The A-5 is a great marker - it's easy to strip and maintain. The remote air line and collapsible stock really help with your accuracy and the quick disconnect on the air hose is great too. The gun itself is a pleasure to use once you get it set-up right..

Now, time for the warning.. The flat-line barrel takes time and effort to get working, it involves making sure you buy the right kind of paint (thicker shell + right size, expensive), setting the muzzle velocity fairly accurately, and the right kind of weather - So if you're playing at a site where you have to buy their paint (most) you could be looking at a lot of barrel breaks. Once that happens the marker needs opening up, stripping down and cleaning to get it's accuracy back. If it happens at the start of the game it can be frustrating... Although you do get some great looking but unpredictable curves.

After a few days out like that you start thinking about a better barrel, but then you realise that you need to buy the Tippmann A-5 barrel thread adapter - which can be hard to find and unfortunately isn't included in the box. I ended up getting a few from the States from some people who specialise in Tippmann spares.. Then on with a J&J 'ceramic' barrel and things started to work well - Python do a good barrel compression system (improves accuracy and air efficiency) and a nice short barrel tip which is mainly good for a laugh when people see you walking on with it. As for air for it, well, honestly it chews through the stuff - I run a 1.1 litre PMI 3000psi air tank (HPA) and it gets through it fast, so I wouldn't plan on going any smaller than a 1.1 litre (68ci - 72ci) tank.


Overall this is a good, easily upgradeable marker from Tippmann - there are plenty of parts and upgrades out there. The flat-line barrel lets it down (personally), but if you decide you don't like it there's always ebay, sell it and use the money on a better barrel. From my experience with this marker, if I was looking at it from the beginning I’d get a standard A-5 and then go from there - but it does look great with the flat-line doesn't it ;)