Alpha Black vs Other tippmann guns.

This topic may have been posted before, but i tried a bunch of different search options to find what i want to know, but couldnt find any. Anyways this is what i want to know and if anyone can help, thanks alot in advance. Im most likely going to ask "noobish" stuff, for im a bit new to paintball.

 Currently I own a 98c. I am planning on buying a ABT with E-grip. I was going to get a x7 offset hopper (if theres one better please tell), a 16" barrel (im not sure what barrel though. Please inform me on your ideas of which is best. Also, i want the shroud to be able to attach to it). Someone told me R.I.S 16" barrel is good, but I dont know what type of barrel that is or anything. I was also planning on getting a red dot sight (but i heard you have to drill a hole in it? How does that work? Is it easy to do, and if you mess up, is it over? Also, what about railings. I thought thats what they were for). If I had left over money, i was planning on buying a tactical flashlight. How would you attatch that? Would you need to drill a hole, or would you jsut be able to use a railing?

If you can anwser, all, or even jsut one of them throughly, That'd be greatly appreciated. I would also prefer if you did not post me links as to find information. Just give me a DIRECT LINK, or just write it out.

And to go on with the title of the topic, what gun do you think is best without any customizations or mods, and what one is best with customization and mods? Or anything along the lines. Thank you once again in advance if you are able, or wanting to help me.

Edited by Internecine - 15 July 2008 at 4:02am

If your going to get the ABT egripped I suggets that you call the retailer and ask if they can order you the Alpha Black cyclone that's should be out now or ready to hit the shelves.

As for rails on the handguard. Your options are prety much limited to the Trinity RIS handguard and "aim point" what they call their front sight post. Opsgear and Special Ops sell similar handguards but way overpriced without the front sight post.

For the carry handle Red dot they do sell some carry handle rails and the term used for scopes with built in carry handle mounts is "delta mount" the mod is easy get your carry handle rail and see where it sits best on the handle. then use a common power drill and the bit that most closely looks like the sight rail mount bolt and drill down. once you drill through then just mount the carry handle rail.