Maverick vs Impact Need a Sanity Check

Trying to decide between the two. I'll admit that while I'm certainly not new to airguns, I've not given the Impact much of a look prior to now (discuss why here in a bit)

I will be looking at the compact version in .25. I know that shot count and power are similar on the two.

What I don't want...

I don't want to fiddle with it.  I want it set and I shoot it. That's it. I've seen a lot of issues posted on the Impact and I have to wonder how much of that is due to folks messing with them vs real issues with the gun. In any case, I don't want to deal with liners, tensioning, power adjusting, etc... I want a reasonably powered, high shot count .25 for plinking and hunting out to 100 yards using pellets only. I may randomly put a few slugs through it, but 99.9% of my shooting will be with pellets.

As far as I can see, the Maverick offers the dual regulator setup, and while I can understand the benefits, I also see the potential for dual regulator issues as well. The impact has a bigger magazine... ok. There seems to be some debate on adjustability of the two, but that's not of concern for me. Those items, and the price tag are all I see different.

I note that FX offers a 3 year warranty now, which does help...but I just see a fair number of posts on folks with issues and that worries me. I've heard multiple times re the Impact that if you get a good one, it's gold. If not... well. If I pay $2k for an airgun, it needs to be gold. My MCT's have been... Just looking for something shorter.

Thoughts from anyone going through the same or from any Impact or Maverick owners?
 
What about the RTI Prophet. I know it looked very interesting for me. I was debating between them. I chose the maverick, because it had a slight edge to shot count, and a little more compact with the 500mm barrel. If there has been anything negatively said about The Prohet, I haven’t heard it. I don’t feel I made a mistake getting the Maverick (only have shot it for a day now) but I feel I would have still got a great deal with the Prophet.
 
What about the RTI Prophet. I know it looked very interesting for me. I was debating between them. I chose the maverick, because it had a slight edge to shot count, and a little more compact with the 500mm barrel. If there has been anything negatively said about The Prohet, I haven’t heard it. I don’t feel I made a mistake getting the Maverick (only have shot it for a day now) but I feel I would have still got a great deal with the Prophet.


Thanks. I had looked at the Prophet and actually just sold a Priest to fund this new gun. I didnt like the pull back cocking (which I understand is remedied with a lever on the Prophet) and the elk sounding regulator on the Priest (which may or may not still happen on the Prophet).

It boiled down to size for me and I wanted the smaller compact gun.
 
I don't have a Maverick but do have an Impact. It is a great gun to just shoot or to fiddle with as one wishes. Yes, most issues with the gun seem to be self inflicted to me as well. I that know mine are. ;^) Cuz I love to tinker and I also I have an early Impact so wanted to keep pace with all of the upgrades and then some.

It would be a difficult choice for me to make as well. Most guns have teething problems when they first come out and I am sure the Maverick is not immune. The Impact has been around for awhile although constantly changing it is still the same basic stable gun it once was.

I think that the Impact is the more refined and smooth operating of the two, and have heard the same from others, but for the most part the differences between them are small as you have noted. It's a hard choice although I envy you for having it to make.


 
My son has a Maverick, we set it up when he got it, have shot a couple thousand rounds through it without touching the regulators, just the power wheel and it has been flawless. It powerful, shooting the 33.95 King Heavies at 925fps, is super accurate with the aforementioned pellets and the FX Hybrids, has a high shot count, a nice trigger, and is light and comfortable. I love my Impact and the adjustability but if that’s not for you, the Maverick would be perfect. I don’t think the Impact is more refined, I just think it’s a different platform. My son absolutely loves it and he’s owned and shot lots of high end guns. Good luck with your decision.

Stoti
 
I don't have a Maverick but do have an Impact. It is a great gun to just shoot or to fiddle with as one wishes. Yes, most issues with the gun seem to be self inflicted to me as well. I that know mine are. ;^) Cuz I love to tinker and I also I have an early Impact so wanted to keep pace with all of the upgrades and then some.

It would be a difficult choice for me to make as well. Most guns have teething problems when they first come out and I am sure the Maverick is not immune. The Impact has been around for awhile although constantly changing it is still the same basic stable gun it once was.

I think that the Impact is the more refined and smooth operating of the two, and have heard the same from others, but for the most part the differences between them are small as you have noted. It's a hard choice although I envy you for having it to make.



Appreciate that and I've been guilty of self inflicted issues as well, something I hope to avoid with this gun. 

You make a valid point about the newness of the Maverick vs the steady updated versions of the Impact. I've heard that the trigger and other linkage is better on the Impact as well. I may ring around the dealers tomorrow to see who may have the Impact in stock and see who will give me the best price.
 
Taipan Veteran no tinkering just grab it and go shoot. Beware it may make you kinda stupid because of its anti double load feature you can't force it to double load even if you decock it while the loaded magazine is still in the gun. The built in 20 MOA rail is a big plus too.


Looked at the Veteran, but really loving the looks of the Mav/Impact....
 
I have 3 different Impact MKII’s from three different vendors and all three have been flawless. I prefer my Impacts over any of the other rifles I have. 
Although I do prefer the looks of the traditional rifle. I am not a big person so the smaller impact works well for me. I like the fact that I can turn down my hammer spring tension and slow my pellet or adjust to different weight pellets. That is not real tinkering, it is just turning knobs. I like the simplicity of making adjustments if necessary. I tinker with the lower end guns, not a whole lot you can do with these higher end guns or at least maybe not as much to gain from modding the top guns as they are designed to get the best/reliability from whatever platform they are.


