Don't mention sniping in the whole forum. It's not generally accepted as the point of view of sniping here is shooting from a very far distance of something liek a mile away which is impossible with paintball. If you want longer distance with better accuracy, some people say the Apex barrel is the thing for you. They also say it becomes more accurate when adding the apex tip to a more accurate barrel. I, as of now, disagree with that because I think the ball would become unstable after being affected by the "tongue" of the apex.

Longer barrels, does not mean further shots or better accuracy. A 20 inch barrel is going to waste a lot of your air/co2. You will most likely have more breaks in the barrel with such a long barrel. The best size is in the range of 12-14 inches. The J&J ceramic barrel is considered a very good one piece barrel. The Lapco Big shot is also considered a good barrel.

You don't want a bipod. Paintball is a fast moving sport and bunkering down with a bipod is not always the best thing to do when you have to run. 

Scopes are pointless. A red dot would be fine but you will find you won't need it. Scopes show you an exact spot and the paintballs will not go there. Paintballs are easily affected by wind and by themselves. Since the paintballs are not perfectly round, they are not going to fly straight, even with the best barrel out there. Paintballs can't fly far like a bullet either.

The A5 should have already had a front grip.

Before buying anything, go out and play and pay attention to the guns weak spots and what you would like to improve. I would suggest coming back to us to figure out what you should get when you need something. Many of us are very experienced with years of paintball under our belts and a lot of experience with Tippmanns. We also know how well some upgrades perform against other upgrades. Don't go to pbreview all the time and just read their reviews on products because some of those reviews are bogus. We know our stuff here. Using the search tool Search at the top of the page can be a big help at finding out things that you need to know that have probably been asked many times.

The flatline works best in the 260-270fps range. You really shouldn't be getting a lot of breaks. The balls are breaking in the barrel and not in the chamber, correct?

The vortex/lightning rod are good investments to get your cyclone working properly and quickly. A quick exhaust valve helps also. Or instead of getting a QEV, get the http://www.techtpaintball.com/qeph.html - QEPH .

Not to sound retarded but how do you check fps?

Mostly correct, I've had maybe 20 bust in the chamber out of 500+ balls.

I think i may have a QEV system on but may just QEPH just to be sure that i have it on.

When i bought the gun i was told that the fps was 305 so i left it at that.  Next time i head out I'll get it checked out and move it down to 265.

I have only played outside and i will make sure to turn down the fps.  I was sold a hpa tank with the A5 so that is all i use with it.

jordanpischke wrote: you could get a cyclone

Time to get you up to speed.  A-5s COME with Cyclones.

Blasterboy wrote: When i bought the gun i was told that the fps was 305 so i left it at that.  Next time i head out I'll get it checked out and move it down to 265.

No wonder you're having problems.  That is way too fast for the Flatline Barrel.  If you have the time to tune the barrel.  Back it down to around 250 fps.  Shoot a few balls.  If they shoot pretty good, turn the velocity up about 5 fps and do it again.  Keep going until you notice the accuracy starting to get worse.  Creep it back down until you get that 'sweet spot' and remember what it was.  If you are still having problems, it might be time to send the flatline in for some 'reconditioning'.  The upper part of the barrel needs to be roughed up a little every 10 or so cases of paint shot through it.  It helps to impart the backpsin on the paintball to make it shoot farther.

Today i went out and shot the A5 and turned down the fps.  I broke 1 paintball just outside the barrel.  Also many of the paintballs didn't not break at all except at at 70 yards.  What would happen to do that??

RoboCop wrote: I don't believe in sniping because who in paintball doesn't use cover, concealment and some distance. Everybody on the field would be considered snipers, even front men.

Just because you don't believe or agree with it doesn't meean it doesn't happen.  I'm sure there are plenty of Apex and Flatline owners out there that take advantage of the extended range as I do.  Many probably don't admit to sniping because their remarks are met with derisive comments.