Does barrel length really matter?

[kway44]

Sup People,

Does barrel length really affect range on your marker? When I first started playing a few years back my coach at the time said back guys must have 16 inch barrels and front to mid guys use 14 to 12. I just wanted to see what people thought about the subject.

Cheers

 

[Tom]

Not especially
There is an optimum point (which I can't recall) between x and y inches

Anything less (eg 3") is handy in CQB but won't give efficiency or accuracy at range

Anything more just takes more air to blow it further up the barrel and makes you an inch nearer to your target

Consistency is better, and as long as you have enough air to shoot the paint you carry then you're efficient enough

 

[Dave284]

Yep, the longer the barrel the more accurate. keeps the paintball straighter for longer. #science

 

[Canon Fodder]

Longer barrels are easier to aim with but not more accurate.

 

[Big_jim]

A short barrel such as a 6 inch is less accurate. Once you hit 10 inch and above though they are all the same. 12 inch will always be the sweet spot as it gives you enough length to manipulate your bunker properly but is not overly long.

 

[kway44]

cheers for the feedback guys

 

[Buddha 3]

Pure theoretically speaking longer barrels are more accurate. after all, the tip of your barrel is a few inches closer to your target.
Also in theory, they should be more economic, since the gas cloud that propels the paintball down the barrel has more room to expand while accelerating the paintball down the barrel, meaning you need less gas to get the same velocity. However, this is mostly negated by the fact that most barrels are ported and the none ported part of the barrel is often a standard length. You could even argue that a longer barrel uses more air if ported, since the gas cloud escapes in the ported bit and so stops accelerating the paintball, meaning it encounters friction without driving force over a longer distance in the barrel.

In reality accuracy is mostly decided by two factors: The consistency of the valve (as in does it release the exact same amount of air everytime you pull the trigger) and the consistency of your paintballs (as in are the paintballs exactly the same size in the batch you're shooting and are they all the same exact shape).

 

[Liam92]

The factors affecting accuracy are the consistency of the velocity of paintballs leaving your barrel. The things that influence this are firstly the consistency of the regulator as buddha mentioned. If the gun is cranking out the same pressure each cycle then the gun will be more consistent. next factor the the paint to bore match. Contrary to popular belief you want to choose a barrel that is either slightly larger or smaller bore than the paint itself (smaller if you want more efficiency). This again will help give a more consistent velocity meaning each ball should land in the same place. The very final thing with regards to accuracy is keeping the barrel spotlessly clean. Make sure you clean it with hot water after playing, and keep a barrel swab on you to use throughout the day if necessary to keep it clean. any dirt, paint, oil etc inside the barrel will create spin on the ball, causing it to curve.

 

[kway44]

The very final thing with regards to accuracy is keeping the barrel spotlessly clean. Make sure you clean it with hot water after playing, and keep a barrel swab on you to use throughout the day if necessary to keep it clean. any dirt, paint, oil etc inside the barrel will create spin on the ball, causing it to curve

great advice mate

 

[Canon Fodder]

The very final thing with regards to accuracy is keeping the barrel spotlessly clean. Make sure you clean it with hot water after playing, and keep a barrel swab on you to use throughout the day if necessary to keep it clean. any dirt, paint, oil etc inside the barrel will create spin on the ball, causing it to curve.

Yep you'll not realise how dirty your barrel will get, try cleaning it with hot water and pushing kitchen towels / tisues through it then fire a hopper off, take the barrel off again and look through it holding it up to the light, even if you've had no breaks you'll see marks where the paint has rubbed against the side.