Hey all,

This is my first post and I'm a paintball noob.  I've been wanting to give it a try for years but never found the time and money.  Well, I'm finally heading out next weekend and, after a load of research, picked up an A-5.  I've been slowly adding to it over the past few weeks and, though it's not done yet, I think it'll do for my first time out.

The TAC-CAP is for looks only.  I can't imagine a situation that you'd want such a small hopper for, but as I said, I am a noob.  The stock is the next purchase, then a see-thru rail.  Thoughts?

Thatoneguy123 wrote: Well, atleast its better than mine :D

But your avatar rocks!  LOL...that's hilarious!

pythonman56 wrote: Fire power upgrades?

Meaning, like the trigger/grip (remember, me=noob)?  I'm sure I'll eventually get an e-grip, just because it's my only marker and I want to see what full auto feels like, but I wanted to try semi-auto for a while (before I get spoiled), so figured I'd save the $100 for something else for now.  What would you recommend for fire power upgrades?

So far so good. Look into a folding stock and get rid of your front grip. Then look into a see-thru riser and red dot. Put a remote line on it and you'll have yourself a nice milsim gun.

As for fire power upgrades, hold off. Play with semi for awhile. You may find you dont need the extra firepower.

sinisterNorth wrote: So far so good. Look into a folding stock and get rid of your front grip. Then look into a see-thru riser and red dot. Put a remote line on it and you'll have yourself a nice milsim gun.

I was originally thinking of a folding stock, but I'm leaning towards the MP5 slider.  Less bulk, but just as attractive, if not more IMHO.

Hey, I like the front grip!  Well, maybe I should say, I haven't found anything I like better.  All of the other grips I've seen are uglier, except maybe for that hand guard-style one, but the A-5 looks naked without the grip.

I love the idea of the see-thru riser because I want to use as much of the native features of the marker as I can, as long as they're useful.  (For example, I looked into the QLoader, but it bypasses the Cyclone, so I'll bypass it.)  And I figure, if I'm going to use the native sight, why bother with the red dot?  I would like a laser, though (if for nothing else but to intimidate my buddies), which I could mount on top of the riser and, because they're small, it wouldn't raise the profile much (if at all, considering the hopper).  I'd prefer a barrel-mounted laser, but I favor the SMG-style shroud over rails and nothing I've found will fit a Flatline (could someone please make a bracket that fits betwen the Flatline and the marker?).

I've got a remote line coming in too, because I think I'll prefer it to on-the-gun, but I didn't think to get one with a slide check, so I may end up having to buy another.

sinisterNorth wrote: As for fire power upgrades, hold off. Play with semi for awhile. You may find you dont need the extra firepower.

Sounds like solid advice; thanks.

pattison wrote: i am a little concerned that you are starting with a flatline. make sure you bring your stock barrel when you play, just in case.

What do you mean, exactly?  Do they not allow the Flatline at some fields?  I got the quick-change kit so that I can pull it off quickly if I break a ball in it and it really works well (though I haven't used it in the field yet).  I could probably get the barrel off in about 15 seconds (hey, that didn't sound good).

As an aside, I was a little worried when I first got the Flatline, as the accuracy was bad, but after adjusting it left to right of the sight and finding the right size ball, now it's dead on (at least up to 50'; haven't been able to target practice beyond that range yet with the Flatline installed).  Monsters and Big Balls work awesome and are cheap, though I will have to find a comparably-sized ball that fields will carry.  If anyone has suggestions, feel free.  (Or should I move that conversation elsewhere?)

pattison wrote: my worry was that your adjusting time would cut into your play time, thats all. sounds like you have it under control though.

Gotcha.  Thank you for the heads up and to everyone else for their opinions and info.

Now I can't wait to plug somebody (though I'll probably get slaughtered for awhile)!

pbdude985 wrote: not bad looks good so far, dont upgrade so much that you dont have time to play

LOL; wise words.  Although, I might adjust it to say, "don't upgrade so much that you can't afford to play"!  I'm just all anal about having the right equipment to begin with, no matter what the subject.

bravecoward wrote: you haven't played yet?

