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Torch · November 18th, 01:25 PM

And when you're not playing woods, you're playing somewhere else or just not playing?

***MagicMarker*** · November 18th, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torch

And when you're not playing woods, you're playing somewhere else or just not playing?

When we're not in the organized field, prob just in the woods locally or not playing at all.

valenzuela3184 · January 21st, 01:50 AM

some great info. i just bought the flatline and im happy with it so far. game day is the 29 of january 2005 so well see but i think i like it already

valenzuela3184 · January 21st, 01:51 AM

how is the flatline in close contact games or when someone gets closer

**Smitty** · January 21st, 09:41 AM

As with any barrel, the closer you get the better your chances.

***CustomProDude*** · January 21st, 09:43 AM

I recommend you keep the stock barrel. Who knows, it may come in handy later.

DeadlyMerc06 · March 13th, 10:39 PM

Hey everyone, I got together with a few of my friends to form a team recently. We play at Skirmish for most if not all of our games. We plan to take part in a lot of scenarios (D-day, Battle of stalingrad, etc.) which include mainly woods/fortresses, as well as speedball tournies, and of course lots of plain rec play.

I was wondering if I should lay down the $$ on a flatline barrel. I know that for the 4 or so hours I spent in deep deep swamp/woods this weekend I would have loved that straiter tragectory, but with my current 14" SP teardrop barrel, and the fact that I also spent 3 hours defending a castle from assault, I'm wondering is it worth it?

Other upgrades I'm planning to put on my 98c for this paintball season:
+Response Trigger
+Collapsable stock
+(possibly) HPA
+ remote system or drop forward
+new sight
+expansion chamber
+Halo B hopper

(I wouldnt mind some feedback for my other upgrades even though this isnt the thread for it, like if they are worth it, what type to get, that sort of thing.

)

Thanks guys!

Pishi · August 18th, 05:12 PM

Hey guys, is there anywhere to download the instruction manual for the 98c Flatline?

Torch · August 18th, 10:14 PM

TippmannParts.com - Tippmann 98 Flatline Barrel Manual

Download it, should be a PDF.

(It's free)

Pishi · August 19th, 06:17 AM

Thanks a lot!

TheAznInvazn · August 19th, 01:29 PM

Ok, I'm not sure if this was already said, but I know nothing about the Magnus effect, but the reason the ball goes farther is Bernoulli's Principal which states "Faster Fluids, Less Pressure." Air is a fluid, and the backspin proveded by the barrel makes the air on top of the ball move faster than the air on the bottom of the ball creating a low pressure area on top of the ball and a higher pressure area on the bottom, creating lift, just like an airplane wing. The Magnus effect might still be there for the stability, but it's Bernoulli who makes the gun shoot in a flatter pattern. Just a thought :P

Hobbitron · August 23rd, 02:55 AM

After reading about the Flatline, I feel kind of discouraged in buying one. I mean it sounds like a pain to clean the barrel if a ball breaks in the middle of a battle. Is this true, and can you shoot it clean? I'am mainly wondering about the A-5 Flatline, so you know. Also is there a barrel that is an equal to the flatline, as far as flat trajectory and/or accuracy? Mainly accuracy though.

Thanks

**Smitty** · August 23rd, 07:10 AM

If you are in a crunch, hold the gun upside down to keep the hopper from feeding and shoot it several times to blow the gunk out of the barrel. Since you have an A5 it has the advantage of removing the barrel easily and squeegeeing it just like a standard barrel. On a 98 the best way to clean it is to swing down the elbow and feed a pull thru squeegee into the breech and pull it out the end of the barrel.

Pishi · August 26th, 10:41 AM

I tested the barrel out today, and I'd have to say that I don't like it very much. Although it does shoot farther than my JJ Ceramic barrel, it's just not as accurate or quiet. Ontop of that It takes forever to assembe/take apart, and I don't really like the sights that much. I think I'm going to end up trading it for a R/T or a cyclone feeder.

Hobbitron · August 26th, 02:37 PM

I intend on using the flatline barrel with CO2, will this be a problematic combination, and will it operate/function differently when used with compressed air?

