There is no such thing as a sniper in paintball.

Therefore your question is null and void.

Welcome to the forum.

Ignore the trolls.

To help us answer the question, you have to be more specific.  "Sniper" doesn't really tell us what you are looking for.  Are you looking for increased range or accuracy, or a particular cosmetic look to the gun, or perhaps something else?

As you will have gathered from the early replies, some folks here get overly excited about the word "sniper".  Pay them no heed, but ask more specific questions so that we can be of assistance.

Well, for added range there are really only two options:  Apex and Flatline barrels.  Both put backspin on the ball, which extends the total flight distance by a fair amount.

The accuracy at the added range, however, is reduced.

The better question to ask, perhaps, is about EFFECTIVE range.  Most paintball guns lose accurace well short of their maximum range.  You might want to focus in increasing the distance to which you can shoot fairly accurately.

For that, there are a host of things to consider.  The most important is the barrel again, along with paint.  A quality barrel shooting quality paint will add significant accuracy.  Moving to a gun with fewer moving parts will help as well.  A low-recoil electro is much easier to aim accurately than a high-recoil mechanical gun.

Then there are general consistency upgrades.  HPA, regulators, and so forth.

It really depends on what you are starting with and how much money you have to spend.

I also recommend searching the focums for accuracy-related posts.  You will find a host of information.

You cannot have both range and accuracy in paintball. You can have one or the other, but you cannot have accuracy at range.

If you want range, I would suggest getting a Flatline or Apex system. This iwll give you longer ranges but your shots will not be accurate at those longer ranges. These barrels are best used for long range surpession fire.

If you want accuracy I would go with a Lapco Bigshot barrel. They are very accuracte at normal ranges and are very cheap. 

Snake6. wrote: There is no such thing as a sniper in paintball. Therefore your question is null and void.

i bet your all going to feel bad if hes talking about a cocker....

Becoming a Paintball Sniper: An Informative How-To!

Written by: Yours truely, DeTrevni

First off, to snipe in paintball, the first thing we're going to need is a long barrel! Why? Simple really. They look silly, most of the time do nothing but waste gas, and don't help accuracy at all. But they also limit mobility, and as a sniper, you want to be as still as possible so you don't make noise! So, you'll need a 21" barrel.

Secondly, you're going to need to blend in, so I'd recommend a ghillie suit! How come? Well, if you don't know, a ghillie suit is supposed to be a "three-dimensional" camoflauge system that is designed to match the specific surroundings a person is trying to take cover in. As such, you're going to want to go out and buy a set, which will cost a WHOLE lot of money, and only work in one specific place! What does this mean? Why, it means you can't move from the spot it matches, or you'll stick out like a sore thumb! Once again, snipers can't move or they'll be seen, so getting a ghillie suit will only help! Also, it makes people think you look silly, and since most believe you'll either try to cover the shots or won't feel it, you'll get a whole hopper dumped on you to be sure! This will give away their position, if by some miracle you aren't out. So go ahead, blend in!

Also, you are going to need a stock, scope and a bi-pod. What will they do? A stock will prevent you from being able to aim down the monstrous barrel of your sniper rifle because your mask will get in the way, so you're going to need waste more money buying an offset sight rail to mount that $200 scope you just bought! The scope will prevent you from seeing anyone around you, and only give you a cleaer view of what may be completely out of range, even with your awesome 21" barrel! The bi-pod will serve absolutely NO function what-so-ever, but darn if they don't look cool! Also, these accessories will weigh a ton, so you'll develop the strength needed to stay stable in a single spot for the length of the game!

For a hopper, well, simply don't use one! Those things are blimps! feed your paint one ball at a time, that way, you won't have this massive target, and you'll teach yourself control. Also, when you get flanked because that expensive ghillie doesn't actually work, you won't be able to fire back. But no worries, you'll be such a great sniper, you'll NEVER get flanked!

Now let's look at strategy. There are two kinds of snipers. The first is a stealthy person, finding thick cover that they think will prevent them from being shot. They'll get to that position, and they'll stay there, stealthily waiting for the enemy team to wander by. If you move, you'll be seen, so you'll have to stay put, thus rendering you completely useless for the rest of your team. But darn if you ain't stealthy!

The second kind of sniper is more adept. He can move around, and shoots people from a concealed position, just like the dictionary says snipers do. Wait a minute. That's what ALL paintballers do, you say? Why that's CRAZY TALK! Only the most effective paintball snipers can utilize cover and movement! Everyone else is yelling, waving flags above their heads and wearing bright targets! Duh!

