Need help ASAP! Barrel?!?

K, here goes.
I am completely new to paintball.
I got an A-5 for christmas. Not as a present. I saved up the last 5 months for it. Was originally going for the 98 cusytom pro but changed my mind last minute.
So this is what I need to know. I have $200. What is the best barrel I can buy?. I like accuracy but range is a also needed. more range i guess.
Everyone I've asked so far have told me to get the Flatline but none of them ever bought an A-5. just mouthing off of online reviews.
Is the Flatline relly all that good?
Or is there any better barrel I can buy? I don't really like the "curve" shot with barrels. I like straight/flat accuracy much better.

BTW: I have acces to Dragonfire & Badlands/Painball City ONLY! No access to Online ordering whatsoever.
Also, I need an answer within 14 hours. if i can't use the money by then, I'll have to loan it to my brother so he blows it on some video games. Not that video games are bad, but you get the point.

ok well to start off theres only to barrels in the world for an A5 that give you extra distance. the flatline and the apex. no matter what length, all other barrels have the same range.  accuracy depends ont he barrel, not so much the length.  the flatline has %50 more range than normal barrels. and it has pretty good accuracy but not excellent.  examples of extremly accurate barrels are J&J Creamic, Lapco Bigshot, Smart Parts Freak or All American, Dye Boomstick(rip off), and a Dye Ultralight. youll find the best accuracy out of those, but there are other good barrels such as the stiff!. the Bigshot or J&J Ceramic are the best bang for yur buck.

as for barrel lengths, dont get any barrel over 14 inches, it wastes gas.  also, barrel length has nothing to do with accuracy as long as its between 8-16 inches.  in other words, if you have a 14in barrel it wont be more accurate than a 8in of that same barrel.  woodsball players prefer longer barrel because its easier to poke out of things like a bush. speedball players prefer smaller barrels because there more tight and make the gun more compact. barrel sizes are 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and then some other long stupid barrels but mainly 8-14 inches.  you decide what length, its preference.

a barrel wont be the only thing you should buy. after the barre get some firepower. i reccommend getting the egrip. it allows different firing modes including full auto up to 15 balls per second.  its an electric kit and runs on a 9 volt battery and its legal on all fields, as opposed to the response trigger not being legal on all fields.

k, thanks for the info guys.
now I have another question.
lets say the stock a-5 barrel can shoot 100ft while curving.
if i get the flatline or apex, will i be able to shoot straight without curving for atleast 50ft-75ft?

The effective range on any paintball marker without a Flatline/Apex is 25m(75ft) the effective range using a Flatline/Apex is around 100-150ft.

By curving I am assuming that you are talking about holding the marker at an angle while firing. You should with your velocity properly adjusted, using the stock barrel be able to engage targets out to around 20m without a problem.

So whats the final verdict guys?
Is it the Flatline, Apex (I really don't like the way it looks though...), or some other barrel you guys have in mind?
Remember, if I'm going to spend $150+ on a barrel used on an A-5 thats gonna be mostly used for tactical/woodsball, I guess I'm stuck with it for awhile, a long while.

So, how about I do this using the Voting system?
Flatline or Apex or Something or Other

Go for the Apex, hands down. It has the Capabilities of the Flatline, and much, much more. And, from what I hear, it doesn't have bad accuracy at all. Some people even go as far as saying it's the most accurate barrel they've shot. And, you don't have to buy expensive paint to use it effectively (good paint..., which is usually expensive).

After getting all this info off you guys and reading a few reviews online, I've decided to get the Apex.
This review topic though, made it clear that this is what I wanted to get:
http://www.pbreview.com/products/reviews/3894/

Thanks for everything guys, I'll soon post up a thread asking advice on stuff from expansion chanbers to remote lines/coils.
Thanks again!


~the_skdster~
~the OTKer everyone has come to hate~

dead-eye_tippy wrote: Well, being a Flatline owner, I could say the same thing bout my barrel.  It's kinda picky, but its great for the accuracy and range.  And you could probably get it for about 90-100$ new. The Apex I have heard things bout, but not dissing it since I have no experience with it, I have heard that you have to adjust it alot, and if your in the heat of a game, and you have to adjust, thats not gonna fly with me, but get what you want.  My advice, Flatline.

Your statement that you have no experience with the Apex was certainly reinforced by you statement about "having" to frequently adjust it. If you want Flatline performance from it, you set it and leave it that way. If you want to take advantage of its right, left and dive bomb curves you grab the adjuster, while you  are still shooting, and twist it till the balls are going where you want them to go. You never have to take your eyes off the field and all adjustments can be made by touch alone as you fire away at the opponent running between  trees (or air bunkers).

Flatline prices have dropped below $100. Apex prices are consistently at $119...not much difference.

Edited by Bruce A. Frank

SuzukiRider987 wrote: Go for the Apex, hands down. It has the Capabilities of the Flatline, and much, much more. And, from what I hear, it doesn't have bad accuracy at all. Some people even go as far as saying it's the most accurate barrel they've shot. And, you don't have to buy expensive paint to use it effectively (good paint..., which is usually expensive).

I own the APEX and fired it twice this week.  So far, the accuracy is good but only at relatively short ranges, but that's true for most barrels.  As soon as you dial in to use the flatline effect, accuracy noticably drops quite a bit, but you WILL shoot MUCH farther on the higher settings. 

Keep in mind i'm using straight co2, no regs or stabs, and not matching paint to barrel bore, but it was "tournament grade" according to the folks at sgt.splatters.

Simply, just use it as a straight barrel until the need for a straight shot or distance is needed.  Sometimes you don't need distance, but the straight shot comes in handy when shooting at a target you would normally have to aim above, causing you to hit an overhead support beam or something like that (this was my experiance yesterday).

I'm willing to bet that all the other barrels recommended are more accurate, but its probably by a small amount.  Getting the APEX will allow you to fire with relative accuracy (so what, you need to fire 2 or 3 more shots at the most) and allows AMAZING range and several advantages.  I personally can't see the curve shots coming in handy most of the time either, they didn't at all in the indoor arena, but i'm sure once i start playing true woodsball and get outdoors they'll help.  Even without considering them, the barrel is great for the fact that you can switch on and off the flatline.

I broke one ball sofar, but that was the bolts fault.


Edited by RavenGuard - 07 January 2006 at 2:02pm

Get the Apex, $20 more than the flatline and completely worth every dollar more. It shoots almost 100 ft farther and is more accurate than the flatline.

and this is coming from a former flatline user for 2 years. After you get the Apex, save up for an E-Grip. You wont regret those 2 being your first upgrades

Edited by A-5 Command - 08 January 2006 at 9:38pm