Which Flatline combination is better?

OMG

I am so through with these threads.

Read this and learn.

The History of Military Sniping, and how it relates to the Game of Paintball.

Ok. So I got bored, and I am sick and tried of this stupid sniper debate. I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas, and didn’t know what else to get so I picked up several books on Military Snipers. Here are my findings.

< -- Note: Due to a problem with my code, you have to Highlight my rifle comparison tables to see them. It’s a bother, but if someone knows how to fix it, PM me. -- >

First lets go over the basics of what a sniper is, and what a sniper is not.

“A sniper…is considered a specialist, whose prime function is to kill selected high value targets at long range using superior skill and armament. A sharpshooter, by contrast, is a rifleman (proficient or otherwise) who acts in an opportunist manner, taking shots at the enemy when the chance arises”

From SNIPER by Adrian Gilbert

Keep this in your mind as you read the rest of the article.

The American Revolution (1775-83)

Sniping first came onto the battlefield during the American Revolution. Standard infantry of this period were equipped with “Brown Bess” smoothbore muskets. The Continental Congress approves 10 independent companies, armed with long rifles. The men of these companies were the first snipers.

Comparison between the “Brown Bess” musket, and the Long Rifle.

“A soldiers musket, if not exceedingly ill bored (as many are), will strike the figure of a man at 80 yards: it may even at 100, but a soldier must be very unfortunate indeed who shall be wounded by a common musket at 150 yards, provided that the antagonist aims at him; as to firing at a man at 200 yards, with a common, musket, you might as well fire at the moon.” –British Major Hanger, on the “Brown Bess” musket

 In contrast, the American Long Rifle (as carried by the Irregular companies), was effective in ranges up to 300 yards, and headshots could be achieved at 200. At these ranges American Snipers picked-off high ranking British Officers. During the battle of Saratoga an American sniper brought down British General Simon Frasier from a range of 300 yards. Despite its advantages the long rifle had several disadvantages. Its slow reload time(2 shots a minute), and lack of bayonet fixture made it useful only as a skirmisher weapon, not for use as a standard infantry weapon.

As you can see from the table, the Rifle outranged the common muskets of the time by over 200 yards. Also the muzzle velocity of the Rifle was much higher than that of the Brown Bess.

American Civil War (1861-65)

During the Civil War, the standard infantry rifles were the Enfield(for the south), and the Springfield(for the north). These were muzzleloading rifles with effective ranges up to 500 yards. The confederacy managed to acquire Witworth and Kerr rifles from Europe for their snipers. These rifles had an effective range of well over 1200 yards, and hits were reported at over 1500 yards.

Confederate Snipers were selected in a manner which has been used to select snipers in most present wars. The best men from each infantry regiment entered into shooting competitions. They were required to hit man-sized boards at 500 yards. The best shooters were given the prized Kerr and Witworth rifles. They then went through extensive training in the use of these rifles.

The snipers were warned never to get within 400 yards of the enemy, but to use their superior range, to keep the enemy at a safe distance.

World War I (1914-18)

US Snipers during World War I used modified, and accurized versions of  the standard service rifle the Springfield 1903, equipped with 2 to 4 power scopes. Snipers during the war mostly sniped from behind the MLR, the main trench line. These snipers were Infantrymen taken off the line, and equipped with scoped rifles. With their rifles they could pick the enemy off 3 or 4 trench lines back from the MLR. The marksmanship standard for infantry of the time was to be able to hit a standing man from around 100 yards. The snipers were trained to hit targets from over 500 yards.

World War II (1938-45)

World War II snipers were selected in different manners during the war. I will concentrate on the Marine Corps Snipers trained at Green’s Farm because the documentation of this school and its snipers is the best. There, snipers were instructed in 5 week courses in marksmanship, camouflage, and field craft. They were trained to approach a target using stealth and to eliminate the target from long distances. These snipers were required to hit a moving target at 500 yards, and to hit a stationary target at 1000. They were equipped much the same way as snipers in WWI were. These snipers used accurized versions of the M1903 Springfield service rifle, the A1 or A3 variants equipped with 2 or 4 power scopes. Marine Infantry qualified at 500 yards.