In closing, I'd like to wish our new sniper the greatest of luck in this daunting, yet VERY important position!

A real sniper uses an Airowgun.

Cypher5601 wrote: Hey monogringo welcome to the forum. Dont listen to these sniper haters let me show you a real sniper paintballgun. This is my setup thats below. To convert your gun to a sniper setup you need a few basic things. 1st- 14inch barrel : Max length for best performance 2nd- Stock- helps steady the gun while aiming also obtains the look. 3rd- PALMERS REGULATOR or any other high pressure reg if you use a tippmann: Regs help keep fps :feet per second consistent each shot providing better accuracy from shot to shot. This upgrade is essential. 4th- Red dot sight: These help alot when properly zerod in for first shot kills. Make sure u zero it in before every game. Sniper extras: These extras i will list are not necessary for performance but may help with the obtaining the look of a sniper weapon. Scope: I recommend if you get a scope to get a low power scope meaning max 4x zoom. This will allow you to use it similar to a reddot while also being able to scout. It also enhances the look. Riser mount: you usually need a riser mount to put your red dot or scope on to see past the a-5 hopper. Get a weaver riser mount. That is the most common one for most sights. Make sure the sight fits a weaver mount also. Bipod:these look great and also help when aiming in a prone position for long periods of time. Make sure u get one that swivels not the cheap ones that dont pan. Foregrip: makes the gun look more rifle like and linear. Gives good placement for the palm when aiming instead of grabbing that little stub on the a-5 Supressor: This is just for looks but makes ur gun look bad A$$ You wont find many sniper lovers here its sadly been overunned by speedballers. I recommend you go to A5og.net. you will find alot more information for milsim tippmanns and pics of other players sniper guns there. Thats about it. Have fun buddy and good luck with your sniper setup. All these parts listed can be found at www.specialopspaintball.com www.opsgear.com www.palmer-pursuit.com ---For regulator(Need high pressure for tippmans 800psi and up or u wont reach necessary fps.)

Hey look!!  Its the zip-tie-ghetto-marker!!!

I'm no sniper-hater or speedballer.  I play woodsball and own both the Flatline and Apex barrels.  Neither one of them will make you a sniper and neither will making your marker look like a sniper rifle.  There are no snipers in paintball.  At least not until you can break a paintball on a paper plate from 300+ yards away.

Cypher5601 wrote: Your bias of the sniper is very evident in your analysis of my info.

Not any more biased than your support for paintball snipers.

So i put both performance and looks which most people would want a good balance of

You put down looks.  Just looks.  There was nothing in your setup that would allow you to snipe with your marker.

.... Your analysis was fine until you began putting in your opion about looks and the snipers role.

What?  And everything you mentioned in your ever-so-helpful post was true and factual?  No opinion whatsoever? 

jordanpischke wrote: A real sniper uses an Airowgun.

tho's Airowguns are sweet, i seen a couple in action and wow. too bad i dident get a chance to use one tho :(

Cypher5601 wrote: I dont want to explain myself to you because even if i prove myself your ignorance will still refuse to accept it. So no i will not explain myself. And i have better things to do than to write 3 paragraphs proving why im right. I just am and thats it. Accept it or not i really dont care.

Ah, the good old "because I said so" argument.

I can play this game!

Guess what guys: I am a certified Brain Surgeon! Come to me for all your crainial related problems! How did I get certifed? Because I said so. Shove it.

Until you provide us with some refutable proof that you can snipe in paintball, go back to specops. There at least, facts, reasoning skills, and logic don't count for anything.

Cypher5601 wrote: LMAO you actually took the time to make that for this thread wow! What a loser!

Doubtfull. This conversation has been around so long that he probably has it saved to is photo abulm just for occassions like this...never mind that it would take someone who had that photo about 11 seconds to make it in photoshop, so if you consider having 11 free seconds of time then i guess, by your own definition you are too, as it has now taken you 11 seconds to read this post.

I will say this. Many people argue that a sniper uses accuracy to fire from beyond the range of return fire (or some such wording). What then is the situation when another person armed with a sniper rifle fires back? Are neither one considered snipers then? --Minds blown yet?--

Cypher5601 wrote: Pssh mind blown are u kidding me. That situation is actually called "counter sniping". Read a little and you learn things.

just get off the damn forums, all you do is talk down, talk trash, and when all else fails, try to talk "smart" which nobody buys, learn some respect and maybe a fewhundred posts down the road, you'll get respect from us again

Cypher5601 wrote: Pssh mind blown are u kidding me. That situation is actually called "counter sniping". Read a little and you learn things.

