Elite Paintball Guns

Will it be enough if I say I prefer the Hot Shot before the IMP. I really don’t want to go through all of the downsides again. It’s easy with the advantages – they’re not so many of them – the thing looks nice and is easy to install, other than that it’s all flaws I can think of.
There’s one more good thing – you can get it for about $18 which is as cheap as it gets, but why bother when it’s gonna ruin your game more than it’s gonna help. Here’s the provided info and we’ll move on:

“This addition to the ADCO® reflex sight line will make the novice shooter an “eagle-eye” in minutes. The iMP offers all the advantages of higher priced reflex sight at a fraction of the cost. It even has built in mounts compatible with standard .22 caliber style 3/8 inch dovetail. This product was built from the ground up to be an electronic sight. The iMP has a polymer body with metal mounts. Many air gun shooters, particularly paintball players, find the iMP to be just what they need to get off a well placed shot. The value of reflex sight shooting is now well established. For action games like paintball, the ADCO® iMP is recognized as a winner.”

All of the downsides pointed out for the Hot Shot are 100% true for the IMP. It’s even worse because at least the Hot Shot is easy on the battery. With this one it is very easy to leave the sight on which will drain the battery. Really, if you’re gonna spend money on sight at least get something that deserves getting. There’s plenty of Adco choice that will be better than the IMP even if it’s not the most expensive one. Get something else.

The Adco Hot Shot is also on the cheap side, but it’s certainly not my favorite sight out there. It has some advantages, but it has even more downsides so I don’t really recommend it to you. Anyway the good things are that it is pretty compact and looks very nice on the gun. It also has 3 options to put it on - Off (all the way to the back), medium brightness (the middle option for low light situations), or high brightness of the dot (all the way in front). The last thing I’ll mention as an advantage is that it’s not so bad when it comes to battery. Unfortunately the rest of the review will be after the info about the product where I usually put the downsides:

“The Hot Shot looks something like an IMP, but it is bigger and tougher in every way. Durability is more obvious, field of view is increased, and mounting brackets are really strong. Meanwhile the power switch is something like the Champ. It has a low and high brightness as well as off.”

There’re plenty of things to make you reconsider getting this sight. I’ll start with the fact that it gets dirty very fast. It’s an open tubed sight so the dirt gets in it very easily and it takes a while to get it clean again. Another huge downside is that the thing gets glare…sometimes to a point when target completely disappear. It’s plastic and although I can’t really call it weak it won’t take too much abuse. It’s also pretty hard to adjust and calibrate. You have to be very patient with that. Yes it costs less than $30, but compare the ups and downs and make the math for yourself. It’s just not worthy. For $10 more you can get the Adco Sure Shot which again is not the best, but is certainly better than this one. Don’t waste money on it.

If money is not a problem, here’s another Adco Sight that may interest you. The E-Dot is so much better than the Champ Red Dot. For starters, it’s very durable. Don’t worry that it will break - it can take direct hits without any problems. Also there are many different settings of brightness which makes it so much easier when you’re playing in the dark or in broad daylight. The acquisition of target is extremely easy and fast. That’s mainly because the size of the optics and the fact that you can use both eyes to lock on. The sight is great on battery and it will last you for a long time. The thing is very easy to zero and it won’t take you long to center it perfectly. See the provided info about it:

“This e-dot sight uses the same technology employed by fighter aircraft to achieve fast target acquisition. The 30 mm compact Model (ECB, shown) is a versatile sight for a variety of shooting sports. It fits 3/8 inch or 7/8 inch mounts. Its compact design provides an even greater field of view than other 30 mm sights.”

This is a great choice of sight, but as I already said it will cost you. Prices can vary quite a bit depending on the place you’re getting the thing. You can find it as cheap as $70 or as pricy as $120, so make sure you’ve checked at least two places before making a purchase. Some other things you may not like about it, is that it tends to be kinda bulky (but since you get a great field of view I think that’s worth ignoring. The thing may also be kinda hard to mount…but once you do it you’ll be fine. Those are the only downsides I can think of. It really is a great sight and I’m sure you’ll like it if you decide to get it. Yet again we wan you - check several places before you buy it because of the big price difference.

Sights are an optional feature that not everybody likes, but for those who do and who are looking for ones, we’ll give you some of the newest, the best and the cheapest options. Also we’ll warn you about the not so worthy ones so make sure you read as many reviews as possible.
Many of you know that sights are not so useful when it comes to speedball, but for recball or scenerio games they may help a lot. The first sight we’ll talk about is the Adco Champ Red Dot Sight. This sure isn’t the best choice you can make, but considering the price I think it deserves some attention. The sight costs only about $30 and is has some good qualities. Like the fact that it is very durable. It’s made of plastic, but still it won’t break easily. Another good thing is the ability to change the brightness of the dot so even if you’re playing at a very bright light you can still clearly see the dot. Also the sight is very easy to zero and it won’t need much tweaking after that. Speaking of tweaking it has a thumbwheel that makes the elevation adjustment no problem. It’s really a nice sight. See the tiny bit of info about it:

“It is lightweight sight with a durable poly body and strong metal mounting clamps.”

