while somewhat vanilla, serve their purpose and fill the hand without over-filling it.

The trigger guard is nicely chamfered and devoid of the sort of sharp, not-finished-enough edges or classic Mag or Cocker frames like the Benchmark or DYE singles. But the real money shot here is the trigger itself, and all of the unseen magic behind and around it. If you’ve shot an eNMEy before, you probably assume you know what shooting the CVO feels like. You haven’t the slightest idea.

The name CVO indicates that the cam valve that is the namesake of the CVO uses roller bearings on all major points of contact and a dual spring/magnet trigger break/return setup. Whatever it is, it works and works incredibly well.

The level of refinement is almost too high. If anything, the CVO trigger feels closer to the mouseclick of the single trigger SP1 than it’s mechanical successor. Closer, but much, much better. The CVO is right on par with a pneumag for pull weight, with the feedback level of a lightly sprung blowback with a finely polished sear and hammer. 

I shot roughly 4 pods and a hopper from the CVO and every shot was satisfying. All that satisfaction does come at a price, however, with the CVO retailing at approximately $799 USD for a complete marker. The price isn’t outrageous considering you’re getting the body and drivetrain of the $899 Shocker XLS with an incredibly precise mechanical frame, but it’s a pretty far leap from what anyone would call a “budget” marker.

Pistol Rogue – Forum Comment

It feels great in the hand. Personally, I’m a huge fan of a single trigger and the ability to move back the ASA was a no brainer for me. My buddy sent me a quick video of him shooting it and it was ripping.

Bearsdidit – Reddit

Final Thoughts

If you love mechanical this marker will be a perfect fit. If you are looking to move to mechanical than there is no better choice in my opinion then the CVO to get you the best game play and excitement for your money!

In today’s game firing paint non-stop gets boring and removes any tactical fun from the game, I prefer to find and pick my shots and hit the enemy in a single or double tap as opposed to laying down ropes. This marker is perfect for this play style along with being highly dependable.

Compare to Other Mechanical Paintball Marker