  Wow, totally not what I was talking about. I was refering to people playing paintball, and how in paintball everyone has the same effective range, thus even if someone was sniping by hidding in the bushes like a coward, everyone would still be in range to fire back. SO if you go by the "snipers have further range" arguement that denies snipers that makes little sense when a second sniper is involved.

  This was not to be taken as a direct question as to what real snipers do when a second sniper shows up. Any idiot knows to get rid of a sniper you get a sniper, or bomb the area flat with mortars.

stupid computer double post

Cypher5601 wrote: LMAO you actually took the time to make that for this thread wow! What a loser!

you take the time to call people you dont even know losers? wow what a loser

 I wasn't using the range arguement, I was pointing out a flaw in it.

 The "style of play" point of view is just silly of course, because everyone who plays paintball takes cover. Only people who play bad take cover away from the game waiting for people to walk in front of you.

i hate those kids, whoopdy do boi, try it w/ a shotgun at 20 yards and i'll be impressed

edit: from the hip

.............MGS4..........

drooooool

"Sir, it's closing time. Your going to hae t put the controller down now..."

"Take it from me!! Try it!!"

just try and take it

Hey, you're STILL not dead! :D

Oh, successfull troll is successfull...

Cypher5601 wrote: I dont want to explain myself to you because even if i prove myself your ignorance will still refuse to accept it. So no i will not explain myself. And i have better things to do than to write 3 paragraphs proving why im right. I just am and thats it. Accept it or not i really dont care.

Translation:  I'm 15 years old and lack the intellectual capacity to intelligently debate my position.  And if you don't quit picking on me, I'm telling my mommy!

Cypher5601 wrote: LMAO you actually took the time to make that for this thread wow! What a loser!

Pot calling kettle black.  Mack and a few others here have forgotten more about paintball than you'll ever learn.  The fact you won't (or can't) back up your statements only shows your ignorance.

Cypher5601 wrote: Paintball snipers dont have increased range im not using that argument. It is there style of play and markmanship that makes them a sniper. Hence if 2 individuals with these qualities encounter each other hence counter sniping.

So, using your logic, everybody is a paintball sniper.  LMFAO!!!! 

Cypher5601 wrote: sigh... Its amazing how fast opinion and bias can kill a decent analysis

LOL  Analysis?  What analysis?  "I'm right and I'm not going to explain why I'm right."  is an analysis?  Please, get real.  Put up or shut up.

Okay people this is from the dictionary.  Sniper, one who shoots an enemy from a long distance OR A CONCEALED POSITION!

Ghillie Monk wrote: Okay people this is from the dictionary.  Sniper, one who shoots an enemy from a long distance OR A CONCEALED POSITION!

Army Field Manual 23-10 wrote: Introduction The sniper has special abilities, training and equipment. His job is to deliver discriminatory highly accurate rifle fire against enemy targets, which cannot be engaged successfully by the rifleman because of range, size, location, fleeting nature, or visibility. Sniping requires the development of basic infantry skills to a high degree of perfection. A sniper's training incorporates a wide variety of subjects designed to increase his value as a force multiplier and to ensure his survival on the battlefield. The art of sniping requires learning and repetitiously practicing these skills until mastered. A sniper must be highly trained in long-range rifle marksmanship and field craft skills to ensure maximum effective engagements with minimum risk.

• Legally chronographed paintball markers all have essentially the same performance.  Yes, electro-pneumatics have a higher rate of fire than mechanical markers, but realistically this is an issue that relates more to the individual player's budget that it does to the existence of any special equipment
• There are no markers that allow the so-called "paintball sniper" to deliver highly accurate fire against targets which can't be engaged successfully by other players.  While the Flatline and Apex both provide extra range the inherent inaccuracy of the projectile means that target engagement at the additional range is a matter of accuracy by volume relegating these barrels to effective usage against area rather than point targets.
• While there are some very tactically effective paintball players on the field who are capable of engaging and causing maximum damage with minimum risk, they are still limited by the technology they employ.  Additionally, putting on a ghillie-suit, hiding in a bush and waiting for targets of opportunity has very little to do with mastering skills through repetition and practice or developing basic skills to a high degree of perfection.