Here's an example of a barrel with a thicker section for the pump grip (nickel plated BOA Express barrel).
Armson
(http://www.armsonltd.co.uk/)
Armson offers a 13" Pro aluminum barrel for the Sterling, but not
their Stealth barrel.
Arrow Precision (http://www.arrow-precision.com/)
12" ported aluminum barrel (called "Hellfire" by Powerball U.K.).
BOA (Barrels of America, http://www.barrelsofamerica.com/)
Both Snake Bit and Express barrel models are available for
the Sterling. BOA can also custom build a Sterling barrel to
your exact specifications.
Chipley Custom Machine (http://www.chipleymachine.com/)
A barrel adapter enables you to use barrels from other paintball
guns. So if you also own a set of differently bore sized barrels
for your semi-auto, a barrel adapter will allow you to use the
same barrels for your Sterling (so you don't have to buy another
set of barrels). But keep in mind that the Sterling pump grip
will cover up any barrel porting over part of the barrel.
Bore sizers allow you to more accurately match your existing
barrel with the different sizes of paint you shoot.
NOTE: On some aftermarket pump marker barrels, only a
small section of the barrel which is wide enough to hold the
pump grip (for "around the barrel" type pump grips).
Since adapters (and non-insert type bore sizers) fit between
the barrel and the receiver, the position of this thicker barrel
section will be shifted forward an inch or two. Be sure that
the pump grip will still be properly seated on the barrel. If
the pump grip will slip off during use, then an adapter or bore
sizer would not be a good idea.
Jason Chipley can custom build threaded barrel adapters and bore
sizers for your Sterling. He'll need your Sterling and the
barrel(s) to be used with your adapter/sizer. He also offers
custom bore sizer inserts (for modular barrel systems like the
Freak system from Smart Parts, Pro Barrel system from Custom
Products [CP], and the G-1 Pro Series barrel system from On Target
Products [OTP]). However, at time of writing (November 5th, 2000),
no modular barrel system is known to exist for the Sterling.
Here's an example of a barrel with a thicker section for the
pump grip (nickel plated BOA Express barrel).
J & J Performance (http://jjperformance.com/)
You could also check with Smart Parts. On two separate occassions
I've noticed J&J Sterling barrels listed on sale in the
Clearance/Specials section of their online catalog.
Sterling barrels are no longer part of their product line,
but you might be able to make a custom order. A custom order
may require that you send your receiver to J&J for fitting
(this is true for Sovereign barrel orders). J&J has not replied
to my e-mails.
Proline U.K.
Proline U.K. made aluminum, brass lined, and aluminum helix
rifled barrels. I think these are very difficult to find
nowadays since Proline U.K. no longer exists. Their brass
lined barrel (micro honed finish) came with the Sterling
STP Turbo model. The helix rifled barrel I've only seen
mentioned in my old Proline Sterling manual.
Smart Parts
(http://www.smartparts.com/)
Smart Parts All American Rifled, Big Daddy, Progressive, and
Tear Drop barrels are available for the Sterling, but not the
Freak barrel system, Smart Stainless (steel), and Stainless
(steel) All American Rifled barrels. The All American Rifled
(aluminum) barrel is pretty popular with Sterling pump owners
and is reputed to be the best aftermarket barrel for Sterling
pumps. I don't know - I've never tried one.
Coutel
Located in France, their online catalog lists a
venturi
bolt
with an angled in-port, and a
"reglable"
venturi bolt
(which translates to adjustable, but I'm not 100% sure if this
is a dialable bolt). Coutel's web site is in French only (so it might
be difficult to understand). Coutel is probably a distributor/retailer.
I don't know who makes their bolts. Check the
"Where to Buy" section for contact details.
Diamond Labs
They have a titanium venturi bolt. You can get it at
G3 Paintball. Diamond Labs may no longer be in
business, so if you want it, you better act quick.
Proline U.K.
I suspect that Proline was not the only company that sold velocity
adjustable ("dialable") bolts, but I don't know for certain who
else sells dialable bolts. Check out the
velocity adjustment section
on some more information on dialable bolts.