Korea (1950-53)

Korea, in the latter part of the war turned into a bogged down war of attrition, looking somewhat like the trench warfare of WWI. This, alongside Korea’s terrain of rolling hills combined to make it prime sniper territory. Sniping tactics in Korea did not change much from the tactics of WWII so I will not elaborate on them. The rifles also remained the same. Snipers in Korea were equipped with 1903A3 Variant Springfield’s, and National Match M1’s(which were used in competition shooting because they were more accurate than the standard M1) Equipped with 4 power scopes(the M1D model). The accuracy of the M1 was not as good as that of the Springfield, due to the need to offset the scope, and have major Eye Relief built-in to the rifle due to the Clip Feed of the M1. These M1’s still were able to reach ranges of 500 yards accurately. In Korea the use of the .50 caliber round for sniping was first seen. M2 Machine Guns mounted with a 10 power scope were able to reach ranges of 2800 yards effectively, Snipers also experimented with .55 Caliber Boy’s antitank rifles modified to take .50 caliber rounds, and mounted with scopes which had the same range as the M2, but was able to be carried by a man whereas the M2’s were limited to fixed positions.

Vietnam (1965-75)

Vietnam is the perfect example of how a sniper can be employed during combat. The restrictive ROE and vast open fields and rice paddy’s of Vietnam became prime sniper territory. The Marine Corps and the Army both Fielded Snipers. Army snipers were equipped with accurized versions of the M14 service rifle, accurate out to 700 yards. The Marine Corps fielded snipers equipped with Winchester Model 70 Hunting rifles firing the .30-06 cartridge, and later in the war snipers carried the M40, which fired the standard 7.62x51mm(.308) cartridge both of these rifles had an effective range of over 1000 yards. Also snipers used modified M2 .50 caliber machine guns, fitted with scopes. These were accurate to ranges out to 2500 yards. Normal infantry of the time fired the M16 Assault Rifle, and the enemy fired the AK-47 assault rifle. These rifles were designed for infantry combat which takes place in ranges of only around 200 yards, and can only be fired accurately up to 500 yards. Thus snipers were able to operate with impunity from beyond the range of effective return fire of the enemy.

Now through all these wars several things have remained in common among snipers, lets analyze these facts:

A sniper acts independently from standard infantry, not as a part of a unit but in a one or two man team.

This is possible in paintball, most of the time in scenario games, I am alone behind enemy lines trying to accomplish a mission. But you do very little if any tactical good for your team waiting in one spot for an entire game, hoping a target of high-value (such as the opposing general) walks by.

A sniper does not act at random, he selects targets of high value and eliminates them.

Targets of High Value in a military sense are:

1. Officers:
   • Generals
   • Field Grade officers
   • Company Grade officers
2. Forward Observers
3. Crew Served Weaponry:
   • Heavy Machine Guns
   • Artillery Batteries
   • Mortar Crews
4. Non Commissioned Officers
5. Radiomen

Targets of High Value in a paintball scenario game:

1. Generals
2. Tank Crewman (if there are tanks)
3. Um…. Yeah… that’s all I can think of...

The problem with selecting high value targets in a scenario paintball game is, there are very few. The vast majority of players play independently, not under any command and they do what they want. What officers and team captains there are do not look any different than any other players.

The Sniper fires at targets from beyond the range of return fire by the standard infantry weapons, or from distances that were beyond the training of the normal infantryman.

As you can see from the diagrams of the Sniper Rifles of the Period in comparison to the standard issue infantry weapons, the sniper rifle always has a great deal more range than infantry weapons, and the sniper has been trained to an accuracy standard that is beyond that of standard infantry training.

This is where sniping in paintball fails. All paintball markers except those equipped with the Flatline or Apex systems fire the same distance, around 25 yards or 75 feet. The Flatline will reach ranges of up to 150 ft, but because the ball loses velocity at the same rate as a normal paintball, the chances of getting a break, or a single accurate shot at those ranges are close to zero.

