| Rifling entered the scene in the mid-1800's as a way to | | | | appearance. Polished barrels are typically cheaper in |
| improve the firing capabilities of cannons. Cannon balls | | | | price with some exceptions. |
| were not perfect spheres. It was believed that the | | | | No Spin Rifling - The second concept involves rifling in |
| natural spinning of the balls as they were fired from | | | | such a way that spin is minimized. Much like the |
| the cannon decreased the accuracy of the shot. | | | | cannon ball, linear grooves are cut down the inner bore |
| Linear grooves were milled into the inside of the | | | | of the barrel. The linear grooves grab the ball and |
| cannon. These grooves reduced spin and greatly | | | | restrict spin. Manufactures that use linear rifling do so |
| increased the accuracy of cannons. It wasn't long | | | | based on the fact that paintballs are not perfect |
| before the concept of rifling was incorporated into | | | | spheres. Also, the inside of a paintball is never |
| other areas of ballistics. | | | | completely filled with paint; therefore spin could create |
| Today, rifling is used widely in many industries. Many | | | | a very sporadic flight pattern. |
| guns use a helix-shaped pattern cut into the interior | | | | Spin Rifling - This concept uses helical grooves that |
| bore of the barrel. The pattern twists at a certain rate | | | | twist down the length of the barrel. But unlike the linear |
| down the barrel length controlling not only spin but also | | | | grooves, helical grooves create and control rates of |
| the rate of spin. The spin causes a gyroscopic effect | | | | spin. The spin is believed to aid in controlling the flight |
| on the projectile which aids in stabilizing and controlling | | | | pattern and help resist outside factors that may disrupt |
| the flight path. The debate of rifling in paintball is a | | | | or alter the flight path. |
| heated one. Some say it does not work while others | | | | So does rifling to stop or create spin work well in |
| will not use anything other than a rifled barrel. There | | | | paintball? The reality is all barrel designs have |
| are really three schools of thought at work when is | | | | produced models that are extremely accurate |
| comes to paintball barrel design. | | | | reaching long distances. One common element in all |
| Polished Barrels - The first concept involves the inner | | | | barrels' success is paint size and quality. Purchase the |
| polished barrel in which no rifling is present. These | | | | highest quality paintballs that you can afford. Better |
| barrels are believed to create a smooth surface which | | | | quality paint is more consistent in size. Quality control |
| reduces drag on the paintball. This is believed to | | | | also extends to the roundness of the balls. Paintballs |
| reduce ball breaks and help to maintain longer | | | | that are matched to fit barrel bore size is also key to |
| distances. Most of the barrels in paintball are nonrifled. | | | | success. Matching them correctly yields a more |
| They are micro-honed and polished to a mirror like | | | | accurate, consistent shot. |