Since Autococker exhaust valves (cup seal & stem) work fine in Sterlings, most aftermarket Autococker exhaust valves should work fine, too.
The Kapp exhaust valve has a more narrow valve stem for improved gas flow.
LAPCO (Los Angeles Paintgun Company, http://www.lapcopaintball.com/)The LAPCO cup seal is made of for improved durability.
Proline U.K. / Arrow Precision
PumpPaintball.com
Sorry, my dumb mistake - I misunderstood Mitch Huffington (of
PumpPaintball.com, unfortunately the site's gone). The stock
Autococker exhaust valve works fine in the Sterling, but the
Autococker valve guide doesn't.
The Autococker valve guides I've examined are all too small to fit in a Sterling. I've compared the Sterling valve guide to a 1999 Autococker stock valve guide, RAT III valve guide, and an ANS valve guide. The diameter of the Sterling valve guide is much larger than the diameter of the Autococker valves. I've also asked Ravi Chopra if the diameter of the valve guide has changed over the years, and he said he didn't think so.
It's unlikely to find another gun's valve guide that will fit the Sterling without some modification. The Sterling valve guide screws into the valve assembly body (donkey). I don't know, but I bet those threads are metric. Also, most other guns' valve guides I've seen are held in place by screws and/or retaining nuts.
Mitch Huffington had a picture of his Turbo Valve kit on his former PumpPaintball.com site. I no longer know how to contact him (there was no response to my previous attempts, and I've since lost his e-mail address). With the intention of trying to identify the valve guide and hopefully find a new supplier, below is a copy of Mitch's valve kit pic. The exhaust valve (cup seal & stem) is the current standard Autococker exhaust valve.
You could probably get someone to use a drill to widen the stock valve's output port (or try it yourself). Best to do it on a spare valve guide in case you make a mistake.
Anyone seen this Sterling valve guide before?
Lightened hammer from Brian R. Poppenwimer's silver STP Turbo.
For more pictures of Brian's cool STP Turbo, check out his
site.
Arrow
Precision
They sell an aluminum .45 grip frame. Arrow Precision Sterlings
come factory standard with a plastic composite .45 grip frame.
Since this grip frame is not yet available from Smart Parts, I've
been unable to confirm if this upgrade includes the spacer bar
(aluminum or rubber/plastic) or the spacer seal.
Pro-Team
Products (http://www.proteamproducts.com/)
Pro-Team makes a .45 grip frame which fits both WGP Sniper II and
Sterling pumps. It doesn't include the trigger assembly - you will
need to transfer the trigger parts from your current grip frame to
the new .45 grip frame. You also won't be able to fit on the front
field strip thumb screw (need to buy and install a regular screw
instead). Read Ravi Chopra's
review
on this 45 grip frame for details. Although not mentioned in Ravi's
review, I suspect that you will need to transfer the spacer bar
and spacer screw to Pro-Team's .45 grip frame as well.
Air
America (http://www.airamerica.com/)
Makers of the high quality Vigilante regulator. The Vigilante
should *not* be used with CO^2. Here's a Vigilante
review
on the G3 Paintball web site (they reviewed
several
regulators).
ANS (Army Navy Surplus)
I know nothing about the ANS Generation-X regulator, but here's a
review
on the G3 Paintball web site.
Palmer's
Pursuit Shop (http://www.palmer-pursuit.com/)
Palmer's
Stabilizer,
one of the best regulators currently available, works well with
either CO^2 or nitrogen/HPA. Factory preset at 500 psi output
and can be adjusted up to 1000 psi.
Bob
Long (http://www.cnc-machining.com/bob-long/)
I don't know anything about this regulator. I hear it's identical
to the Diamond Labs regulator. Bob Long describes it
here
in his site. G3 Paintball also has a
review
on it.
Worr
Game Products
WGP offers the stock inline Autococker regulator (which is
included with their 2000 Autocockers) and the Ergo regulator.
To adjust the output pressure on the stock inline regulator
you need to remove the high pressure end cap. To avoid this
hassle, you can buy an adjuster cap from
AKALMP.
Here's a review
of the WGP inline reg on G3 Paintball. The Ergo regulator's
output pressure is externally adjustable.
