Tippmann Paintball Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Paintball Equipment > Upgrades and Customizing
  New Posts New Posts
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Flatline for indoor use?

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
Stoty View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 18 February 2007
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stoty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Flatline for indoor use?
    Posted: 15 March 2007 at 12:27pm
Hey everyone,

Just a few quick questions. I have a 98 custom (with ATC) with the flatline barrel, and HPA tank. I was playing indoors this week, and the flatline doesnt seem to be consistent with accuracy. I was kneeling down, aiming at a logo on an inflatable bunker about 50 feet away. The 1st ball hit dead on, the next was WAY off to the left, 3rd and 4th ball were close to the target and the 5th & 6th balls went way off to the right. (The balls that missed, didnt miss by a foot or two, they missed the whole bunker)

Does anyone know what could be causing this inconsistency with accuracy? Its obviously not environmental causes because I was indoors. (Chrono was 250).

This leads me to my next question...I am thinking of entering into some indoor tournaments. Would I be better off with a different barrel? I have heard that the J&J Ceramic barrel is quite accurate. Is the flatline suited for indoor use, or mainly for woodsball? What barrel would you recommed for the best accuracy for indoor tournaments?

Thanks for any replies!
-->Stoty<--
98 Custom w/ACT
E-grip
Flatline Barrel System
Freak Barrel Kit
Polished Internals
Drop forward
Viewloader 3 Hopper
HPA w/ remote line
Double Trigger
Back to Top
Black_Shadow View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
Penguin-abuser from <heck> ...

Joined: 10 December 2002
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 2955
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Black_Shadow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 March 2007 at 1:29pm
the problem with the flatline is if your gun isnt PERFECTLY upright, you can get balls that go way off target like you describe.

personally i would get a different barrel, i really like my J&J ceramic, it shoots as straight as a laser.

if you are a tournament player however, and have the wallet for it, i would recommend an empire or freak barrel kit, they are more accurate and you can change the insert depending on the paint size.
98CP ACT
R/T
J&J Ceramic 14"
Egg II w Z-Board
GTA Inline X-Chamber
NCStar Red-Dot
Pen Spring Mod
Trigger Stops
Polished Internals
Dye Sticky Grip
20oz Co2 w On/Off

Next Up: Spimmy
Back to Top
ShortyBP View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group

A G F Y

Joined: 10 June 2002
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 5034
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ShortyBP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 March 2007 at 1:29pm
For a tournament... I'd feel more comfortable with the simplicity of a straight smoothbore barrel. If given the choice of the two, I'd pick J&J Ceramic.
I own both, FWIW.

As for the inconsistancy... not sure. Several variables.
Back to Top
Bruce A. Frank View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
KRL Reincarnated?

Joined: 27 March 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3063
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce A. Frank Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 March 2007 at 1:43pm

Though the Flatline can be finicky about the paint, my first guess is that you were not using a small diameter paint. Flatline paint has to be small so that the ball can roll along the cure of the barrel to develop the necessary backspin. Large diameter paint, out of round paint, paint with pronounced seams performs poorly.

My Flatline, at speedball field distances, is one of the most accurate barrels I have. With the wrong paint it is, by far, the most inaccurate barrel I own.

Back to Top
tallen702 View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Hipster before Hipster was cool...

Joined: 10 June 2002
Location: Under Your Bed
Status: Offline
Points: 11857
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tallen702 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 March 2007 at 2:10pm
If you are seriously considering getting into the tournament scene, you're going to need more than just a new barrel. If you're just dabbling in it to see if you might like to play tournament down the road, then go with a J&J ceramic or Lapco.

What kind of trigger and hopper system do you have at the moment? Also, what "series" of tournaments are they playing? PSP/Xball/NPPL, etc. Based on the series of rules and the game play style, you're more than likely going to be out gunned with a '98. I'm not trying to discourage you, just making sure you understand what tournament games are like.

For some world-cup footage to give you an idea of how much paint is put out there and how fast the game is played on the tournament level, click here It's a WMV (Windows Media Video) file, you can either download it or play it using Media Player. OR you can go to the source page at http://www.one4one.tv and watch the video (second video down on the main page).
<Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.>
Back to Top
UV Halo View Drop Down
Member
Member
Avatar

Joined: 19 August 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 229
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote UV Halo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 March 2007 at 7:19pm
Personally, I think the flatline is not good for your situation.  280 FPS is the ideal speed for the flatline.  Above this number, the excess spin contributes to increasing inaccuracy.  Below this number, the balls get decreasing lift (which equals ranges closer to a normal barrel at the same FPS).

I would say, get an Apex barrel if you intend to get any unconventional spin benefits (in this case, hooking) and yet still retain conventional shooting capabilities.

