Derringer RDA

Today, I'll be reviewing the Derring RDA, provided to me by www.MtBakerVapor.com. Let's take a look at this compact RDA, shall we?

Packaging

To be completely honest...this was the probably the biggest letdown. Instead of coming in a box, be it plastic, or display, the Derringer comes packaged in a tiny ziploc bag, with a hex key, a few Phillips screws, and the RDA itself. This isn't a knock on MBV, as I've read that this is how the v1.2 has been shipped out from pretty much everywhere. When you deal with authentic hardware, it's nice to feel that you purchased something worthy of the (often) heavy price tag - at 64.99, I expected a bit more than a plastic bag, but it's certainly not a deal breaker - just a let down. Also, Praxis....would it hurt to throw in a drip tip?! 

Build Quality

Now here is where authentic devices have a chance to shine! Immediately upon removing it from it's packaging, I was already floored- the Derringer is a looker, that's for sure. With it's ultra minimal design and incredibly compact form, this little RDA is definitely a stunner. I was initially skeptical, I had my doubts - I just couldn't get over the form factor. In person, however, it looks rather elegant, and when paired with similarly low profile mods, such as the Le Petit Gros in 18350 mode, it really shines.

The top cap sports the Praxis logo, and has a bit of heft to it. It's incredibly well machined, and slips on and off the deck with relative easy. The engravings are very well done, deep etchings, and they don't stand out - you know you have a Praxis product, but it's not shoved down your throat. It really adds to the minimal design. 

The Derringer sports a few airflow options, offering those who enjoy mouth to lung hits a ton of restrictive options, and for your lung hits, I'd say it is comparable to that of the Tobh. This is by no means a cloud chasing RDA, and to do so is downright foolish - while you can get some respectable clouds from higher gauge wire, anything super-sub ohm is just not fun. The condensed top cap and small frame lead to an extremely hot vape, if you're trying anything crazy. The inner barrel, which controls your air flow, is totally adjustable, and lets you dial in just what you want the Derringer to do - whether that be to flavor chase, or pull of some surprisingly impressive clouds (I found my go-to 7 wrap, 26g dual coil lead to fairly dense clouds, that were warm, but not blisteringly hot!)

The deck itself is incredibly well done as well. With such a small design, you'd be a fool to expect a deep juice well....right? While not nearly as deep as some of the other RDAs on the market (such as the Mutation X, Magma, Troll, etc) it is exceptional, size considered. I found myself not having to drip as often as I thought I would, but still more than I would normally. 

The deck itself is very well done, too. It features your standard three post design, and hex drive heads (When did this become a thing, and can it please stop?) The post holes are slotted, and while you may not be able to cram low gauge twisted builds into them, I was able to run dual 24g coils just fine. I've read online that the center-post tends to spin or wobble, and thankfully, after 8 or so builds, I've yet to deal with this issue. The deck can be a little tricky to build on if you're spoiled by easier to build RDAs, such as the Mutation and Plume Veil line, but it shortly becomes second nature after the initial period of adjustment...but maybe that's me, because frankly, I am no good at building on three post drippers....still...to this day!

The Derringer is constructed from US 303 Grade Stainless Steel, machined incredibly well, and all the interchangeable parts (AFC ring, barrel, top cap) come on and off with ease. I believe it retailed quite a bit more than it does currently (at) 64.99, and had I purchased it at the higher price point, I would've been satisfied with the craftsmanship. It is definitely what I'd come to expect from an authentic.

Functionality

Good construction and a respectable design can only take you so far - it must perform as well as it looks, right? In my honest opinion, in the right hands, this thing can generate INCREDIBLE flavor. The vortex airflow and condensed top cap can produce notes in a juice you either long forgot, or didn't know even existed - this is true, believe me. With the wrong build, however, the Derringer can turn into a fire chucking monster - not literally of course, but it puts off incredibly hot vapor. I prefer a warm vape, but I was able to get downright chest-caving coughing fits from this (my fault - please do NOT do a parallel 24g dual coil build. I warned you.....put that wire away!!) 