No, if you read the first post of this thread, I said that I'm going out next weekend for the first time.  Just bought the gun a month ago and have been collecting the equipment I need (and a few mods) since.  Funny, too: after getting interested, I've gotten my son, my brother-in-law, his friend, my brother, a good friend and 5 of his friends all playing (the last 3 (or 7) have played fairly extensively before)...well, at least they're playing that one day.

GI JOES SON wrote: looks good, i like it. i dont like those hoppers though, they look alright, but i dont think that 100 rds for an a-5 is adequate.

Thanks; I like the look, but that's all its good for, as far as I can figure.  I bought it 'cause it was cheap and I thought maybe you could switch them out like mags (it was like the first mod I bought and knew nothing).  And 100 rounds?  They hold 50 max!  I'm looking into a new feeder system, but it isn't out yet.

I like it. I think it's a little much that you've never played and put like 200 bucks into your gun.

And G.I.Joe's son the quote in your sig was originally said by shakespear.

estcstpnt wrote: I like it. I think it's a little much that you've never played and put like 200 bucks into your gun.

Thanks; I only bought one performance upgrade, though, so I haven't really changed it radically and I'll defnitely use the stock barrell at least a few times, just to figure out what I like about each.  I've used the stock for a lot of target practice already, though.

Oh, and tack on another $100; the stock is coming...

estcstpnt wrote: And G.I.Joe's son the quote in your sig was originally said by shakespear.

Good call.  I did not know that.

netramakin wrote:    The stock is the next purchase, then a see-thru rail.  Thoughts?

Heh I went and bought a JCS RVA combat folding stock for my A-5 and to tell you the truth i'd honestly just go and use the tank as a stock mainly because with the Bt fixed stock, tippmann folding stock, long with the one on my gun am not able to use my sights at all, so to use the stock I bad to go out and buy a JCS offset mount and put on a red dot scope which works out for me cause at twenty yards it's dead on.

http://www.tippmann.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=158201&PN=4 - http://www.tippmann.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=158 201&PN=4  Just went and ordered a 20 inche barrel for her.

You Wont See Me wrote: Your heading in the wrong direction man. Your first upgrades should be something that will help the performance of your gun, not how it looks.

Nah; I'd rather upgrade the looks first (I HAD to upgrade something), get used to stock & stock + flatty, then upgrade performance.

I was bored, so I figured I'd update this post with the new look of my A5.  I've found that I'm doing a lot of close quarter combat lately at my local field so I figured I'd give the Blackcell 4" C-series barrel a shot and then added an A-5A2 foregrip.  I haven't tried it on the field yet, but will update next week, after I do, if anyone's interested.

I have a couple more things to do before I enter it in a TOTM, first and foremost a paint job, but it's coming along I guess.

Here's a shot of my son's new Ion with Pulse loader, too.  Need to fix the line, obviously, but we just wanted to get it working first and see how the drop looked.  Plus, he's horrible at keeping track of screws and three are missing already (2 from the gun, 1 from the loader)!

GoTsKiLLz wrote: 4" barrel...wut is that good 4? that cant be accurate at all.

Well, if hes playing really close quarters..... i suppose it wont matter.

Not really a fan of the Pulse loaders, with the bad batches people have been talking about, so hopefully your son has a decent one.

GoTsKiLLz wrote: 4" barrel...wut is that good 4? that cant be accurate at all.

Special Ops Paintball and Stiffi (SITE Inc.,) have teamed up to bring you one of the best paintball gun barrels on the market. The Blackcell barrels are extremely strong, super quiet, lightweight, and are available in black and olive drab colors. The C-Series barrels feature a carbon-wrapped and Kevlar® construction with e-glass (an ultra-smooth fiberglass compound center) to provide premium accuracy and optimum strength and rigidity.

