Barrel Kits 101

[HeDsHoTz]

Just thought i'd post this for any of the new guys who don't understand the function of a barrel kit and it's components.


The purpose of a barrel kit is to give you the ability to match paint to the "bore size" of your barrel. I'll try and explain this as best I can.

When you buy your A5, the standard bore size of the barrel is .689 (or anywhere up to .693 if you listen to Jaron), or it's supposed to be. Paintballs are all around the same size but they differ slightly from brand to brand, and even with the same brand from box to box. Weather can also affect paintballs. They may swell slightly in hotter weather, and contract in colder weather. The average size of a paintball ranges from .687 up to .692, and this sometimes causes the paintball to fly inconsistantly from the marker (because of the differing bore sizes of the paintball)

This is where the barrel kit comes in. A barrel kit is comprised of two main parts of one barrel. These being the barrel back (so called because it's located at the back of the barrel) and the barrel front (do i need to explain?). Barrel fronts mostly vary in length from one another in a kit. For example, in the J&J Edge Elite kit, there are 3 fronts which when screwed on, give you either a 10", 12" or 14" barrel. The fronts don't usually differ in bore size, only length. The barrel backs are what makes these barrel kits adaptable. The backs all have different bore sizes that are used for "paint-matching" (more on this shortly) In the J&J Edge Elite kit, there are 5 backs measuring .682, .685, .688, .691 and .693 respectively. These backs allow you to see which one best "matches" the paint you are using at the time. Any barrel front will screw into any barrel back, giving you a combination of virtually 15 barrels to choose from.

On to paint matching. When you're setting up your marker before a game, take out the backs of your kit, and grab 5 paintballs out of your box of paint for the day. Start with the largest bore barrel back and drop one of the paintballs into the back. If it falls straight through, the back is too big and you need to go down a size. Continue doing this until the paintball "sticks" in the back. Now it won't be a tight fit, and you should be able to blow it through the back with fairly little effort. Do this with all 5 paintballs you picked up earlier (just to average it out). If the majority of the paintballs fall through, you need to go down another size. Continue doing this until all 5 paintballs are able to "stick" and be blown through the back. Once you have done this, you have just "paint matched" your barrel.

Now as the day wears on, and it gets either hotter or colder, your marker may start to shoot a little erratically. At this point it may be advisable to change barrel backs. As a general rule of thumb, If it gets hotter your paint will swell, so you go up to the next size larger back. Alternatively, if it gets colder, your paint will shrink, and you may need to go down to the next size smaller back.

As far as the fronts go, it basically comes down to personal preference. Some people will tell you that a longer barrel is more accurate, while some will say that longer barrels waste air/co2 and are no more accurate than their shorter counterparts. Best way is to try all the different combinations (that's what they're there for) and figure out which one suits you best.

[TippmannGunner*]

Great Post, right on target

[Papiriqui]

Yes definetly great post.

[HeDsHoTz]

Thanks guys. Just tryin to do my bit for the A5OG. Have seen this asked a few times in the past few weeks, and thought i'd make a post covering pretty much everything i wanted to know when i first started out.

I also thought "Proper thread titling? Hmmm, this should be pretty self explanitory." There ya go Zulu.

[bloodlust]

Hey, thanks for the great info for a total noob!

[Jaron]

I've never seen the 'official' advertized stock barrel bore. My tests have put it close to .693

[HeDsHoTz]

No worries Bloodlust. We're all here to do what we can.

And Jaron, i'm not too sure about the size of the bore on the standard barrel. This just seems to be the general consensus from a lot of reading. (Haven't had a chance to get my scientific callipers out yet) Regardless, this thread is aimed at those who need clarification pertaining to barrel kits, and the function of each piece in said kits.

Nevertheless, edited to comply with Jarons official Table of Weights and Measures

[Jaron]

Just a heads up on it is all. My tests with .691 Polar Ice showed the stock barrel was a smidge bigger. My intuition says most stock barrels are on the large size so they can shoot all sizes of paint ( as you can always over-bore it. )

[fourthsyde]

wicked write up!

[Red Dog]

Now if we just had an accurate list of paintball sizes to go along with it... Unfortunately every list I've seen is 5 or more years old. I even came across a list that had California Magnums listed on it. I used to love that paint.