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30 yr old FNG..

Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: Tippmann Paintball
Forum Name: New Player Forum
Forum Description: New to the sport? Get Professional Advice Here!
URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=122305
Printed Date: 22 December 2025 at 5:30am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: 30 yr old FNG..
Posted By: Crazylegs74
Subject: 30 yr old FNG..
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 12:02pm

I'm new to the sport of PB, and I've got a few ?'s about some of the gear I bought.

Tippmann A-5: Seems to be a bit contraversial, but according to the reviews I've read the only real complaint is the stock barrel is inaccurate. I'm told that this is easily corrected by adding just about any 14" barrel.  How long has the A-5 been in service? Does the Cyclone feed really have to be rebuilt after a couple years?

CMI 14" tru-flight sniper barrel: Got it dirt cheap on ebay. Has anyone heard of CMI? Are they any good? Regardless, a 14" barrel has got to be WAY better than a 8". Right?

3A Paintball HPA+remote coil: Is this OK? I sorta got the feeling that they are all just about the same.

Well, how did I do? Good? Bad? Fair? Any recomendations? I don't yet know what game type I'm going to play, probably woodsball. I would appreciate any imput. Thanks.



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Tippmann A-5
3A HPA/remote
14" tru-flight        &n bsp;    4+1 harness

Crazylegs



Replies:
Posted By: tippmannA-5guy
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 12:20pm
Well I think you did good. I started with an A-5 and I love it. The reason I got it was because at my local feild a few people had them and they dominated in games and the gun just looked intimidating. I played speed ball with it then upgraded the barrel to a flatline and still use it for speedball and its nice.


Posted By: Hades
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 12:52pm
The A-5 has been around for at least 2 years. It is getting closer to 3 years at this point.

Yes, the stock barrel needs to be replaced, but not nessiscarily with a 14 inch barrel. There are some shorter ones that will do the trick, just as well. I am not formiliar with all the specific brands and sizes, but dont limit yourself to just the barrels that come in 14 inches.

Also, on early batches of A-5's cyclone feeder it came with a part that wore down over time if the marker was fired at a high rate for a period of time. Tippmann will mail the updated part to any owners of these markers for free. Markers with high serial numbers already have the upgraded part installed before purchase.

I dont have the same barrel as you, but my 14 inch barrel easily out performes the stock barrel.

Since you are playing woodsball, you might think about the flatline barrel as a future investment for your marker.

Most remote coils are all the same, some just come with fancy shut off valves, that make it a little easier. Some will complain they snag on branches and other objects, but I have never had that problem. Shirts on the other hand are a different story.

I think you made a good choice. Tippmanns are knoew for being very durable and fun to play with in the woods.

Good Luck and Welcome to the Forums.

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Posted By: dtfastj
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 12:54pm

I have found the tru-flight barrel to be just a little down in quality.  Also I have found that 3A tanks, while look good, are also not the way to go.  You did really well with the A-5 and no the cyclone shouldn't have to be rebuilt any time soon. 

My only recommendation is to test every barrel and part before you buy.  You will be much happier to know that you got the best for your marker. 

Barrel size really doesn't make that BIG of a differents.  Any high quality barrel will do whether its 8 inches or 18.  I explain it much better here. http://www.tippmann.com/players/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=102384&KW=dtfastj - http://www.tippmann.com/players/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp ?TID=102384&KW=dtfastj

Have fun and enjoy your tippmann.



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A-5 RT$380
Double Trigger$29.95
Flatline$149.95
16in All American$75
WGP 70ci 45 CarbonFiber$200
ETC = $1026.75
Whomping newbies who have Markers that cost more than my entire setup...PRICELESS


Posted By: Crazylegs74
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 1:14pm

Thanks for the advice! dtfastj, can you tell me what problems I should expect from my 3A HPA tank?

As far as barrels go I'll have to work w mine and see what I think. I'm sure that at this point in time, the marker w 14" brl will be more accurate than I am. However, I am a competition high power rifle shooter, so my shooting skill should improve exponentially. After about a year, I'll probably look into a flatline.. That $100+ price tag is all that's keeping me away.