I'm not saying it does have "premium accuracy", as I haven't field tested it yet, but I just need something that will be accurate up to 50'.  Since everything I've purchased from SpecOps has been quality and I only hear good things about Stiffi and it's only $35, it's a low-risk bet.  You can read the first couple of reviews on it at pbreview.com http://www.pbreview.com/products/reviews/4942/ - here .  I'll add my review in a week or two.

Yomillio wrote: Not really a fan of the Pulse loaders, with the bad batches people have been talking about, so hopefully your son has a decent one.

So far, so good, though he hasn't field tested his hopper yet either.  What were the issues?  I've been out of the loop the past couple months.

netramakin wrote: Yomillio wrote: Not really a fan of the Pulse loaders, with the bad batches people have been talking about, so hopefully your son has a decent one. So far, so good, though he hasn't field tested his hopper yet either.  What were the issues?  I've been out of the loop the past couple months.

Some people have complained about very weak shells and buttons that when hit are also completely broken.

Yomillio wrote: Not really a fan of the Pulse loaders, with the bad batches people have been talking about, so hopefully your son has a decent one.

I have a Pulse Loader and so do a couple of my buddies and they work perfectly...as of PBReview.com its a so-so site inputed mostly by a bunch of little kids. I'm not saying the site isnt useful...just make sure u dont make ur decisions just because what is said on the site. Overall, nice gun...i just dont understand how ur doing that much close combat battles that made u go and buy a 4" barrel. W/e floats ur boat, any how good luck and enjoy the game!

Yomillio wrote: Some people have complained about very weak shells

I can't figure that one out.  I've heard a few people say that but then other people mention a video of people hitting it with sledgehammers with little to no effect.  Don't know which to believe yet.

GoTsKiLLz wrote: i just dont understand how ur doing that much close combat battles that made u go and buy a 4" barrel.

Our local field has alot of structures, a village and sup air so I've found that I'm usually engaging at less than 100' and I'm really enjoying running up into the frey lately, so I usually quickly close that distance.  Plus I just really like the look.  I'm hoping that all of fancy technology that went into the barrel will make it equal to the accuracy of a decent 8"-12".

As for pbreview, I love the site.  You can almost always tell when someone's review is bunk and can usually get a general consensus of a product if there are enough reviews.  Not enough for the c-series yet, though.

GoTsKiLLz wrote: good luck and enjoy the game!

Thanks, man; right back at ya.

netramakin wrote: Our local field has alot of structures, a village and sup air so I've found that I'm usually engaging at less than 100' and I'm really enjoying running up into the frey lately, so I usually quickly close that distance.

Thats sweet...my local field is pretty much the same as well...wut is ur field's name?

GoTsKiLLz wrote: wut is ur field's name?

Strategy Plus in Portland, CT

Gasdrinker wrote: looks familiar

Yeah, no doubt.  I wasn't sure if the mag foregrip (I assume that's what you have) would fit with an OpsGear mag, so I went with the shorty.  You didn't have to mod it at all did you?

Just got my new hopper in today; woo hoo!

Edit: X7 hopper BTW

netramakin wrote: The TAC-CAP is for looks only.  I can't imagine a situation that you'd want such a small hopper for, but as I said, I am a noob.  The stock is the next purchase, then a see-thru rail.  Thoughts?

I use a tac-cap when I don't want get into serious firefights....it's good to have if you want to run light, and have a specific target in mind and would rather go over, under or around than straight through the  enemy hordes.

sort wrote: it's good to have if you...would rather go over, under or around than straight through the enemy hordes.

Over?

Evil Elvis wrote: I see from your post that your sharing time with your son and friends, that is the best part of paintball right there.

Well said!

Evil Elvis wrote: You might want to look into an Egrip. It's a easy drop in Mod. And with a WAS Board it can give you that Extra Punch to get out of a bind.

Actually I've got an eGrip on there now and, because of a wierd transaction, I've got a Ramage board and an extra eGrip w/ a WAS board that I'm planning to setup with a drop so I can switch out for speedball.