If you respect the design, and build to it's nature, you can get an incredibly satisfying experience from the Derringer. I guess you could say that about all RDAs, but the trend lately is versatility - in my upcoming Mutation V4 review, I'll be touching on how you can chase flavor, clouds, a combo of both, lung hit, mouth hit,... it is versatile. I wouldn't call the Derringer one dimensional, but I do personally believe your options are limited if you're looking to achieve the quality that it is capable of.

Overall, I believe 64.99 is a fantastic price for this wonderful, authentic, dripper. It deserves a place in everyone's rotation, be it as a daily driver, flavor chaser, or just a nice show-piece. You just can't top the sleekness when paired with an 18350, or small box mod. It's just too sexy.

Questions? Comments? Be sure to fill out the comment form, e-mail me. I like hearing what my readers think, and I am always looking to improve my work!

Disclaimer: The opinions contained in this review are those of the reviewer, and are in no way, shape or form to be used to endorse any other products or to defame the company by any means. The company, product and service names used in this web site are for identification purposes only. All hardware and liquid reviewed were provided for review purposes, and review purposes only. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Any third party comments/reviews published on the site (whether edited or not) are third party information for which www.vapocalypticreviews.com takes no responsibility and disclaims all liability. 

Gunz Blazing 26650 mod

Today I'll be going over the Gunz Blazing mod. My good friend at www.smokenmist.com sent this over to me for review, and I've got to say, it's a damn good mod. Be sure to check it out, at 37.99, it is one of the best deals in vaping PERIOD.

Specifications

• Heavy Duty 26650 Mechanical Mod
• Comes with metal insert to fit all your 18650 batteries
• Solid copper contact pins for maximum conductivity
• Made from surgical grade aircraft 304 stainless steel
• Ultra Low voltage drop
• Unique styling that fits comfortably in your hand
• Knurled Locking Ring with Beautifully Smooth Spring Loaded Switch
• Machining is Amazing

Packaging

For a clone, the Gunz Blazing sports some of the sleekest packaging I've come across. It is delicately placed in a very nice protective box, embezzled with the logo. Inside the box is a felt liner, and the mod itself is stored in a huge, felt, grey mod sock. It is elegant, but simplistic; premium, however minimal. The sock is a great addition to a stellar piece, as you can carry it around knowing it is safely protected. Right out of the box, I'm impressed.






Build Quality

Okay, I'm going to go on record and say this is the best clone I have ever held in my hands,. Everything about it absolutely commands your attention, demanding that you admire it's wonderful craftsmanship, it's intricate but minimal design. Let's start by going over the main tube...it is a brick. This much stainless steel weighs a metric fuck ton, and I can safely say if you ever find yourself in a dire situation, fending off a would be attacker, one club to the head with this thing would probably render a person comatose. It has the sort of heft you come to expect from a well made product, something that when you hold in your hand, you know is of great quality.

The tube itself is similar to a panzer blackhawk with it's rigid threaded pattern and the "Gunz Blazing" logo in it's ornate glory adorned alongside tube. The logo is laser engraved, but it definitely looks like it'll withstand many, many handlings. I like that it has a familiar feel with an edgier take, as the panzer series is a personal favorite. Alongside the top cap, and just above the bottom cap, you will see some knurling, which is both attractive and functional when you're interchanging pieces.

The threads are the main tube are extremely well machined; so much so that I'd believe this was an authentic if you handed it to me. The top cap threads in and out without even a hint of resistance, and this was AFTER weeks of no thread lubrication. The switch slides in with comparable ease, offering piece of mind in knowing that the threads will hold up for ages.

The switch itself is nearly identical to the blackhawk, however it has knurled, which provides an easier grip when removing and reinstalling. The switch itself boasts solid copper contacts, which absolutely kicks ass - this thing hits like a monster. It is a spring loaded mod, the spring itself being ridiculously thick, no chintzy clone business here.

