98C Sniper

[Matt98C]

Ok let's say i'm a little low on cash (not broke). I'm lookin for a somewhat cheap but still efective way to make my Tippy a sniper kind of gun. Should i get parts separately or purchase one good kit with everything I'll need?
Please reply.
Thanks

[Orpackrat]

Stock
Expansion chamber/Stabilizer
Better barrel, flatline/apex
Tac Cap
Etc

Get the parts separately. Get one, play a game to see what you want next. Get a little at a time and find what works best for you insead of buying a full package just to find that half is not practical on the field.

[Corrupted355]

If you're looking to be an ambush type player, accuracy is more important to you than everyone else. You want to be able to hit someone on the first or second shot before they are able to shoot back. With that said, your crucial needs are a very good barrel, and some way of making your gun more consistent.

I've had very good experiences with the Powerlyte Scepter. It's a much nicer barrel kit IMO than the Freak, and you can usually get it a little cheaper (thank you, eBay). If you can't afford a kit, I highly recommend taking a trip over to Palmer's Pursuit Shop and picking up one of their unported (non-vented) Brass barrels in a size somewhere between 8" and 14".

As for consistency, having HPA and a secondary regulator (AKA's Sidewinder is EXCELLENT as long as you don't get any liquid CO2 in it) is the best way to go, but running a high quality regulator like Palmer's Stabilizer with CO2 will do nicely too. In any case, velocity consistency is going to be one of the most important things to an ambush player.

These are the essentials for having a good ambush marker. Most everything else is just fluff. Granted, some stuff does make it much nicer, but it's not needed.

[Curly Fry]

If you're looking to be an ambush type player, accuracy is more important to you than everyone else. You want to be able to hit someone on the first or second shot before they are able to shoot back. With that said, your crucial needs are a very good barrel, and some way of making your gun more consistent.

I've had very good experiences with the Powerlyte Scepter. It's a much nicer barrel kit IMO than the Freak, and you can usually get it a little cheaper (thank you, eBay). If you can't afford a kit, I highly recommend taking a trip over to Palmer's Pursuit Shop and picking up one of their unported (non-vented) Brass barrels in a size somewhere between 8" and 14".

As for consistency, having HPA and a secondary regulator (AKA's Sidewinder is EXCELLENT as long as you don't get any liquid CO2 in it) is the best way to go, but running a high quality regulator like Palmer's Stabilizer with CO2 will do nicely too. In any case, velocity consistency is going to be one of the most important things to an ambush player.

These are the essentials for having a good ambush marker. Most everything else is just fluff. Granted, some stuff does make it much nicer, but it's not needed.

that barrel is gonna sound like a cannon, best going with a J&J if hes pressed for cash

[Corrupted355]

True, the Brass is rather loud. But then shooting a Tippmann doesn't help either. Tippmann style markers (including BT's, US-5's and the like) are notoriously loud, and there's not a whole lot you can do to quiet them down. Which makes it all the more important for the ambush player to be confident that his first shot is going to be on target. Because as soon as you let out two shots, they're gonna know right where you are, even if you've got the world's quietest barrel.

That being said, the Scepter I mentioned earlier is pretty quiet. There are quieter barrels out there; Hammerhead comes to mind, but only if you're the one being shot at (directional porting is cool). But they are rather expensive. A J&J Ceramic is rather quiet, but in my personal testing, is not as accurate as certain other barrels. More accurate than your stock barrel, for sure, but far from the cream of the crop. J&J's Edge kit, however, is said to be excellent, but I have no experience with it.

If you really wanted to do the "sniper" thing, you'd get something other than a Tippmann. Both my Autocockers are infinitely quieter than both my Tippmanns. The loudest thing on the 'Cocker is actually the recocking mechanisms. The electric motors on the loaders I have for them are louder than the actual guns.

[Bossman-]

Well first post, Here i go.