The sniper uses a single accurate shot to take his targets down.

The ammunition expended to kill ratio of a sniper in Vietnam was 1.7 rounds per kill. The average infantryman expended 50,000 rounds per confirmed kill.

It is possible to take targets down with a single shot in paintball. However it is near impossible to eliminate a target with a single shot from beyond the effective range of return fire by the enemy.  Paintballs are imperfect by nature, therefore they do not fly consistently enough every shot to make it possible to get anywhere close to the 1.7 rounds per kill ratio that snipers enjoy.

A sniper uses camouflage and concealment to hide himself from his enemies to eliminate his targets.

No qualms with this, it can be done. Most every scenario paintball player does it. Using camouflage doe not make you a sniper.

Now as you can see there are several places where sniping fails in paintball. Now look at the definition of a Sharpshooter:

“A sharpshooter… is a rifleman (proficient or otherwise) who acts in an opportunist manner, taking shots at the enemy when the chance arises”

From SNIPER by Adrian Gilbert

Ok, this looks a little more feasible in the game of paintball than the sniper definition doesn’t it?

For paintball purposes we can strike rifleman, because there are no rifles in paintball.

“who acts in an opportunist manner, taking shots at the enemy when the chance arises”

This sounds feasible. The definition of a sniper that Spec Ops puts forth is one of an “ambush player” that fires from concealment, using camouflage. The problem with the Spec Ops definition of a sniper is that it perfectly describes the definition of a sharpshooter in a military sense.

Therefore the definition of a sharpshooter or Designated Marksman fits a lot better in paintball doesn’t it?

A sharpshooter takes shots from concealment, shoots at targets as the opportunity arises, and uses a marker that has the same range as everyone else’s. He works with a squad with tactically sound techniques, and is employed in a nature in which he can function both as a full armed and operational squad member and a Designated Marksman. This is not a Sniper. This is a sharpshooter. As stated before simple ballistics prevent one from being a sniper in paintball.

A sharpshooter or DM moves with the squad, engaging targets like a normal member of the squad until his precision shooting skills are called upon. A DM would have intimate knowledge of his marker (a good marker for this type of thing would be a high end electro, {because higher end guns are inherently more accurate than a lower end gun} and a good barrel kit, not a Flatline of Apex system as these are known for not being accurate at range), and range limitations, at which point he would be able take precision shots on his target at a longer range than most players would be able to accurately shoot. While he is doing the rest of the team would be laying down suppressing fire as to not allow the DM to be effectively engaged.

The fact of the matter is if you think you are a sniper in paintball, you are wrong. The skillset of a sharpshooter or DM, fits paintball a lot closer that the skillset of a sniper. It is also a hell of a lot more effective than taking pot shots at people while camping behind a bush at 200ft and hoping you hit something.

 But for those of you who insist that you are still snipers, look at an analogy: You work for a living. Your job is to go to people’s houses and businesses, to pick up their trash and take it to the dump. You drive a Garbage Truck. What would you be called, a Garbage Man, or a Professional Truck Driver?

You would be called a Garbage Man, would you not? As much as you would prefer to be called a Professional Truck Driver, everyone would call you a Garbage Man because it fits what you are doing better than the title Professional Truck Driver does.

The skillset of Sharpshooter, or a Designated Marksman is 100% more feasible in paintball than sniping is. Stop fooling yourself.

References:

SNIPER- Adrian Gilbert

One Shot-One Kill- Charles W. Sasser and Craig Roberts

Marine Sniper- Charles Henderson

Authors Note: In my haste of writing this, I may have gotten some minor facts mixed up, or in the wrong place. Please contact me with the correct info if you have something to add, or a correction.

Um, wow

You missed the whole point of my post, and you obviously don't understand what a sharpshooter or DM does and does not do.