The top cap itself is knurled as well, featuring an adjustable copper contact. The contact threads in and out with ease, as does the switch, thanks to the wonderfully machined knurling. Each atomizer sat flush, with a few exceptions - the magma coming to mind, as well as doge.

Lastly, the gunz blazing includes an aluminum tube adapter that lets you use an 18650 battery instead of a 26650. I personally don't own any 26650s, so this is awesome addition. The adapter is solid alumimum, which slides into the main tube just like a battery would. It is a perfect fit with all 18650s I've thrown at it, and when the switch and top cap are adjusted accordingly, their is no noticeable battery rattle.

All in all, the Gunz Blazing is a premium mod, with a clones price tag. Unbeatable. Unfathomable, really. Seriously. This isn't biased, people. You've got to get your hands on it.

...........buuuuuut how does it perform?!

Performance

It hits like a truck on steroids. Aptly so, as it weighs nearly as much as a truck, constructed out of metal probably better than my last car was. Thanks to the solid copper contacts, their is little to no voltage drop, leading to some super serious, kick ass conductivity. Every atomizer I threw at this thing roared like a dragon outta hell, be it super sub ohm builds or your standard 1.0 ohm+ builds. It fits perfectly in the hand despite it's size and weight, of which is largely acceptable due to just how well it performs. This is my go-to mod when I'm not rockin my regulated
boxes, and it definitely holds up to my daily punishment. It fits nicely in my pocket and after a while, I started to not notice its weight. Plus, if somebody tried to rob me, I could totally give them a wicked concussion, so it's a win win situation.

Verdict

If you're in the market for meticulously well made device that can withstand abuse, be used in 18650/26650 mod, and hit like tyson, look no further. I have kept away from 26650s due to their size, but after a few weeks with the Gunz Blazing, one thing is clear...

SIZE DOES MATTER.

At 37.99, you can't go wrong, so do yourself a favor and PICK ONE UP TODAY!

Red Cpoper Stingray by INFINITE

Good morning vape fam! Vapocalyptic Reviews coming at you in the early morning AM hour with another review. Today I'll be going over the Infinite Red Copper Stingray. It's a sexy mod, and I'd like to give a shoutout to Jonathan at www.alluringvapors.com for the opportunity. Make sure to get on over to www.alluringvapors.com, they've got some pretty nice prices on a wide range of mechanical mods, starter kits, and tanks. Lets get to it!

This particular stingray is a beast, no doubt about it. I have owned the Brass HCIGAR Stingray, Tobecco Stingray, and even a few fasttech clones. While this version does not particularly compare to the latest and greatest release, the Stingray X, it doesn't fall too short. Though it does employ a traditional top cap, thankfully it has silver plated contacts, and an all copper construct - highly conductive, and definitely appealing. Let me break down the specifications.

22 MM in diameter

Laser etched engraving

Solid copper

Silver plated contacts

Silver plated floating atomizer pin

Magnetic button

Floating positive pin

Houses 18350, 18490, and 18650 batteries

Reverse threaded locking ring

Low profile, just 3.4 inches in 18650 mode

Pretty appealing, right? The copper construct and silver plated contacts grapple with voltage drop, as well as boasting some serious conductivity. I've got a Mephisto RDA provided to me by www.alluringvapors.com on top of it, and it absolutely rocks. It is definitely one of the hardest hitting combinations I've got in rotation! With that said, let's get on to what I liked about the Infinite Red Copper Stingray.

PROS

Hits like a train!!! CONDUCTIVE!

Buttery smooth threads

Quality, deep engraving

Awesome top cap, almost as good as a hybrid cap

No unnecessary tubes

CONS

Does require maintenance - copper gets grimy, and is soft. Without adequate cleaning, threads can seize, and it WILL patina - this is a pro for some and a con for some.

The switch. The damn switch. Stingray owners, you know what I'm talking about. If this is your first, read on.

