[Sephy the Holy]

I just bought a new tippman A-5, and I was looking to upgrade it. I was surfin the web, looking for good upgrades, and i saw the flatline barrel. It says it puts a hundred yards on your range, and gives you a straiter shot and all that, and $120 isnt that much, but is it really worth buying it?

 

[Cerebeus]

lol a hundred yards onto the range? Try 100 feet at the most.

Many people would disagree, but I just dont think the flatline is worth it. It's not even a straight shot, the ball goes straight, then goes up in the air, then falls back down. That's the only reason it goes farther.

 

[janiboy088]

there will never be an end to this argument
the flatline has a good idea w/ its backspin, which gives it a good amount of distance,
but
since it is spinning the elements might make it less accurate, (i.e. the wind) it can blow it off course extremelly easily

w/e floats ur boat tho

if they make a backspinned barrel w/ good accuracy, sumone tell me

 

[Sephy the Holy]

Thats all i needed to know, thanks. I think im gonna go with the double trigger.

 

[No0bIe_PaIntBal]

simply put... flatlines are ****

 

[SEFishy]

rob have u used one? personaly i like them they will shoot dead on for 50 feet then float up past that. once they are alined right it will be near perfect. but the balls do fly really slow after a distance and tend to bounce. id say just find a way to try one out first

 

[ViolentRogue]

people that say they suck 90% of the time haver never used one, or used it wrong. so yes its a good barrel once you figure out how to use it

 

[Mr_Pain]

It's a very nice barrel even thow I dont have one they are nice. I would not get one unless you can get it for $70 or less.

 

[Smitty]

I wouldnt give up my flatline for the world. Mine performs flawlessly and is quite easy to install. Despite the rumors.

 

[paintballer05]

wow your 98 looks nice but my friend had a flatline and busted a ball in it so he had to take the flatline off his gun to clean it. if you play speedball the flatline is not for you.

 

[Smitty]

I havent busted a ball in mine since i fixed my EGG however a busted ball is quickly remedied will a pull thru squeegee with a swab at the end. Just feed it thru the chamber and pull it out the end of the barrel. No need to remove the barrel. The only problem I ever had playing speedball with the flatline is that its so long its hard to play tight.

 

[paintballer05]

yeah and an a5 is wide with the cyclone feed on it, tippmans are really long.

 

[jetjock]

its pretty much your decision dude, the guy at my local shop....eric zorn of ez.....hates em says he loses money on them, but most other ppl say their great.

 

[nightstalker88]

100 feet is still alot, u wont be able to hit sum1s flag from yurs but its still pretty far, since the stock tipp barrel gives you a range of about 80-100 feet

 

[gumby]

I had a flatline for a 98 custom, hated it, and sold it. I dont like them for 98, but i hear they are much better for the a5. I dont know why this would be, but i wouldn't suggest buying it anyway. get a kit for the money or something.

 

[HP_lovecraft]

Its a good novelty item, and a nice conversation starter for when you travel to new fields.

I've used a variety of backspin systems since 1992.

Technically, you don't really get much extra range. The ball itself still slows at the same rate. THe main improvement comes from the shape of the trajectory: FLAT, instead of an ARC.

This is because the spinning ball generates enough lift to counteract gravity during most of its flight.

THe problem with this is its VERY paint critical. If you don't use the right size, it effects the spin, and creates problems. Also, as the ball looses spin, it tends to curve in random directions, making accuracy terrible at long range.

So, if it doesnt really extend range, then why bother?
Its REALLY nice for urban/indoor fields where you want to shoot through a series of bunkers/windows/holes/etc.
In this limited circumstance, you have the advantage where you can shoot someone who can not shoot back.

But beyond that, the paint issue makes it unsutable for tournament play, but the "cool factor" makes it nice for rec-ball. Plus, it scares the newbs which is always a plus.

Nick

 

[Tex]

I believe there was a automag body designed for backspin. Not sure exactly how it worked, but they are considered rare.

 

[bluegoose]

ther'es a flatline 'cocker, never seen one except online where it was rated horrible