Evil Elvis wrote: kudos to you and hope you get out there more often. Try to make a Weekend 24 Hour game. Those are a blast.

I'm planning on a couple of a tourneys at my local field in February and April and then EMR in May, Skirmish in September.  Don't know if any of those are 24 hour games, but yeah, that does sound cool.  Any you recommend?  Thanks for the kind words.

Squishey wrote: i gotta say, for you first gun, and never having played before its quite extravagant. you really went all out, i like it.

Thanks Squish.  Well, this thread started back in August, so I've got four months under my belt now; hittin the field as often as I can afford.  My buddy told me that I've done as much as he has in 8 years...LOL.  Not quite, but I'm gettin there.

Squishey wrote: what kinda st!ffi is that?

It's SO's new http://www.specialopspaintball.com/shop/product_detail.asp?SKU=220+0009&SEARCH=C-SERIES%204 - C-series line .  I was looking for something short but accurate.  Haven't field tested it yet but will this weekend.

Evil Elvis wrote: New Jersey Nam, best 24 hour game on the east coast brutha.

Two weeks before my wife's due date...  As I surf around, I'm reading real good things about it, though...next year, I guess.  also, they have a new location for this year, if you haven't heard.

Evil Elvis wrote: I heard all sorts of horrid stories of Skirmish

Really?  I hadn't heard that.  I'll take itinto consideration, but that castle is just so inviting!

netramakin wrote: sort wrote: it's good to have if you...would rather go over, under or around than straight through the enemy hordes. Over?

Yes, OVER....you'da hafto have been there.....

Added a QEV, Lightning Rod, macro, the 5.5" JCS and I was bored.

Scepter launcher next...

barrelcondom wrote: whats is that shroud at the first segment of the flatline that has the lines on it and where did u get it

Hey barrelcondom,

It's all a one-piece shroud.  Got it on eBay (media_mechanix).

DeTrevni wrote: Don't do the Scepter. Wouldn't look right.

I'd only use it for scenarios coupled with the Flatline.  Eventualy I think I'll just buy a second A-5 so I can switch off to a shorty mid-day if I need/want to without having to break the gun down...when I'm a little less poor, that is.

VTpaintballer wrote: take the grip off, throw it away

Why?

Nice, needs a stock!

RV A-5 wrote:   Nice, needs a stock!

Lightningbolt wrote: This goes against the grain here but I'd steer away from sights and other needless things that only add to the looks and add weight.  A gas-thru t-stock is the best stock out there.  There's a reason why stock players use them.  They're light and you can play them very tight.

Guys, read the whole thread.  I have a stock!

Got my Scepter launcher in early.  The wife paid 1/2 of the cost and surprised me with it for my anniversary!  Never saw that coming.  Anyway, I didn't realize that it has a built-in barrel adapter, which means I can't use my Flatline (without modding).  Besides that, its longer than the Flatty and so wouldn't look right.  I think I saw a shorty Scepter somewhere but I don't want to give this one up considering that it was a gift and it would probably take awhile to even find one anyway.  I could just go with a longer J&J or something but I don't think it would really look right either and I'll be using this for scenarios, for which I like mil-sim.  So, what do y'all think of the Scepter coupled with an AK Apex?

Crimson.Soldier wrote: id go with the m4 or m16, i dont think it would look right on an ak.

You're right, but I just don't care too much for the look of either the M-4 or M-16.  Too late now, anyway; I just ordered it a few minutes ago.  If it looks like crap, I'll just sell it, but here's to hoping.

Crimson.Soldier wrote: Who knows, it could look awesome, and I'll look like an idiot. Hahaha.

Nah, it looked terrible so I sold it.

http://www.tippmann.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=167676&PN=1&TPN=1 - Here's what I'm currently doing with it.

do you have a nice gun

swatman wrote: do you have a nice gun

I don't know.  I think so. 