In any case, range is not really an issue in indoor play (especially tourney) but rather, ROF and then accuracy (which are necessary for lane control).
M98C- W/QwkStrpCut

Comp Air & Palmer Fatty Stab

Gas-Thru Stock

Lapco Sight Rail W/ADCO 30MM EDOT

Qloader W/ CMS

Freak SS W/Stif-Tip * Flatline * Armson Stealth
Back to Top
Black_Shadow View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
Penguin-abuser from <heck> ...

Joined: 10 December 2002
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 2955
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Black_Shadow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 March 2007 at 7:56am
^^^^i believe Stoty said he was a tournament player and the apex isnt tournament legal.
98CP ACT
R/T
J&J Ceramic 14"
Egg II w Z-Board
GTA Inline X-Chamber
NCStar Red-Dot
Pen Spring Mod
Trigger Stops
Polished Internals
Dye Sticky Grip
20oz Co2 w On/Off

Next Up: Spimmy
Back to Top
Stoty View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 18 February 2007
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stoty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 March 2007 at 9:26am
Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.

I am not currently a tournament player, but really want to get into the tournament scene.

From what I have been reading, the best thing to do for accuracy would be to match the barrel size to the paint your using, so a barrel "kit" with interchangable barrels would be ideal. Is that correct?

In response to tallen's question I currently have stock everything, but the flatline. I will be getting a cyclone feed hopper. I have been hearing good and bad things about upgrading my trigger. What does everyone think? Is it worth upgrading the trigger?

Again, thanks for all the info. As a new "baller" I appreciate any help from more experienced players.

Cheers!
-->Stoty<--
98 Custom w/ACT
E-grip
Flatline Barrel System
Freak Barrel Kit
Polished Internals
Drop forward
Viewloader 3 Hopper
HPA w/ remote line
Double Trigger
Back to Top
Bruce A. Frank View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
KRL Reincarnated?

Joined: 27 March 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3063
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce A. Frank Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 March 2007 at 6:58pm

Originally posted by Stoty Stoty wrote:

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.

I am not currently a tournament player, but really want to get into the tournament scene.

From what I have been reading, the best thing to do for accuracy would be to match the barrel size to the paint your using, so a barrel "kit" with interchangable barrels would be ideal. Is that correct?

In response to tallen's question I currently have stock everything, but the flatline. I will be getting a cyclone feed hopper. I have been hearing good and bad things about upgrading my trigger. What does everyone think? Is it worth upgrading the trigger?

Again, thanks for all the info. As a new "baller" I appreciate any help from more experienced players.

Cheers!

Contrary to what some people report, you cannot be tournament competitive with a near stock mechanical Tippmann. An electric trigger is going to be an absolute minimum necessary to "keep up" on the tournament field.

Back to Top
tallen702 View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Hipster before Hipster was cool...

Joined: 10 June 2002
Location: Under Your Bed
Status: Offline
Points: 11857
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tallen702 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 March 2007 at 11:44am
As Bruce said, Tippmann's take a lot of upgrading to be able to keep up with the tournament scene, even the rookie divisions of local tournament series get pretty heated. I'm not saying it can't be done, but for what you'd spend, you could probably get a new marker.

That said. IF, and this is a BIG if, you are considering mainly playing tournaments and speedball. You may want to skip the cyclone, save up some cash, and get a HaloB/ReloaderB/Pulse/VLocity loader so that you can swap it over to a new marker when you decide to upgrade from the Tippmann. Can't take the cyclone with you if you decide to upgrade markers.
<Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.>
Back to Top
wang949 View Drop Down
Member
Member
Avatar

Joined: 18 February 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 36
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wang949 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 March 2007 at 1:53pm
Not to threat jack, but would you guys recommend for a beginner tourney marker?
Back to Top
Bruce A. Frank View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
KRL Reincarnated?

Joined: 27 March 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3063
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce A. Frank Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 March 2007 at 3:12pm

Originally posted by wang949 wang949 wrote:

Not to threat jack, but would you guys recommend for a beginner tourney marker?

A new Ion...a used Angel...

Back to Top
tallen702 View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Hipster before Hipster was cool...

Joined: 10 June 2002
Location: Under Your Bed
Status: Offline
Points: 11857
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tallen702 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 March 2007 at 9:56am
What Bruce said. I'd also suggest a used DM 4 or better, Proto Matrix Rail, or one of the newer Shockers (non-shoebox) Regardless of what you get, the most important thing is that IT MUST HAVE EYES or you're screwed. No two ways about it.
<Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.>
Back to Top
shooteronur6 View Drop Down
Member
Member
Avatar

Joined: 03 March 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 6
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shooteronur6 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2007 at 2:37am

It sounds like your Velocity was up WAY too high. The velocity check may have registered 250, but it could have been wrong too. What you described is classic too hot signs. The FlatLine does its best at 26ish, depending on the weather and paint ur workin with. I set mine at 268, and it does/did fine. I say did, 'cause I traded it for an ION (in perfect cond. lol). Then Iturned around and traded the ION for an madly/upped 98C.

