in before the crazy/overdone debates...starting to think we need to put together a small package that tippmann will just send someone when they join the forum, and enclosed in that letter would be a small description/explanation of all myths, common misconseptions, things to know etc.....

wild im sure you wont understand the above but you will....

ok, Im assuming your fairly new at this and Ill try to answer everything.  there is no such thing as sniping in paintball, but if you want a good quality marker/setup that gives good consistency and accuracy that is possible. No marker shoots harder than another as long as there shootings the same fps, and most markers shoot fairly similar to eachother.  A5's are great to begin with and a 16" barrel is within the ideal length of barrels.  the A5 package you are looking at seems ok, except the 20" barrel. 20" is too long, you would be wise to stay within the 14-16" range. although the advertisement says it will give good accuracy and range, its not.
 

Agreed here...nothing longer than 14" unless you like the "look" of it.  Anything over 14" provides no benefit to performance. 

While my guides page has a much more in-depth discussion on the subject (3 parts no less) the basics are get a regulated air source, a decent barrel, shoot good paint, and get the size of the paint to match the bore of your barrel as close as possible.  That's what makes for a consistant and thus "more accurate" marker.

WildDestroyer wrote: ... I want a setup where I can accurately hit an opponent before he sees me.

Well, you've already got the uber-camo, so you are hiding.  Now you want to focus on either extending range or increasing accuracy.

For extending range, there are exactly two choices:  Flatline and Apex.  Both barrels will extend range at some cost to accuracy.

For accuracy, any quality barrel will help, as will quality paint.  High-end electros can also be astonishingly accurate. 

Basically, your issues are all the same things that all paintballers try to improve.  A search through the forum for "accuracy" or "consistency" will reveal long lists of guns and upgrades that can help in this neverending quest.

Good luck.

Well, there is the Warsensor Hop Up for the A5 in addition to the Apex or Flatline...but that's only if you have an A5. 

For accuracy, I would take the Flatline off the list.  While it does add distance it doesn't do it with any kind of accuracy.

What it sounds like you're doing is a holding action and honestly having a couple guys lay down a base of fire is going to be more effective then a couple of "snipers" in the brush. While the opposing side may stop and "hunt" for you two they may also start a flanking motion or just rush forward to break through what they may think is only one player.  This is bad because you are trying to HOLD them there for your flanking unit to engage them from the flank or rear. (Or as General Patton put it, "This is where we hold them by the nose and kick them in the azz!")

You'd be better having the two of you stationed behind good cover and laying down a heavy volumn of fire if you want to pin them down.  They will seek cover and return fire without moving very much.  Not only that, but the noise of the firefight will help cover the sound of your flanking force moving up allowing them to move faster and engage sooner. 

Yea, I know, a bit off of your Sniper post but like others have said look at improving consistancy and you will improve accuracy.  Paintball is inherently inaccurate and the only way to ensure a 95% ELIMINATION rate (remember you have to have the ball break to eliminate...just hitting them isn't enough) is to shoot at them from a very close range...like under 50 feet...and be able to target a spot on them that is firm and will almost gaurentee a break. 

Agian, on my site (link in sig) I've written up a three part article on paintball accuracy if you want to learn more about it.  I collected the information from many different sources and I'm sure it will help you understand how best to achive the goal you are looking for.

As it has already been said...

Get a marker and a good barrel w/ good paint to barrel match.  I prefer the J&J series simply because I have use it for years and it has never let me down.  If you plan on using different kinds of paint then I recomend a kit so that you can always match it up to your paint. The length is also correct above.  I would stay between 12"  & 14".  After that its kind of pointless and higher than 16 actually hinders performance because of drag.  If you want 16" though because you like the look and feel of it then get it since it should feel best to you.  Good paint is also ideal.  I am not saying you have to go out and spend top dollar on marbs but some Blaze, Formula 13, RPS Premium... etc.  Some decent paints that have a good shell and are not dimpled. 

