I notice alot of people posting about barrels in the shout box and just figured I'd post my knowledge.

All paintballs are .689 caliber standard but that number can be rounded down or up from .679 smallest I have ever seen which is a freak insert, all the way up to .695 which is the largest insert in a freak kit.

SMART PARTS FREAK
a freak kit is the most inclusive kit for sizeing paintballs to bore but the problem with the freak lies in its sleave design which can slightly twist during play and the thin sleaves are easily damaged by accident if not careful. about 15 different front style to choose from ( all american, freak, teardrop, buch of diff sizes) 130 for full kit .679 - .695 8 inserts

REDZ PEPPRSTIK
this is a fairly simple 2 peice design which offers great stability at a cheap price. there is an 8 inch run of bore which offers great accuracy and the kit comes with 2 tips a 14 and a 16 tip. theoretically you can run 2 guns with this kit at same time 2 backs and 2 fronts 1 just slightly diff bore and longer front. only made in black only about 100 bucks great deal for the money. sizes .687 .689 .691 .693

STIFFI SWITCH
I haven't personally shot one but I saw lees and wasn't imressed at all the back is way to short offering no back pressure in the bore size so I would assume accuracy is lost, and the bores didn't seem that accurate when I compared the same paint to other barrels I own. availiable in alot of colors 130 - 190 dollars but its light and its carbon fiber. sizes .685 .687 .689 .691

SLY DUAL CARBON
I just got one of these and absolutely love it its light and gives a fairly flat trajectory for a paintball. it has about a 3 inch back which makes it shoot a little shorter then my pepprstik but its a trade off for the weight it saves. it weighs 85% less then any metal barrel kit, but more then a full regular stiffi barrel by a little. the key feature of the barrle backs is that it has a tapered design to the entry for the ball allowing it to be more gentle on the paintball as the bolt pushes it into the barrel. one big down side of this barrel is the price.
its purchased in 2 parts the fronts which range from 75 - 100 dollars and the back kit which cost 85- 90 dollars but it does come in a large range of camo and colors for whatever you like. sizes .683 .686 .689 .692

SIZEING PAINT
when you size paint to the barrle grab 2 or 3 balls and press them through the .689 bore cause thats in the middle and see if its tight or if it falls through.
next go up or down til the ball is snug not tight and just a little puff will blow it out of the barrel, try with the other 2 balls to double check, this is your optimal size for the paint and will allow even pressure around the ball as it exits the barrel allowing a more accurate shot.

bottom line is if you want a barrel kit a pepperstik is the best bet for the money but it doesn't go as small as I like. 90% of the time I'm shooting .685 or .683 on most paint. manufacturers give you a 693 barrel so that all paint will fit if you can only afford to buy 1 barrel get a .689 cause that is the most standard bore and will be a safe investment.

past 6 weeks paint bores
.687 blizzard
.687 blizzard
.683 polar ice
.692 cryptic( freak batch I think)
.683 cryptic
.683 both polar ice and cryptic

sorry for the long post but hope I helped with alot of questions I have seen

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the 691 is a safe bet for manufactureres cause that assures them that all paint will basically go through it but you will notice alot of spikes and dips over the crono if your ball size is 685 or so but its not a need its just a option. I havent shot a stock barrel in about 8 years so its an investment and getting a PM will allow you to use the barrel on 90% of the guns that will be available.

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