flatline vs apex
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=160386
Printed Date: 25 February 2026 at 9:55pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: flatline vs apex
Posted By: pbllr4life
Subject: flatline vs apex
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 12:00am
|
hello..i have been playing pb for 2yrs now..always used a pirahna e-force which has been an excellent gun for me for as much as i go (due to lack of finding enough people)..i just bought an A-5 and i was wanting to upgrade my barrel firstkinda wanting to get everyones opinion on the flatline vs the apex...i'm sure this has been discussed at length but i haven't found it on here yet |
Replies:
Posted By: ¤ RaVeN ¤
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 12:37am
|
the apex is alot better then the flatline...there really isint much of a consideration behind it...i dont feel like going into alot of detail about it...but it performs better on every level and you can change the arc of your shots with the slide...and it looks better... ------------- 
ions are like mustangs...alot of people have them but not many know how to use them... |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 12:44am
|
yeah no reason to ever buy a flatline no doubt about it. apex has 100 ft more range, so much more accurate, better on balls... even cheaper. we also have some threads on this in the u&c ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 12:55am
|
Never seen proof of the Apex having more than 5-ft of extra range...most people to tend to forget that some fields, and of course tournaments, do not allow the Apex. You can change the velocity just by adjusting it. I'll stick with my Flatline.
------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:25am
|
not really change in velocity, maybe as you go down in settings. have u ever used an apex... the range blows the flatline away. ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: pbllr4life
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:28am
|
ok let's say accuracy and breakage..i know the further out you are the lesser of each but was just wondering from someone who has used both
|
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:28am
|
and who uses a flatline for tournaments anyways you would change off the flatline... you can change off the apex.
ive never been to a field that doenst allow them ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:34am
|
accuracy apex X10000 breakage in apex is about the same as a stock barrel probably beter though... wouldnt know ive never broken a ball. with improper paint on the flatline you have a blender. ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:36am
And what happens if you go up? |
carl_the_sniper wrote:Posted By: pbllr4life
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:37am
| cool..what about breaking when the target is hit? have you used the both? |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 2:19am
|
yeah sometimes with the apex it doesnt break but thats really not as badas the flatline... i know a guy who unloaded 10 ft away with a flatline, none of them broke. ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: Bandit5
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 12:01pm
|
I have been using the Flatline since the first month it came out. As long as you install it correctly(not hard to do) and use good paint, it performas excellently. The only thing that the Apex can do that the Flatline would have a hard time doing is the drop shot where you put forward spin on it. Hook shots are just as easy with the Flatline, just turn the gun sideways... no need to adjust anything. Plus with a Flatline you don't have to worry about replacing the rubber tongue when it wears. |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 12:29pm
|
the rubber tongue is really durable... i cant see mine ever wearing out. ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: netramakin
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 12:48pm
|
I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. That's pretty much the only reason I haven't bought an Apex yet: it's ugly. Now if they could make a Apex that looks like a Flatty (I don't like the M-16 version or any of the others I've seen so far), I'd buy it. I'll probably buy one eventually just b/c everyone says it performs better, but my barrel works great for now.
and who uses a flatline for tournaments Why not?
with improper paint on the flatline you have a blender. I’ve used $20/2000 Walmart specials and they kick in the Flatty. The only paint I’ve ever broken in my Flatty is Heat, and that was only a couple out of 1000. I don’t know what everyone is talking about.
I’m sorry, Carl, you seem like a pretty honest, forthright person, but this statement sounds like a load. What was he using, steel shot at 150FPS? Everyone also says that the Apex is more accurate, which I might tend to believe, but at <150’ I can hit pretty much whatever I want with the Flatty with a couple of shots, so I’m not running out to buy an Apex ASAP. I love how a year or two ago, the Flatty was king but now it’s a POS. Physics must have changed in the interim. So from my perspective, in summation, if you like the look of the Apex, get it. If not, go for the Flatty. ------------- 
"I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me." |
Posted By: jerseypaint
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:06pm
|
Apex>Flatline. Simple because you can screw it on/off, smooth bore, and no curve. These thing make it easier to clean and switch out when you want another barrel. ------------- 
|
Posted By: netramakin
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:23pm
|
With the quick disconnect bolts that I have, I can remove my Flatty in under 10 seconds. -------------
"I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me." |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:36pm
|
Netramakin where can you get the quick disconnect bolts? Also, I agree with you, these claiming that the APEX is so much more accurate and shoots so much farther, are crap I have seen them side-by-side and I will NEVER switch to an Apex Barrel, the only thing about the APEX is that you change change the angles... which is very stupid in my opinon, who is going to be in the middle of a battle (not be camping) and have time to adjust it? And also, Carl, that stuff about 10 balls not breaking... I'm sorry, but that is pure CRAP, he would have had to had his gun at maybe 100 fps? Have YOU be honost, tried a "CORRECTLY" adjusted (270-290 FPS) Flatline before? And in the end.. the Apex's look like crap, I love my Flatline because of the wicked shrouds I can put on it. Check this. 
