The MicroMag Retro Valve

A MicroMag RT with black satin finish, gas thru foregrip and bottom line ASA

MicroMag Retro Valve laser engraving

Forest Hatcher of Pro Team Products with a Red Nights splash anodized MicroMag RT during the first day of production

The 68 Automag from Airgun Designs, is a truly innovative paintgun.  It was the first on the market to include a fixed volume, regulated pressure gas system, the first to have a blow-forward valve, and a number of other firsts as well.  The Automag design has been refined over the years, tuned for optimum performance.  Since the introduction of the level 7 Automag design, all Automags have basically been the same. 

Pro Team Products, which manufactured "f/x" bodies for a number of paintguns gave Automag fans a chance for a new look and new features for their favorite paintgun.  Dubbed the MicroMag, ProTeam's mag is available as either a body kit, or as a complete gun.  The MicroMag body is basically a light weight aluminum receiver, with cosmetic milling that replaces the Automag receiver and grip rail.  Because it is aluminum it can be anodized in a variety of patterns, unlike the standard steel Automag body.  The original Micromag had a short fixed barrel, while the current Micromag II model accepts barrels using the WGP Autococker thread configuration.  The Micromag's ball detent is an external spring loaded arm on the left side, and its powerfeed is removable for easy cleaning.  The Micromag also includes a ProTeam 45 style grip frame, and wraparound ProTeam grips, rather than the molded composite frame found on standard Automags. 

Internally, the Micromag is the same as an Automag, with the AIR valve, bolt, and on/off valve all original AGD parts.  What does Airgun Designs think of all this?  Another company putting their parts in a new paintgun?  They love it.  The Micromag is a joint project.  Airgun Designs warranty fully covers all of the AGD components, and the AIR valve is even laser engraved by Airgun Designs to say "Micromag" with a Micromag serial number.

At the 1997 World Cup, Airgun Designs released their first truly new paintgun in a number of years.  The Automag RT was the next evolutionary step in the Automag line.  One of the drawbacks tournament players found in the Automag was a decrease in velocity under very high rates of fire.  The RT addressed this with a new "snap shut" regulator design that recharges its air chamber fast enough to cycle as rapidly as 28 shots per second - much faster than current feed systems can load paint, or than a person can pull a trigger.  The RT gets its name from its Reactive Trigger.  The "weight" of the trigger pull on Automags depends largely on the pressure in the on/off valve.  In the RT, this pressure varies during the trigger stroke.  When the trigger is pulled back, and a shot is fired, the RT doubles the pressure on the trigger, "kicking" it, and the user's finger forward.  The effect is like having power steering on the trigger, and aids the player in achieving higher rates of fire.  Because of gas expansion characteristics, the RT can only operate on compressed air, CO₂ won't do.

The Automag RT components are not compatible with regular Automag receivers.  This meant that players who like the feel and style of the MicroMag had to choose between that style and RT performance.

Until January of 1999.  Literally the first day of the year, ProTeam Products began shipping the MicroMag RT.  The key to the MicroMag RT is the Retro Valve.  Airgun designs took the RT technology and packaged it in a standard Automag compatible AIR valve and air chamber.  Now Automag and MicroMag users could upgrade to RT performance. 

The RetroValve can be easily identified by it's dark finish, and RetroValve laser engraving.  The MicroMag RTs have the same features, finishes and options as previous MicroMags, including some recent design changes like the switch to a single piece shoeless trigger.  Like the AutoMag RT, the MicroMag RT requires compressed air or nitrogen, rather than CO₂.

68 AutoMag, Automag RT, and Retro Valve are registered trademarks of Airgun Designs
f/x, MicroMag, and MicroMag RT are registered trademarks of ProTeam Products