Many questions about A-5 and 98C...

[ZangetsuZero]

Hello, I'm finally deciding to buy a paintball gun, and I figure Tippmann is the way to go. I want to buy something that I can play with my friends for longer than a year without it breaking. Okay, here are my questions:
1. Are the differences between a 98C and A-5 worth paying the extra 100$ for the A-5?
2. I want to be a good speedball player in both aspects: getting close shots and distant shots. What kind of barrel should I buy for this type of play? I hear a J&J ceramic barrel is favored by most, but how does the SM TearDrop compare? Is a flatline barrel really worth 100$? Is the flatline on the A-5 less high maintenance than on the 98C?
3. I'm hearing that a HPA powered gun is much better than a CO2 powered gun... Will the balls shoot straighter with HPA? Will they have less curve? I understand that the barrel affects the ball more than the gas, but does the gas really affect the ball?
Which gun is ultimately the better choice for my style of play? Also, help on finding the best deals for all the barrels, tanks, and guns you list would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance

[A-5best]

Originally posted by ZangetsuZero
Hello, I'm finally deciding to buy a paintball gun, and I figure Tippmann is the way to go. I want to buy something that I can play with my friends for longer than a year without it breaking. Okay, here are my questions:
1. Are the differences between a 98C and A-5 worth paying the extra 100$ for the A-5?
2. I want to be a good speedball player in both aspects: getting close shots and distant shots. What kind of barrel should I buy for this type of play? I hear a J&J ceramic barrel is favored by most, but how does the SM TearDrop compare? Is a flatline barrel really worth 100$? Is the flatline on the A-5 less high maintenance than on the 98C?
3. I'm hearing that a HPA powered gun is much better than a CO2 powered gun... Will the balls shoot straighter with HPA? Will they have less curve? I understand that the barrel affects the ball more than the gas, but does the gas really affect the ball?
Which gun is ultimately the better choice for my style of play? Also, help on finding the best deals for all the barrels, tanks, and guns you list would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance

For q one is it worth it in my opinion no. The only major difference is in looks, the cyclone feed and the quick strip pins. The cyclone only ads more area to get shot at, since you wanna be cool and speedball-good choice. Anywho in my opinion no, but whatever floats your boat. I like my J&J more than my friends Teardrop its lighter i think and it shoots thru breaks much better, its the way to go. dont bother with the flatline too much trouble plus where i play i have never been able to not shoot from one side of the field to the other. HPA is much better than CO2 it will prevent your balls from going too far and too short and anywhere in between. Get a crossfire tank they have the best regs, you dont even need to get a secondary reg if you dont wanna. As for curving maybe not that much difference but none the less HPA totaly"pwns" CO2 i hate CO2 and you should too. Not to mention during fast rates of fire even on a tippmann i get shootdown and also i have experienced times where ive shot too fast and had to recock the bolt because of shootdown, if you can go HPA by all means, hope i helped if you need anything else hit me up with a pm.

[Satanicsanta090]

98 is cheaper....better for the price IMO and same performances

[P8intballer13]

you should do a search. that thing helps a lot.

[Gecko of Doom]

Originally posted by ZangetsuZero
1. Are the differences between a 98C and A-5 worth paying the extra 100$ for the A-5?No.
2. I want to be a good speedball player in both aspects: getting close shots and distant shots. What kind of barrel should I buy for this type of play? I hear a J&J ceramic barrel is favored by most, but how does the SM TearDrop compare? Is a flatline barrel really worth 100$? Is the flatline on the A-5 less high maintenance than on the 98C?I used a J&J ceramic barrel before I got my Flatline. I loved it. I don't know about the Teardrop. You probably don't want to get a Flatline for speedball. They're too big, and inaccurate if installed improperly. I don't know about the differences between the Flatlines for A5's and 98C's.
3. I'm hearing that a HPA powered gun is much better than a CO2 powered gun... Will the balls shoot straighter with HPA? Will they have less curve? I understand that the barrel affects the ball more than the gas, but does the gas really affect the ball?You won't shoot much straighter with HPA. HPA is just more consistent than CO2. While HPA is undoubtedly better, it is expensive. If you don't have/don't want to spend the money to get HPA, I would recommend getting a good expansion chamber. It'll help with the consistency of your CO2.

[ZangetsuZero]

Thanks for the responses so far guys, and one more question.
What do you think of the Lapco Big Shot?
Also, sorry about not searching through hundreds of posts to find what I needed. I mean, I already read quite a few to narrow it down somewhat on the J&J ceramic barrel.
This was simply a way to consolidate all the best parts for the 98.

[Eladamri]

I've owned many different barrels for the M98 and other markers. I personally was not impressed with the Lapco Bigshot. It was Ok but I would not buy one again. The J&J i had was pretty good but my personal favorite was the dye xcel. It has a .691 bore size instead of a .688 or .689 that you find on most barrels. This allowed me to shoot most paint without worrying about barrel breaks.

