Indian Creek Designs BKO

paintball-marker
marker_type=Electropneumatic


caption=The Indian Creek Designs (ICD) logo
action=Semi/Fully-Automatic
barrel=11 inches
rof=18 BPS
price=$300+

The Indian Creek Designs BKO is part of the B2K (Bushmaster 2000) series. The main difference between it and the Bushmaster series of markers is rather than being fully pneumatic, the ram housing on the BKO consists of a "spring return ram". The BKO was discontinued in 2004, it was made by Indian Creek Designs, located in Idaho. They also produce popular paintball markers such as the ProMaster, Freestyle and Bushmaster.

pecifications

The 2004 BKO was an electronic solenoid actuated computer controlled paintball marker. The major components of the BKO were machined from solid, aircraft-grade aluminum, and then hard anodized . The BKO is reputed to stand for Bushmaster Knock-Off,because it uses a different theory of operation.All internal parts, wear and contact surfaces were heat treated or hard anodized.The BKO used a single standard 9-volt battery for operation. The circuitry consisted of a microprocessor based digital controller.The BKO did not require tools to field-strip. Removing the field-strip link-pin ofthe bolt enabled the removal of the entire bolt assembly.The BKO offers low-pressure operation. The main operating pressure is 200-300PSI which is set by watching the gauge on the primary (input) regulator whilemaking adjustments. The secondary pressure is factory preset and regulated to85-95 PSI. Gas usage is controlled through these 2 internal regulators. The BKO included a removable 11" step-bore and ported barrel. The stock BKO did not come with PDS (eyes) but they were available for install by ICD directly or other companies such as Vaporworks.

Propellants

The BKO was designed to use nitrogen gas or a compressed airsystem. The company urged users to avoid the use of CO2, although it was still possible to use it as a propellant. The reason for this was that CO2 is an industrial grade gas and may contain dirt and rust, which can in turn damage the marker. CO2 can be used with anti-siphon systems and filters.

Adjustable regulator compressed air systems

The input pressure from the compressed air system should be regulated downto 350-500 PSI output pressure.

Fixed output regulated compressed air systems

Fixed output regulated tanks (preset) will work just fine with the BKO, however itwill not perform as well as an adjustable regulated tank. If your compressed air system does not have anoutput pressure gauge on its regulator, it is not recommended for usage.

Firing rate

Since the BKO was capable of reaching firing rates over 15 BPS, it operates best when used with a force-fed hopper like: Vlocity, Halo, Empire B, or Pulse; however, a force-fed hopper is not absolutely necessary and an electronic hopper can also be used. However, this would reduce the firing rate.

Because of its design, the BKO is limited in its rate of fire. Without extensive modification, the BKO is mechanically capped at 18 BPS.

Regulators

The BKO was with two regulators to control air pressure. The main one, the High Pressure Regulator (HPR), is meant to be set at around 250-300 PSI. This regulator is used to provide air to the Low Pressure Regulator (LPR) and for the air that propels the paintball out of the barrel. The LPR was used to provide the solenoid with air that is then diverted to the ram. To preserve the solenoid and the rest of the low pressure system, the LPR was designed to shut down if it encounters an input greater than 400 PSI. This regulator was usually set by increasing it until a leak was heard from the back of the marker, which was the solenoid bleeding off the air at around 120 PSI, and then turning it 1/4 turn out. Either the HPR or the LPR was used to adjust velocity.

Parts diagram

Bko timeline and versions

This time line was made by Darryl Hadfield (ICD-owners). This is a time line with a detailed descriptions of the various bko generation with specifics to the marker.

2002

The first BKO was produced in the second half of 2002.ICD has not released a formal statement about it, but it iswidely rumored that the BKO actually stood for,“Bushmaster Knock-Off,” as the marker was intended tocapture the lower-end of the electro-pneumatic market, aswell as compete against the massive market of seartrippermarkers like the Kingman Spyder. The BKO wasreleased with an MSRP of $300.

The milling style of the ’02 BKO was distinctive, as it wasvery simple and easy to distinguish. Only a single-color(i.e. no fades, splashes, etc.. were available from thefactory) of blue, red, purple, green, black, or silver wasoffered. This marker also had the same style of triggerframe – a .45 style, with an aluminum blade trigger. TheBKO also used the same electronic guts as the B2k – the 8200 board, capped at 10bps, in a semi-only firing mode.

The BKO also had the same distinctive high-rise feed-neck as the Bushmaster. The BKO benefited from industrystandards, however, as ICD was starting to move to a standard ASA threading for the high-pressure regulators, instead ofthe custom-style that was offered on early bushmasters. Curiously, ICD chose to use a different style of mounting for thelow-pressure regulator, opting for a much smaller one that sits between the trigger frame and the high-pressure regulator.

The bolt in the original BKO was the same as the bushmaster, and barrel threading was also the distinctive ICD threads.The item you see in the place where you would expect an LPR to sit is actually a volumizer, although many contend it wasnever necessary.

The solenoid in the BKO is also significantly different. The bushmaster line uses a three-way solenoid; the BKO’ssolenoid is only a two-way model, given that the ram is spring-returned. Additionally, the ram housing in the original BKOmodel is not re-buildable, causing significant frustration on the part of many users. The BKO operated at 200-240 psicompared to the B2K series marker that operated at 280-320 psi.

