Tippmann A5 Review (2024) – Best All-Round Marker?
The Tippmann A5 is one of the legendary markers from Tippmann that ruled the paintball industry. Being known for its versatility to perform well in almost any paintball format as well as setting the bar high for range and accuracy in Paintball markers, this marker is famous for all the right reasons. In this Tippmann A5 Review, we will uncover all those reasons in detail.
After the huge commercial success of the Tippmann 98 Custom, Tippmann had to come up with a marker that would be known for its accuracy, reliability, and versatility.
The Tippmann A5 was released in 2002, almost 20 years from now. Despite its age, this is one of the most popular paintball guns to this date. You might be wondering, what makes this gun so popular after all these years? Short Answer: The same purpose it was made for, “accuracy, reliability, and versatility.”
Enough of the introduction. But before we dive into the review let’s have a quick look at the specifications Tippmann A5 has to offer.
- Body: Die-cast Aluminum body.
- Barrel: A5 threaded 8.5 inches barrel.
- Firing Mode: Semi-auto / Full-auto with E-grip
- Bore: .689 caliber.
- Propellent: HPA and CO2
- Effective Range: 150+
- Feed Rate: 15 BPS
- Fire Rate: 9 BPS / upto 20 BPS with upgrades
- Weight: 3.5 lb
- 60 sec on-field stripdown
- Operation: Gas Blowback
Tippmann A5 Review
Now that you know the basic features A5 comes with, let’s discuss the different factors that make this marker so loved and admired by paintballers, and most importantly, is it still worth buying in 2024?
1. Durability & Reliability
Tippmann is known for producing high-quality products, the same is the case with the Tippmann A5 which offers high durability and reliability.
The body of this marker is made up of die-cast aluminum which makes this marker durable enough to take hits and blows without damaging the internal components. Moreover, the use of aluminum for body construction makes this marker prone to rust and corrosion, enabling it to be used in all weather conditions.
The marker weighs around 3.5 lbs which although is not that heavy, still it is still slightly heavy to hold for longer periods of time.
2. Range & Accuracy
You know a gun has a good range and accuracy when it is widely regarded as one of the best paintball guns for sniping. The Tippmann A5 comes with an 8.5 stock barrel which is highly accurate and has the capability to precisely hit the target beyond 150+ feet.
The adjustable iron sights present at the top of the marker further reduce the chances of your shot missing the target. Moreover, to further improve the range and accuracy, you can also upgrade the barrel to something longer in length, such as the DeadlyWind Paintball Barrel.
3. Customizability & Upgrades
The Tippmann A5 is highly customizable. The simple body design and rails on top of the marker make a lot of room for customizability.
Although the stock version of this marker is still good enough to compete with most entry-level markers. For competitive players who want the maximum performance out of their guns, there are tons of upgrade options to choose from.
Some of the famous ones are listed below:
- Tippmann A5 E-Grip (can shoot upto 15 to 20 BPS)
- Tippmann A5 Response Trigger
- DeadlyWind Paintball Barrel.
- Tippmann Sniper Barrel
- Tippmann A5 Flatline Barrel
Apart from that, you can also give your gun a more tactical and realistic look with custom mod kits. These mod body kits are based on real guns, and can completely change the looks of your gun.
4. Ergonomics & Design
The simple design of the Tippmann A5 helps in future upgrades. The foregrip of this marker is MP-styled. Although the foregrip doesn’t have a hand indentation on it like the Tippmann 98 Custom, still it is pretty comfortable.
The outer body is covered in a matte black coating which not only makes the marker prone to rust and corrosion but also gives it a tactical look.
The Tippmann A5 features an external air-transfer tube. The selector switch is placed right above the trigger which lets you choose between safety and fire modes.
5. Disassembly & Reassembly
It is pretty common for paintballers to strip down and reassemble their markers in the heat of the game. That’s why you might want to end up with a gun that is easy to disassemble and reassemble quickly.
To your surprise, the Tippmann A5 can be disassembled and reassembled in less than a minute, and the best part? The whole process doesn’t require any tool.
6. Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining the Tippmann A5 is a pretty easy task thanks to the 2 pins’ quick strip-down design which allows you to detach the gun within minutes.
The marker doesn’t demand frequent cleaning, still, it is recommended to clean and lubricate your marker every once in a while. Cleaning and Maintaining your marker from time to time can improve its performance and prolong its life.
7. Cyclone Feed System
The Tippmann A5 comes with a stock cyclone feeder which is truly tailor-made for this gun. The addition of this system allows the hopper to feed paintballs at the rate of 15 – 17 BPS.