If you were complementing me; thanks!

a new hopper will help

[edited]

e-rok wrote: ya your gun is the right combination of all your mods put together, well done, you have one hell of a good taste

Hey; thanks!  Got a few different looks now; more pics when I'm done Duracoating it.

Okay, I finally finished Duracoating it.  Took me over a month for various reasons that I will detail in the thread that I linked to, above, when I get a chance.  I figured I'd throw a few pics up in the meantime, though.  It still has a few small details to take care of, but otherwise I'll call it done.  Let me know what you think.

Hey, thanks DT.  Here's a pic of my budding collection:

Here's the SD version...

only have to say is wow,

once i can afford im gonna get me an air brush and paint mine.

Thanks, folks.  I used the same pattern on my Scepter launcher, but I have to sand down the SD a tad further to get it to fit.  Will post pics when its done.  I also have to finish the DuraClear on some parts, get a new screw set and put a swivel on the SD version, but I think I'm going to mount that one to a modified stock site as there is a second site hole on the SD shroud.  I'd eventually like to get a solid air-thru stock and MP5 handguard, too, for another look, but I've dumped enough cash into it for now.

Hey mamasboi, check out http://www.tippmann.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=167676&PN=1&TPN=1 - this link for tips on Duracoating, if you go that route.  Works alot better than paint.

Updated pics with the Scepter (finally) installed, below.  I had to have it run through a lathe and add an o-ring as the launcher's barrel adapter was just sliding right out of the receivers when assembled.  Still missing a couple of screws and the airline but I'm switching it over to macro so I didn't want to bother hooking it all up just yet.

full specs:

Tippmann A-5
JCS Red Hot power tube
Shocktech Superfly bolt (actually, I need to fix the hole in this thing because it doesn't sit right so I'm currently using the stock bolt)
TechT Vortex, Lightning Rod & QEPH
Palmer's Pursuit QEV
eGrip w/ Rampage board, Rampage ProE magnetic trigger (milsim) & Cl0ne's grips
Metadyne MP5 gas thru mag
Metadyne MP collapsible stock
Metadyne SR6 floating hand guard
aluminum thumb screws
Maddman springs
Duracoat custom camo (HK semigloss black & grey wolf) & Duraclear
custom side plate: Tippmann A-5 • Enigma
custom velocity adjuster
X7 hopper
macroline
SpecOps A-5 flattop rail
YHM dovetail sling mount
padded sling w/ YHM 1-1/4" q/d sling swivel x2 (not shown)

Shorty version:
SpecOps A-5A2 foregrip (MP mag) w/ Michaels of Oregon blued wood screw stud (& JB Weld)
JCS 5.5" XShort barrel (for small paint)
Stiffi 4" Blackcell C-Series barrel (black) w/ C-Series Flanker barrel tip (for big paint)
OpsGear Dishka flash suppressor (to increase the report; its a shorty so why not scare the crap out of some people?)

SD version:
SpecOps MP5 SD shroud
10" J&J ceramic barrel
Michaels of Oregon blued machine screw stud (not shown)
Scepter 4000-A grenade launcher (for scenarios)

Guess I can call this one done.

My next project is to build an A-5 for under $1K that both looks good and can keep up with the high-end markers at my local field.  I want it tight and fast, so I'm thinking A-5 + Bullpup shroud + QLoader.  I already have an SR12 and an eGrip for it, but will post pics in a new message as it starts to come together.

Edit: got the Bullpup shroud and a double trigger; just need a QLoader now; will update in new post

SSOK wrote: You should have just made a new thread, but its very nice.

I just wanted to keep it at 1 thread for 1 marker, though I did also show a pic or two in a Duracoat thread.

SSOK wrote: How much did you pay for the scepter?

The cost was $350 (which was the cost of it new, though its no longer in production), but I had only put a downpayment of $150 on it when my wife picked up the rest of the tab and surprised me with it for our anniversary.  I was floored.  She was actually listening to me when I told her all about it, remembered it for a gift and took the time to figure out where the shop was!