A sharpshooter works with a team, and does what the rest of the team does. He does not shoot from beyond the range of efective return fire, this is waht a sniper does and it is not possible to do this in paintball. A DM carries a marker that is fast (15bps at least) and moves with the team. His only advantage is that he knows his markers strenghts and weaknesses to a point where he knows what shots he can take what he can't. He takes shots that are within the normal range of anyone else, except that his shooting skills are superior to that of the other players on his team. A good example would be this; While his team is suppressing a player in a bunker about 20yds away, the sharpshooter notices that the players pod pack is sticking out from the bunker. Although the other people on the team cannot make a shot on this small of a target aea at this range, the DM can. He stops his supression fire, and fires a accurate burst (10-15rds) at the podpack getitng the player out. This where a DM is useful.

Your mental image of a person sitting in a bush even 50yds away from the other team taking precision shots at the enemy doesn't exist in paintball and is not feasible. You cannot engage accuratly at a distance at which you are even close to being immune from effective return fire from the opfor. The only tactic that has been proven time and again in paintball is closing with and destroying the enemy by fire and manuever. Sorry to burst your bubble kid, but you cannot play ghillie ninja effectively in paintball.

What exactly does this imaginary counterstrike sniper do exactly? Because if your counterstrike sniper does anything close to what a real sniper does, you cannot do it in paintball. Sorry.

If you are looking to be what we paintballers call a backman I would suggest looking into a mid to high end marker. I would suggest a Ion, for a begineer. With these type of markers I would suggest a loader that can keep up with them such as a HaloB, VLocity or a ReloaderB. You will also need a decent size HPA tank such as a 68/4500. I would also suggest a large pod pack and deep pockets.

A high-end marker is a Ego, DM, Angel, Shocker, Timmy, or somethig of that nature. High end markers are like cars, they come in model years, and new ones a quite expensive, however you can normally find used versions of last years model for relatively cheap on ebay, and places like PBN.

The flatline is not a bad barrel, however it is not very accurate at longer ranges and is not a screwon and go barrel like you would think. It requires patience and the right size and type of paint to work well. I almost never suggest a flatline to newer players for these reasons, not to meantion it is overpriced. However if you insist on getting a backspin barrel like the flatline, I would look into the APEX. It is alot like the flatline excapt it is able to be turned off, so you can have the best of both worlds. However an APEX tipped J&J can get pretty pricey.

If you insist on getting a Tippmann(although I would get an Ion in your situation) I would go with an A-5 with a E-Grip.

