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Period of
Product Use: |
| 6 months | 2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Paintball
Experience: |
2 years |
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Similar
Products Used: |
Tippmann 98 Custom ACT |
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| Marker Setup: |
Tippmann A-5 w/ Flatline Barrel, Response Trigger, Low Profile Loader, Tasco 30mm Red/Green Dot Sight, Tippmann Adjustable Car Stock |
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Recommended
Upgrades: |
Flatline Barrel/Apex Barrel Tip, Response Trigger/ E-Grip, Stock |
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| Strengths: |
- Range
- Rate of Fire
- Durability
- Customization Ability
- Few Ball Breaks |
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| Weaknesses: |
- Heavier than most markers
- Loud
- CO2 Hog (Somewhat, see Conclusion)
- Nothing else to date
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| Review: |
After reading countless reviews on this site, and looking at the specs on Tippmann's site, I decided to purchase a Tippmann A-5. I added the products listed in my marker setup and bought a 20 oz CO2 tank and 500 rounds of Big Ball paintballs. I then proceeded to do a little test shooting in my backyard at 50, 70 and 100 feet. The target I was shooting at was 6' tall and 4' wide, approx. After unloading all 500 rounds at the various distances, I was left with a solid 1' x 1' spot on the poor piece of wood, with a few stray shots (5-6" off main...blob). Needless to say, this gun has accuracy. I was firing at about 275 FPS, and with the Response Trigger (RT), was maintaining a steady 11-14 BPS. One of the first things I did notice (and so did everyone else within a 500 ft radius) was how loud this marker was. BANG BANG BANG!! Every shot was clearly announced. This attribute, combined with its militaristic looks, makes carrying the A-5 around a bad idea, especially in a congested area.
The second thing I noticed was the lack of paint INSIDE the barrel. The A-5 is another fine piece of Tippmann engineering, and did not break or chop a single ball. Also, the Cyclone feeder stuck true to its claim; this feeder will load balls as fast as you can fire them, even with an E-grip or RT.
Another advantage for this marker is the amount of options for customization. Sights, Scopes, Barrels, Loaders, Stocks, and pretty much anything else can be added to this marker. Several kits are also available to make the A-5 look like various real-world weapons (M16, AK47, M4, etc.), if you're into that sort of thing.
Tippmann has also included the ability to "field-strip" this marker, allowing it to be disassembled in a matter of seconds via several pushpins located throughout the body of the marker. They also include the tools needed for complete disassembly, and a detailed key for the parts and reassembly.
**UPDATE**
I recently took this marker out to Tempe Paintball to test it out in some CQC. The overall experience was great at TPB, but that's another review. Anyways, this marker is durable, it was smashed into walls and barrels, pushed through netting, and took several side and head-on shots, yet still performed like it was brand new. Also, the loudness scared/intimidated most of the younger crowd and several experienced players ;-)
**UPDATE**
I have been playing with this marker for quite some time now, about 6 months, and have shot over 20 cases through it. I have yet to have any chops in the Cyclone. The key to ensuring an A-5 works properly is proper cleaning. I never go more than a week after a game before doing a thorough cleaning. That means taking apart and cleaning out all the paint in/on the marker, and lubing up parts. Doing this will help ensure the survivability (word check?) of your A-5. |
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| Conclusion: |
All in all, Tippmann has hit the mark (pun intended) on making a great woodsball and recball marker, but if you're into speedball, you'd be better off with a lighter marker. The key qualities to look for in this gun include: intimidation factor, RoF, consistent accuracy, and durability. However, the Cyclone feeder and RT take a small percentage of CO2 from the tank, but it's nothing to be concerned about. I shot about 1000 rounds in its use, and still have about 5 oz left in my 20 oz tank. Great marker, and a worthy buy for anyone looking to get into the sport of paintball. |
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| Rating: |
| 10 out of 10 | Last edited on Sunday, April 25th, 2010 at 4:18 pm PST |
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