The air source is also vital.  If you only want to use CO2 whether it be cost of tank or availability of air fills then I  also recommend the Palmers Stabilizer.  It will help to control the CO2's consistency and will allow for greater accuracy.  If you get HPA you can get a good Crossfire or PE tank for a good price.  Both have pretty ecent regs.  I currently use one of each and they have never let me down.

As far as the gun goes that is up to you.  There are always tippmanns  but there are a few more out there that can shoot off of either  that are usually pretty decent.   While i usually do not like SP I have heard good things about the SP1 and it is quieter than most Tippmanns which will  help your stealth ability.  You can even get an inexpensive hopper for one like that since it shoots at 11 bps max on its stock board. Personally I prefer Tippmanns to most other guns for woodsball though.  The 98 is always a solid choice and easily upgradable as is the A5.  I prefer the A5 for the cyclone but thats just me. 

In the end you want to find a marker that feels comfortable to you.  No one else can give you that opinion. 

edit*Forgot a few lines

Welllll.... I read most of the above comments. I think it comes down to 2 simple ideas. Do you want to be an accurate shooter or as close as the real thing. I try for both. I have customized my 98 (with  the old flatline) and fine tuned its' accuracy. I get concictent kills at over 130 to 150 ft and most times they don't know where I am. Is there a one-shot-one -kill? Very rarely. I recommend a good plain tippmann with a flatline. That gets you as close to the real thing as possible. I included a link my site to show my custom sniper...

http://vipaintball.spaces.live.com/ - http://vipaintball.spaces.live.com/ http://itzntq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pTqPJfDP_8EOupmBsSiFIC -

!!!

I want an 86 oz. tank so bad...

I could power my Shocker for decades!

I think he means he has so many CO2 tanks he isn't interested in switching over to HPA thus he needs a regulator...which makes sense to me considering he has nowhere to fill his tanks while out playing. 

I have a Warsensor WS66 and a MilTec MT66 along with an A5.  I'm still new to the A5 so I really can't give you a reliable comparison between it and my 66s.

The WS66 and MT66 are the same marker just with different names and configured differently (the WS66 is the "Barrett" looking marker in my signature while the MT66 is the M4/M203 marker).  Both shoot very well and are increadibly reliable.  Both of them I hook up to regulated CO2, load my Evil paint, and will go out and have a trouble free day of paintball...or weekend if I'm playing scenario.  As long as you treat them well after the weekend of play they have never let me down and the WS66 is over four years old.

For accuracy, check this out.  This is shooting paint that's about 3 months old and wasn't rotated so it's pretty well dimpled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELXxtr212bs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELXxtr212bs

MeanMan wrote: Alright, this thread is getting wacky. Since you use so much air, it's down to either a Compressed Air tank with a Scuba refill or your tanks and a palmers. I'd go CO2 and palmers because you can carry an extra tank with you and itll be cheaper. Gun wise, I suggest an A5. Since your out there playing for hours, batteries will suck. The Cyclone will be good because it won't stay on or make rediculous noise. Then there's always the possibility of getting an RT or Egrip. Barrel, I'd go with whatever you like. I love my CP 2piece, but others are the JJ Ceramic and the Lapco Bigshot. Get a good mask if you don't have one already. I notice if your mask is going to fog, it'll be in the woods.

plus the A5 is an easy marker to care for and it will throw down ropes when you need it to.

And 86oz of CO2 per day of play... how many rounds of paint do you go through?

a_sock wrote: in before the crazy/overdone debates...starting to think we need to put together a small package that tippmann will just send someone when they join the forum, and enclosed in that letter would be a small description/explanation of all myths, common misconseptions, things to know etc..... wild im sure you wont understand the above but you will.... ok, Im assuming your fairly new at this and Ill try to answer everything.  there is no such thing as sniping in paintball, but if you want a good quality marker/setup that gives good consistency and accuracy that is possible. No marker shoots harder than another as long as there shootings the same fps, and most markers shoot fairly similar to eachother.  A5's are great to begin with and a 16" barrel is within the ideal length of barrels.  the A5 package you are looking at seems ok, except the 20" barrel. 20" is too long, you would be wise to stay within the 14-16" range. although the advertisement says it will give good accuracy and range, its not.

the longer barrell (20 inch) does help if u stay back (defently not for close combat) but if it is 20 inchs the ball is set on a straighter trajectery

If he wants to use a 20" what's wrong with that?  So long as he knows it really is only going to be for looks and he MIGHT get a little quieter shot but he will use more gas then what does it matter if he still chooses to use it. 