OH! Another ? on barrels.. At least on firearms.. rifleing in barrels is a BIG part of acheiving accuracy. So I am a bit confused... Smoothbore is BETTER for baintball? I don't expect a 5000 word essay, but why?



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Tippmann A-5
3A HPA/remote
14" tru-flight        &n bsp;    4+1 harness

Crazylegs


Posted By: dtfastj
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 1:27pm

Rifling doesn't help much in paintball because (here comes that 5000 word essay) it allows air to escape around the paintball thus using more air and still doesn't help much.  The other reason is, after a paintball leaves the barrel, its subject to the same effect as any other barrel and any other paintball.  Since paintballs dont fly that fast at all (about 290fps) the little spin that a rifled barrel causes will cause the paintball to turn in that direction. 

EDIT: Oh yeah a paint ball is a round liquid filled object and that doesn't help at all in accuracy.  Thing of a water balloon.



-------------
A-5 RT$380
Double Trigger$29.95
Flatline$149.95
16in All American$75
WGP 70ci 45 CarbonFiber$200
ETC = $1026.75
Whomping newbies who have Markers that cost more than my entire setup...PRICELESS


Posted By: Crazylegs74
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 1:46pm

Ah, now I see the light. What you say makes perfect sense! I never stopped to think that the paintball would never seal a rifled barrel. Or the low-velocity thing..

But what about that 3A HPA tank? What's wrong with 'em? Is it gonna rupture and blow me in half? J/K Seriousely, what problems should I expect?



-------------
Tippmann A-5
3A HPA/remote
14" tru-flight        &n bsp;    4+1 harness

Crazylegs


Posted By: dtfastj
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 1:55pm

oh you already have the tank. lol  Don't worry about it.  Just take good care of it and it will take care of you.  I just dont recommend buying them.  You shouldn't worry about it rupturing or anything like that.  3A isn't a very good company in my opinion.



-------------
A-5 RT$380
Double Trigger$29.95
Flatline$149.95
16in All American$75
WGP 70ci 45 CarbonFiber$200
ETC = $1026.75
Whomping newbies who have Markers that cost more than my entire setup...PRICELESS


Posted By: Sarge14
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 3:12pm
Well welcome to ther forum, and i see Some forumers already have helped you. good choice with the A-5.

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Nothing is Stronger than the Heart of a Volunteer


Proud to be a Soldier in the United States Army!
Commo Leads the Way!!


Posted By: Crazylegs74
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 3:43pm
Yes, sounds like I should be in reasonably good shape.  As soon as I get some headgear, anyway. Thanks for your help guys/gals!

-------------
Tippmann A-5
3A HPA/remote
14" tru-flight        &n bsp;    4+1 harness

Crazylegs


Posted By: Pump Scout
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 4:22pm
Coming into the discussion a little late...
I picked up a CMI 14" for my son a few years ago. Their quality seems to be hit-or-miss. If you've got one that your gun and paint like, that's all you can ask. The rifling grooves will make it a little tougher than a smoothbore to clean if a ball breaks in there. Best thing to do is get it out there and put rounds through it, and see how it all goes.
The A-5s I've seen on the field have all seemed to be good guns. No complaints heard from here... although I don't own one myself. Same goes for 3A. I suspect they're the "budget" line of a larger company, but I don't have any solid proof of that.
One thing I can definitely recommend is a GOOD mask. The best you can find. I like the V-Force line, because they refuse to fog, it's easy to change lenses, and they're comfortable. The Shield offers what is probably the best protection available, but doesn't have the "bounce" materials that other masks have.
Other items to remember are a squeegee for cleaning your barrel on the field; a pack and pods for extra paint; gloves, because hand hits suck; kneepads, because we're not as young as we used to be (I'm 31 ); and a cup, for obvious reasons.

Have fun on the field!!

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http://www.geocities.com/limitedpump - Limited Pump Paintball


Posted By: Sarge14
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 6:02pm
Niceley Put Pump Scout

-------------
Nothing is Stronger than the Heart of a Volunteer


Proud to be a Soldier in the United States Army!
Commo Leads the Way!!


Posted By: Hades
Date Posted: 26 December 2004 at 6:10pm
I also would recommend a V-Force mask.

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