Compare the Empire BT D*Fender and Valken M17 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 | Valken M17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Tier | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Typical Price | $120-220 (used) | $280-360 |
| Operation | Mechanical inline blowback | Mechanical inline |
| Firing Modes | semi-auto | semi-auto |
| Caliber | .68 | .68 |
| Feed | Dual-feed (magazine + hopper) | Magazine |
| Air | HPA/CO2 | HPA |
| Operating Pressure | ~250 psi | ~250 psi |
| Weight | 3.4 lb | 3.4 lb |
| Maintenance | Low | Moderate |
The Empire BT D*Fender and Valken M17 are both mid-range paintball guns, so the choice comes down to how each one fits your game rather than how much you spend. On price, the Empire BT D*Fender runs roughly $130 less, so budget-first buyers will lean its way. Players who want less upkeep should look at the Empire BT D*Fender, which rates low on maintenance and asks less of you between games. Both run electronic firing modes, so trigger feel and board tuning matter more here than the spec sheet. The Empire BT D*Fender is built with budget magfed and scenario in mind. The Valken M17 is built with scenario/milsim and magfed players in mind. Bottom line: the Empire BT D*Fender is the stronger all-round pick here, especially for a tight budget.