Elite Paintball Guns

Here’s another mid-range barrel that can grab your attention. The barrel is nicely made and looks awesome in my opinion. Performance-wise it’s as good as any other barrel in the same price range. It’s light, it shoots straight, it quiet. It cleans pretty well and quick after a break. Just shoot through it and you’ll be fine. If you match the paint to the bore right though breaks won’t be a problem. When you read the info about it you’ll notice that the barrel has a pretty big bore size so be careful with the paint matching. You should also know that it’s kinda paint picky and even though some other big bore barrels will shoot mid bore paint this one simply won’t – it get’s less efficient and less accurate if you’re using smaller sized paint. Other than that the barrel performs great. It costs about $60 and for that money it’s definitely worthy. Think about it. Go through the info and decide for yourself. I think it’s a good barrel that really deserves attention.

“Special Ops Paintball and Stiffi (Site Manufacturing Inc.,) have teamed up to bring you one of the best paintball gun barrels on the market. The Blackcell barrels are extremely strong, super quiet, lightweight, and are available in black and olive drab colors. The C-Series barrels are made with an ultra-smooth fiberglass compound center (known as e-glass) to further enhance accuracy, and also feature a carbon-wrapped and Kevlar construction for optimum strength and rigidity.

Featuring killer looks, durability and top performance, the Blackcell C-Series barrels are among the best barrels in the industry today. Eight barrel tips are also available for the Blackcell C-Series barrels.
Bore size: .691”

What can I say about the Teardrop. Not that it’s bad, but it’s not really the greatest barrel you can end up with. There are many other low end barrel you can get that will perform and cause less problems that this one. It’s one nice looking barrel though and it has its good sides. It comes in 12in and 14in and mid size bore (the most common sizes and bore), it shoots fairly accurate. It’s light and quiet. It’s also pretty strong made and doesn’t scratch easily. I know it sounds like most of the barrels, but this one I can absolutely call average. Whatever else you get will probably be better that this one. Anyway here’s some info about it:
•    Shoots straight and quiet
•    Hard anodized aluminum
•    Smart Parts legendary Smart Tuff coating
The biggest downside of this barrel is that once break a ball (and breaks are something common with it) the game ends for you. The thing is almost impossible to clean on the field no matter what squeegee you use. The paint gets stuck in the porting and the only way to get it out is run water through it. Breaks cause the accuracy level to go way down and there’s really nothing you can do about it. It’s also not the most efficient and consistent barrel out there. The only thing that can charm you is the price – right now you can get the thing for about $25 which is pretty much the cheapest a barrel can get. Still with 5-10 bucks more you can get something far better, so why spend that $25 on the firs place. In the end the choice is all yours, but my advice is look for something else.

Smart Parts Tactical barrel is not for everyone. Speedball players can stop reading right about now. The thing comes in 20in length only and this can get in the way even for some of the scenario players. It takes some getting used to, but if the length doesn’t scare you why not consider getting it. The thing performs pretty well and comes at affordable price. It shoots pretty accurate, looks nice and even though it’s long it’s not too heavy. Again it may take a while until you get used to the weight and different gun balance, but that’s not too scary. The thing is pretty quiet too, but there are quieter barrel out there. So here’s some info before we move to the downsides:

“Total military simulation. The Smart Parts Tactical barrel is quiet and accurate at long distances. A perfect sniper upgrade for your scenario paintball gun.”

One of the things worth mentioned as a downside is the cleaning. There’s no way you can shoot through breaks with this barrel .you’ll just keep breaking ball after ball. You must squeegee and then when you get the chance run some water through it – that’s the only thing that really cleans it. The other downside is the efficiency level, but that’s something normal with a barrel that long. You’ll need to fill your tank more often with this barrel. Anyway for the price of $50 I think those downsides are worth ignoring. There are other barrels you can choose from out there, but it’s the price that makes a difference. If you can’t afford any of the pricier ones go for this one, you won’t be disappointed.

The Progressive barrel from Smart Parts also deserves your attention if you’re looking for a cheaper barrel to bye. It’s one piece, very nice looking and although there most certainly are better barrels out there it performs fairly good. It has good accuracy, it’s fairly quiet, pretty efficient and light weighted. Pretty much all you can expect from a barrel to be. Smart Parts give you plenty of choice for lengths, but as every one piece barrel you get one bore size and you should be careful matching the paint to the bore right to eliminate breaks. Here’s the small info about the Progressive:

“The Progressive barrels are available in lengths (12/14/16/20″) and are available for most paintguns. They come in black, blue, red , silver & green.”