Snake6 wrote: OMG I am so through with these threads. Read this and learn. The History of Military Sniping, and how it relates to the Game of Paintball. Ok. So I got bored, and I am sick and tried of this stupid sniper debate. I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas, and didn’t know what else to get so I picked up several books on Military Snipers. Here are my findings. < -- Note: Due to a problem with my code, you have to Highlight my rifle comparison tables to see them. It’s a bother, but if someone knows how to fix it, PM me. -- > First lets go over the basics of what a sniper is, and what a sniper is not. “A sniper…is considered a specialist, whose prime function is to kill selected high value targets at long range using superior skill and armament. A sharpshooter, by contrast, is a rifleman (proficient or otherwise) who acts in an opportunist manner, taking shots at the enemy when the chance arises” From SNIPER by Adrian Gilbert Keep this in your mind as you read the rest of the article. The American Revolution (1775-83) Sniping first came onto the battlefield during the American Revolution. Standard infantry of this period were equipped with “Brown Bess” smoothbore muskets. The Continental Congress approves 10 independent companies, armed with long rifles. The men of these companies were the first snipers. Comparison between the “Brown Bess” musket, and the Long Rifle. “A soldiers musket, if not exceedingly ill bored (as many are), will strike the figure of a man at 80 yards: it may even at 100, but a soldier must be very unfortunate indeed who shall be wounded by a common musket at 150 yards, provided that the antagonist aims at him; as to firing at a man at 200 yards, with a common, musket, you might as well fire at the moon.” –British Major Hanger, on the “Brown Bess” musket  In contrast, the American Long Rifle (as carried by the Irregular companies), was effective in ranges up to 300 yards, and headshots could be achieved at 200. At these ranges American Snipers picked-off high ranking British Officers. During the battle of Saratoga an American sniper brought down British General Simon Frasier from a range of 300 yards. Despite its advantages the long rifle had several disadvantages. Its slow reload time(2 shots a minute), and lack of bayonet fixture made it useful only as a skirmisher weapon, not for use as a standard infantry weapon.   Brown Bess Long Rifle Range: 80 Yards 300 Yards Muzzle Velocity: 1100-1300 fps  ~1600fps Ammunition: .75 caliber ball .40-.70 caliber ball As you can see from the table, the Rifle outranged the common muskets of the time by over 200 yards. Also the muzzle velocity of the Rifle was much higher than that of the Brown Bess. American Civil War (1861-65) During the Civil War, the standard infantry rifles were the Enfield(for the south), and the Springfield(for the north). These were muzzleloading rifles with effective ranges up to 500 yards. The confederacy managed to acquire Witworth and Kerr rifles from Europe for their snipers. These rifles had an effective range of well over 1200 yards, and hits were reported at over 1500 yards. Confederate Snipers were selected in a manner which has been used to select snipers in most present wars. The best men from each infantry regiment entered into shooting competitions. They were required to hit man-sized boards at 500 yards. The best shooters were given the prized Kerr and Witworth rifles. They then went through extensive training in the use of these rifles. The snipers were warned never to get within 400 yards of the enemy, but to use their superior range, to keep the enemy at a safe distance. Springfield/Enfield Kerr & Withworth Range:  1200+ yards 500 Yards Muzzle Velocity: Ammunition: .451 Hexagonal Slug   World War I (1914-18) US Snipers during World War I used modified, and accurized versions of  the standard service rifle the Springfield 1903, equipped with 2 to 4 power scopes. Snipers during the war mostly sniped from behind the MLR, the main trench line. These snipers were Infantrymen taken off the line, and equipped with scoped rifles. With their rifles they could pick the enemy off 3 or 4 trench lines back from the MLR. The marksmanship standard for infantry of the time was to be able to hit a standing man from around 100 yards. The snipers were trained to hit targets from over 500 yards. World War II (1938-45) World War II snipers were selected in different manners during the war. I will concentrate on the Marine Corps Snipers trained at Green’s Farm because the documentation of this school and its snipers is the best. There, snipers were instructed in 5 week courses in marksmanship, camouflage, and field craft. They were trained to approach a target using stealth and to eliminate the target from long distances. These snipers were required to hit a moving target at 500 yards, and to hit a stationary target at 1000. They were equipped much the same way as snipers in WWI were. These snipers used accurized versions of the M1903 Springfield service rifle, the A1 or A3 variants equipped with 2 or 4 power scopes. Marine Infantry qualified at 500 yards. M1 Garand M1903A3 Range 500 yards 1000yards Ammunition .30-06 .30-06 Korea (1950-53) Korea, in the latter part of the war turned into a bogged down war of attrition, looking somewhat like the trench warfare of WWI. This, alongside Korea’s terrain of rolling hills combined to make it prime sniper territory. Sniping tactics in Korea did not change much from the tactics of WWII so I will not elaborate on them. The rifles also remained the same. Snipers in Korea were equipped with 1903A3 Variant Springfield’s, and National Match M1’s(which were used in competition shooting because they were more accurate than the standard M1) Equipped with 4 power scopes(the M1D model). The accuracy of the M1 was not as good as that of the Springfield, due to the need to offset the scope, and have major Eye Relief built-in to the rifle due to the Clip Feed of the M1. These M1’s still were able to reach ranges of 500 yards accurately. In Korea the use of the .50 caliber round for sniping was first seen. M2 Machine Guns mounted with a 10 power scope were able to reach ranges of 2800 yards effectively, Snipers also experimented with .55 Caliber Boy’s antitank rifles modified to take .50 caliber rounds, and mounted with scopes which had the same range as the M2, but was able to be carried by a man whereas the M2’s were limited to fixed positions. M1D Sniper Model M1903A3 Sniper M2 Machine Gun Range 500 yards 1000 yards 2500 yards Ammunition .30-06 .30-06 .50 Caliber   Vietnam (1965-75) Vietnam is the perfect example of how a sniper can be employed during combat. The restrictive ROE and vast open fields and rice paddy’s of Vietnam became prime sniper territory. The Marine Corps and the Army both Fielded Snipers. Army snipers were equipped with accurized versions of the M14 service rifle, accurate out to 700 yards. The Marine Corps fielded snipers equipped with Winchester Model 70 Hunting rifles firing the .30-06 cartridge, and later in the war snipers carried the M40, which fired the standard 