Moreover, it also significantly reduces the chances of paintballs getting jammed or breaking inside the barrel.
The stock hopper that is included with the cyclone feed system can store up to 200 paintballs at a time.
8. Price & Warranty
The price tag Tippmann A5 comes with is pretty reasonable and budget-friendly considering its built quality and the features it provides. The marker also comes with a 2-year brand warranty so you don’t have to worry about any defects and replacements.
Apart from that, to further improve the performance, you can always upgrade your existing marker instead of buying a whole new marker, thanks to the high availability of parts and several upgrade options to choose from. Again, this saves you some extra bucks.
- Highly Customizable, tons of upgrade options to choose from.
- Extremely durable, and thanks to premium built quality.
- Long range and high accuracy, can shoot upto 150+ feets precisely with stock barrel.
- Cyclone feed system, ensures fast and stable paintball feeding of about 15 PBS.
- Slightly heavy to hold for longer period of time.
- Compatible with only company or quality paintballs, using cheap paintballs can cause chopped ball issues.
- The lenght of stock barrel is short which is 8.5 inches, nowadays 14 inches is pretty much standard.
Tippmann A5 – FAQs
How to clean Tippmann A5?
Cleaning and maintaining your markers can improve their performance and make them last longer. The process involves removing the air tank and cleaning the outer body and the barrel. Here is a detailed video about how to clean Tippmann A5.
What is the best Tippmann A5 barrel?
There are a lot of barrels that perform well with Tippmann A5. When looking for a barrel you should look for a barrel that comes with A5 threading and has a length above 14” inches.
The Tippmann Sniper Barrel, DeadlyWind Paintball Barrel, or the A5 Flatline Barrel will work great with this gun.
How to adjust the velocity of Tippmann A5?
Adjusting the velocity accurately is a crucial part of maintaining the gun. Lowering the velocity will result in shorter and more inaccurate shots while higher velocity will cause safety concerns for the opponent.
To adjust the velocity, locate the velocity adjuster on the right side of the marker. Turn the adjuster counter-clockwise to increase or clockwise to decrease the velocity. Make small changes and use a chronograph to note the velocity. The international safety limit is 300 FPS but most fields allow 280 FPS max.
Can Tippmann A5 be used with Compressed Air/HPA?
Yes, the Tippmann A5 can be operated on both HPA and CO2. However, it is best recommended to use this gun on HPA to reduce the chances of pressure drop.
How fast can a Tippmann A5 shoot?
Typically, the Tippmann A5 shoots as soon as you press the trigger, so the firing rate is dependable. The stock version can shoot up to 8-9 BPS. Moreover, with the addition of an E-grip, this gun can shoot up to 20 BPS.
Is Tippmann A5 good for speedball?
The Tippmann A5 is best suited for woodsball since it is a mechanical maker with semi-auto firing mode which can shoot around 8-9 BPS. However, the addition of an E-grip can increase its firing rate up to 20 BPS which is good enough for speedball as well.
How to make Tippmann A5 more accurate?
Upgrading your barrel to a longer high-performance barrel, cleaning and maintaining the gun and barrel, and using better-quality paintballs can drastically improve the accuracy of the Tippmann A5.
How long does the Tippmann A5 last?
The Tippmann A5 is literally built to last for decades, it has a die-cast aluminum body which is durable and sturdy. On top of that, it is also prone to rust and corrosion. The fact that Tippmann A5 is still admired even after 20 years after its release is self-explanatory.
Final Words – Wrapping it up
The A5 is literally built to last decades. The fact that it is still being used by paintballers even after 20 years is self-evident. A5 also comes with a long warranty so you don’t have to worry about replacements or general issues.
Due to its long-range and high accuracy, this gun is best suited for woodsball. Moreover, with a couple of upgrades and customizable body kits (such as the MP or sniper body kit), the Tippmann A5 can also be used in Milsim Paintball.
So, is it still worth buying in 2024? Yes, If you are a beginner to an intermediate level player who plays for fun and wants something that is durable and will last years, A5 is a great fit for you, you will barely feel the need to upgrade to another marker.
On the other hand, if you are a competitive or high-level player that needs top-notch markers you might want to have a look at the Best Paintball Markers currently available.
Overall, the Tippmann A5 can prove itself a valuable addition to your arsenal. Extreme reliability, high accuracy, long-range, and tons of customizability/upgrade options in such a budget-friendly price tag make this a bang-for-the-buck deal.
Happy Paintballing!