The downside of this product is the cleaning. It’s extremely hard to clean especially when the paint get stuck in the porting. Even if you use a squeegee the paint in the porting remains a problem. To get rid of it, squeegee the barrel first, turn the marker upside down, cover the end of the barrel with your hand and dry fire two three times so the air can come out of the porting and clean the stuck paint. That should get you through the game, but when you get the chance run some water through it so you get it absolutely clean. The barrel costs around $40 and even though it has its flaws I think it’s worth the money asked. If you really can’t afford anything pricier and better consider getting this one, it’s a good barrel.

If you’re a Smart Parts fan, but can’t afford to get something from the more expensive stuff, I advise you to look at the Linear Barrel. The thing costs only $30, but based on its performance it can be easily priced for more. You get pretty good accuracy and quietness. The thing looks pretty good and although it’s not from the lightest ones, it balances on the gun pretty well. It is one piece barrel and you have to be careful to match the paint to the bore right so breaks won’t happen. Anyway here’s a bit of info about this barrel:

“A straight ported barrel from Smart Parts.”

The downside to the Linear Barrel is the cleaning part. You simply can’t shoot through breaks and the squeegee is your only way out. That’s not too big of a deal for a $30 barrel, but it’s something worth knowing.  There are many barrels better than this one on the market right now, but not everyone can afford them. If this is the case for you try the Linear – it’s not the best, but it performs pretty well for the money.

The Freak is another very, very popular barrel. Yet another Smart Parts product that people like very much. With its modular inserts you get great versatility to shoot whatever paint you want. The accuracy of the barrel is pretty good. It’s light and balances the gun very well. It looks good on the marker, at least in my opinion, but that’s a personal preference. The barrel is pretty efficient, yet very quiet. It’s not paint picky and breaks are not something often. It cleans well, but you’ll probably need a squeegee to get it running on 100% again. Here’s the info about it:

“The Freak Barrel is designed to fit any paint. There are eight different full length inserts for the back of the barrel to accommodate virtually any bore size paint. You can purchase the whole kit (Freak Deluxe Barrel Kit), or you can purchase the inserts individually. You can also choose from 4 different lengths, and assorted colored fronts. The barrel comes with one insert. Standard bore sizes are listed below:

Automag, Spyder, Tippmann ‘98 - Standard bore .693 (Gold Freak Insert) Autococker, Shocker, Impulse, Angel - Standard bore .689 (Blue Freak Insert) “

The price of the kit is about $120 and I don’t think that too expensive. After all you get plenty of inserts to cover all kinds of paint. You can only find a problem with this barrel if you don’t like barrels with inserts. If you don’t mind it, I think you’ll like the thing.

And from one not so well known company to another that everyone has heard about. And what to say about the All American Barrel – it’s basically one of the most talked about barrels out there. It has its ups and downs, but its price to performance level has made it very popular among players. The thing is pretty accurate and light. You get a great versatility with all the fronts and backs you can choose from. Not to mention that you have plenty of colors available. The barrel looks pretty good on the gun and I think you’ll be happy with it. here’s some info you might find helpful:

“They are available for most markers in 12″, 14″, and 16″ lengths. The All American Barrels are made in two sections, a front and a back. The back of the barrel (the part that screws into the marker) is available in three bore sizes (small, standard, large). The front of the barrel (the ported section) acts as a spinning chamber. The air in front of the ball is pushed out of the holes reducing turbulence and the gases behind the ball are vented in such a way to impart a slight spin on the paintball. The All American barrel has a front section with a larger bore than the back. Fronts are available in two standard colors (black & green) and 7 splash colors.”

The downsides worth mentioning are the not so easy cleaning after a break and that it’s slightly noisier than most of the barrels out there. Don’t expect to just shoot through a break – the squeegee is a must. The noise is something you’ll get used to pretty soon. Right now the barrel is priced about $45-$50 which is pretty cheap. For that money you get a great performance. If you want something better you should be looking for more expensive barrels. The All American is great in my opinion and if you decide to give it a chance you won’t be disappointed.