I run a 20" barrel on one of my markers...I like the way it makes the marker look.  I get a ton of compliments on it.  Do I think it makes me an uber-sniper?  No.  Do other people think I am...I'm sure.  Do more experianced players think I'm a noob that thinks he's a sniper...I'm pretty positive there are some that do.  However, once people see how I play that kind of understand that I don't think myself as a "sniper".  This past weekend I did have a couple one ball kills from about 150-200 feet away (I was on top of a very tall hill...they were at the bottom...) but that doesn't make me a "sniper" any more than the 20" barrel does. 

Maybe he'll hate how akward it is to manuver a barrel of that length or how it limits his play behind bunkers or maybe he'll love how he can push the barrel past cover and use brush for cover that most player's can't.  It's his call and in the end up to him. 

Thanks WD.

A-sock...no, I do move up.  How do I play?  Mainly a standup rifleman.  I'm not as young as I once was and am far better and putting people back in their bunkers than running up and pressing in tight in the forward bunkers.  I have no problem putting paint wherever I want it.  Through a 2" hole at 75', between branches, popping hoppers as they come up over a ridge like this last weekend, hitting people from 150' out with a copule well placed shots, or covering 2/3rds of a field and taking out people who thought they were safe.

I had people just this weekend comment on how straight the marker shot, how far it seemed to shoot, and it's accuracy at long range.  I never rack up huge elimination numbers but I do my part to keep the guys that rush forward safe when they move and I do it very well.  I can play the "marksman" role but generally speaking supporting the team does a lot more to winning a game than going solo...and it seems the only why out here to consistantly rack up those "Sniper" type shots outside the occasional opportunity would be to go solo.  I just don't do that. So whether I'm shooting the "Barrett" (which actually was built to be an Anti-Tank gun and hence the size) or the M4/M203...I guess you'd call me a support player.  Need accurate cover fire, I'm your guy.  Need that building or tank taken out...I'm on it.  Couple guys that are exposing a shoe 100' up...I'll take the shot.  That's me...support.  (note the picture of me playing in my sig with said 20" barrel)

All I was getting at was if the guy listens to all the advice and decides to play with a 20" barrel (which he hasn't) there is no need to ridicule him for his choice.  For me, I could probably have aspects of my game which would improve with a smaller, lighter marker but I wouldn't look forward to playing as much as I do now...It just wouldn't be as enjoyable for me.  In the end, I'm out here to have fun and if that means I go out with a 20" barrel and a marker that weighs in at 12lbs to do so then who is anyone to tell me it's "wrong".  To me, everything else about paintball comes second to me enjoying it.  When that stops being the case is the day I stop playing.

WildDestroyer wrote: a_sock wrote: so you go through 2 thousand rounds? so basically a case. I kind of doubt your also doing 18-20 hours of paintball in 1 day... On a long day I might get 8 in. Glad to hear your going to use your using barrels above and below the most beneficial range the majority of us hear have advised Who through a mouse in your shoe? Who are you to tell me how long I'm allowed to play anyway? When I play paintball, I play paintball. We usually start at nine or ten and go till afterdark. I've even been in a few overnighters. And I never specified the length of the smaller barrels that I would use. Acording to umm, everyone 14-16" is ideal, and I was planning on using a 14". Plus, I'll probobly buy a Spyder-Tippmann adapter so I can use my 9", 12." Robotech: Read your guides, they were very well thought out, and cleared some stuff up- thanks.