7.62x51mm(.308) cartridge both of these rifles had an effective range of over 1000 yards. Also snipers used modified M2 .50 caliber machine guns, fitted with scopes. These were accurate to ranges out to 2500 yards. Normal infantry of the time fired the M16 Assault Rifle, and the enemy fired the AK-47 assault rifle. These rifles were designed for infantry combat which takes place in ranges of only around 200 yards, and can only be fired accurately up to 500 yards. Thus snipers were able to operate with impunity from beyond the range of effective return fire of the enemy. M16 Winchester 70 M40 M14 Sniper Range 500 yards 1000 yards 1000 Yards 700 yards Ammunition 5.56mm .30-06 7.62x51mm 7.62x51mm Now through all these wars several things have remained in common among snipers, lets analyze these facts: A sniper acts independently from standard infantry, not as a part of a unit but in a one or two man team. This is possible in paintball, most of the time in scenario games, I am alone behind enemy lines trying to accomplish a mission. But you do very little if any tactical good for your team waiting in one spot for an entire game, hoping a target of high-value (such as the opposing general) walks by. A sniper does not act at random, he selects targets of high value and eliminates them. Targets of High Value in a military sense are: Officers: Generals Field Grade officers Company Grade officers Forward Observers Crew Served Weaponry: Heavy Machine Guns Artillery Batteries Mortar Crews Non Commissioned Officers Radiomen Targets of High Value in a paintball scenario game: Generals Tank Crewman (if there are tanks) Um…. Yeah… that’s all I can think of... The problem with selecting high value targets in a scenario paintball game is, there are very few. The vast majority of players play independently, not under any command and they do what they want. What officers and team captains there are do not look any different than any other players. The Sniper fires at targets from beyond the range of return fire by the standard infantry weapons, or from distances that were beyond the training of the normal infantryman. As you can see from the diagrams of the Sniper Rifles of the Period in comparison to the standard issue infantry weapons, the sniper rifle always has a great deal more range than infantry weapons, and the sniper has been trained to an accuracy standard that is beyond that of standard infantry training. This is where sniping in paintball fails. All paintball markers except those equipped with the Flatline or Apex systems fire the same distance, around 25 yards or 75 feet. The Flatline will reach ranges of up to 150 ft, but because the ball loses velocity at the same rate as a normal paintball, the chances of getting a break, or a single accurate shot at those ranges are close to zero. The sniper uses a single accurate shot to take his targets down. The ammunition expended to kill ratio of a sniper in Vietnam was 1.7 rounds per kill. The average infantryman expended 50,000 rounds per confirmed kill. It is possible to take targets down with a single shot in paintball. However it is near impossible to eliminate a target with a single shot from beyond the effective range of return fire by the enemy.  Paintballs are imperfect by nature, therefore they do not fly consistently enough every shot to make it possible to get anywhere close to the 1.7 rounds per kill ratio that snipers enjoy. A sniper uses camouflage and concealment to hide himself from his enemies to eliminate his targets. No qualms with this, it can be done. Most every scenario paintball player does it. Using camouflage doe not make you a sniper. Now as you can see there are several places where sniping fails in paintball. Now look at the definition of a Sharpshooter: “A sharpshooter… is a rifleman (proficient or otherwise) who acts in an opportunist manner, taking shots at the enemy when the chance arises” From SNIPER by Adrian Gilbert Ok, this looks a little more feasible in the game of paintball than the sniper definition doesn’t it? For paintball purposes we can strike rifleman, because there are no rifles in paintball. “who acts in an opportunist manner, taking shots at the enemy when the chance arises” This sounds feasible. The definition of a sniper that Spec Ops puts forth is one of an “ambush player” that fires from concealment, using camouflage. The problem with the Spec Ops definition of a sniper is that it perfectly describes the definition of a sharpshooter in a military sense. Therefore the definition of a sharpshooter or Designated Marksman fits a lot better in paintball doesn’t it? A sharpshooter takes shots from concealment, shoots at targets as the opportunity arises, and uses a marker that has the same range as everyone else’s. He works with a squad with tactically sound techniques, and is employed in a nature in which he can function both as a full armed and operational squad member and a Designated Marksman. This is not a Sniper. This is a sharpshooter. As stated before simple ballistics prevent one from being a sniper in paintball. A sharpshooter or DM moves with the squad, engaging targets like a normal member of the squad until his precision shooting skills are called upon. A DM would have intimate knowledge of his marker (a good marker for this type of thing would be a high end electro, {because higher end guns are inherently more accurate than a lower end gun} and a good barrel kit, not a Flatline of Apex system as these are known for not being accurate at range), and range limitations, at which point he would be able take precision shots on his target at a longer range than most players would be able to accurately shoot. While he is doing the rest of the team would be laying down suppressing fire as to not allow the DM to be effectively engaged. The fact of the matter is if you think you are a sniper in paintball, you are wrong. The skillset of a sharpshooter or DM, fits paintball a lot closer that the skillset of a sniper. It is also a hell of a lot more effective than taking pot shots at people while camping behind a bush at 200ft and hoping you hit something.  But for those of you who insist that you are still snipers, look at an analogy: You work for a living. Your job is to go to people’s houses and businesses, to pick up their trash and take it to the dump. You drive a Garbage Truck. What would you be called, a Garbage Man, or a Professional Truck Driver? You would be called a Garbage Man, would you not? As much as you would prefer to be called a Professional Truck Driver, everyone would call you a Garbage Man because it fits what you are doing better than the title Professional Truck Driver does. The skillset of Sharpshooter, or a Designated Marksman is 100% more feasible in paintball than sniping is. Stop fooling yourself. References: SNIPER- Adrian Gilbert One Shot-One Kill- Charles W. Sasser and Craig Roberts Marine Sniper- Charles Henderson Authors Note: In my haste of writing this, I may have gotten some minor facts mixed up, or in the wrong place. Please contact me with the correct info if you have something to add, or a correction.