Being a relatively new company on the market Sly is trying to establish their name and gain respect and trust in the products they’re making. I honestly admit that I’m not too familiar with their products, but of what I hear about their Dual Carbon Barrels they really deserve some consideration. The barrels are of very high quality with every detail checked and then checked again. The company’s said to have an amazing quality control and even better customer service and if you think that’s irrelevant try deal with a company that doesn’t care for their customers and see how you’ll change your mind quickly. As to the product itself – it has the qualities of one of the top barrels out there. It is light weighted, very quiet and just as accurate as a top barrel. It self-cleans easily and although there are complains about certain types of squeegees that you can’t use with carbon fiber, I think a squeegee is not even necessary if a break occurs. The barrel is not paint picky, but you’ll notice it performs better with high quality paint. Breaks are rare with the right paint to bore match, but to make it easy on you Sly offer plenty of backs to complete the barrel front. Before I move to the price here’s something for the company from the company:

“With a sport that is confused by Internet chat sites and self-proclaimed experts, SLY brings statistical data and quality to a level paintball has never seen. All of our products are tested under extreme conditions and backed with a full manufacturer’s warranty. Our laboratory has all the necessary components to ensure each product is thoroughly tested and guaranteed before it ever leaves our facility. Our unwavering devotion to manufacturing the best products on the market is our mission and promise to all paintball enthusiasts. We stand behind each and every one of our products and can assure you that the paintball community will soon share our passion for excellence.”

As I said the Dual Carbon barrels perform as good as any other top barrel so it’s only fair the price to be as high. What’s different here is that you can’t purchase a single barrel. You can get the front for about $90 and then a set of backs (3, 4, 5 – depends on you) for about the same price, making the complete kit about $180. Not a small price to pay, but nothing from the top quality products comes cheap. Sly deserve your trust by all means. And their barrels are absolutely worthy. If you can afford it you certainly won’t regret buying it.

So here’s the Stiffi Kit if you prefer it over the single barrel. Again I won’t talk about performance as it’s just the same as with the Stiffi barrel – great. What you get from the kit is adaptability to any kind of paint you choose to use. You get 4 breeches (backs) and 1 tip, which for the money is not much, but considering the performance is absolutely worthy. There are an additional fronts and backs you can purchase separately, but that’s up to your personal preference. Here’s the info about the barrel and the kit:

“You asked for it - We’re giving it to you! A Stiffi Barrel with interchangeable Breech Sizers.
*The all New Stiffi Switch is a one piece .691 stepped bore carbon fiber barrel with interchangeable 1 inch long sizing breech
*Uses the same micro-jeweled carbon fiber barrel as a standard Stiffi
*The Sizing Breeches use CCM’s Centr-Lokt technology to marry it
concentrically to the micro-jeweled Stiffi barrel.
*The Switch is fitted with an attractive and functional muzzle
break and initial tests show the same remarkable low sound output
that Stiffi fans have raved about for over a year.
*You get the same Stiffi quality and accuracy, plus interchangeability
*The Switch is a Tournament level barrel
*The rugged nylon carrying case has room for 3 barrels, 5 sizing breeches, and more.

Switch Kit Includes:
•    1 - 14 inch barrel
•    4 - Sizing breeches  (.685, .687, .689, .691)
•    1 - Rugged Cordura barrel case”
The price you have to pay if you want one of the best kits out there is around $190. It’s not cheap, but I’m sure if you get the chance to try it out, you’ll start saving to get it soon. It’s just something you fall for that will stay with you for quite a while. If you trust it, I’m sure it won’t disappoint you. The barrel itself or the kit – you’re making the right choice.

If you’re a Stiffi fan, but want something different than the base single colored barrel you should get he Stif-Stik. Performance-wise the thing is no different than Stiffi, it’s just the looks that make it better (for some of course…others will prefer the base colors). The Stif-Stik line is a patent-pending process where colors and designs and permanently impregnated directly into the carbon fiber. The barrel comes in 5 patterns: Patriot (American flag pattern), Z barrel (zebra striped), Camo green, Checkered, and Digi-cam Sage (digital camo [little squares]). This won’t be a performance review, because I don’t want to repeat myself. For those interested in how the barrel is doing read the previous review. I’ll give the characteristics though, just in case:

“SITE Inc., maker of the Stiffi barrel, has once again taken the paintball world by storm with its invention of the new carbon fiber patent-pending Stif-Stik barrel.

Available only at your local Stiffi dealer.
Designs are limited editions.
Weighs only 1.7 ounces: Lightest barrel in existence.
Patent-pending process creates a permanent molecular cohesion.
MicroJeweled bore “
Engineered with Stiffi’s famous aerospace quality processing
Proudly made in the USA.

There’s a little difference in the price of course, but nothing too major. The Stif-Stik costs about $110, which is basically 10 bucks more than a normal Stiffi. It’s up to you whether to pay that extra money and be different, or blend with the other Stiffi owners. Whatever your decision is it’s not a bad one. The barrel is worth every penny asked for it.