Tippmann Model 98

    Tippmann pneumatics, which was formerly a company that only made sewing machines, went into business producing air rifles.  One of the first guns put into production was the SL-68, which was a pump.  This was followed by the 68 carbine, a workhorse of a gun, and later the pro light, the carbine's longer more rifle like brother.  Many advancements have come about in the industry, and this is reflected in Tippmann's latest marker, the Model 98.  

    Designed to be a entry level tournament marker, the 98's surprisingly light and responsive trigger is quite competitive.  The pull of this trigger is a mere 3 pounds, which means it doesn't take much to rip of impressive strings.  The only thing lacking right out of the box is the barrel.  The stock barrel, although moderately accurate, was the very first thing I replaced.  Once an aftermarket barrel is fitted, the 98 is incredibly accurate.  I chose the Lapco Bigshot as my barrel of choice, although it is not the quietest, it is the most accurate barrel for the money.  The medium bore size works well with nearly all brands of paint.

    Field stripping the 98 for cleaning couldn't be simpler.  The entire body is a clam shell design of two separate halves, which once the 5 screws are removed, gives access to the entire internals of the gun.  The only thing to watch for is the small c spring on the front site, sometimes it has a tendency to pop off.  And upon reassembly, check to make sure the front sight is in its groove, then tighten the screws in an alternating fashion to prevent an uneven fit of the halves.

    The barrel threads are a large design, which allows the barrel to be removed in a few quick turns.  Another unique design is the fold down hopper and elbow assembly.  By simply pushing down the front sight, the entire elbow and hopper swings down, allowing a squeegee to be run through the entire breach.  Not to worry though, because the 98 rarely breaks a ball.  

    The overwhelming popularity of the 98 has lead to many aftermarket accessories.  Some of which include a reactive trigger, which allows a small air ram to be put in the trigger grip which replaces the trigger spring, and makes an adjustable return rate of the trigger.  Look for amazing rates of fire with this kit.  Speaking of rates of fire, a full auto kit is also available.  This mod allows you to have variable rates of fire from burst to full auto.  The best part is it is not permanent.  Another mod is the expansion chamber foregrip replacement.  This allows the liquid Co2 to expand into gas before entering the gun, which keeps the operating pressure of the gun where it should be, keeping the air from smacking the paintballs instead of gently pushing.  This mod also gives better efficiency out of the CO2 tank.

    All in all, the Model 98 is an excellent choice for the entry level paintballer who wants a gun to grow in the sport with.  I personally know of several homemade mods for this gun, anyone interested in me posting them on the site, click on the contact us and let me know.