Compare the Empire BT D*Fender and First Strike Hero 2.0 side by side: price, specs, firing modes, weight, and maintenance — and see which paintball gun is the better buy for your style of play.
| Empire BT D*Fender | First Strike Hero 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Tier | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Typical Price | $120-220 (used) | $160-230 |
| Operation | Mechanical inline blowback | Mechanical pistol (magazine) |
| Firing Modes | semi-auto | semi-auto |
| Caliber | .68 | .68 |
| Feed | Dual-feed (magazine + hopper) | Magazine |
| Air | HPA/CO2 | 12g CO2 / HPA |
| Operating Pressure | ~250 psi | ~250-300 psi |
| Weight | 3.4 lb | 1.4 lb |
| Maintenance | Low | Low |
The Empire BT D*Fender and First Strike Hero 2.0 are both mid-range paintball guns, so the choice comes down to how each one fits your game rather than how much you spend. The two land close enough on price that cost alone is unlikely to settle it. Both run electronic firing modes, so trigger feel and board tuning matter more here than the spec sheet. At 1.4 lb the First Strike Hero 2.0 is the easier carry over a long day on the field. The Empire BT D*Fender is built with budget magfed and scenario in mind. The First Strike Hero 2.0 is built with magfed sidearm and scenario/cqb in mind. If you can, handle both in person before deciding, because grip, trigger feel, and balance are personal and a spec sheet can't capture them. Bottom line: the First Strike Hero 2.0 has the clearer edge, especially for all-day comfort.