Compare the Empire Mini GS 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 Mini GS | Valken M17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Tier | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Typical Price | $280-380 | $280-360 |
| Operation | Electropneumatic poppet | Mechanical inline |
| Firing Modes | semi-auto, ramping | semi-auto |
| Caliber | .68 | .68 |
| Feed | Force-fed | Magazine |
| Air | HPA | HPA |
| Operating Pressure | ~200 psi | ~250 psi |
| Weight | 1.9 lb | 3.4 lb |
| Maintenance | Moderate | Moderate |
The Empire Mini GS 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. The two land close enough on price that cost alone is unlikely to settle it. Both fire electronically, but the Empire Mini GS offers more firing modes for dialing in your rate of fire. At 1.9 lb the Empire Mini GS is the easier carry over a long day on the field. The Empire Mini GS is built with beginners stepping up and rec/speedball in mind. The Valken M17 is built with scenario/milsim and magfed players in mind. Whichever you choose, fresh o-rings, a quality barrel, and a good paint-to-bore match will do more for your day than the badge on the body. Bottom line: the Empire Mini GS is the stronger all-round pick here, especially for programmable firing modes.