One of paintball's all-time best-selling guns: tiny, hoseless and affordable, with an on/off ASA tucked into the grip.
Technical Specifications
Operation
Electropneumatic poppet
Firing Modes
semi-auto, ramping
Caliber
.68
Feed System
Force-fed
Air Source
HPA
Operating Pressure
~200 psi
Weight (unloaded)
1.9 lbs
MSRP
$300
Street Price
$280-380
Maintenance
Moderate
Notable features: Very compact, Hoseless internals, Dust-port on/off ASA
Pros & Cons
Pros
Extremely compact
Budget-friendly electronic
Huge user base
Cons
Small size not for big hands
Poppet maintenance
Best for: Beginners stepping up, Rec/speedball, Smaller players
Setup & First-Day Tuning Guide
Charge Batteries 24 Hours Before — Charge the Empire Mini GS's battery fully before your first session. Bring a spare — a low battery causes dump-fire and board errors that mimic broken gun symptoms.
Lube Bolt & Carrier Before Air — Slide the bolt back by hand — it should move freely. Apply Dow 33 to all bolt and carrier O-rings. Never lube the solenoid.
Set Operating Pressure to Spec — The Empire Mini GS runs at ~200 psi. Set your HPR per the manual — never exceed rated pressure.
Chronograph via HPR, Then Dwell — With eyes ON, fire 5 shots and read the chrono. Adjust HPR to approach your target velocity (usually 280 fps). Change dwell (1ms at a time) only after HPR is dialed.
Keep Anti-Chop Eyes ON — Turn eyes ON for your first outing. A slight hesitation is normal — a force-feed loader (Dye Rotor, Virtue Spire) eliminates it entirely.
Set Firing Mode Before the Field — Set the gun to semi-auto mode. Most recreational fields enforce semi-auto — confirm mode is correct before your first game.
Maintenance Schedule
Interval
Task
Detail
After every session
Barrel, bolt & eye port clean
Squeegee twice, bolt and carrier wipe. Clean eye ports with a dry cotton swab.
Every 5 sessions
Bolt & carrier O-ring service
Clean O-rings with isopropyl, dry, apply Dow 33. Inspect solenoid externally — plunger should be clean and dry.
Every season
LPR service
Remove LPR, clean piston and O-rings, re-lube. 20-minute job that significantly improves consistency.
Annually
Full service
All O-rings replaced. Board terminals cleaned. Solenoid externally cleaned with contact cleaner (not lube). Firmware update if available.
Fix: Bolt carrier O-ring wear is the #1 cause of inconsistency in guns like the Empire Mini GS. Remove bolt, inspect O-rings, re-lube or replace as a set.
Gun won't power on
Cause: Low battery voltage; terminal corrosion
Fix: Test battery — should read 9V+ (alkaline) or 7.4V+ (LiPo). Clean terminals with isopropyl. Check the manual for the factory reset sequence.
Air dumps continuously
Cause: Solenoid failure; low battery
Fix: De-gas immediately. Check battery first — low voltage causes dump-fire. If battery is good, inspect solenoid for debris or O-ring failure.
Double-firing / bounce
Cause: Dwell too high; debounce too sensitive
Fix: Reduce dwell 1ms at a time until resolved. Never go below 4ms on spool guns.
Eyes not working with eyes on
Cause: Paint residue blocking eye ports
Fix: Clean eye ports with a dry cotton swab — this fixes 95% of apparent eye failures.
Firing mode won't change
Cause: Board lock mode
Fix: Download the board manual PDF — the unlock sequence is a button-hold pattern during power-on.
Upgrade Path
Barrel
Trigger frame
Board
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Empire Mini GS good for beginners?
Yes, with some paintball experience. The Empire Mini GS rewards players who understand basic maintenance and operation.
Does the Empire Mini GS run on CO2 or HPA?
Compatible with HPA. HPA is required — CO2 can damage solenoid O-rings on electropneumatic guns.
What is the operating pressure of the Empire Mini GS?
The Empire Mini GS operates at ~200 psi. Match your regulator output to this spec.
How hard is the Empire Mini GS to maintain?
Moderate — regular bolt and eye-port cleaning, plus annual LPR service. Periodic poppet/bolt re-lube; watch internal o-rings.
What loader does the Empire Mini GS need?
A force-feed loader (Dye Rotor, Virtue Spire) is needed for the Empire Mini GS's fire rate. A gravity hopper limits you to ~6 BPS.
How much does the Empire Mini GS cost?
New: $300 MSRP, typically $280-380 on the street. Used prices vary — check BST forums and eBay for current asking prices.
What barrel thread does the Empire Mini GS use?
The Empire Mini GS shoots .68 caliber. Confirm the specific thread pattern for your variant before ordering a barrel.
What firing modes does the Empire Mini GS support?
Supported modes: semi-auto, ramping. Most recreational fields require semi-auto only.
How heavy is the Empire Mini GS?
1.9 lbs unloaded. With a full hopper and HPA tank, expect roughly 4.4–5.4 lbs total.
Is the Empire Mini GS worth buying?
One of paintball's all-time best-selling guns: tiny, hoseless and affordable, with an on/off ASA tucked into the grip. Strengths: Extremely compact, Budget-friendly electronic. Trade-offs: Small size not for big hands, Poppet maintenance.