I'm assuming the problems you were having with the Flatline barrel were ball breaks.  You need to dial down the velocity of the marker somewhere between 260-280fps.  This is the optimal velocity range for the Flatline.  You get in the 300fps range and you definitely will get ball breaks.  The other part is the kind of paint you're using.  The Flatline works best with a good small to medium bore paint.  Marbalizer, Evil and RPS Premiums are good choices.

Wish you came here before you bought that 18" barrel.  You think you got ball breaks in the Flatline?  Whew.  The longer a barrel is, the better the chance you'll get a ball break.  It also ruins your air efficiency.  The longer the barrel is, the more gas you need to use in order for the ball to leave the barrel at the right velocity.  A longer barrel does not equate longer range or increased accuracy.  If at all possible, get a 10"-12" barrel.  That is the optimal length for any paintball marker.

I suggest you read up on the stickied FAQs on the board.  There is a wealth of information here for the taking.

Spikee187 wrote: So someone smart and well knowledge in any form of tactics or military strategy could easily be considered a difficult target in my eyes.

A Sniper takes out high profile targets of opportunity (officers, light armored vehicles, etc.) from long range and cover/concealment.  Since there is no paintball gun equivalent to a sniper rifle, there are no snipers in paintball.  There are plenty of trained military personnel both past and present that partake of the forums here that have exhaustedly pointed this fact out in far greater detail than I have here.  If you wish to argue the point, the same said ex and present military members will be happy to point out your ignorance.        &n bsp; 

also for the balls to stop breaking in my flatline barrel i needed to be at around 250 fps which owned for rec play. But anything above that with multiple paints and velocity tweaks proved fruitless in saving the balls.

Which is why you need to buy better paint.  But you have your mind made up.  Sell the Flatline barrel and get something out of it.

In addition I just wanted the 18 inch barrel because that with my guns stock will just look badass.

The only thing a longer barrel does is impress newbs.  Everyone else will just shake their heads knowingly.  You will see side-long glances and smirks from those that understand.  You will most likely get comments like you're receiving here. 

Snake6 wrote: Damn, how did I not see this sooner? I might post on the subject later, but right now I have a wedding to go to.

   That's what I was wondering too.

ThatGuitarGuy wrote: Spike, the reason I worry so much about the "sniper" word in paintball, is the 6 years of my life that I just spent in the Marines as a "Scout/Sniper" and the countless weeks of training and practice. Now, for someone who just bought an 18" barrel, and decides to hide in the woods and take out some people with some paintballs to call themselves a "sniper" this greatly takes away from the prestige that is carried in the Armed Forces for my rank and MOS.

I'm sorry, but that is really dumb.

Does it also offend you that I wear MARPAT despite not being a Marine?  How about if I like people to call me "general" on the field, despite not being an actual general?

Hate to break it to you, but paintball is dress-up time.  Should the Scots be offended every time somebody plays paintball in a kilt?

Seriously.  If a guy wants to run around playing "sniper", what business is that of yours?

Your panties - untwist them.

ThatGuitarGuy wrote: My issue is someone calling themselves "sniper" while only using general infantry tactics.  Anyone who went through Basic knows how to use their surroundings for cover, and basic hiding.

Still all twisted up.

Children run around playing "cowboys" and "indians" when they are neither.  Should that offend anybody?

Seriously - you are taking this game WAY too seriously.  It's a game.  People are playing.  My hint for happy living:  If people are playing, you shouldn't take it too seriously.  Getting offended by a game is really silly.

(And you haven't seen anybody in a kilt?  Seriously?  That's pretty common around here...)

I have an idea gentleman. Lets make a sticky post called "There are no snipers in paintball... Period! It will be the first thing people see when entering the forum. That way people will know what will happen when they say " I want to be a sniper." This will save alot of time as every time somebody makes this comment they get "yelled" at for about 50 posts. I've only been a member of this forum since March and I've already seen about 8 "Sniper Gate" posts.  

Well said Mack.  Nicely done.

Spikee187 wrote: I continue to post because I don't mind the use of the word. It is whether or not paintball snipers exist is what I don't care about. So . . . you are posting because you want to argue a point that you admit is incorrect. The use of the word is what I will argue, For convenience sake. Not actually all that convenient.  (As pointed out several times.) As far as the "Bait and Tackle" goes, thats not the actual name but it's a term that basically is used to describe the tactic of someone remaining behind  concealed. I was going to contradict you here, but I realized you beat me to it . . . and did it most effectively.  As a suggestion for future discussions, perhaps you should limit your argument to topics where you don't have to admit that you don't know what you're talking about while in the midst of trying to support your point.  For the amusement of others, I post the picture below: Then other team members advance only to fall back leading the enemy right into his ambush. It is a valid tactic and it can work.  However, as you admitted in a previous post, it is not sniping.  It's called an ambush.  It would be a more effective ambush if the roles were reversed.  Using a smaller force to lure the opposition into the fire of a larger concealed force with interlocking fields of fire, flank security established and possibly a pre-designated mobile element to sweep through laterally in coordination with the base of fire would eliminate much more of the opposition than a one-person ambush.

• Current arguments:
  
• Paintball snipers do not exist.
• You say you aren't one and they don't exist.
• You also claimed to "snipe" in an earlier post.
• You are defending the use of the term "sniper" in paintball for convenience.
• Abandoned arguments. 
  
• ". . . to snipe basically means shooting at a difficult target
  
• "A paintball sniper and a regular sniper have their differences and their similarities."  (The "they're the same but different" argument.)
• The "everybody does it" (misuses the term) argument.

• First Option:  You do, as indicated by an earlier post, consider yourself a paintball sniper.  You just lack the cojones to actually admit it on the forum and are trying to justify continuing to call yourself one based on more theoretical arguments. 
  
• If it is that important to you, then continue to consider yourself special because you are a paintball sniper.  When you announce your position at the field, many others will probably consider you special as well.
  
• Just don't expect us to accept unsupported/incorrect assertions at face value on this forum.
• Second Option:  You are a troll and are just trying to be annoying.  (Based on the fact that you are continuing to argue a point you admit is wrong.)
  
• A sub-class 4** troll to be accurate.
  

Spikee187 wrote: Haha I do like how in depth you the conversation. It makes me have to think much less because you have done the thinking for me. But overall I am not here to debate the existence of snipers in paintball. Honestly I do not care either way about the whole issue, I am rather indifferent to the whole thing. If someone calls themselves a sniper in paintball, I will understand what they mean. Or rather their overall purpose in paintball. So that is probably why the word is so widely used. Granted calling it something doesn't mean it is something. But if a person can say a word, and basically everyone around them knows what they are talking about then well I would rather just call them a sniper. Saves everyone a lot of trouble. So all in all the point remains people will still use the word sniper out of ignorance, simplicity, or even just overall convenience. So no matter what points either side has the arguments will remain roughly 50/50.     If by my posts you feel I am defending the fact that there are snipers in paintball then you are mistaken, as a result of misreading or my error. Probably mostly me. But I will defend the use of the word sniper for convenience. No way will everyone stop using the word so it is just far easier to use the word than to spell it out every time you explain your role/favorite position. Also thank your for pointing out the where / wear typo i was on my way out and typing in a hurry. I also cannot wait for your dissection of my post.

short hand- Your right im wrong

i wonder if this will go past the 10...or 11 pages, mine went to