Sniper, a word that causes a minor stir in the paintball community:dodgy: . If you mean making shots 3miles away through a car door, on command.:laugh: :rolleyes: (like what some people think is the "description" of a sniper) you are far from realistic. Guns shoot at a limit of 300fps where i play. No gun/barrel can make you shoot regulation settings farther than any other good gun and more accurate with out a decrease in power. Decrease in power means a decrease in the chance of that ball actually splattering. I noticed some one brough tup "flatline" i like to think of that gun more of a back position barrel than a "sniper":finger:. Sure it shoots farther but it has accuracy issues at distances farther than regular and not enough power to make "the kill" or break the ball. Now, the way i see a sniper is one who makes a regular shot far more consistantly at regular distances. If you ask me with the right concealment, so you can line up your target nicely without being seen, and a gun that will shoot straight for the first 5 shots is perfect. Because you won't have 1 guy come all alone against you, you should have help somewhat close and he probably will. So make that first shot. Sure a quiet barrel may help with not finding you but the trick is to make that first kill, then another, then another. Then if you are shot at you can unload like in any other circumstance if you so desire. If you quiet your gun up, and you know they won't hear you and shoot, then make your shot into the middle of them. split them. let the front wonder won earth just happened and have the back whip around wondering where on earth is the shooter? you can be anywhere if you hit him spalt in the middle of the chest.;)

Now. There are things that can help you with this. A regulator has been mentioned, that would be good. Also a set-up that you find comferatable that can make a decent shot at say, 150ft. That is a sniper in paintball. So go get a nice barrel upgrade, get some camo, maybe a ghillie suit. Then practice not being noticed until they are gone, then shoot them in the back. Remember see the enemy first, make sure to watch for multiples and bring them as close as you can before toasting his "i swear to much".:laugh:

[Corrupted355]

Welcome to the forums. Glad to see that people still posses some semblance of eloquence.

^^^This looks like the voice of experience here. Done a little ambush work yourself?

[Lenny17]

I'll throw a vote out there for the Edge kit. You can get the full kit for under $100 online, and it will make a huge difference. By using the right barrel, your marker will be quieter and more accurate, which are two big things. Granted, like Corrupted said, a Tippy is only ever going to be so quiet, especially when compared to higher end markers.

Another nice thing about the Edge kit is I believe that J&J makes an Apex adapter, so you can go that route if you really decide you need more distance. But I think you'll find that accuracy is more important than distance.

[ICU117]

Yea, some sort of kit does seem to be in order, only one I've had experience with is freak kits. I've had great success with them, but since I've never tried any other ones, might not be so good to listen to me.. I did go through the sniper phase myself though, bought the flatline, a stock, remote, etc. Its fun for a while, even got some camo so I could hide. Nothing like hitting a friend with your first shot from 150ft or more and him yelling, wtf, where did that come from??
Anyway, I liked the flatline but enjoyed the Apex even more, it wasn't as bulky, shot just as far/further, seemed to be more accurate and was a lot less paint picky. So i'm gonna have to go with Lenny with the Edge kit, since they have an Apex adapter, with that ontop of a barrel kit, you could reach out and touch someone farther away then they might think.

[Bossman-]

Lol. well i try. I'd rather shoot you in the back as you run past then get tied up in a paint costing firefight. but hey, thats me.

[Curly Fry]

i emailed J&J about their apex adapter, they said it would not work on the s2 barrels, now i dont know what kind of tip the J&J kit has got, but if it has anything like the s2's tip, then it probably wont work on it

[Corrupted355]

The S2 barrel and the Edge appear to have the same type of tip. In fact, all of J&J's barrels seem to have the same tip, EXCEPT the standard Ceramic.

[Curly Fry]

yea, the email notified me that it would not on my s2 tip so i guess it only works on the standard ceramic barrels

[Lenny17]

It does say on the site that the adapter will fit barrels with a 7/8" outside diameter at the end. I wonder what other barrels it might fit on.

It's a shame that it won't work with the Edge kit, I would think that a kit with an Apex would rock.

[BigGoodn]

I've been slowly upgrading my 98c for accuracy, and played my first game today with a J&J Edge system. Though I've only played with it once I think I can say I won't be spending anymore money on barrels trying to find that perfect one. No breaks and great accuracy. Most of my accuracy issues are up and down now, which I should be able to correct with a stabilizer or reg. A couple other mods I would recommend are a stock, Lapco Raised sight rail, some form of point sight, and a Cyclone feeder with the X7 hopper. I still run CO2, but HPA will be my next big spend. Just keep in mind you will never make a paintball gun shoot perfect all the time, but you can make it a lot better than a stock gun. And it doesn't matter how straight you gun shoots if you can't get ppl well within range without being seen. A good ghillie suit or some form of concealment is almost more important than any mod you can do for your gun for sniping.