Doesn't this count as a double post from "The Perfect Sniper" topic? 

It is not a one-shot-one-kill barrel in any circumstance except fairly close range shoot-outs.

When I had my Flatline and dot site tuned pretty good together, I've had a couple of long 40+ yard single shot hits.  We were in the woods playing all day and I was sitting on our flag station.  My buddy and I were on each side of a trail that led to our flag.  I had to take my glasses off because they fogged up bad.  I couldn't see very far.  But I did see movement across the trail.  Couldn't tell who it was so I set up for the shot.  When the subject crossed into the red dot, I pulled the trigger.  And two heartbeats later we heard the impact and a loud, "OW!  %*#@!!"  It was my buddy's wife on the other team.  My buddy to the left of me said, "Nice shot!  One in a million!"  She called herself out but I'm pretty sure the ball didn't break.  It was enough that she felt it and she left the field. 

But that is the problem with barrels that let you shoot greater distances.  Even if you do manage to hit your target, there is no guarantee that the paintball will break.  The backspin on the ball tends to slow it down the farther out it gets.

mack... well said. 

I am the FNG today.  I will be getting a a-5 shortly.  would you recommend the flatline/apex barrel?  do you use one?

i think the only way, other than science, to convince people of what is better, is to get two matching guns chrono'd, one with flatline, one with standard, then a crono the velocity at every 10 yards.  dont know if thats feasible.

How much time constitutes a dead thread?  5 days?  7?  10?  14?  What?