| Many people get discouraged when they first shoot a | | | | a paint that will work well with your barrel. Bore sizes |
| brand new paintball gun. Many guns lack accuracy and | | | | vary wildly from .678 - .693. There is a simple test you |
| distance resulting in frustration for new players. There | | | | can use to check the compatibility of the paint with the |
| are a lot of opinions floating around out there. In reality, | | | | barrel you are using if you cannot find the bore or |
| there are a few key factors that weigh substantially in | | | | caliber sizes. Take the barrel off the gun and insert a |
| the formula for accuracy. | | | | paintball into the barrel. The paintball should not roll out, if |
| The number one upgrade for any paintball gun is a | | | | it does the paint is too small. Try to blow the ball out of |
| new paintball barrel. Why, because it's the easiest way | | | | the barrel using your mouth. The ball should exit the |
| to see immediate performance gains. What makes an | | | | barrel under slight pressure. If the ball refuses to exit |
| aftermarket barrel better than stock? Many | | | | regardless of pressure, the paint is too large. This test |
| manufacturers will not include the highest quality, best | | | | alone will greatly increase your gun's accuracy by |
| designed barrels with their kits. Reasons probably | | | | determining a good paint match for your barrel. |
| include cost more so than anything else. Putting too | | | | Air source is a big factor overlooked by paintball |
| much into a barrel could greatly influence the overall | | | | players. CO2 is the most common air source used in |
| cost of the marker. This could mean the difference | | | | paintball today. When in extreme temperatures or |
| between a paintball gun flying off the shelf or stuck | | | | under very high rates of fire, CO2 can cause the |
| collecting dust. The aftermarket for paintball barrels is | | | | marker to become inconsistent showing variations in |
| vast. It's in my opinion that smart manufacturers know | | | | distance and accuracy from shot to shot. CO2 is a |
| that the average user is going to replace the stock | | | | liquid that must convert into a gas to be used as a |
| barrel anyway. Aftermarket barrels come in varying | | | | propellant in paintball guns. This conversion requires |
| sizes, are made of different material and in various | | | | heat. This is the reason why your tank and gun get |
| designs. There is a large trend towards rifled barrels in | | | | cold while using a CO2 powered marker. The |
| the paintball market today. Rifling cuts an inner groove | | | | incomplete conversion could cause liquid CO2 to get |
| into the bore of the barrel. This groove is designed to | | | | into the internals of the gun resulting in sporadic |
| increase or restrict the spin of a paintball as it is shot | | | | performance. A Compressed Air or Nitrogen Tank will |
| out of the barrel. Most aftermarket barrels use material | | | | give your gun a more consistent operating pressure. |
| that is lighter and more durable than stock. You'll also | | | | This is because air or nitrogen is used as the propellant. |
| notice that most aftermarket paintball barrels will also | | | | No conversion is necessary and therefore none of the |
| incorporate porting or special milling to reduce shot | | | | negative characteristics of CO2 are experienced. |
| sound and help control airflow substantially. Porting to | | | | Most paintball guns are use either CO2 or |
| control airflow is responsible for providing a | | | | Compressed Air right out of the box with no |
| non-turbulent exit for the paintball as it leaves the | | | | modification. Serious players always go with |
| barrel. | | | | Compressed Air because it offers the shot |
| Paintballs are not created equal. There are higher | | | | consistency heavily relied upon to win on the field. |
| quality paintballs on the market that cost more. The | | | | The last area of importance is in regards to the |
| cost is reflected in the better shell, fill and overall | | | | paintball gun's bolt. Many players do not feel that a bolt |
| consistency in size and shape. Better paint offers | | | | will make much difference in terms of accuracy. Tests |
| more consistent shooting, period! Low-end paint will | | | | show that bolts using higher-quality materials and |
| cause inconsistencies from shot to shot because of | | | | designs which control airflow perform better than |
| differences in size, shell shape and the amount of fill | | | | lower-end bolts. Better bolts use materials that are light |
| achieved at the factory. In one 500 round bag of | | | | and resist drag and wear. Their design incorporates a |
| low-end paintballs, you may find paint size varying | | | | shape that allows for better, more controlled airflow |
| substantially although the box is labeled as .68 caliber | | | | resulting in less turbulence. When considering a bolt |
| balls. .68 is a general size indicator. Learn what bore | | | | upgrade, look for the facts. Serious manufacturers will |
| size your barrel is. Most quality barrel manufacturers | | | | show testing to substantiate the performance gain |
| will list the actual bore size. This allows you to choose | | | | claims. |