Read that you wanted to just get a 20", post was towards that comment, with your current descision id agree that would work out best. Not saying how long you can play, i just thought you ment consectutive hours of play, I mean, actually playing 18 hours straight, if your camping or doing an all nighter thats not actual play time, Im assuming you take large breaks or spend your time doing something else, not just constant paintball.

Robotech wrote: Thanks WD. A-sock...no, I do move up.  How do I play?  Mainly a standup rifleman.  I'm not as young as I once was and am far better and putting people back in their bunkers than running up and pressing in tight in the forward bunkers.  I have no problem putting paint wherever I want it.  Through a 2" hole at 75', between branches, popping hoppers as they come up over a ridge like this last weekend, hitting people from 150' out with a copule well placed shots, or covering 2/3rds of a field and taking out people who thought they were safe. I had people just this weekend comment on how straight the marker shot, how far it seemed to shoot, and it's accuracy at long range.  I never rack up huge elimination numbers but I do my part to keep the guys that rush forward safe when they move and I do it very well.  I can play the "marksman" role but generally speaking supporting the team does a lot more to winning a game than going solo...and it seems the only why out here to consistantly rack up those "Sniper" type shots outside the occasional opportunity would be to go solo.  I just don't do that. So whether I'm shooting the "Barrett" (which actually was built to be an Anti-Tank gun and hence the size) or the M4/M203...I guess you'd call me a support player.  Need accurate cover fire, I'm your guy.  Need that building or tank taken out...I'm on it.  Couple guys that are exposing a shoe 100' up...I'll take the shot.  That's me...support.  (note the picture of me playing in my sig with said 20" barrel) All I was getting at was if the guy listens to all the advice and decides to play with a 20" barrel (which he hasn't) there is no need to ridicule him for his choice.  For me, I could probably have aspects of my game which would improve with a smaller, lighter marker but I wouldn't look forward to playing as much as I do now...It just wouldn't be as enjoyable for me.  In the end, I'm out here to have fun and if that means I go out with a 20" barrel and a marker that weighs in at 12lbs to do so then who is anyone to tell me it's "wrong".  To me, everything else about paintball comes second to me enjoying it.  When that stops being the case is the day I stop playing.

Eh Its just that I enjoy playing better, and like youve said you could play better with other gear, but you enjoy what you have right now. thats great, I sort of understand the want for milsim stuff, but if somone had asked you if that is the best setup for that type of play or if that was the best performing/accurate setup, would you say yes? this guy has asked whats the most accurate setup, I stand by my advice that a 14-16" barrel kit, using air and a good regulator will yeild the greatest accuracy that he can get out of his present marker.

a-sock, I think you and I are basically on the same page.  My setup certainly isn't for everyone but it works great for my style of play. 

When I advise I address those areas that are core to the question being asked. Since I can achieve the same accuracy with a 14" barrel that I can with my 20" barrel I believe barrel length now comes down to personal preference and style of play and wouldn't be something I would talk to the poster about other than to say anything over 14" is going to be for looks only.  If you see my first post in this thread that's exactly what I told him. But if he hears all the arguments as to why 20" barrels are only a cosmetic selection and he still chooses it I see no reason to belittle him for it is all I'm getting at. 

Well it seams like this thread is starting to wrap up. Amen to Robotech's comment on enjoying the sport. Know what? I enjoy scaring people walking into the match. I've got a guy who plays with me who usually carries a gear bag: the team stashes most our air and balls with him, I figure he has got room to carry some extra barrels with him.

Every game is different, you never know what the other guys will do- It'll probobly be helpfull to have the flexibility of 9-20" barrels of various loudness. Not to mention, the hiding behind brush idea could have been useful in some matches I've been in.

It's interesting to see how my team has grown over the two years we've been doing this. We all started on your standard walley world <70 gun, and have since all moved into our little nitches. We have two guys on MR1's, one who is in love with his Victor, and one who is happy with his pump and his pistol. Not to mention one who is soon to own an A-5.

By the way- I didn't know that about the Barret: another interesting thing.