The Ultimate Apex Barrel Thread

[KRA SHARPSHOOTER]

I posted this on the Special Ops forum, & figured it would help over here as well.

F.A.Q.
Q: What is an Apex Barrel, and what does it do?
A: An Apex Barrel imparts spin to the ball. The Apex can impart back, top, or sidespin (this allows balls to arc around some obstacles, or have them drop over bunkers). The magnitude of spin can also be varied, allowing for a gentle curve or a sudden hook.

Q: Which is better the Apex or the Flatline?
A: Most players who have used both the Apex and the Flatline will agree that the Apex is better. Here are some good points from Knightwolf16:
· You can adjust the Apex for different distance
· You can shoot curves or dive bombs
· Tolerates paint a lot better
· You can put the Apex tip on other barrels
· Price
· The Apex is more accurate at distance
· The Apex shoots farther than the flatline
· The Apex can be quickly changed out of an A5 and a flatline can't

Q: Why are my paintballs bouncing off my target at 200+ feet?
A: The reason the paintball is bouncing is because the Apex barrel has increased your range, but it hasn't increased your effective range. Meaning that as the paintball travels through the air it is meeting resistance from the air that is causing it to slow down. As the paintball gets further and further away it slows down more and more. When the ball travels too slowly it won't have enough impact against a person's soft (and absorbing) skin, causing the paintball to bounce. Sometimes the paintballs won't even break when they hit a hard object such as a mask at such extreme ranges.

Q: Why is the Apex barrel so inaccurate at long range?
A: It's not the Apex barrel is inaccurate, but it's a combination of separate elements that cause your shots to be inaccurate. To start off with you must realize that when you shoot your paintballs your paintballs have a group size; a pretty much circular area that your paintballs will land in at different ranges. The further away your target is the larger your group size is going to be. You also have to take into account that paintballs are light, rubbery, liquid filled projectiles, which are undergoing immense pressure when they are subjected to the backspin that the Apex applies to them. Because they are liquid filled they tend to be a tad unstable, they are also very light-weight which causes them to be effected by the slightest amount of wind. All of these elements combined together tend to create an very wide group pattern at extended ranges.

Q: Can I buy just the Apex tip?
A:Yes, you can buy the Apex Tips without the barrel while supplies last from lapcopaintball.com LINK (Updated 5/29/08)

Q: Can I put the Apex Tip on a more accurate barrel, and how do I do it?
A: Yes you can place the Apex Tip on any barrel that doesn't have a fancy tip(meaning it neads a standerd flat tip), and it needs to have an outer diameter smaller than 0.875 (7/8"). To attach the Tip to a barrel that isn't "Apex Ready"(Apex Ready is a barrel that has a built in adapter just like the barrel that comes with the Apex) you will need use either an Adapter or one of the Tape Mods(see below for links to these options). There are also many barrels that are Apex Ready, such as the Special Ops C-Series, Lapco Bigshot & Smart Parts' All American front.

Q: Will the APEX tip fit on an A-5's stock barrel?
A: It will fit over it, but you'll have to use an Adapter or a Tape Mod for it to work. The only reason I would recommend this is if you are going to cut the stock barrel down to make a snub nose out of it.

Q: What fps does the Apex perform the best at?
A: Most Apex users tend to shoot at around 280fps with the best results, although you can operate it at almost any fps and it will work fine.

Q: How much extra length does the Apex tip add to a barrel?
A: About 3 inches.

Q: What length of barrel is best to use with the Apex?
A: As long as there's room for an adapter or a tape adapter it doesn't really matter. Just remember that the Apex will add about 3" to the end of your barrel.

Q: How do you adjust the Apex to put different spin on the paintballs?
A: There's a rubber ramp inside the Apex. For each click you slide the adjustment forward that rubber ramp is pushed a little farther in front of the barrel so it gives the ball a little more spin with each click. All the way back is "off" and all the way forward is maximum spin. The Apex collar also rotates. It has a sight on top of it so you'll know which side is up. With the sight straight up it spins the ball backwards which gives you distance. With the sight pointing straight down it gives the ball forward spin which gives you the dive bomb shot. Pointing the sight to the right gives you a right curve and pointing it to the left gives you a left curve. I usually leave mine straight up and set to about the 4th or 5th click. That gives you good range and that great flat trajectory with decent accuracy. When using the dive bomb shot I will usually set mine for MAX spin to make the ball curve really sharp to get behind bunkers or into trenches. The left and right curve shots aren't as useful but still come in handy every now and then. You will get spoiled on the flat trajectory. - Original Post by DVLCHLD

Q: Why does my rubber pad that applies the backspin have cuts and nicks in it?
A: Only a few people have had this problem, and they admit that they where sustaining high rates of fire when this happened. It was concluded that when shooting at high rates of fire and a paintball broke in the barrel that the broken balls where cutting up the backspin pad. It would be best to use more caution when sustaining high rates of fire. The nicks on the pad haven't effected the performance of the Apex Tip , but if you think you need a replacement contact BT's Customer Support and they should send you a new pad.