------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: netramakin
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 1:54pm
|
I've tried two different eBay sources. This set... http://cgi.ebay.com/Best-Tippmann-A-5-A5-Flatline-Barrel-Quick-Change-Kit_W0QQitemZ170034730761QQihZ007QQcategoryZ36285QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem - http://cgi.ebay.com/Best-Tippmann-A-5-A5-Flatline-Barrel-Qui ck-Change-Kit_W0QQitemZ170034730761QQihZ007QQcategoryZ36285Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ...is from media_mechanix, but they aren't quite as heavy duty as mtbegg's (still nice, though), but mtbegg doesn't seem to have any for sale right now. Here's what they look like installed (disregard the funky sling; I was trying to get an answer on that thing from this board and I don't have another pic of the bolts here at work):
The three bolts with the large heads near the front of the marker are what I'm talking about. Simply untighten by hand (spin 'em) and remove the barrel. This pic doesn't do them justice. -------------
"I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me." |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 2:11pm
|
i didnt say 10 more like 3 but it happened and it shouldn't. he has been playing for years and was a regular at the field (he plays almost every week.) i like the look of the apex personally but that's opinion. my apex has an effective range of 250 ft on lv 6 (max range of +300 feet on lv 8) that 250 ft on lv 6 you can hit anything you point at in 1-3 shots. ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: jerseypaint
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 2:32pm
But then you have to put the adapter back in, on order to put on another barrel. That also takes up time. -------------
|
Posted By: netramakin
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 3:15pm
|
I was speaking of cleaning. I have no need to change barrels. -------------
"I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me." |
Posted By: jerseypaint
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 3:57pm
Still, you cannot clean the flatline on the field. -------------
|
Posted By: Bandit5
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 11:54pm
|
Mine is on my Model 98, since I have no experience with the A-5 I can't comment on that... I can clean my Flatline just as easily as any other barrel while on the field, even in the middle of a fight. I just push the sight button and open up the elbow. Put the end of my pull through squeegie through till it comes out the other end of the barrel, and just pull it out. Push my elbow back up and I am ready to fire... This procedure is exactly the same when I use any other barrel, so I don't see a difference there. Also, I don't know anyone that changes barrels while on the field(wouldn't be legal due to chrono issues anyway). And off the field, taking off the barrel to put on another is not time cinsuming enough to actually complain about. |
Posted By: jerseypaint
Date Posted: 06 October 2006 at 11:56pm
I never take my barrel off on the field to clean it. I would get bunkered in 2 seconds. And you cannot swab the flatline, then again, who uses the flatline in speedball. -------------
|
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 1:39am
------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: a5king
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 2:09am
About the Apex cleaning... That's BS, because i can take off my Flatty faster than the apex. Apex barrel looks like a D*ck D===!!! flatty looks way better.. plus it's a tippmann product.. ------------- shut up..or i'll blast ur a$$.... |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 2:21am
|
^^^^ I wouldn't say you can take it off faster... unless you have the quick-release pins, but it deff looks better.. The Apex is quite possibly the uglyist barrel I have seen....I won't ever be getting it because I have compared Apex right next to a Flatline and I have seen no "Advantages" over the Flatline. ------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 2:24am
|
Uh oh, here comes carl. Quick! Someone bash the US-5! |
Posted By: Bandit5
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 2:49am
I believe you missed the point... completely. You don't need to take the Flatline off to clean it, you just us a pull through squeegie through the elbow. It takes only a few seconds. As for the part about taking off the barrel... my POINT was that the time needed to take it off doesn't really matter since it is done off the field at your leisure. Most people can do it in well under a minute, so it would never become a problem. |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 3:54am
|
hah hybrid. mr. blonde hmm... how could you see no advantages, leads me to believe that you are lying or one gun was at 400 fps and that other was at 150. oh and hybrid what do you think? we need more senior members to help settle this ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:01am
|
If I had to choose it would be the Apex, simply because it's less picky on paint and it is easier to take off and on. |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:02am
|
....yes you know, because the Flatline is great above 300 FPS right? WRONG. Anyway, tell me the advantages? I'll even goto the field tommorow and compare again. The ONLY and I mean ONLY advantage I am seeing on the Apex is the adjuster...which is almost pointless in the middle of a battle. You've been pitching that the APEX is uber better than the Flatline ever since I first got into Tippmann's.. but I have never seen proof, and I have seen them side-by side at a chrono-meter (fps was 280-290 constantly) and didn't see a friggin' difference. Us-5 Sucks!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:03am
|
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:05am
I am now awaiting the battle of ME VS CARL on the US-5 vs. A-5 argument.. bring it on... just don't go home cryin' to daddy, once I hand you your heart in a doggy bag. ------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:06am
|
Oh man, do I seriously have to side with Revo? |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:09am
|
Nah, you can be a third party.. you know the one that randomly says US-5 SUCKS! but says NOTHING about the A-5...you know what I mean.