Back to the subj., try lowering ur Vel. Generally speaking though, a flatline isn't very compatible with the common indoor/close quarter combat. It just isn't made for shooting fast. A J&J 14" would amaze you in any setting! Hope this helps!

 



Edited by shooteronur6 - 21 March 2007 at 2:40am
CHRIST KREW
Got God?
Got Game?
Got me!
Back to Top
Bruce A. Frank View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
KRL Reincarnated?

Joined: 27 March 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3063
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce A. Frank Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2007 at 3:18am
Originally posted by shooteronur6 shooteronur6 wrote:

 It just isn't made for shooting fast. 

I have seen 98C's with an R/T setup running at 17 balls per second with no problems. I run mine at 13 bps all the time without problems. How fast do you want to shoot?

Back to Top
Black_Shadow View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
Penguin-abuser from <heck> ...

Joined: 10 December 2002
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 2955
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Black_Shadow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2007 at 2:09pm
on thr tournament field the electric trigger is absolutely necessary, instead of the cyclone, if you really want to use a 98 in torunies, centerfeed it, pop on a halo b or evo 3, and get a WAS egrip.

your also going to want to run HPA and a good regulator will be required to.

basically you going to have to upgrade every aspect of your marker, and for the price of that you can pick up a used angel, ion or shocker...

(personally im building my 98 for the woods and rec ball, if i ever decide to try the tourny scene im going for a used shocker... and as Tallen said, you HAVE to have eyes on a tourny gun, its possible to go without, but thats very ignorant.
98CP ACT
R/T
J&J Ceramic 14"
Egg II w Z-Board
GTA Inline X-Chamber
NCStar Red-Dot
Pen Spring Mod
Trigger Stops
Polished Internals
Dye Sticky Grip
20oz Co2 w On/Off

Next Up: Spimmy
Back to Top
Stoty View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 18 February 2007
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stoty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2007 at 3:30pm
and by eyes you mean what exactly?
(I'm new to the paintball lingo)
-->Stoty<--
98 Custom w/ACT
E-grip
Flatline Barrel System
Freak Barrel Kit
Polished Internals
Drop forward
Viewloader 3 Hopper
HPA w/ remote line
Double Trigger
Back to Top
tallen702 View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Hipster before Hipster was cool...

Joined: 10 June 2002
Location: Under Your Bed
Status: Offline
Points: 11857
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tallen702 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2007 at 4:26pm
Eyes are basically optical sensors in the breech of the marker that will detect whether a paintball is in the breech or not. If there isn't a ball fully dropped into the chamber, it won't fire so that you don't run the risk of chopping a ball. Chopped/broken paint in a tournament = Death. You do NOT have the time to clean anything out, and the moment you can't return fire is the moment you get bunkered.
<Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.>
Back to Top
Bruce A. Frank View Drop Down
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Avatar
KRL Reincarnated?

Joined: 27 March 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3063
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce A. Frank Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2007 at 7:38pm

Originally posted by tallen702 tallen702 wrote:

Eyes are basically optical sensors in the breech of the marker that will detect whether a paintball is in the breech or not. If there isn't a ball fully dropped into the chamber, it won't fire so that you don't run the risk of chopping a ball. Chopped/broken paint in a tournament = Death. You do NOT have the time to clean anything out, and the moment you can't return fire is the moment you get bunkered.

But, he said his marker has ACT. Add a Halo B to that any things should be about as chop proof as it gets.

Back to Top
tallen702 View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Hipster before Hipster was cool...

Joined: 10 June 2002
Location: Under Your Bed
Status: Offline
Points: 11857
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tallen702 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 March 2007 at 8:16pm
True, but for the money he'll be shelling out, the performance he'd get just isn't worth it. Don't get me wrong, E-Tippmanns used to hold their own on the field when 12-14bps was the norm, but compared to the current technology, sear-tripping a '98 just doesn't do it anymore. Of course, you could e-bolt it, LPK, polish the internals, get a great reg (AKA or such) add in a double trigger with magnetic return and set-screws, get a nice barrel, a good tank, and a Halo B, then yeah, he could keep up, but unless he's mechanically inclined.... what's the point when you can buy all of that in a used electro-pneumatic?
<Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.>
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.391 seconds.