WARNING: This thread talks about "sniper" things! A question about valves.

[famousgamer]

Okay okay. I must confess. This thread will deal with "sniper" related issues. Hold on. Its gonna be a bumpy ride

Now... I know a sniper type automag setup is not going to have any more range or accuracy as opposed to any other automag setup, provided they all got good barrels, paint-to-bore match, etc. I have a few questions about things that can actually be acheived to create a better "sniper" marker tho. These things are shot-to-shot consistiency, first shot consistiency, and firing volume.

Shot-to-shot consistiency and first shot consistiency

Now, I have heard there are differences in the performance of each of the AGD valves when it comes to shot-to-shot consisiency in velocity and pressure.

What I have gathered is that the classic valve will shoot at the same velocity from the first shot to the subsiquent shots, and the X-Valve will slightly shoot up to the desired velocity after leveling out a bit. I have heard this is a result of the X Valve pumping out so many shots, it has to kinda stabilize, in regard to each "string" of paintballs fired.

Now, clearly, I am not expert in the matter. In regards to sniping, there would not be huge ropes of paint being fired. Therefore, the one that is more suited to fewer shots being fired while being the most consistient is the one snipers should be most interested in. I have heard the classic valve is more suited to this. My question is: Is it?

In regards to first shot consistiency, I am wondering which valve provides the most consisitient first shot. The reason that this is an issue is only because I have heard that the X Valve need to slightly "shoot up" to its desired consitient velocity. In this case, the classic valve would be better, wouldnt it?

Firing volume

Snipers need quiet markers. If no one can hear you, and you are totally concealed, no one can shoot you. This is one of the only things that really defines a sniper on the feild. There are a few other things, but not many.

The mag aint that loud. With a quiet barrel and a quiet covered hopper (or a Q Loader) it can only help. I still was wondering tho:

How much sound escapes from the mag in areas other than the barrel when fired. Do you think there is much noise leaking from the bolt area, or even the hopper feed opening? On an A5 sound leaks everywhere, but is an Automag all that quiet in these other areas? Also, is there a real difference in valve volumes? Probably not, but worth an ask as I know very little about the X Valve.




So, yeah... I realize it is painful that so many people want to be snipers out there, and I sympathise. I personally do not want to "look" like a sniper, with a gun that looks like it has LEGO all over it, and a bazillion things sticking off it. In fact, I only want my paintball marker to look like whatever it looks like after it is the smallest, quietest and lightest marker for sniping.

For me personaly, I want to create a great sniper rig just because I honestly think that a person can play like a sniper if they have great concealment and a silent marker, and patience. No added range or accuracy, and no "one shot one kill" mentality either. Just scratching the surface of all that stuff a real military sniper does really. Just the silent and invisible elimination with some paintballs, in the fewest ammount of shots possible. Hey... its something to aspire too.

Thanks for the help.

[Stealth Fighter]

Well, since you aren't planning on laying out a thick stream of paint, the classic valve is the way to go, the automag is closed bolt blow forward design that doesn't produce a wopping amoung of sound. Both valves probably produce about the same amount of noise.

But, I have heard the level 10 bolt which is just as good as having an electronic eye when tuned correctly is a little quieter.

Here are some barrels I here reduce sound a good deal.


Jacko Infinity: Very Rare and probably not too cheap

Armson Stealth: A surprisingly accurate and quiet barrel

J&J Ceramic: They are known to be pretty quiet and cheap and light and accurate

32 Degrees Whisper Barrel: Cheap and quiet, don't know a lot about accuracy or anything else

St!ffi Barrels: heard some raving reviews about how quiet they are, look into it first though.

[VFX_Fenix]

A Classic Valve would be a better choice than an X/ReTro valve as the latter is more sensetive to trigger handeling than the Classic for consistent muzzle velocity.

The Automag is NOT, I repeat not, a Closed Bolt design, it's an open bolt blow forward semi.

Anyway... Barrels are personal choice, grab something with lots of porting if you want to be quieter.

Personally I like CP One-Piece classic barrels.
I'm also a fan of the old Cocker threaded Infinity barrels, unfortunately anymore if you want one, be ready to buy an Angel to XXXX adapter since.. well Angels are the only guns that they're still threaded for. (Stock Angel barrels)

[famousgamer]

Thanks for the info. I personally got a classic valve, and a lvl 10 bolt on the mag I recently bought. I am hoping this is the quietest setup possible with the AGD products.

Ill let you know how that J&J does when I try it out next week. Those Stiffis seem great, but are a little out of my price range right now. Down the road I hope to try one out. Thanks for the barrel tips.

[Lohman446]

Well, since you aren't planning on laying out a thick stream of paint, the classic valve is the way to go, the automag is closed bolt blow forward design that doesn't produce a wopping amoung of sound.

