Comments on inthefrey's Review

inthefrey Friday, March 7th, 2003 The accuracy of this review is disputed. Please see discussion below. Period of Product Use: Less than a month 730 of 766 people found this review helpful. Paintball Experience: Less than a month Similar Products Used: Spyder Marker Setup: Response Trigger CO2 Recommended Upgrades: Flatline Barrel Strengths: Well, here’s this 43-year-old satellite engineer who gets convinced to try paintball with his 15-year-old son. So, I started doing research on paintball products a little after Christmas 2002. By the beginning of March, I had read almost every article on the subject. The technology is getting better every day. And since I have a wife, kids, mortgage, car payment, insurance, food, fuel and those domestic things that some 15-year-old kids think magically appear, I chose the Tippmann A5. Here are several reasons. Let me share just a few. **The Tippmann marker LOOKS Awesome!** The marker is an excellent piece of Tippmann engineering and workmanship. There is the distinct ‘feel’ of craftsmanship when holding it. It doesn’t feel in any way like a toy. The coatings are perfect with only a few mold marks where the two halves of the frame come together across the site rail. It closely resembles an MP5.( Maybe too close for the sensibilities of some parents ) **The Mechanicals** So many markers of today look like they are straight out of the prop room of a low-budget science fiction movie – with enough gadgets to confuse even the most adept button pusher. The Tippmann A5 is a workhorse of integrated technology. The only adjustments are the safe button and the needle valve for the Response Trigger. That’s it! Needless to say the markers’ 100+ pieces were laid out on my kitchen table the night the UPS truck brought it home. I inspected everything. (Special note: NEVER take this marker apart in the woods – other than the basic field strip – you WILL loose something. Trust me on this!) Almost everything about this marker fits tightly together. Nothing looks like it was added as an after thought and needed to be re-engineered. However, I’m a little disappointed in the piston that drives the Cyclone Feeder system. Although it works perfectly, it seems a little fragile. A little longer collar on the feed chamber to support this piston would correct the wobble. You are definitely getting an original product and not someone else’s ideas. The mechanism should last a long time with the proper care and maintenance. **Accuracy** A friend of mine has a Tippmann 98 with R/T and Flatline barrel. He raves about it! The stock barrel on my A5 seems just fine however, many, many, many reviews are telling the tale of the A5 Flatline barrel. The A5 Stock barrel on my setup can hit a 9”x15” target 9 out of ten times using Co2 and RPS/PMI Super Swirl Tournament balls at 100’. ( I know! Don’t give me any heat about cheap balls!) The outside temp was about 40. I shot almost 500. I didn’t chop a single one. My next purchase for the marker would be the Flatline barrel. And yes, I will be getting some better balls for that. The reviews say Marbleizers or Diablo. **Rate of Fire** Well, I guess this is where the purist comes out in me. Although Tippmann doesn't advertise this very well, for a NON-electric marker, this shoots like a paintball fire hose! No missed feeds, no broken balls, just a steady stream of flying hell from the muzzle. I would estimate 10 to 12 per second. It truly didn’t miss a lick! Although with the cost of paintballs, this novelty will wear off soon enough. Consistency and accuracy will always prevail. Weaknesses: We'll have to see about this. Nothing too bad so far to report. It could use a little bigger hopper and a little bit better barrel. Say that 5 times fast! Conclusion: I would recommend this marker to anyone that wants reliability. The extra $75 to $100 bucks you spend will be well worth it in agony spent on lesser markers. If I’m not too ‘geezed’ by then, I hope to be using it 5 years from now. Or maybe, my son’s or daughter's children will be using it someday. Now if you want to pay ($$$$) for a phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range, go buy a Cocker or an Angel. If you want an excellent, well engineered marker, and still be able to afford a family, this may be the one for you. Rating: 10 out of 10

BBjones Monday, March 10th, 2003 | 2:13 pm PST about the flatline for the a-5, it is amazing, i have one and it NEVER has broken a ball yet, after about 2 cases, thats in 50 deggress to 25 degrees with any RPS ball, they score around a 10 on the bounce test. also, its ussually dead accurate at great distances. Last edited on Thursday, April 3rd, 2003 at 10:27 am PST

pillbox Wednesday, March 12th, 2003 | 3:21 pm PST the best review he explained it well and helped me make decision to get A-5 Now go get gun

767fixer Saturday, March 15th, 2003 | 6:20 pm PST as an older folk who also decided to play...again after years....i congratulate you on a fine review. i wish i had read yours for the quality before i posted mine. i laugh at the "testers" who give this marker a slap. if they would only use it.