Copper is quickly becoming one of the prized metals in the vaping community - it is highly conductive, and cheaper to produce and manufacture than silver. If I'm not mistaken, this particular model came a bit before copper overdose we're going through now, and for it's time, it definitely reigned supremely over it's competitors

. This is not to say that it does not have a place in today's world - it definitely holds up to some of the more beefier competitors, such as the Skeleton Key, Stingray X, and the Manhattan.

If you've ever owned a stingray, the Red Copper mod will feel familiar. It can be configured in 18650, 18490, and 18350, all without having to include additional tubes. It also comes with an additional body piece to allow for a kick. It features a floating atomizer pin, 22mm in diameter, allowing nearly all RDAS and RBAS to sit flush. I'm a big fan of the atomizer pin, as it requires very little maintenence - simply back out the switch and thread your atty of choice, and watch the magic happen - it is self adjusting. No more adjusting for battery rattle, no more fiddling with telescopic pins. Outside of the hybrid cap, it is personally my favorite design.

Speaking of the top cap, it boasts silver plated contacts, which definitely conduct well - I've got a .6 dual macro build atop it...huge coils, and this mech never once hesitates - each click of the button gets a warm glow started, culminating in a fiery display of ultra subohmie goodness.

The threads on the Stingray are buttery smooth, something I have come to expect not only from the stingray clone, but Infinite. I can honestly say outside of fasttech, I have never held a stingray with subpar threads. Each individual section of the tube screws on and off with relative ease, as well as the top cap and button. If you're like me, you don't clean your mods to often, and some are prone to seizing - I have fought my nemesis top cap and switch more than I'd like to count - I feel confident knowing my red copper stingray won't seize on me anytime soon.

So with that out of the way, let's get down to the only downfall of the design - the switch. In my opinion, JDTech went too far out of the box, and because it is a 1:1 clone, manufacturers followed suit. To be blunt, this is just not a great design. The way that the switch works is that a piece of metal sits on the base, housing the magnet. With the contact screwed in, a piece of delrin is screwed atop that, housing a repelling magnet within, and the silver plated contact atop. By design, yeah, it isn't bad - but in application, it's absolutely annoying. The threads do not properly catch, and because the quality is varies vastly from clone to clone, often the button threads itself do not mesh well with the delrin. This leads to a crunchy switch that can (usually) only fire with a dead center push - if you try off to the side, you will get nothing. 

With a bit of research, it seems that some filing, sanding, filing, and more sanding will get you a semi-passable switch. Personally THIS particular model that I received isn't too bad - I have had some that were a NIGHTMARE - but unfortunately, I could compare it to the exact same model and chances are it would be a completely different story. For starters, I would recommend

Completely dismantling the button

Scrubbing it with water and soap

Scrubbing it again with ketchup (to polish the copper and pull impurities)

Scrub the threads

Reassemble, and hope that this makes an impact.

Usually, it will, however your mileage may vary. I must note, however, I do like how you adjust the throw of the button - simply twisting the delrin either way will either lower or raise it, thus adjusting your throw. I personally find that a longer throw affords ease of us, but it is all dependent on the machining quality your particular mod has.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is an exceptionally well made device. It boasts magnificent threads, and for a copper mod (soft metal) that is a definitive plus. It has a low profile, highly conductive silver contacts, a worry free top cap, and a beautiful engraving. The switch isn't the best, but with a little TLC, it can definitely turn into a daily driver. Even though the Stingray X is out, I would definitely still recommend the Copper V2 by Infinite - it is beautiful, functional, and just an all around kick ass performer.

Pick yours up at www.alluringvapor.com for the low price of 54.99. I'd like to personally thank Jonathan for his genoristy, you are part of the foundation that Vapocalyptic rests under, and people like you are what truly turn the wheels within this community. Keep up the good work!

Be sure to check out my INSTAGRAM for my Mephisto RDA review coming soon! Follow me @_vapocalyptic and give @alluring_vapors a follow as well.

VAPE STRONG, LIVE LONG.