Need some advice...

[Bumper]

ok i have a Tippmann 98 custom right now. Should i buy a Flatline barrel or just like a 16in barrel?? If i go with the Flatline how accurate is it and does it shoot farther or shorter? And also if i get the flatline, can u take the barrel off and put on a different one for like speed ball or something??

[Mud]

why would you want a 16 inch barrel? i highly recommend the flatline. i'm used to cockers and stuff like that but i was extremely impressed with on of my friends flatline barrel. and yes, you can take it off. it is just not a very fast process (well, compared to just screwing off any other kind of barrel).

the flatline shoots much farther than any other barrel and is fairly accurate.

[Kamotz]

There is a lot of debate about the accuracy on the Flatline. Some people claim that it shoots really far, but is never very accurrate. Some people claim that you need to install it properly. I've never owned one, or shot one, so I'm not speaking with hands-on experience. The Flatline is not easily removable because you have to readjust it every time you put it back on to make sure it's lined up properly. If you use the shroud it makes this even worse.

A 16 inch barrel is totally pointless. 12-14 inch is the longest you'll ever need to get. Past 12 inches you're only adding extra lenth that will just be cumbersome if you're playing anything but woodsball. This is even worse when you consider how long the Model 98 is.

Personally, I would go for a conventional barrel. You can get an inexpensive $50 barrel that performs just as well as $100 barrel. The added range with the Flatline is really hard to use because by the time the ball travels that far its velocity is so slow that you'll have to hit a mask or some other hard object for it to break.

[White Demon]

like they said it is a pain to take the flatline on and off (and the reason he was wondering if he should just get a 16 in barrel) because the flatline is 16 inches but no barrel has the matched distance of the flatline and it is really accurate when it is installed right. I would rather just get a good 14 in and have a good paint barrel match.

[PaintballerX]

Originally posted by Kamotz

A 16 inch barrel is totally pointless. 12-14 inch is the longest you'll ever need to get. Past 12 inches you're only adding extra lenth that will just be cumbersome if you're playing anything but woodsball. This is even worse when you consider how long the Model 98 is.


I do not agree. Many of the people who play hyperball or sup'air ball need a long barrel. Reason? Although it may be "cumbersome" or slow the ball down and whatnot, it allows them to push into the bunker (or on a hyperball field, push into the grooves) so that only the tip of their barrel and some of their body and hopper shows. This, of course, can lead to less hits on those parts that are normally exposed (elbow, hopper, etc.). I personally play with 10" and 12" barrels only way up front (save for the 14" tip on my Freak), but I understand what the back and mid players' reasoning is. The few times I DO play back I always wish I had a 16 incher. I have to say, though, 18" is overkill. :laugh:

---Mike

[Kamotz]

Hmm, good point, PaintballerX. I hadn't thought of that.:)

[JUMBOshrimp]

Flatlines are pretty nice. I don't personally own one but one of the members on my team did. It shoots far as a MOFO -- I never really got to professionaly test accuracy but he was pretty dead on accurate with it. He could take it off and put it back on (including the shroud) in less than 5 minutes. He did however get rid of it.

It will chop like madfire on certian days. in the wind the balls - since they move at a slower velocity are much more subject to being blown arround.

My recomendation/ bottom line-- If you have enough money go for it and see Just make sure you have another barrel when your flat line decides to go wonkey. If you dont like it you can sell it and get most of your money back.

JÜMBOshrimp

[Crime Dog]

Bumper, please do not post multiple threads on the same exact subject. I just had to move your other thread asking the exact same question to the Barrel & Paint forum. Thank you.

Closing this thread since it's a double.