Pishi · August 26th, 02:38 PM

On second thought, I think I might keep it. What I did today was decide to try it out again, but took the shroud off, since the sights on that were decidedly terrible. The shots did seem to go straighter and more accurate than the JJ, it seems like the shroud was what was making it seem less accurate. One thing I noticed though was that the inconsistency of CO2 really showed itself in the flatline, since there is a longer range. Overall, I think it was worth the $45 I paid for it. I think I'll drape some sort of ghille over the barrel now to make it seem less curved, and not use the shroud alltogether. Not to mention the shroud is plastic =P

lec666 · September 9th, 03:08 PM

i finally got to play woodsball with my flatline today. i must say
that i am extremely impressed with it. we played on a friends property
that was pretty thick with brush and low tree canopies. we started
playing just a basic 4 on 4 and then switched to (take the hill)
what they called it. defenders are not allowed off the hill. this
is where the flatline barrel really came in handy as there was no
way to "lob" paint because of the low tree canopies. i was able to
use that upward curving action to get my shots to hang just under
the trees to their mark uphill,while the other guys had to get about 30ft closer.

Steg · April 22nd, 12:05 AM

I have been researching barrels for the past six months. My head has begun to spin due to all the options and opinions that are available. I started by looking at the flatline becuase of its availability and widespread advertisement. I then got lured into all walks of other barrels, including ceramic, stainless, aluminum and my latest delve into hours of research, the carbon fiber stiffi's. Not to mention the whole sherade of what length to settle on.
After finding this forum, which I am extremely grateful that you guys do this, I feel like I finally have a place where I can get the opinions that matter. That of fellow Tippmann owners who have experienced the products and are willing to share their knowledge.
I only play woodsball and have heard time and again that the flatline is most recomended for this type of play. The combat role I am going to gear up for would be one of a low key stealth player with a minimal rate of fire.
My questions would be as follows. In your opinion, would the flatline still be the best choice or would I be better off going with a 14-16 inch straight barrel on the higher end of the spectrum? I do like the effect of minimizing the "lob" of a conventional barrel, but am not overly thrilled with the look of the flatline system.
Also will the flatline work with a low pressure kit? I have read some comments on the LPK and got the feeling that it is not highly thought of, but I really like the fact that some have claimed it does reduce noise levels.
Finally if anyone has had any experience with weather and its effects on the performace of the flatline system?
Thanks for your time.

Senior Potato · May 4th, 12:03 AM

i was thinking about getting a flatline for my 98C and was thinking about the shroud on the barrel.(i found one on ebay for cheap and it doesn't have a shroud so it looks kinda funny) Apparently there aren't many 98C flatline barrel shrouds out there so i though i would try my luck and ask you ppl something. do you guys know if the A5 flatline shrouds work on the 98C flatline? it would seem that they would assuming that the A5 and 98C are the same type of barrel design. thanks.

Nikolai 77 · May 13th, 09:45 AM

Flatlines do have better range. I will never argue that. They will shoot farther and they work wonders for suppressive fire, especially at guys halfway across a field no other players can reach. Up in a tower or some elevated fortification, flatlines are great for sniping down invading forces.
But in terms of overall performance, I believe flatlines lack in effectiveness. First off, they sacrifice velocity in order to increase range. The backspin produced by the curved design poses problems later on down the road. I'd say the Flatline has a good flat trajectory of about 150 feet, after ~150 feet it begins to veer off at random angles and at 200 feet it curves off an goes nuts. My 98 chronos at 250 fps when the velocity screw is not obstructing the airflow at all when it has the flatline on. I'm positive it's shooting hot (over 300 fps) without the flatline on. While extended range is formidable, especially if you're bunkered up and you take a peek and think the enemy is beyond firing range and whatever you're hiding behind starts getting pummeled. But I've found that no matter what kind of paint I use, only about 50% of my balls break upon impact after being shot from the flatline. Obviously, the closer I am to a target the easier they'll break. But I think that a barrel that is marketed as having a longer range than any other barrel should live up to such a claim. I have to get within 25 yards of my target if any of the balls are going to break, and most of the people I get out by shooting them call a gentlemen's out - the balls didn't break but they didn't check themselves for breaks, they just felt the paintball hit them and called themselves out.
A barrel that sacrifices velocity for range is not effective in games where balls not breaking don't count. Balls shot from a flatline may go farther, but they depreciate in velocity much quicker (and aren't very fast coming out of the barrel to begin with). However, it does work wonders for long range suppressive fire, but for guys who get a flatline barrel to snipe off targets, they either need very brittle paint and risk breaking inside the barrel and cleaning it out constantly, or they need to reconsider and get another barrel.
Sorry if this counts as a "flame," I'm just trying to offer a dissenting opinion rather than blind praise. The flatline barrel just does not work well for me.