If you just want to play semi-auto and don't care about having a 'cool' rarity to impress others, I think you're better off buying a separate semi-auto gun. This way you can change your playing style (pump or semi) at the field without the hassle of converting your gun, and you've also got a back-up / "loaner" gun.
Palmer's
Pursuit Shop
Palmer's was working on a semi kit back in 1994, but I don't
think it ever got to market. I believe that Glenn decided to
focus development on the Blazer semi. But Palmer's may be
willing to create a custom conversion specifically for your
gun.
Proline U.K.
My old manual gives instructions on how to install a Sterling
Semi Conversion Kit, but I don't know if this item ever reached
the market. Proline also sold separately a ball detent wire
nubbin for the semi kit. Please let me know if you manage to
own this kit. Here's the instructions
"How to install Proline's Sterling Semi Kit"
from my Proline manual.
Spitfire Conversion Kit by Mark Jeffery of Fireball Paintball
Located in New South Wales, Australia, Mark Jeffery made this
available before any other semi kit reached market. This was a
custom conversion which required you to send in your Sterling.
A review can be found in
Paint magazine (issue 2, May 1996).
Neither Mark Jeffery nor Fireball Paintball can be reached on
the Internet, but you can try telephone, fax, or postal mail
(this information was obtained from the
Australian Paintball Ring):
Fireball PaintballGo Back to Top of this Page
Lot 8 Gap Road
Hartley Valley NSW 2790
Phone: (02) 6355 2368
Fax: (02) 6351 2244
Mobile: 018 635 981
Contact: Mark or Leslie Jeffrey
Chipley Custom Machine (http://www.chipleymachine.com/)
Jason Chipley can custom build threaded barrel adapters and bore
sizers for your Sterling. He'll need your Sterling and the
barrel(s) to be used with your adapter/sizer. He also offers
custom bore sizer inserts (for modular barrel systems like the
Freak system from Smart Parts, Pro Barrel system from Custom
Products [CP], and the G-1 Pro Series barrel system from On Target
Products [OTP]). However, at time of writing (November 5th, 2000),
no modular barrel system is known to exist for the Sterling.
...
Doc's
Machine and Airsmith Services
(http://www.docsmachine.com/)
Located in Alaska, Doc can do custom work on your Sterling,
including stock class body conversion or pneumatic pump assistance
(but he says the Sterling's pneumatic assist modification won't
be as nice as the one for the Phantom). For ideas, check out Doc's
picture
of an Eclipse Sterling modified with a PPS Stabilizer mounted on
a vertical ASA, leading to a drop forward cradle holding a
nitrogen system. I'd been discussing with Bartman the possibility
of creating a vertical ASA for my Sterling when a few days later
I came across Doc's picture. I don't know if Proline U.K. ever
made the
front bottle mounts
depicted in my old Sterling manual for the Sovereign.
If you can get your hands on one of these, it'd save the hassle
of having one custom-built. Two of my concerns for this idea are
how will the front vertical ASA obstruct or affect the feel of
my pump stroke (hand position and pump grip), and that a field
strip thumb screw may not be able to keep the vertical ASA from
working loose during play. I prefer the thumb screws over the
regular frame screws. You could also look into attaching the
vertical ASA onto the trigger guard like the Phantom vertical
design, or cutting the trigger guard.
Paintball Planet U.K.
(http://www.paintballplanet.co.uk/)
Paintball Planet creates custom
Eclipse Sterlings
(offering custom milling, splash anodization, and other features
I am trying to confirm).
Palmer's
Pursuit Shop
Although Palmer's doesn't
make Sterling barrels (because they don't have the equipment to machine
the metric barrel threads) and doesn't offer a pneumatic assist (unless
you want to pay them heaps of cash to design and prototype it as well as
send in your Sterling for them to test it on), they can perform custom
tuning of your Sterling, including honing your barrel to match the output
of your valve. Best to ask them.
Tussing
Enterprises (http://www.gambit.net/stussing/)
Located in Akron, Ohio, Sam Tussing's shop can customize your
Sterling. Sam Tussing does a lot of work with Sheridan-based
pumps and the full-auto-capable TS-1 Select (AT85) family of
paintball guns.