------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:10am
|
/\ you could side with me... and blonde, if you've never shot a us-5 dont talk to me. ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: hybrid-sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:15am
| US-5 SUCKS! |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:15am
Actually, I have. Last night I got too! What now, "Boi"?  ------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:21am
|
paintball match a5 vs us-5. tommorrow meet you at the airport. hah hybrid ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:41am
|
...what airport?... oh wait, you live in Canada.. if you pay for my flight, it's on.
------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:43am
|
just pose as a teenage girl on the net and get some pedofile to pay your way to meet him. whatever im out its 5:00 here ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 4:52am
|
lol it's 4:52 A.M. here... I guess I should get some sleep too.
------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: jerseypaint
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 2:58pm
So when your flatty breaks a ball, you will take off your hopper, fire whatever is in the chamber. Squeegie it, and then put eveything back one. No, I think you missed the point. -------------
|
Posted By: f3lix
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 2:59pm
|
the flatlines ugly! ------------- NASA and the Americans spent millions of dollars and hundreds of hours to develop a pen that would write in space.....The Russians used a pencil. _____________________________ 
|
Posted By: Mr. Blonde
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 3:27pm
|
...F3lix, I can already assume you don't know what you are talking about since you really can't say the flatline is ugly.. you can say the shroud is ugly, which you can replace with nicer ones, my Metadyne Shroud which even has a muzzle break, is amazing. Fully intergrated R.I.S. Weavertail Mounts (4) and so much more. If you're going to diss the Flatline...atleast know SOMETHING about it first.
------------- -Tippmann A-5 -Flatline + Metadyne Shroud -R.I.S. Foregrip -X-Core -JCS Aluminum Powertube -JCS Hexagon Bolt -Q.E.V. -Vortex -E-Grip -Shocktech Drop\On\Off ASA -Macro-Line -Anti-Siphon C02 |
Posted By: carl_the_sniper
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 7:48pm
|
he can... beauty is in the eye of the beholder. i like the look of vanilla flatline over vanilla apex but m-16 apex looks the best of both ive just been saying cause i love the apex and all my experiences with the flatline have been bad ------------- <just say no to unnecessarily sexualized sigs> |
Posted By: netramakin
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 9:07pm
|
What are you talking about? I cleaned it last time out with four people shooting at me. -------------
"I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me." |
Posted By: jerseypaint
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 10:19pm
How? And how long did it take? -------------
|
Posted By: Bandit5
Date Posted: 07 October 2006 at 11:17pm
You are deliberately exagerating the amount of time it takes to accomplish this. You don't take the hopper off, you just let the hopper swing down, and as you do that, fire the last round. As soon as you run the squeegie through, you flip the hopper back up and resume firing. You don't need to dissassemble anything. I use the same exact procedure with every other barrel because my pull through 4-disc squeegie cleans more effectively than a swab. The main point is that YOU CAN, and IT IS VERY EASY to clean a Flatline on the field... which one poster claimed cannot be done. |
Posted By: HPD2
Date Posted: 08 October 2006 at 7:18pm
|
then agin it also depends on witch gun u have. there is no fast way for the A-5 that i know of besides taking the flatline off and runing a squeegie throught it.
------------- A-5 R/T BT double triger 14" AA & flatline 68/4500 NitroDuck X2 05 Black Magic SM1 Orbium 3 Egg2 w/ Z-board MP-4 ram |
Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 08 October 2006 at 7:23pm
|
If I ever win the lottery, I am buying an A5 as well as a US-5, another A5, and a Flatty/APEX to end the A5/US5 and APEX/Flatty wars. It will all be on video I need subliminal messages Carl your US-5 DOES suck! !kcus SEOD 5-SU ruoy lraC-- I just went DeTrevni on that... ------------- 
|
Posted By: jerseypaint
Date Posted: 08 October 2006 at 10:22pm
^ See. He gets it. Its not so easy with an A-5. 98c can flip the elbow down (which still is stupid to do on the field) and pull a squeegie through. If anyone sees you pop a ball in your flatty, I'm betting they will bunker you (well smart playrs would). Cleaning the flatty on the field just insn't smart unless no one is around. -------------
|
Posted By: henchman
Date Posted: 09 October 2006 at 2:28am
|
The best is using the Apex tip with a matched barrel set.
I put my Apex tip on a J&J Edge front. The combo of the flatline and matched bore gave me kickass range and excellent accuracy. Even with the extereme settings. I cut the abex barrelfront down. Here's a pic: 
Oh, and easy to clean as well. I have the thumbscrews. So, what I have been doing is carrying the original flatline in paintball tube in my pack. If I break a ball, I can quickly swap out barrels in about 10 secs., instead of trying to squeegy it clean. |