CCM T2 Reviewed

When the T2 prototype was unveiled on the MCarterBrown forums, I immediately took notice. It looked like CCM had taken everything good from their previous markers, thrown in a few modest improvements including a new, dual pump rod design and substantial efficiency increases, and then wrapped it all up in a gorgeous, modular half-block body. Being a huge fan of pump play and a believer in CCM’s quality, this one earned a spot on my ‘must have’ list.

After taking a little time to free up the funds and a spot in my meager collection, I phoned CCM to place my order. Melissa walked me through the ordering process – they let you choose anodizing color(s), finish, grip frame, feedneck and barrel sizer(s). Though CCM has many options for buyers to customize their gun, the entire process was incredibly smooth. Melissa was a pleasure to deal with and kept me up to date on the status of my order (I had requested an out of stock color). It was done far sooner than expected, and I received my T2 within just a couple short weeks.

My T2 arrived in a neatly-packaged box that also contained a matching on/off ASA, a length of macroline, a stock barrel with a barrel sizer of my choice, a set of Allen wrenches, a Torx wrench, a barrel cover and a set of instructions. Let me take a moment to explain CCM’s barrel kit before I move on to the gun: it is a two part system; a short, interchangeable control-bore section (known as a ‘sizer’) and the barrel itself, which is essentially a long, large-bore tip. CCM offers a wide range of sizers to fit to your paint size (or slightly underbore), and if you can afford it, the barrel kit shoots really well. For now, I opted to just stick with the one sizer that they include with the marker (I went with .679”) since I already have a Freak kit that I use in conjunction with a DeadlyWind Fibur barrel, but I may pick up a few different sizers down the road.

Alright, let’s get to the marker itself…

The fit and finish of the gun is outstanding. I had elected to go with matte pewter anodizing, and it came out downright stunning. The matching anodized back cap and pump handle plate are a nice touch. The ano is smooth and even throughout, and you can just barely make out that it was bead-blasted before anodizing. The T2 is machined extremely well, with zero tool marks, and the parts flow together exceptionally well. In my opinion, the aesthetics are clean and classy, the black trim looks great (and would match just about anything), and the CCM laser engraving on the body and milling on the back of the bolt and front of the pump handle add a dash of understated refinement. It’s quite a looker.
The 86° frame I had opted for feels great in my hand. CCM also offers both thick and thin .45 frames – personal preference rules here. Their custom-machined delrin grip panels offer just the right amount of bite without being obtrusive. Though the gun is light and well balanced, it feels quite solid. The pump handle is comfortable with virtually no wiggle due to the dual pump rod design, and the pump stroke is heavenly: ridiculously smooth, soft, and beyond easy to autotrigger. Fast, at that.

Speaking of the autotrigger, CCM made a slight adjustment to its design with this gun: they removed the external screw that joined the AT arm to the pump rod. It was a small screw, perhaps prone to working itself loose, falling out and getting lost on the field, but I had never heard a single complaint about it, and yet they took time to improve the design. Small things like that go a long way to impress me.

CCM designed an all-new, longer hammer specifically for this marker. The extra length fully blocks off the slot in the lower tube, preventing dirt and debris from entering the gun. When paired with a new mainspring specifically for the T2, the resulting effect was a massive efficiency increase. The marker averages an incredible case of paint or more from a single 68/4500 fill, a sizeable improvement over CCM’s other pump guns and more than just about everything else on the market.

A Spyder/Timmy-style ball detent is tucked away, out of sight, in the bottom of the breech. The body design is modular – the breech section is interchangeable with other variations that CCM plans to produce (such as full-length). The feedneck is likewise interchangeable – CCM has several to choose from including a Winchester-sized feedneck. They’ve now also released a lever-locking feedneck option, and a stock class feed that bolts directly onto the top tube.

The stock on/off ASA is small, light and easy to turn (and has matching ano!). I’ve read that some of the early ones were harder to turn, and that CCM swapped out an o-ring in the design to fix the issue. All I know is that mine is plenty smooth. The ASA has both a left- and right-side output, and CCM ships them with both a macroline fitting and a 1/8” NPT plug, so you have your choice of which side to run your line on. It’s a venting on/off, also. Aided by the fact that the regulator does not store a shot, the entire marker is degassed when the ASA is turned off.

I’ve been very pleased with my T2′s regulator thus far. It’s a simple, reliable, low-maintenance design, and is easily user-serviceable should the need arise. So far I’ve just been putting a drop of synthetic air tool oil in the ASA before gassing up the marker, and it doesn’t seem to need anything more than that. Unlike many other markers, this reg doesn’t seem to require a ‘break-in’ time for optimum performance. I simply dial it in at about 300psi, set my IVG in a turn or so, and shoot 275 +/- 2 fps all day long (my local field has a 280 fps limit). That kind of consistency right out of the box is downright amazing. While user comfort with a marker also plays a large role in accuracy, excellent velocity consistency is paramount.

The feel and balance of this gun with a hopper and air tank should also be mentioned, I think. I typically play with a 45/45 bottle and a 12v Revolution, and it points and shoulders incredibly well. It didn’t take any time at all for me to adjust to the way the T2 shoots. I was putting ball on ball from the get-go, and loving every minute of it.

I know I mentioned it above, but it bears repeating: the pump stroke on the T2 is absurdly light, buttery smooth and stupidly fast. It takes absolutely no effort at all to stay on target while pumping the marker. I’m not much of a paint sprayer, but I’ve already found myself in situations where I know that it allowed me to put that extra ball or two in the air that I needed to get an elimination.

Through three outings with my T2, I’ve been so extremely pleased with the gun; there isn’t a single thing about it that I would change. I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a marker before. Its performance for me has been that flawless. I’ve honestly lost interest in even looking at other pumps, except on the eye candy level, and that’s coming from a guy who’s typically already shopping for the next one after using something once or twice. Granted, personal preference is huge in paintball, and we’re lucky to have so much incredible variety to choose from when it comes to our markers and gear. But I can say without a doubt that this one is the pump marker for me, and anyone who plays pump should take a seriously long look at the CCM T2. It is just a brilliant little gun.