Everything Woodsball

Friday, October 20, 2006

Tippmann 98 Custom

Specs:

.68 Caliber
Omni-gas Ready
8bps (balls per second)
8.5" Stock Barrel
2.9 lbs (w/o tank)
Semi-automatic operation
19.6" Total Length
150+ Foot Effective Range
Single Trigger Design (Upgradable)

Summary:

The Tippmann 98 Custom is perhaps the most known gun in paintball. For many it's the first marker they will own, but the beauty about this gun is that it's not just for beginners. Even intermediate and experienced players can upgrade this gun to their liking. But, don't be joining speedball teams with this one. Yes, there is the response trigger and e-frame produced for the 98 Custom, but its original purpose was for woodsball, and that is what it excels in.

Shooting:

The Tippmann 98 Custom now comes standard with an Anti-Chop-Bolt. That means there will be less ball breaks, due to the unique bolt and striker combination (not that there was many before). It has an easy trigger pull, and custom trigger stops can be easily built to reduce over pulling. Like I said above, it is Omni-gas ready, and performs great with Co2. Accuracy with the stock barrel is lost after 80 or so feet, so it is recommended upgrading a to a new barrel. It is also loud, but things can be done to silence it.

The 98 Custom will take anything thrown at it. Both 98 Customs and Pro/Carbines have been known to last 10 or more years as renals at fields. So, as long as you lube up your gun and clean it every once in a while, it will work flawlessly for years to come.

Maintenance:

The Tippmann 98 Custom is easily maintained, normally only involding dropping a bit of oil down the cocking area. There is no need to completely disassemble the marker, which is a big plus. Unfortunately, though, disassembling the marker to clean it completely takes a minimum of 15 minutes, due to having to take out a couple allen screws. No quick strip pin for this one. A full one year parts and labor warranty is provided with new marker purchases, so if anything breaks, just give them a call. Tippmann also sells complete parts kits, so you can do the repairing yourself.

Links:

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Strong Side

This is a sure fire strategy for getting the win in a capture the flag or elimination game. Right off the break you want your strong guys with big guns and a lot of paint in the center of the field. If you are one of these guys make sure that you have decent cover because you are going to be there the rest of the game. First off, assess which side is the weakest on the opposition team, and attack it with everything that you have got. Let paint fly. After you have a couple eliminations, send one or two people (we'll call them Daggers) with fast, light, and accurate guns up the weak side that is being hammered. Normally, the oppositions players are going to be preoccupied fighting it out with the people in the center, which means the "Daggers" should be able to flank them. If you fail the first time, wait for a few more eliminations and try again. Once you control the weak side, it is just a matter of closing in on the other players. Look at the diagram below for a more complete explanation.

1) White Squares and Ovals = Buildings or Cover Items
2) Green Dots = Good Guys
3) Red Dots = Bad Guys
4) Yellow Dot = Possible Flag
5) Thin Black Lines = Possible Shooting Lanes to Surpress the Enemy
6) Red and Black Curved Lines = Possible Running Lanes for the Daggers

Tippmann Pro/Carbine

Specs:

Semi-automatic operation
.45 Grip Frame
CVX Valve
Stock 10.5" Barrel
Steel Braided Bottom
Cycle Rate: 7 bps
Shoulder Strap Included
1 Year Warranty w/ Full Parts & Labor
Omni-gas Ready

Summary:

The Tippmann Pro/Carbine is essentially a combination between the 68-Carbine and Pro-lite Tippmann markers. It's rugged and reliable design make it a top choice for field rentals, law enforcement, and many demanding woodsball players alike. However, the Pro/Carbine can only throw paint so fast (7 bps), so if your looking for a full auto, double-digit paint gun, keep looking. But, if you want a rugged, reliable, and accurate marker (I'm talking to you snipers!) the Pro/Carbine is the gun for you.

Shooting:

The Pro/Carbine doesn't throw paint at an exceptionally fast rate (7 bps). But, it's accuracy and ease of use makes up for its speed. It is a great gun for those who enjoy picking there shots and don't want to spend a fortune on paint and gas. The Pro/Carbine will work in rain, snow or sleet, with the same distance and accuracy as if it was a perfect, rain-free day.

The stock barrel is a little loud, but aftermarket barrels from DYE, Armson Stealth, and Lapco are plentiful. Don't like the single trigger design? APP provides a light-weight, double trigger made just for the Pro/Carbine. Most of these products can be found in the links section below.

Maintenance:

Thanks to Tippmann, the Pro/Carbine is easy to strip-down and clean. It is also extremely rugged and reliable, maybe even more so than the 98 Custom or A-5, so it should almost never break down. If it does, though, Tippmann provides complete parts kits for it.