It’s a cheap sight, so you have to expect some downsides. The most serious ones are it being a little wobbly when you attach it to your marker or it can even slide out of place during a game. You just have to make sure it’s secured enough. Also there’s no power-saving circuitry, so battery will eventually die if the sight is accidentally left on. It’s also not the most battery saving thing. It’s kinda hard to clean, too. If it takes a direct hit pain can even get between the lenses…then it gets almost impossible to clean. The last thing some of you may not like is that it only comes in one color and that is blue. It would be so much better if it was black…but it’s blue so deal with it. For $30 you can’t really ask for more. If you can’t afford something more expensive – this is a good option.

I’m not too familiar with the White Wolf Airsmithing Justice Barrel, but of what I hear it is an excellent alternative to the Smart Parts barrels when using freak inserts. You know what the deal with the inserts is – you get great versatility when it comes to bore sizes. What’s great about this barrel is that it is one piece. Usually with two piece barrels, when you’re unscrewing them the front will come unscrewed from the back and then you’ll be stuck with the back still on the marker. That’s obviously not a problem when you have a one piece barrel. Or there are players that just don’t like two piece barrels, that’s when this one comes in handy, too. The thing is just as accurate as a Smart Parts barrel, only it comes at nearly half their price. It is pretty light and quiet too and I think you’re gonna like it. Here’s the given information about it:

“One piece barrel that accepts Freak inserts. Threaded for Autococker and Spyders.”

On the downside – it’s a one piece barrel and you don’t have the option to change lengths. Also, if a break happen, this barrel is kinda hard to clean. Somehow the paint gets stuck in it and is hard to take out. Strangely this doesn’t affect the curacy too much. Just keep shooting. It’s a good barrel and for the price of only about $45 I think it’s a pretty good deal too. If you can’t afford any of the more expensive barrels go for this one. You won’t regret it.

Whoever owns this barrel kit will tell you that it’s nothing but great. For those of you who don’t like one piece barrel – this is not the kit for you, but for those on the opposite opinion – keep reading. What you’ll get if you choose this kit are 3 one piece barrels with the most common bore sizes. Some players complain that 3 bore sizes are not enough, but trust me it’s plenty. The barrels are extremely accurate, extremely light and quiet. And on top of that they look awesome. I won’t talk about breaking paint because it’s a barrel kit after all. If you’re breaking paint you’re not using the right bore. Anyway just for the sake of mentioning this is one of the easiest barrels to clean – just shoot through the break couple of times and you’ll be fine. The porting is slightly angled so it also cleans pretty easy after a break. Here’s some info and we’ll move on:

“The Lucky 15 Barrel Kit features three featherlight, one piece aluminum barrels; a .685 for small bore paint, .689 for medium bore paint, and .693 for large bore paint, at one affordable price.

Each barrel is 15 inches long, the perfect length for any player at any position. The barrels come in a stylish case, embossed with the Dark Series logo on the hard molded -plastic outer shell, which zips closed. Inside the case is a soft, cloth lining and three slots to hold each barrel.
Available in a wide variety of thread styles.”

All 3 barrels come in the same length – 15in. It’s somewhat unusual length, but in my opinion it’s just perfect. No more hesitation whether to get the 14in or 16 in – get the one in the middle. And for easy carrying you get a case that is just as good. Barrel kits are usually pricy, but this one comes at some very reasonable price – according to me anyway. You can find it for about $120, which for the quality you’re getting, is a pretty good deal. In the end it’s up to you, but I don’t think you’ll regret if you decide to buy this product.

I’m not too fond of the Viewloader VL Barrel. It has some qualities worth mentioning, but overall I suggest you look for something else. It somewhat nice looking, but of course that’s a matter of personal taste. Some people hate the shiny silver part as it gives out your position easily. The performance level is just ok – to be honest I’ve seen better performance from some of the cheaper barrels. It shoots straight and has pretty good range, but expect curves and drops from time to time. It’s pretty light, but not one of the quietest barrels out there. It tends to break paint a lot even if you match bore to paint correctly and once you break a ball be ready to squeegee or your next 10 shots will be just waste of paint. Here’s some info about it:

12″ Fluted And Ported Barrel Custom Clear Coated Anodized Aluminum The VL Barrel fits the VL Genesis, Brass Eagle Avenger, and Spyder Paintball Markers

Another thing we can put as a downside is the limitation of the length choice. You can get the thing in only 12in which for some is ok, but many people find it too short. Also it’s not the most durable barrel out there. It dents and scratches easily and you have to be extra careful with it to keep it in good condition. Prices vary. You can find the VL barrel in the range of $20 to $50. In my opinion – even $20 is too much for it. There’s so much choice out there – don’t waste money on this one.

