Ok so I have decided to upgrade to the A-5 after a couple years of play with a 98 custom.  I have a couple of questions about what set up to go with. 

First do I go with the flatline or the M-4 barrel?  I love the looks of the M-4 barrel but haven't been able to find any reviews on it.  The one thing I'm not sure about is the availability of a rail system for the M-4 barrel. 

Secondly if I go remote will I be able to connect to an expansion chamber and is there any real need for one with a remote set up? 

Last is the question of which e-grip to go with I have seen several different boards available.  Is there anything the factory e-grip won't give me that I may want or need? 

Thanks for your help! 

Jeremy

One last thing, I've read a few things on HPA.  What's the pros and cons?  I understand I'll need a new tank, how much do they run and what's the average number shots I would get for the sizes?  Where do you get them filled?

if you want a straight barrel dont go for the M-4, it may look kinda cool, but they arent good. I would suggest getting a J&J ceramic or a Lapco Bigshot. however, if you want a "special" barrel that gives range, go for the flatline. though you need to pay VERY special attention to the paint you use.

a remote will basicly work like an expansion chamber. having both wont hurt, but its really not needed most of the time. as for if you can connect the remote to the expansion chamber, you can do it two ways, either run a line from the expansion chamber to an ASA and then screw in the remote to the ASA, OR get a nipple that the quick disconect on the remote will fit on that can screw right into the expansion chamber where the regular steel braid line would normally come out, and run the remote that way.

New Tippmann E-grips come standard with the W.A.S. (Wicked Air sports or something like that) board. this board works rather nice, though I have seen a rather large amount of people on the maintainance and repair forum complaining about it not working. if you feel like spending the extra money, the APE board is really nice, you can probably look up somewhere the contrasts between the two, but all in all the ape is better. not to mention water resistant, unlike the WAS

Hey Snick thanks for your help! 

With that being said I think it will be a flatline as I was leaning more towards that to begin with.  Plus I know I can get a shroud to go on the flatline that will give me the rails.  The reason why I'm trying to stay with the military look and feel is that we haven recently started to use paintball for our SWAT training, which works GREAT!!!  And the rails will give me the ability to mount my tac light. 

The remote line I think is going to be a given as well.  The only thing I'm considering now is the expansion chamber. I have seen the one that looks like a magazine my only question is do all expansion chambers perform the same, I'm assuming so but not positive. 

Now the only thing I need some answers for is what I inquired about concerning HPA as posted below.

JBarnes74 wrote: I've read a few things on HPA.  What are the pros and cons?  I understand I'll need a new tank, how much do they run and what are the average number shots I would get for the sizes?  Where do you get them filled?

get an m-4 apex barrel

it's about the same price as a m-4 barrel.

you get all the power of the apex(which is like an improved flatline and is better in every way)

plus the looks of the m-4 barrel