The FX version of the Side-Shot Hi-Capacity Magazine on the Impact X MK II.

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Chuck26287

Chuck26287

Member
Jul 29, 2018
256
19
Indiana, United States
I know the Impact MK II now comes standard with a high capacity Side-Shot style magazine. This is now starting to show up as an FX accessory at FX dealers (Pyramyd Air has it in stock). However, the original Side-Shot mag kit at Utah Airguns is $150, whereas the FX version at Pyramyd Air is only $90. Something had to give. I know FX is probably able to have them mass-produced for a cost savings, but not for a 40% discount off the retail price. I thought the original Side-Shot kit was built like a tank. I think the only plastic piece was the clear cover? What is different between the original and the FX version? I thought I read somewhere (but can't find it now) that the FX version was a little deeper to accommodate some of the slugs gaining popularity. I would also assume the FX has to be mostly plastic to have achieved that kind of a cost reduction, but I haven't seen one in person. What is the construction like? Anyone have one of each and can show or tell about the differences and how FX has it available for 40% less? Are both mounting brackets aluminum, or could one be plastic? Can't really tell from any pics I've seen.

Don't get me wrong... I'm ordering a couple, but you usually get what you pay for, and I'm wondering what I'm NOT getting for the extra 40% I'm not paying if I go with the FX version.
 
In the gun accessories market I am just applying standard markups when a company decides to market a product. Let’s say I just invented the pellet widget. With this imaginary devise you take scrap lead put it in the hopper and out come pellets in whatever size and weight you want. I then get a patent and look for a manufacturer, the best price to get one delivered from the manufacturer is $40 what should I sell it for? I decide not to sell direct but through retail. So I sell my widget for $80 to any reseller they in turn mark it up to $159.95 which becomes the retail price if I decide to protect my resellers I use MAP pricing where the lowest it can be sold for is $129.95. 

The above example is typical of how just about everything we buy is marketed. Most of us look at it and say it sucks I have to pay $129.95 for a $40 widget. But when you figure in all of the other direct and indirect expenses that the hands that move the widget from the factory to your hands incur you are not really being F over.

What the owner of FX has decided that if he has a MAP price of $69 (what Pyramid just charged me) for his version of the SS mag he must look to get it manufactured for around $20 where the original metal SS magazine cost $33.50 to make. The way you get cost down is usually by using less costly materials, ordering more at one time and figuring out how to simplify the manufacturing process. 

Thats it for my class today I just wanted to educate some of us that aren’t aware of the process companies use to price what they sell. It’s what they do and if a company is the only source for an item all of what I said goes up in smoke as they will charge whatever they can get away with just look at the drug companies.


 
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Ya - I just got the new one too with my modded / tuned MKI Impact from Southern Precision Air Weapons. It works great and the fit and finish looks awesome. It was funny though, when I sent this gun to Ken it had the 26 shot Side Shot magazine and when he sent it back to me he upgraded it to the new deeper well version for slugs and didn't mention it at first. I made this video and was counting my shots at 100 yards and it was 28 and was like WTH! I thought I was going crazy and watched the video 3 times to confirm. I reached out to Ken and then he filled me in on the new magazine that FX is producing. HA! Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaGSR11HL0Y&t
 
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Ya - I just got the new one too with my modded / tuned MKI Impact from Southern Precision Air Weapons. It works great and the fit and finish looks awesome. It was funny though, when I sent this gun to Ken it had the 26 shot Side Shot magazine and when he sent it back to me he upgraded it to the new deeper well version for slugs and didn't mention it at first. I made this video and was counting my shots at 100 yards and it was 28 and was like WTH! I thought I was going crazy and watched the video 3 times to confirm. I reached out to Ken and then he filled me in on the new magazine that FX is producing. HA! Check it out:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaGSR11HL0Y&t

Click to expand...

So I have heard of 28 shots in 25cal and seen 26 shots for sale at PA. So what mag are we talking about? Appears to me there are several different mag styles? I dont want to order a 26 shot if a 28 shot is available. Thoughts?
 
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Even $90 is still very expensive. Let alone $150. Idk how these company can charge their customers so much for a price of plastic that only cost $5 to make. Smh look at other companies making magazine. Like the marauder. They sold their magazine for only $15. Does fx and side shot really use super duper highest mega supreme ultra high alpha plastic materials to make their magazine? Probably not. But still charged us way over what it should be.
 
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Supply and demand! As simple as that. A 26 shot magazine is so convenient. Three magazines worth of ammo is about how many shots I get with my Impact. I throw 3 magazines in the truck, fill my gun with air and I know I’m good until my tank is empty or I’m out of pellets. It’s just awesome! For that convenience, I’m willing to pay $90 each for a couple spare mags. Many other people too. That’s where they gotcha and I’m not complaining! 

Stoti
 
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Supply and demand! As simple as that. A 26 shot magazine is so convenient. Three magazines worth of ammo is about how many shots I get with my Impact. I throw 3 magazines in the truck, fill my gun with air and I know I’m good until my tank is empty or I’m out of pellets. It’s just awesome! For that convenience, I’m willing to pay $90 each for a couple spare mags. Many other people too. That’s where they gotcha and I’m not complaining! 

Stoti
Click to expand...

3 mags, $90 each. That's $270 for 3 mag. I could make a mold out of these mags and pour in some melted plastic and make 100 for less..lol.
 
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Interesting responses. I think I've got my answers though. The Original SS version is a metal machined unit, and the FX version is plastic. That's what I figured. When the basic design is the same, it usually takes a significant difference in materials (metal vs plastic) and manufacturing (CNC milling vs injection molding?) to make a significant difference in price. Clearly by the simply nature of the materials, the original will be more durable. The question becomes is that durability really needed, making it worth the extra $60 per mag? I personally love the heft and feel of a quality machined metal part. However, the original regular capacity mags that came with the Impact X units I have weren't machined pieces of art, and worked just fine, simply at a lower capacity. I may not know which one I'll actually end up ordering, but at least I'm now aware of what the difference in price stems from.

Thanks to all!
 
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Thanks for the heads-up on these! I managed to pick up the last .22 kit PA had in stock at the time, and just installed it. I did a quick test with 3 each of the longest slugs I have (NAS 30, 33 and the MP cast about 35gr), and it worked flawlessly. 

Since I only shoot the heavier slugs these days, I can't even remember the last time I used the stock FX mag. I contacted SideShot a while back asking if there mag would work with longer slugs, and they said not really. The fact that FX redesigned these to allow longer slugs is what really makes them great for me. 

Rusty


 
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