For more information about barrels try the sticky in the barrel and paint forum.

[ghilliesnipe]

Another great thing that I have learned from Eladamri.

Yes the A5 has upgrades on it that are worth the extra $100. I dont feel like explaining them here.

For SPEEDBALL and your first gun, I really dont know if you should even buy a Tippmann.
I wish I could help you more. I almost think you should just buy a Spyder victor2 and play for 3-6months to see what you want.

[ZangetsuZero]

I'm already set on a Tippmann, as their durability and reliability are leagues ahead of the competition. I may have asked the wrong questions before, so I'll just ask different ones.
Which gun would be better for straight shots?
Which gun will be more durable in the long run?
What setup should I use for that gun?
Also, I prefer sniping over getting closer any day of the week, hence why I'm so concerned about straight shots. Like if I have an opportunity of staying in bunker and sniping, I'll take it. I want a setup that provides decent accuracy at about 100-150 feet. I really don't want a setup that makes balls swerve all over the place...
Thanks for the responses so far.

[Eladamri]

1. Either one, the accuracy and constancy will depend on the barrel and air source regardless of the marker.
2. I'm sure either one will be quite durable. I've owned my M98 for over 5 years and have replaced nothing other than the ball detent and the 2 valve screws that I forgot to loctite in. It still has all of the original orings.
3. Ok, setup depends on how much money you have and how much you are willing to sink into a low end marker. I'm going to list 2 options.

1. Optimal, Price is no limit.
A. Egrip for A5 , or 98 Custom Pro.
B. Barrel Kit
C. Regulator
D. 68/4500 HPA tank
E. Double Trigger
F. Drop forward
G. Electric Hopper (98 only)

2. Cheaper but still good performance for rec lvl speedball. (this is my setup)
A. 1 piece Aftermarket barrel.
B. Double Trigger
C. Anti siphon CO2 tank or HPA
D. Electric Hopper
E. Drop Forward

The drop forward really is optional but I personally can't stand using a Tippmann without one.

[Hmmm Donut]

Originally posted by ZangetsuZero
I'm already set on a Tippmann, as their durability and reliability are leagues ahead of the competition. I may have asked the wrong questions before, so I'll just ask different ones.
Which gun would be better for straight shots?
Which gun will be more durable in the long run?
What setup should I use for that gun?
Also, I prefer sniping over getting closer any day of the week, hence why I'm so concerned about straight shots. Like if I have an opportunity of staying in bunker and sniping, I'll take it. I want a setup that provides decent accuracy at about 100-150 feet. I really don't want a setup that makes balls swerve all over the place...
Thanks for the responses so far.

Not to burst your bubble, but accuracy is very hard to get at over 100ft. Unless using a flatline you will lobbing your balls.

If you are really set on a tippmann than get Custom pro. Comes stock with a Egrip, and a few other goodies that a regular 98c doesn't come with.
A-5 are not worth the money IMO. I payed $100 extra for a marker that is almost identical to a 98c.

[ZangetsuZero]

I PM'd you a few questions Eldamri, and thanks for the setup lists... I like the way the second looks. About how much did the second cost you? (without the gun price)

[Eladamri]

My exact setup is slightly more expensive than what is needed because I use the HPA tank and loader off my Impulse, but here is what I have at the moment.

1. Double Trigger - $25 (I have no clue what brand, I bought it 5 years ago)
2. 14 inch Dye Xcel - $20-50 (I've seen them recently on sale for $20 but again I bought mine years ago so it was more expensive.)
3. Psycho Ballistic 5.5 inch drop forward - $25 I think, again its been years.
4. Ricochet Apache and/or Evolution II. -$50-$70. I bought the Apache as a backup but it may be replacing the Egg as my main loader on the 98 because it is marginally easier on the detents.
5. 68/4500 Crossfire with 850 preset. I paid $150 for it slightly used.

if your keeping the 98 mech then you can get by with a cheaper loader like the 12v Revvy or Reloader. If you can't swing the HPA it isn't a huge deal, just Anti siphon the tank. You can find some good deals on 68/3000 tanks. I see them sell for $80 all the time and I'm actually about to sell my 68/3000 for around that.

[ZangetsuZero]

Thanks Eladamri, but after looking at the Custom Pro... I think I'll be getting that instead. I'll still go with anti siphoning the CO2 tank, and getting the Apache Ricochet Loader, though. Can the Apache feed the ball as fast as 15 balls p/s? I'll probably get an HPA tank if the prices fall to somewhere around 50$ used...
I've also been hearing better reviews about the J&J Ceramic barrel than about the Dye Boomstick... What do you think about the J&J?

[Eladamri]

I can occasionally outshoot the Apache on a vert feed e-marker like my Impulse. On the 98 the limiting factor will be the feedneck because it slows down the feedrate of the hopper. I don't think the Apache will feed any slower than the Evolution or Halo on the 98 simply because of the feedneck. I know NN posted somewhere about the feedneck slowing down the rate of feed of the Halo to around 14 I believe.

