Smoketip is a KR808D-1 isn't it? I don't have any problem with mine. Mine is from Vapor4Life (ther Vapor King). I use manual battery. I think their standard battery is 280mah and their xl might be 350 or 380mah so they are definitely decent batteries for a mini. The shorty batteries have a more super-mini type battery life, maybe 180mah?
Some e-cigarettes, if you drag really long have a cut off and won't let you vape again for 10-30 seconds. And I think when a carto isn't vaping well tipping it in different directions might wet the internal atty better. KR808D-1 is the most popular carto model and I have not really ever heard of problems after 10 drags.
One other thing - if you got auto batteries you may need to take a short puff to warm the atty a bit and then take your real drag, at least that's what some do with 3-piece auto e-cigs so maybe 2-piece too.
How long is your whole e-cigarette with battery and carto? 118mm,110mm,100mm are the 3 e-cig lengths for a KR8 - that's for xl, standard, shorty.