The UPZ Gladius is one of the cheaper barrels on the barrel market. It costs only about $20, but is actually pretty good when it comes to performing. Sure, there are way better barrels out there, but for a price like that you can’t really expect the best. Let’s start with the looks – in my opinion it is one pretty good looking barrel. As far as I know you can get it in 12in and 14in and in over 20 different colors and designs. This is probably the biggest color choice you’ll ever get when looking for a barrel. As far as the performance go – it’s pretty accurate too. Also fairly quiet and pretty light. It’s not really paint picky, as long as you match bore to paint right. It’s a mid range bore so you won’t have problems finding paint for it. here’s some info about it and we’ll move on:

“This barrel is professionally designed & manufactured using only top quality machining techniques. Utilizing ultra light weight aluminum & an accuracy improving upgrade over your stock barrel.

These barrels come in over 20 different colors incljuding the Tribal design, two tone, and single color. The threads are available for Ion, Autococker, and Spyder Threaded Guns”

As I said you can’t really expect miracles from a $20 barrel, so don’t get frustrated if a ball breaks from time to time. Or some strange curves happen – it’s normal. And don’t expect to shoot through breaks – carry a squeegee by all means. Overall I can say this is one ok barrel. if you can spend more money on something better – do it. If you can’t, the Gladius is a pretty good choice.

Most of the same priced barrel systems I’ve reviewed so far have been very similar to each other – having pretty much the same advantages and disadvantages. Now it’s time for something different – the Longbow. What makes it different from the others is the so called Hardbore finish. All the other barrels on the market today are micro-horned (which is like sanding the inside of the barrel) this process leave small imperfections in the metal that eventually produce friction and hold paint so the barrel gets extremely hard to shoot completely clean. The Hardbore process leaves absolutely no imperfections in the metal. It also makes the bore stronger and resistant to scratches and wearing out, prolonging its life. So if until now we’ve talked about “accuracy” the Longbow takes that word to the next level. The barrel also self cleans extremely easy – you just shoot a couple of times through the break and it is back to being perfect. It’s also light and quiet – absolutely anything you’ll expect from a high end barrel. What follows is some information about the Longbow and I advise you go through it:

“The Longbow is a two piece interchangeable barrel system that has patent pending Hardbore Finish, the smoothest, hardest barrel finish available. Bases are made out of Titanium,Stainless Steel, And Aluminum, and currently come in .684, .687 & .690 bore sizes. Tips are 10″, 12″, 14″ & 16″ and come in a variety of colors.
•    Hardbore Finishing, a patent pending technology developed by Q&L Engineering, enables the Longbow to outperform other barrels. The Hardbore finishing technique leaves the bore up to 6 times smoother and 30% harder than even the best micro honed barrels.
•    A smoother finish allows more consistent velocity, better accuracy, less ball breakage and the ability to shoot clean significantly faster than other barrels.
•    The Hardbore finish leaves the metal case hardened so unlike plated or Teflon treated barrels the finish will never flake, chip, or wear off. It is the most durable bore of any barrel, resisting the fine scratches that accumulate over time and rob a barrel of performance.
•    The control bore is made of titanium. It is stronger than steel but nearly half the weight, making it an ideal material for use in the Longbow barrel.

The only downside of this barrel is its price. The entire system can get up to $240, which makes it one of the priciest barrels systems on the market for now. You can of course get one complete barrel for $80 and with the time get the rest of the backs, but the price will be just as high. If you can afford it though – this is as good as it gets in the world of barrels – go for it without any hesitation.

For the Tippmann owners that can’t afford any of the Flatline systems, or just don’ like their looks, Tippmann made the Werks. The Works is a normal barrel system coming at a medium price and performing pretty well for the money. The barrel shoots accurate, it’s fairly light and although it’s not the quietest out there it significantly reduces the noise in comparison with a stock barrel. It’s one piece barrel and you get the most popular 12in, 14in and 16in and a single bore size. If you match the paint to bore right you won’t have problems with breaks. The barrel is not paint picky, but the quality paint will shoot better. Here’s some basic info bout it:

Solid one piece aluminum construction
Machined from 1” barrel stock
Honed & polished to perfection
Large multi holed muzzle break to reduce noise & increase accuracy
The only barrel created exclusively for the needs of Tippmann markers
Each barrel is hand checked for quality & fit.
Each barrel is individually pack to insure against shipping damage

I don’t know of any major problems that this barrel may cause. It’s even easy to clean. It won’t shoot through breaks, but the squeegee will do just fine. The only thing you may not like is the shiny finish. You don’t have a choice for colors or anything so if you worry that the chrome may give out your position you better look for something else. About the price – you can get the barrel for about $50 which is not bad at all in my opinion. You get good performance for good amount of money. Consider the pros and cons and decide for yourself.