A-5 Barrels

1) why 18"
2) what type of threads does it come with
3) http://www.actionvillage.com
4) www.specopspaintball.com


Edited by unvolution - 10 April 2008 at 9:19pm

*watches as argument about snipers in paintball starts*

Yeah the flatline came with it because it wasthe stealth addition package, and I am aware of the range issue. It's a matter of paint breaking, and just quick alternative. Though After I have had hundreds of rounds shot for testing purposes I have finally got it to reasonable performance. Though it lacks the accuracy I would like. I have heard good reports of the barrel I have purchased and liked what I read. But basically my problem is this. The flatline barrel does not connect to the A-5 via threads. It gets tightened in by 3 screws on the side of the A-5 now my barrel I have purchased along with 99% of the other A-5 barrels out there has threads. So it should be able to screw right into the gun no problem. The problem is the A-5 does not have the threads to screw into. It's just an empty space. What I think is there is a removable piece that basically is an adapter that has threads on it.   On anyones A-5 do they have this piece? I am assuming that it would be removed by unscrewing or loosening the 3 screws furthest to the front of the A-5 just as my A-5 barrel is removed.

Actually yeah thats exactly what I need from the looks of it thanks much... though how would I go about getting said part?

I'm assuming the problems you were having with the Flatline barrel were ball breaks.  You need to dial down the velocity of the marker somewhere between 260-280fps.  This is the optimal velocity range for the Flatline.  You get in the 300fps range and you definitely will get ball breaks.  The other part is the kind of paint you're using.  The Flatline works best with a good small to medium bore paint.  Marbalizer, Evil and RPS Premiums are good choices.

Wish you came here before you bought that 18" barrel.  You think you got ball breaks in the Flatline?  Whew.  The longer a barrel is, the better the chance you'll get a ball break.  It also ruins your air efficiency.  The longer the barrel is, the more gas you need to use in order for the ball to leave the barrel at the right velocity.  A longer barrel does not equate longer range or increased accuracy.  If at all possible, get a 10"-12" barrel.  That is the optimal length for any paintball marker.

I suggest you read up on the stickied FAQs on the board.  There is a wealth of information here for the taking.

Edited by StormyKnight - 11 April 2008 at 9:18am

Spikee187 wrote: I like to "snipe" in shortest form of words, and secondly the barrel has standards threads I guess you would call it, same as every other barrel for the A-5 I have looked at. But my gun lacks any form of threads. The Flatline barrel attaches differently.

I know this is baiting it, but I would like to know what your definition of "to snipe" is.  And how you plan on "sniping" in a paintball setting.

The word snipe originally came from the bird the snipe. Not sure if thats correct spelling, but regardless it basically was a fast small bird that was hard to hit. So to snipe basically means shooting at a difficult target in my eyes. So someone smart and well knowledge in any form of tactics or military strategy could easily be considered a difficult target in my eyes.          

also for the balls to stop breaking in my flatline barrel i needed to be at around 250 fps which owned for rec play. But anything above that with multiple paints and velocity tweaks proved fruitless in saving the balls.


In addition I just wanted the 18 inch barrel because that with my guns stock will just look badass.

Spikee187 wrote: The word snipe originally came from the bird the snipe. Correct . . . irrelevant, but correct.  (After all, the word surgeon initially referred to someone who stuck leaches on people to cure them.) Not sure if thats correct spelling, . . . It is the correct spelling. . . . but regardless it basically was a fast small bird that was hard to hit. So to snipe basically means shooting at a difficult target in my eyes. Wouldn't it hurt to shoot a difficult target in your eyes? Seriously, that would be fine if you were just talking (metaphorically speaking) to yourself; however, you aren't.  You're communicating with a wide range of people who have certain preconceived and widely accepted notions about the meanings of certain terms/words. As an example: Green range laurel retail implausible snickerdoodle brigadier flatulence. That phrase may mean something to me if I choose to create my own definitions for each word, but it is useless for communicating with others.  My (somewhat humorously made) point is that in paintball the term "sniper" has certain connotations and given those connotations, it is widely accepted that snipers do not exist in the realm of this sport.  I could change my personal definition of the term "chick-magnet," but it wouldn't really make me one. So someone smart and well knowledge in any form of tactics or military strategy could easily be considered a difficult target in my eyes.  This is an invalid argument.  You are essentially saying that "sniper" status would be determined by the nature of the target as opposed to the skills/capabilities of the so called sniper.  Thus, if such an individual stayed in the same bush for an entire game and shot two people he/she would be a sniper when taking out the experienced ex-military player but would not be when shooting the first time noob.         also for the balls to stop breaking in my flatline barrel i needed to be at around 250 fps which owned for rec play. You should be able to get better velocity than that out of the F/L barrel.  This sounds like it could be a paint or environmental related problem. But anything above that with multiple paints and velocity tweaks proved fruitless in saving the balls. The multiple paints makes a paint related problem less likely.  What was the weather like? In addition I just wanted the 18 inch barrel because that with my guns stock will just look badass. If you like it, then by all means play with it.  You may run into some negatives with a barrel that long, but there are advantages as well.  Regarding the post which mentioned that long barrels are less air efficient:  If you are using a stock firing mechanism and velocity adjuster, then air efficiency is not actually an issue for you.  The way the Tippmann velocity adjuster works does not affect velocity by using less air.  So, as long as you haven't added an RVA or heavier main spring, you aren't using additional air.

Edited by Mack - 11 April 2008 at 5:25pm

Spikee187 wrote: Haha way to depthy. I may be wrong, but I tend to translate replies such as the one above as meaning something along the lines of "I didn't bother to read it or I didn't understand it; but it doesn't matter because I'm still right." People worry about this sniper word way to much when it comes to paintball. Maybe.  Some people can see/hear something that is factually incorrect and ignore it, some have to correct it.  No one that doesn't want to participate in/observe such a discussion has to. It's a widely used word and everyone understands the concept . . . Exactly.  The problem is that the only way to apply the term to paintball is to change the concept from a highly skilled and trained marksman that eliminates vital targets at extreme ranges to some random guy that hides in a bush and shoots other random guys. so why worry people lets be real. It's a waste of time to argue over something so simple. That is your opinion; other may not consider it a waste of time to argue the point.  (If it is such a waste of time, why am I not the only one posting in this discussion?) If the word sniper bothers people than the other words used to describe other paintball positions could also be an insult or annoy some people. Such as?  Only a couple of other military-related positions that I have seen used as a paintball position references come to mind. Heavy gunner--not a term I have a problem with in paintball. An individual with a Flatline marker can place suppressive fire on opposition at longer ranges in a manner similar to what an M60/M240 gunner does. Grenadier--not fully applicable; mainly due to the technology being employed. A grenadier with a bandoleer of paint grenades is actually filling a role very similar to what the original 17th century grenadiers did. The term becomes less applicable when applied to players with various types of launchers, but only because of the technology issue mentioned earlier. If by "other paintball positions" you are referring to the Spec Op positions, I don't have a problem with them either; probably because the SO guys were smart enough to mainly choose names with neutral connotations.  For instance if some player on the field states "I'm a Hammer," it doesn't bother me.  I just quietly note to myself that the individual has just publicly declared themselves to be a tool and get back to whatever I was doing. Just stating an opinion lol Ditto.  I am merely stating and supporting an opinion as well.

Edited by Mack - 11 April 2008 at 6:40pm

Damn, how did I not see this sooner?

I might post on the subject later, but right now I have a wedding to go to.