I have not owned a Maverick yet, but it seems to be the Chevy and the Impact is the Cadillac. But that being said, In paintball we have had duel regulators for a long time. The first regulator (the high pressure regulator)is on the HPA tank that screws into the marker to get the 4500 psi tank down to under 500 psi or less for most of the newer markers. This brought better designed low pressure regulators, and lowered the working pressure in the marker itself. Making for lighter better looking markers. Having to go down to less then 250 psi to get 295 FPS in a .68 caliber fragile projectile can be problematic. At tournaments you are chronographed before and during the match. Shooting over the limit is a big penalty that can send you and your teammates home. Regulation of speed is critical. That brings us to the duel regulator in the Maverick. Should be an awesome upgrade that will most likely make its way over to the impact. I know there is a regulator you can attach to your HPA tank if you have the room. 

I think FX was experiencing regulator issues keeping pressure stable. I normally don’t fill over 2800 psi and that may keep the stress down a little. Trying to regulate from 3600 psi thru 1 regulator could cause some pressure fluctuations. So the short end of this rambling would be I have not problems with my Impacts. And they are the most used rifles I have. 
 
Going to catch a few replies here at once. 

@stoti Thanks for that... so owning both, you can tell no difference in linkage and such? That's good to know, thanks. To be honest, having not shot either, I probably wouldnt either.

@Rodeo it may suit my needs better, but I'm stuck on the compact Impact or Maverick really. ...and lets be honest here. I'm not new to this game. I 'say' I dont want to fiddle with it just we all say 'this is my last airgun'. Of course I'll fiddle with it. I'm just trying to convince myself I wont.

@Ranchibi I did see rumors of a new version and I would assume that it has the dual regulator like the Maverick, but I'm not sure that will be much of a selling point for me as I see that as a potential point of failure. I'm neither here nor there with the dual regs at this point. I think given my shooting, it wont be of a huge benefit to me.

to all... thanks on the replies. Nice being on an active forum
 
I have 3 different Impact MKII’s from three different vendors and all three have been flawless. I prefer my Impacts over any of the other rifles I have. 
Although I do prefer the looks of the traditional rifle. I am not a big person so the smaller impact works well for me. I like the fact that I can turn down my hammer spring tension and slow my pellet or adjust to different weight pellets. That is not real tinkering, it is just turning knobs. I like the simplicity of making adjustments if necessary. I tinker with the lower end guns, not a whole lot you can do with these higher end guns or at least maybe not as much to gain from modding the top guns are the are designed to get the best from whatever platform they are.


I have not owned a Maverick yet, but it seems to be the Chevy and the Impact is the Cadillac. But that being said, In paintball we have had duel regulators for a long time. The first regulator (the high pressure regulator)is on the HPA tank that screws into the marker to get the 4500 psi tank down to under 500 psi or less for most of the newer markers. This brought better designed low pressure regulators, and lowered the working pressure in the marker itself. Making for lighter better looking markers. Having to go down to less then 250 psi to get 295 FPS in a .68 caliber fragile projectile can be problematic. At tournaments you are chronographed before and during the match. Shooting over the limit is a big penalty that can send you and your teammates home. Regulation of speed is critical. That brings us to the duel regulator in the Maverick. Should be an awesome upgrade that will most likely make its way over to the impact. I know there is a regulator you can attach to your HPA tank if you have the room. 

I think FX was experiencing regulator issues keeping pressure stable. I normally don’t fill over 2800 psi and that may keep the stress down a little. Trying to regulate from 3600 psi thru 1 regulator could cause some pressure fluctuations. So the short end of this rambling would be I have not problems with my Impacts. And they are the most used rifles I have.


Good input, thanks... I generally fill a little lower than the advertised max, but not to the extent that you are doing. If max is 250 bar, I will generally do 225.

I'm curious on why you would consider the Chevy/Cadillac analogy when someone who has shot both relayed that they noted no real difference. Not trying to stir the pot, just wondering in your mind what are the determining features that make it so.
 
The trigger in the Maverick is pretty solid, I like it. I know you are a little afraid of the Impact’s history but like you said, many of the problems are owner induced...And, you also need to keep in mind that there are tens of thousands of them out there. You rarely hear the good about the Impact but you alway hear the bad! Either way, you’ll be happy. I’ve said it here before. Flip a coin, while it’s in the air, you’ll know what to buy, whatever you’re routing for while the coin is in the air! 😁 

Stoti
 
The trigger in the Maverick is pretty solid, I like it. I know you are a little afraid of the Impact’s history but like you said, many of the problems are owner induced...And, you also need to keep in mind that there are tens of thousands of them out there. You rarely hear the good about the Impact but you alway hear the bad! Either way, you’ll be happy. I’ve said it here before. Flip a coin, while it’s in the air, you’ll know what to buy, whatever you’re routing for while the coin is in the air! 😁 

Stoti


Think you're exactly right in that I'd be tickled with either, really. I'm trying in vain to do what we all do... balance between the current best and the potential of the next best thing while seeking the quicker gratification of getting something sooner rather than later. I think we all do this to an extent and my solution has been in the past to get what I want and then not look at upgrades to know what I missed out on!