Q: Can I squeegee through my barrel with the Apex tip on it?
A: Yes, but if you have a ball break in you Apex tip a swab works better than a squeegee to clean it out.

Q: Do you have to use high quality paint with the Apex like you do for the Flatline?
A: Nope. Just about any paint will work unless it's some of that really bad dimpled stuff that's been sitting in your closet for the whole winter. Most people use medium grade and higher paint to achieve better accuracy.

Q: Will a standard barrel bag work with the Apex? (Added 7/23/08)
A: Yes, almost all barrel bags are made to fit over the Flatline, and that is actually larger than the Apex. If you by the actual Apex Barrel instead of just buying the Tip from Lapco, you should receive a barrel bag with your barrel.

Q: Should I get an Apex Adapter or use a Tape Mod? (Added 7/23/08)
A: That realy depends on what barrel you are trying to attach it to. If your trying to attach an Apex Tip to a J&J Ceramic barrel or one like it, I would recommend the use of a Tape Mod because I don't think you need to spend $15 on the J&J adapter. If you are attaching the Apex to a barrel like the C-Series Barrel, one that has threads to screw it into, I would recommend getting the Adapter because it's only $8 and it will screw onto the front of the C-Series giving you a much more solid platform.

Q: What o-rings does the Apex Tip use? (Added 7/23/08)
A: The Apex uses two o-rings to allow the Tip to rotate smoothly. Specs; Inner Diameter: 20.6mm, Outer Diameter: 23.8mm, Cross Section: 1.6mm.

Apex Barrels/Tips
BT PAINTBALL
Apex Barrel System (Fixed 6/10/08)
BT-M16 Apex Barrel Kit (Fixed 6/10/08)

LAPCO
Apex Tip (Updated 6/27/08)

RAP4
APEX Thread-on Barrel (Added 8/26/08)

DIY Apex Adapters:
Apex Tape Mod (DVLCHLD)
Apex "Tape Adapter" (Compulsion)

Manufactured Apex Adapters
J&J PERFORMANCE
Apex Adapter (Added 4/27/08)

LAPCO
STR8 SHOT Apex Ready Tip (Added 7/23/08)

PALMERS PURSUIT SHOP
Apex to 13/16 or Palmer Adapter

SPECIAL OPS
C-Series Apex Adapter

UNDERGROUND MOD SHOP (UMS)
UMS Apex Adapter Sleeve

Apex Ready Barrels
LAPCO
Apex Ready Barrels & Apex Ready Barrels + Tips (Updated 6/27/08)

SMART PARTS
6" Apex Ready All American Front (Updated 6/27/08)
10" Apex Ready All American Front (Updated 6/27/08)

Videos:
F.E.A.R. Paintball
Apex Video

KRA SHARPSHOOTER
BT Apex Barrel How To: Disassemble, Clean, & Reassemble (Added 09/05/08)

Spades (realizedsk8r)
BT Apex Maintenance Video (Added 4/29/08)

If there's more information that I missed, or that you think should be added just shoot me a PM and/or Post on this thread.

[RAMSEY]

Excellent review. This will definitely help new operators.

[Death_Dealer]

nice write up you deserve a per for it

[JerryX]

Sweet information.

[Pumbaa]

(Edit: Note to self, read WHOLE thread before posting.) I see that Spec Ops has a tip for the C Series they call the APEX adapter. The C-Series may be my next barrel based on Panda86's barrel reviews.

And, I found out that Lapco sells just the APEX tip for $40!

[OCMI_VIPER]

Excellent post!

Rep

Thank You....

[KRA SHARPSHOOTER]

Originally Posted by Pumbaa

(Edit: Note to self, read WHOLE thread before posting.) I see that Spec Ops has a tip for the C Series they call the APEX adapter. The C-Series may be my next barrel based on Panda86's barrel reviews.

And, I found out that Lapco sells just the APEX tip for $40!

Yep, I have the 12" C-Series with Apex Adapter & Tip. I absolutely love it!
I will add a link directly to the C-Series Apex Adapter, I though I had one, but I see that I don't...

Lapco started selling the Apex Tips about a month after I bought my Apex barrel for $60, could have saved $20. Oh, Well, that how life works.

[Grubb]

I love the Apex Barrel.

[Lord Odin]

What kind of barrel condom will fit on the Apex? Do you have to use a Flatline condom?

[KRA SHARPSHOOTER]

Originally Posted by Lord Odin

What kind of barrel condom will fit on the Apex? Do you have to use a Flatline condom?

The regular Apex Barrel comes with a Barrel Bag, but the Apex Tip from Lapco does not include a Barrel Bag. A Flatline Barrel Bag will work fine.