The tray on a BKO is also shorter(1/4”) than on a bushmaster– so the battery has to go into the grip frame, instead.Another key difference, which changed in later models, is that the ’02 BKO used cocker detents.Rounding out the “out of the box package” was a 700psi gauge on the front block, a one-piece black aluminum 12” barrel.

2002, second edition

Changes to the second generation BKO included a new“diamond milling” pattern in both the upper and lowertubes of the main body.

ICD made some changes to how the high-pressureregulator was adjusted at the factory, since there were asignificant number of people who had issues with pre-settanks – the LPR would shutdown if it was overpressurized.

The board inside the marker was still the 8200, as per theprior model, however this board includes a code changethat upped the semi-only rate of fire to 14bps.

ICD also began offering the option of either the standard.45 frame, or the newer style referred to by many as the ‘clamshell’ frame, although it was not truly a clamshell frame.This frame later became widely known as the “2k3 Frame.”

The last major change for this year was the ball detent. Previously, the BKO used a cocker-style screw-in Teflon detent.ICD changed the detent to the same style implemented in the bushmaster line-up, which was essentially a small 010 oringtucked inside a short metal sleeve. These o-ring style detents would later prove to be a major problem, with manyreplacing them with flat rubber washers which were much more durable.

2003

Not a lot changed for the 2003 model year, however, whatdid change was quite noticeable.

The 03 BKO (first generation) had a newer body style –the camber on the upper and lower tubes was still thesame, however, there was no milling pattern into the main sectionof the body.

The newer ‘2k3 Frame’ style trigger frame becamestandard for the BKO this year.One of the largest changes was the 9300 board. Unlike the 8200 board, this electronics package did not offer the sameadjustability that the 8200 did, however, it was necessary because of the other major option that was available for theBKO this year: Paintball Detection System, or “PDS” for short; as you likely are aware, this is the method by which theelectronics would override a user’s desire to fire, since it would mean breaking paint.

Many BKOs were sold without the PDS option.

The 9300 board is still in wide use, as of the writing of this document. It was originally developed for the Bushmaster line,and was then brought into the BKO product line. However, the bushmaster was a more reliable platform, and the board’sstock programming for 33.3 bps had to be dropped down to 18bps. This was a moot point, though, as the BKO had ahardware limitation – due to the spring-return nature of the ram, it simply wouldn’t cycle faster than about 18-20 bps.“MadPooh” of ICD-owners.com fame indicated that he was able to boost this performance to 23bps, but only afterextensive modifications and tuning/tweaking on his BKO.

A low-rise feedneck became an option for the BKO, and the bolt pin was changed to be the same as with the Bushmaster– no more latex-dipped pin, but instead, a solid aluminum pin with knurling on the exposed portion.

2003, second edition

Commonly referred to as the 2003.5 BKO, this versionoffered the same performance and reliability as previousversions.

However, the 2003.5 BKO was easily distinguishablebecause of three small grooves milled into the lower tube.A key change for this generation of BKO was that ICDstarted producing a user-rebuildable ram which can bedisassembled after removal of a finger-tightened end cap.

The low rise feed-neck became standard in the 2003.5 BKO. Most, if not all of the 2k3.5 BKOs had autococker-stylebarrel threads. This was the last model of BKO to be made at ICD in the USA. This model of BKO was tested at thefactory with the AKA tornado valve and volumizer chamber. It operated at 180 PSI and shoot 1800rds of paint on a68/4500 fill consistently.

There was a Private Label BKO made for Murder Inc, which had flames milled into the main body.

2004

all the specifics is related to the 2004 bko and not the previous models. The 2004 model was the first ICD marker to beoutsourced. The BPS limit was set to 36 bps. This wouldcause some problems with the marker breaking paint.Two milling styles were provided: The 2003.5 version,from the prior year (although these were extremely limitedin sale), and a newer ‘extreme’ milling style per what yousee in the picture to the left.

A much glossier finish was made available this year, andthe stock barrel that came with the package was changedto a 2 piece style, anodized to the same finish as the rest of the marker.

Additionally, the high pressure regulator was given a new look for this model, and in fact had some internal differencesfrom past years.

The biggest difference for the ’04 BKO was that the LPR was moved from behind the HPR, to the same position as on theBushmaster – below the barrel.

This opened up a lot of aftermarket options for the BKO, but unfortunately, this was the last year that it would beproduced.

Other minor changes include a new milling style on the feed-neck, repositioning of the on/off switch (it was moved furtherforward on the tray), and the grips on the trigger frame were changed to be a ‘bubbled’ wrap-around style, unlike the dualpanelgrips that were offered on previous years.Autococker-style barrel threading was standard on this version of the BKO.

BKO gallery

ee also

*Indian Creek Designs
*Bushmaster 2000
*Paintball
*Paintball marker
*Promaster
*ICD freestyle

External links

* [http://www.icdpaintball.com/icd05/marker_bko04.asp Official ICD BKO Page]
* [http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=1168807 Pbnation The Ultimate BKO FAQ]

References

* [http://www.icd-owners.com/files/bkotimeline.pdf BKO timeline]