Paintball Wolf Tuesday, March 18th, 2003 | 12:44 pm PST Not bad for an old geezer. :D Anyway, I think this is the best review I have read. Like 767fixer said, it would have been nice to read your review before getting the A-5, that way I wound't have been as surprised with the awesome thing!

dmitch2k2 Wednesday, March 26th, 2003 | 10:29 am PST As the friend, the one with Tippmann 98 R/T and Flatline barrel. I love his A5! After the firefight we had on Sunday I thought I should put my 2 cents in. He and I got into a shoot out in the woods behind my house. About 500 balls later we both looked like professional painters that have used the same coveralls for the last year and the trees we where behind well….. Anyway this gun is awesome the big difference I saw between the two guns would be that the 98 would miss fire ($#IT) occasionally and the A5 would never miss a beat. This would cause me to duck back in behind the tree and shake once to continue. Guess I’ll have to get a 12V loader to keep up with him! (sure it will) hehe. PS. Next time don’t stick your butt out so far.

Angmar Thursday, May 1st, 2003 | 6:27 pm PST As a fellow old geezer with a foot in the real world I appreciate the fine review. Convincing enough that I just bought one for myself and another for my 11 year old.

AgentOrange Friday, May 9th, 2003 | 1:36 pm PST Yeah this is probably the best most in depth review i've seen here. Good job to the guy that wrote it, and even though i'd still get a mag over the a-5, i gotta say this did impress me as to how the a-5 works.

~XF~ Dukester Friday, May 9th, 2003 | 6:27 pm PST Great job on the review. Well thought out and explained. I already have one and you nearly convinced me to go out and get another one.

nergy Saturday, May 17th, 2003 | 1:00 am PST Great review. I laughed myself silly when you mentioned taking the marker down in the woods. The spring and spring guide do like to travel in the woods. Two thumbs up on the review...from another "old fart.!"

danschroeder89 Sunday, May 25th, 2003 | 8:51 pm PST If I was you I wouldn't reccomend the A-5 flatline. I have one myself. If you catch a break in the barrel or cyclone feed your done. Also many cheaper paint does not work well at all in this gun. I am selling mine now that my Smart Parts AA came(which is AWSOME).

philk803c Saturday, June 7th, 2003 | 10:10 pm PST thanks for the very detailed review. i have always wanted an A-5 when i first saw it. it looked so slick(cool) and sturdy. but to bad it was out of my price range. once i turn sixteen next year i'm going to save up 300 bucks instead and get the A-5 AND NOT GET A ANGEL OR IMPULSE FROM SMART PARTS.

tyger_eyes Sunday, June 15th, 2003 | 12:23 pm PST Great review man . . . . I hope to see more reviews like this in the future. This is what reviews should look like

paintball fre@k Monday, June 16th, 2003 | 9:56 am PST great review inthefrey. you really took time to do a good job on this one. you would have convinced me if didn't already have one. there needs to be more reviews like yours.

[AKD] Carnage Thursday, June 19th, 2003 | 1:05 pm PST ..."phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range..." Hahahaaaa! Good movie. Good review, from one geriatric to another. The mechanics are superb and well orchestrated. I love mine, so much my wife is jealous, no, really.

MottMarauder Tuesday, July 15th, 2003 | 3:54 pm PST Nice, I bought the gun after this review... and I'm lovin' it!

Paulmm12 Thursday, July 17th, 2003 | 8:19 am PST That was a great review i mean every 1s review should be like sayin stuff to back up there opinion not just "i hate this marker just because" Thanx Some dude

paintballindude Sunday, July 27th, 2003 | 8:45 am PST thank you lots!!! this review is great! im a 14 year old kid and i was deciding between this and the spyder electra dx and becuase of the review im gonna order the A-5. can't wait and thnax for a sweet review!

a5by5 Tuesday, July 29th, 2003 | 12:06 pm PST I give this review a TEN! My Tippy A-5 gets an 11................. TKS

_PB_WannaBe_ Tuesday, September 2nd, 2003 | 5:11 pm PST I loved your review, except for one thing I strongly sugest you DON'T use the Flatline barrels because it kills acuracy and when it reaches the player at 160+feet it ends up bouncing off, everthing else is dead on though, I love my Tippi.

Virus780 Sunday, September 14th, 2003 | 6:54 am PST Thanks for making me realize that i just bought a great gun....