What? Closed bolt? An automag?

The Lucky fifteen barrels are extremely quiet, but I would expect you would have to go to 'Cocker threading (and a ULE body) to make use of them.

[Stealth Fighter]

My bad meant to put open bolt, don't know why I put closed.

[REDRT]

No added range or accuracy, and no "one shot one kill" mentality either.
Thanks for the help.

First thing I thought of. How ironic...

[Coralis]

If you can find one of the old SP all american barrels, they are extremely quiet and being used they are fairly cheap.

[famousgamer]

"One shot one kill" looks great on a bumper sticker. I figure, why just send one shot at a target?

Paintballs are not that accurate, and it is so easy to send three or four shots in the place of one. Since there is hardly any kick from the marker, and a marker can hold up to 200 rounds, I fire at least three times at each target. I gotta have at least one shot hit and break, and my ego can survive sending a few shots at each person. I get no high fives from the other snipers tho.

My personal sniper motto is "Lotsa shots, lotsa kills!"

My presonal take on the paintball sniper is pretty much just being the silent and invisible camper. Then my friends stick me on defense all day and I have a chance to catch up on my reading for the first 10 minutes of each game. Wewt.

Good suggestions on the barrels. I am pretty much out of the market, but Ill keep my eye open for those brands on the feild, and see how they do.

[REDRT]

"One shot one kill" looks great on a bumper sticker. I figure, why just send one shot at a target?

Paintballs are not that accurate, and it is so easy to send three or four shots in the place of one. Since there is hardly any kick from the marker, and a marker can hold up to 200 rounds, I fire at least three times at each target. I gotta have at least one shot hit and break, and my ego can survive sending a few shots at each person. I get no high fives from the other snipers tho.

My personal sniper motto is "Lotsa shots, lotsa kills!"

My presonal take on the paintball sniper is pretty much just being the silent and invisible camper. Then my friends stick me on defense all day and I have a chance to catch up on my reading for the first 10 minutes of each game. Wewt.

Good suggestions on the barrels. I am pretty much out of the market, but Ill keep my eye open for those brands on the feild, and see how they do.

The term Sniper in paintball is used very loosly. One reason for "one shot one kill" is to maintain concealment. You start blasting away you give up your position. Normally "snipers" are more distant from the target and sometimes take multiple shots for multiple targets in certain situations. In paintball your fairly up close and personal. Taking just one shot to eliminate one player might mean better survival of yourself. I myself wouldn't be setting up an Xvalved marker. You wouldn't need it to be a "sniper". Maybe not even a semi-auto all. If I was going to pretend to be a "sniper" I might consider playing with a quality pump.

[famousgamer]

With my silencer, I could probably unload about 30 paintballs at each target, and they would probably see the stream of paint before they could hear the direction it is coming from.







Attached to the J&J barrel and the Automag it should be really quiet.

Ill stick with semi-auto. Pumps would br pretty romantic tho. Like I said earlier, I am just playin a regular ol game of paintball... just well hidden and silent. I wouldnt play a regular game with a pump. Not that pumps are bad... Id just miss the ROF when I needed it.

[REDRT]

they would probably see the stream of paint before they could hear the direction it is coming from.
Not that pumps are bad... Id just miss the ROF when I needed it.

Another reason why the one shot rule. That is one of the spotters jobs to support the "sniper".

[famousgamer]

Yeah...but... thats what I mean. It aint like real sniping in that regard, and most other regards.

A spotter? Ummm, I dont have a spotter, but it might be nice. They could be my personal assistant, and in between watching my shots they could fix me up an Americano and a biscotti. Mmmm.

[REDRT]

Yeah...but... thats what I mean. It aint like real sniping in that regard, and most other regards.

A spotter? Ummm, I dont have a spotter, but it might be nice. They could be my personal assistant, and in between watching my shots they could fix me up an Americano and a biscotti. Mmmm.

Well it sounds like in your case. A black RTpro or tac 1 xvalved ult'd and a como halo is the way to go for yeah. Slap on your silencer and go to town.

[Lohman446]

Why is it when someone comes on with the idea of what a "sniper" can be in paintball, maintaining concealment over brute force, we belittle the idea of the term sniper. However, when someone comes on and wants to be a "long range" sniper we remind them of the implausability of that in paintball. Come on now, this man wants to play a different style game that depends as much on concealment as it does brute firepower. Its a valid / different approach to situations and in many types of games may be a great change. How many times have you guys been in scenarios, gotten bored with your teams frontal assaults and wandered around solo. I know I have often, and when greeted with brute force against multiple players its nice to be able to fire a shot or two without giving away your position, and move reasonably quietly. I think its a lot of fun and a change of pace from the normal blitzkrieg style that is paintball. I doubt any of you are going to accuse me of not knowing the game.