| When selecting your paintball barrel there are two | | | | for the barrel, air will escape around the paintball when |
| areas that you want to focus on: the threading and the | | | | firing causing a drop in speed, accuracy, and efficiency. |
| barrel shaft (length, diameter, and porting). | | | | Different barrels also come in different sizes and |
| When selecting your barrel you are going to want to | | | | having a good paint to barrel match is critical. To check |
| start with your threads. Every brand and gun may | | | | for paint to barrel match put a paintball in the barrel |
| have its own thread pattern so the first thing you want | | | | holding it vertically, if it falls right through the paint is too |
| to ensure is that the barrel that you are looking at | | | | small. If you try and blow the paint out the barrel it |
| matches your paintball gun. | | | | should come out with a good blow, if not the paintball is |
| Another Factor to consider is going to be your barrel | | | | too big. |
| length. The longer your barrel is the more accurate you | | | | One of the best options for solving this problem is to |
| gun is. The longer the ball has to travel down the barrel | | | | purchase a barrel kit. A barrel kit turns your barrel into |
| the longer it has to straighten out your shot improving | | | | a two piece system. The first smaller section creates |
| your accuracy, however the further the ball has to | | | | the barrel diameter and having it interchangeable will |
| travel further down the barrel requiring more air to | | | | allow you to have a perfect paint to barrel match |
| shoot the ball, in turn making your gun less efficient. In | | | | most all of the time. The second piece will determine |
| addition to the loss of efficiency to your gun in barrels | | | | the length and porting of your barrel. There are also |
| over 14" the barrel is actually long enough that it starts | | | | barrel kits that have inserts to help you adjust your |
| to slow the ball down before it leaves the barrel, | | | | bore diameter. |
| decreasing your range and accuracy! It is also good to | | | | When purchasing a barrel or even if you already have |
| factor in the maneuverability of having a shorter barrel | | | | one it is important to have the proper barrel |
| over a longer barrel depending on your style of play. | | | | accessories as well. Squeegees are used to clean the |
| Porting consists of the holes and openings in the sides | | | | paintball barrel when paint has broken inside. A |
| of a barrel near the tip. Porting is used to dampen the | | | | squeegee does what it sounds like, it has rubber disc |
| sound of the gun when firing. The openings allow air to | | | | that slides down the inside walls of the barrel wiping it |
| gradually leave the barrel instead of all at once through | | | | clean. |
| the business end of the barrel. As a rule of thumb, the | | | | A battle swab is another way that you can clean your |
| more porting the quieter the gun, however like with the | | | | barrel and are generally known for being extremely |
| barrel length to a point. The more porting also requires | | | | quick in cleaning. The paintball battle swab usually |
| more air to shoot the ball, so it will also eventually | | | | consists of a rod, jointed in the middle that has a soft |
| reduce gun efficiency and accuracy. | | | | wool like material on both ends for cleaning out debris |
| Paintballs for the average paintball gun are designed to | | | | and absorbing the paint in the barrel. |
| be .68" diameter, however the shape or size can | | | | Whichever tool that you prefer it is essential to keep a |
| change with temperature and humidity. If a paintball is | | | | clean barrel or else you will find your accuracy |
| larger than the barrel, it might break inside the barrel | | | | severely reduced. |
| and clog up the barrel and if the paintball is too small | | | | |