Tippmann A-5 Paintball Gun: Best Paintball Guns on Amazon

• 15 ball per second average
• Extremely rugged
• High performance, low price
• Air efficient
• Will last a lifetime

Today, we are going to take a look at a marker that has earned a name for itself as ‘the warden of woodsball’.

The Tippmann A-5 has been an extremely popular marker for over two decades and while many modern markers are lighter, quieter, and shoot faster, the A-5 still very much holds its own in the field. If you like the sturdy feel of a trusted mechanical marker then the A-5 is for you.

While still considered a marker for beginner to intermediate players, the A-5 is not a paintball gun that should be overlooked. It combines the rugged durability of classic models such as the Cronus and 98 Custom with higher performing parts to provide a real beast of a baller. Out of the box, it comes equipped with Tippman’s famous cyclone feed system.

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This cyclone feed system is gas operated, so you do not need to worry about running out of battery power mid-game. Thanks to the cyclone feeder, the Tippmann A-5 marker is capable of firing fifteen balls per second (BPS) out of the box.

More basic Tippmann models such as the Cronus and 98 Custom utilize a gravity feed system, which provides an output of eight BPS. The 98 Custom is considered the most widely rented paintball marker in the world, so immediately the A-5 will give you a serious advantage over casual players.

Tippmann A-5 paintball guns are intermediate-level markers in the truest sense of the name. With a considerably higher rate of fire than other entry-level markers such as the above-mentioned 98c, you will be a force to be reckoned with if you are up against other beginners/ hobby ballers.

What About the Weight?

Coming in at 3.12 lbs, the Tippmann A-5 marker is lighter than the Cronus, allowing you to jump, dive and crawl through the field without tiring out as quickly. It also makes it easier to maneuver if you prefer a more tactical playstyle.

While you can certainly find lighter paintball markers out there, many of those will have a higher price tag.

Naturally, the weight factor is largely dependent on your physical strength and stamina as well. If you have a big build and are combat-fit, then the weight of the marker isn’t going to weigh on your mind as much as if you are more slight.

What Play Styles Does the A-5 Compliment?

Like all of Tippmann’s markers, the A-5 is built to take a pounding. Tippmann is one of the leading brands for Woodsball for this reason. Another great thing about Tippman paintball guns is that they are extremely customizable, meaning you can really customize this marker to suit any playstyle.

With that being said, there are certainly some pros and cons of the Tippmann A-5 that make it a better marker for some styles of play than others.

For instance, I would not take the A-5 with me into a speedball match. There, the size, weight, and rate of fire would fall short compared to the higher-end speedball markers that you would come up against.

However, if you are getting out into the woods for a day of woodsball or military-sim, then the A-5 can shine for several play styles.

Do you want to leap into battle and dive for covers like some cross between Rambo and John Wick? The A-5 will serve you well.

If you would prefer to play a support role or pick the opponents off from afar as a sniper then the A-5 will prove to be an excellent choice as well.

It is accurate up to about 150 feet, but you can improve the accuracy by fitting it with a specialized barrel, such as the Tippmann sniper barrel.

How Did it Fare in the Field?

Now, I have to say that I personally love Tippmann. To be fair, woodsball matches have always been my favorite to play because it combines two of my favorite things: getting dirty in the great outdoors and mercilessly coating my friends in paint (or trying to, anyway). That is why I found the A-5 a great paintball marker to compete with.

I would not use the A-5 for competitive play or speedball. Personally, my budget allows me to use more advanced markers and like most things in life, you get what you pay for.

However, I can confidently say that the A-5 will serve a beginner player extremely well even up to quite a competitive level.

With the gas-operated cyclone feed system, you can get a high rate of fire up until the 400-ball mark, at which point you may need to let gravity feed the marker until you run out of gas. This will drop your BPS to about 9 balls per second.

One of the harnesses I use most often when playing woodsball allows me to pack an extra HPA tank so I usually just swap out my tanks after 400 balls.

I find the cyclone feeds balls pretty reliably with a fresh tank, but once you start relying on gravity you run the risk of chopping paint.

Unlike the Tippmann Cronus, the A-5 has the gas feed on the outside of the marker. This is not uncommon, so it should not hold you back, but it does mean that you need to be more cautious of damaging the gas line when crawling through rough terrain.

Replacement tubes and fixtures for the gas line are pretty cheap, so it pays to keep a replacement in your pack.

Best Upgrades to Pimp Your A-5

Out of the box, the Tippman A-5 paintball marker is an excellent gun. However, there are a few upgrades that I would strongly recommend you get, especially if you are starting to play more competitively.

The stock 9” barrel is great for beginners, but I found that my marker performed much better after swapping the stock barrel out for the Tippmann sniper barrel. Investing in a custom E-trigger can help you get the most out of your 15 BPS, but the stock trigger is walkable in my experience.