I could use some advice.  I want a good sniper gun -- I'm not a frontman kind of guy.  I have an old, near & dear to my heart pro-lite (not a pro-carbine) that I was starting to upgrade as follows:

SP all-american barrel (have)

Starfire bolt (have from years ago, probably will remove)

Adco red-dot (have, may replace with a 3x15 cheap scope)

Palmer Stabilizer (to get)

JCS RVA combat stock (to get)

pro-carbine grip (maybe -- do I need this?)

Don't know what else -- can't get the Air Tipps lightened bolt any more.  Might do a trigger job.

Anyway, what I'm wondering is, will that compete with a purpose-built sniper 98 in terms of accuracy and range?  What about noise? I realize I'll wind up spending more on the 98, but if it's going to be significantly better, it would be worth it.  If the pro-lite will be comparable, I'll keep old faithful.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

dave.

<---dons absetous suit before entering...

Forget range...stick to accuracy and consistancy.  Forget quieting the marker as to do so would require a silencing device and unless you drop the $200 bucks to the Feds for the permit that lets you have one they are illegel (Not to mention not very effective in the paintball world). 

If you have a good, accurate barrel now then you're set. That's the most important part of the equasion.  You mentioned the Stab, that will help in the consistancy department.

Stay with the Red Dot.  The scope is GREAT if you're doing recon work in a scenario game but for use as a Paintball Sighting device, forget it.  One it gives you tunnel vision and two the range of a paintball gun means most tartgets you can hit your can easily see without magnification.

If you are TRUELY hung up on the range part of the equasion, unless you have a Flatline barrel on a marker range for paintball markers will be identical.  I don't know if the Flatline will fit your marker but it does fit the 98C thus allowing it to have greater range.  However, most will tell you that a good, well made barrel will be more accurate than a Flatline and if you are wanting to be as accurate as possible (please try to remove the term "sniper" from any paintball conversations you have.  It only brings you ridicule.) the extra range at the cost of accuracy isn't worth it.

The only marker I know that has long range like a Flatline and MAINTAINS consistancy out to that range is the Warsensor WS-66 series.  However, it is more expensive than either of the options you are looking into and isn't a Tippmann marker (don't know if that makes a difference or not).  The WS-66 is the marker I shoot. (If you look at my sig, it is the marker in the lower right corner).

I'm not so hung up on the range thing -- I'd rather have very tight groupings than extra range.  My mental goal has been 9/10 on an 8" paper plate at 100 ft.  I'd do the very happy dance if I could manage that at 150'.  Where I play, there isn't anywhere on the field with more than 100 ft' clear of ball-breaking brush anyway. 

Do you think that kind of accuracy is attainable with the pro-lite?

As far as the terminology, I think I meant IPECAS (Independant Player Exploiting Cover And Surprise).  "Paintball Sniper" would be silly  

thanks,

dave.