I like a 14 inch

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i use a 12 inch barrel on one of my a5's and on another i use a 18 inch barrel it all depends on the role i want to play for a certain game... both shoot the same distance and accuracy wise.

Longer barrel = easier barrel tags

I think it really depends on where you are playing. I play a lot of CQB, so a 3" shorty is perfect. It has good accuracy up to about 50ft, but I can get them to fly upto 200ft (just not as accurate as say a flatty, or anything else).

When I'm playing outside, I like a nice 12" barrel. They give me better accuracy at longer ranges past the 50ft prime of my shorty

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I make paintball look gooood!!!!

I have a 14" but find it may be a bit too long and end up shoveling no matter how high I point the gun up when diving. 12 looks a more maneuverable and the change in accuracy is minimal unless you have a bipod and prone.

12" vented is a good optimum for most markers. High pressure guns will do better with shorter barrels on HPA. Co2 will expand longer and give an extra inch or so of expansion.

Low pressure guns can use a longer barrel because they dump air a little longer to achieve the same FPS. Longer barrels can suffer in consistency due to the loss of expansion at the muzzle. Although, hand movement magnification on longer barrels will help you sight a little better.

Most of the FPS is achieved in the first few inches of the barrel.

You have to decide on a barrel based on how your marker is setup and your playing style. If you're not sure, stick with the 12" vented.

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www.palmer-pursuit.com

Leash Kit

I personally like a 10"-12" barrel, with 14" being the longest. The accuracy loss is minimal and the maneuverability gain is outstanding. Even if the accuracy dropped I would still prefer a short barrel, because it allows me to get into tight spots and keep myself hidden easier.

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A5 - W.A.S E-grip - Polished Internals - Double Trigger - Adjustable Car Stock - NcStar 4 Reticle Red Dot Sight - J&J Edge Elite Kit - Wargear Flexi Paddles - Vortex Mod - X7 Hopper - Remote Coil - CO2

From all the studies in this area, and my own personal experience I feel its this way.
14 is said to be the optimum barrel balance for accuracy, and efficiency. Anything longer uses more air, and gains no more accuracy, and anything shorter gains efficiency, but looses accuracy.
With all that being said, thats not all that should be considered when choosing a barrel.
One thing commonly over looked in my opinion, is alignment perception.
This is the study that proves the fact that its easier to point something more accurately and stable, the longer the object travels away from your point of sight. Its a human issue that we all have.
This is why I find 16" and up to be my favorite lengths.
Efficiency means little to me, compared to how the marker feels, and how easy it is to be comfortable with.
As for getting hung up in stuff with a longer barrel, I dont know where you guys play, but I have never found this to be a real problem in most conditions.
I would say that if you found this a disadvantage, then you must realize that it has its separate advantages as well. This being that its easier to get on point with quicker, and the fact that you can actually stick the barrel through a screened object without having to shove your marker way out in front of you, causing an accuracy decrease from improper stabilization from your grip.
There is always loads of things to think about when your choosing to check into something, that often gets over looked due to the popular beliefs and myths of any given subject.
For instance, a ported barrel that is 12" would not be any more efficient, than a barrel without ports that is 16".
The barrel length theory that palmers describes, even takes ambient heat of the area into perspective.
As in a 12" barrel might do better in 82deg weather, than a 16" will, due to the way the gas expands under subjective temperature conditions.
Rule of thumb with his theory states, that the hotter the temp, the shorter the barrel, while the colder it gets, the longer the barrel required to get proper expansion to shape the balls exit trajectory path most consistent.
I feel that this is very interesting, and could be a correct study, however I find that with those things considered, and the things I talked about added to the melting pot, there is really one true answer to which barrel length and type, is the best for that certain criteria at the time.
So it boils down to one having multiple types, and lengths of barrels to make any real chance at getting the most from your setup from day to day.
All and all, you cant really go wrong with anything that is 12"-20". Sooner or later, it will perform to its best when the weather and other variables are considered and present. Good paint, and a sizable 16" barrel is what does it for me, and Ive always had excellent results.
If you dont buy good paint, my advice to you would be to not bother paying for a nice barrel.
It will only shoot as good as the paint will allow it to.

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A well-reasoned argument, War Cowboy. I agree, premium paintballs are more important than length. My 16" Tippmann barrel works just fine.

Yep, paint quality is everything, and paying less usually ends up costing you more in other ways.
I try and think outside the box as much as possible, and most of the things I chime in on is from personal experience with the equipment, or at least something similar.
I know I probably annoy people sometimes with my rants on things, but I feel Im doing more good for the hobby voicing my understanding of things, rather than not saying something at all.
Even if Im wrong, I will more than likely get people stirring about the issue enough to learn some interesting things.
Learning the whole thing is as fun as playing it to me.
I love the forums, as its taught me a butt load about paintball, that would have otherwise took years to learn without Im sure.

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