The J&J barrel is a great barrel for $30, and the Edge kit is a great kit for $70. Good Cheap barrels include J&J ceramic, Dye Xcel, SP Progressive, and CP 1 piece. I've owned a J&J ceramic, Dye Xcel, Lapco Bigshot and SP progressive. I haven't owned a CP but I hear good things about them. Of the barrels I have owned, my favorite was the Xcel, and least favorite was the Lapco Bigshot. The J&J and SP progressive both shot great with a good barrel to paint match but the Xcel has a larger bore so you can shoot a wider range of paint.

The Edge kit is a steal for $70. I own one for my Impulse and I have been very happy with it to date.

[TheSpy11]

Originally posted by ZangetsuZero
Thanks Eladamri, but after looking at the Custom Pro... I think I'll be getting that instead. I'll still go with anti siphoning the CO2 tank, and getting the Apache Ricochet Loader, though. Can the Apache feed the ball as fast as 15 balls p/s? I'll probably get an HPA tank if the prices fall to somewhere around 50$ used...
I've also been hearing better reviews about the J&J Ceramic barrel than about the Dye Boomstick... What do you think about the J&J?

The Custom Pro-E will run about $240, add on a hopper and you be looking at $290-$320. An A-5 with E-grip is about $325. The A-5 would be a hair more expensive, but it is easier to upgrade and if you go with a Flatline the A-5 is much easier to use. Both guns would be great, but i am just throwing that out to you.

On a barrel, a CP one piece or J&J Pro-1 are my suggestions, but keep in mind that I have not used a Ceramic or Excel.

[ZangetsuZero]

Can you tell me about your personal experiences with the flatline? I've heard that if you shoot too quickly with it, that it'll chop the balls... How straight does it shoot on the A-5?

[Hmmm Donut]

Originally posted by TheSpy11


The Custom Pro-E will run about $240, add on a hopper and you be looking at $290-$320. An A-5 with E-grip is about $325. The A-5 would be a hair more expensive, but it is easier to upgrade and if you go with a Flatline the A-5 is much easier to use. Both guns would be great, but i am just throwing that out to you.

On a barrel, a CP one piece or J&J Pro-1 are my suggestions, but keep in mind that I have not used a Ceramic or Excel.

A-5 is not wirth the money, and neither is the Flatline barrel.
The 98c is more upgradable than a A-5.

[hummerking]

these threads are agains the rules.

A-5 vs. m98/98c:

These threads will not be tolerated any longer as well. They will be deleted, without notification. These threads generate into a flame war everytime so I'm not letting them get there now. There are already hundreds of them so just a simple search will provide you with all the answers needed. If doing this doesn't provide your answer, PM me and we'll talk.

[TheSpy11]

Originally posted by ZangetsuZero
Can you tell me about your personal experiences with the flatline? I've heard that if you shoot too quickly with it, that it'll chop the balls... How straight does it shoot on the A-5?

The Flatline works great for me and I can shoot as fast as I want without breaking balls, as long as I am using the right size paint. The accuracy is decent, but the range is awesome.


To Donut: The A-5 and Flatline are worth the money IMHO as I have owned the 98c also.

I said easier to upgrade, not more upgradable.

[dbert]

Let me set you strait. The A5 is worth the extra money by far. If you get a custom pro or reg 98 c and wish to shoot fast you will need a fast loader. I have used revvys to halos and nothing is as reliable as my A5 cyclone. Both guns have the same reliability. However keep in mind that the A5 was built and corrected every problem that the 98 had. Not really problems but features that people didnt like. Now I use an autococker for speedball, but tippmans are not the way to go for speedball. This was stated before but you should listen because that was good advice. They are woodsball guns not speedball. The cyclone maybe feeds 15-17rps with a r/t which I use. An angel shoots 22+. Also with a fast loader on a 98 you will need a powerfeed $40 and any force fed loader you will have problems with double feeding becase of the open bolt design. If you still want a tippy go with the a5. It's like already having a halo and a powerfeed on a 98.

[ZangetsuZero]

You don't understand... I'm not looking for a gun that spews balls that quickly. If I can't hit someone at 50 feet and at 15 balls per second, I deserve to miss that person. If the person behind the gun can't aim worth jack **** no amount of balls p/s would help. Consequently, the speedball I play is bunker heavy, meaning it IS similar to woodsball. I'm simply looking for a gun for rec play that won't break down on me. However, tourny play will be nice, but it won't be a huge tourny that I participate in. If I was interested in being a paintball force of doom, I would save up and buy an expensive gun.

[ghilliesnipe]

If you want reliable rapid fire, easier field strippability and dont mind spending $70-100 more, then get the A5, otherwise get the 98c.

[BuhBuh513]

One tip for barrels is to get the flatline if you want Distance Not Accuracy For $100 i recomend the dye ultralite