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"RHallVA" <rhall50@erols.com> wrote in message
news:EP-dne5LuPNFCEHcRVn-uw@rcn.net...
> I am considering a barrel upgrade for my son's 98 Custom. The more I
learn
> the more I seem to realize that I know very little about any of this!

Ah, the first step of the 12 step program known as paintball addicts
anonymous, admitting you have a problem.

> I read about Multi-bore Barrel systems which seems to indicate that you
are
> actually buying several barrels of different bore sizes in order to
> accomodate different sizes of paintballs?? Is that correct?

That is correct. The most prevalent system like that is called the "Freak"
barrel kit, having several bore sizers and barrels that can be used in
combination to "most effectively" fit the paint you are using. The vast
majority of paintball players swear by their ability to match the paint they
are using to the barrel size, for what they consider to be accuracy and
efficiency.

However, while their claims about efficiency might hold water, I am in the
minority when I hold the view that the accuracy of such paint-to-barrel
matching efforts is vastly overrated, and not worth the price you pay,
especially for the recreational player. In my not so humble opinion, it is
almost totally marketing hype to get you to buy a massively overpriced
barrel kit. It is my opinion that a single, medium bore, decent quality
barrel will accomplish the same goal at 1/4 the price with 99.99% of the
effectiveness of the barrel kits. The money spent to get the various sizers
and tips is, in my opinion, essentially wasted money, given that most
players use a VERY slim selection of sizers and tips.

*Most* paint fits a medium bore barrel well enough most of the time.
Something has to be SERIOUSLY out of whack with the paint for it not to fit
"well enough" in a medium bore barrel. That means that MOST of the time, a
single barrel is fine for any player. This is ESPECIALLY true if you tend
to use a single brand of paint.

> My son's Marker (the Tippmann 98C) claims to be .68 caliber (I think)...
so
> does that mean I was supposed to be looking for certain sized paintballs
to
> use with this marker? I was kind of hoping I could just buy 'paintballs'
> and they would be suitable.

Paint has standardized on 68 caliber, but some brands are slightly larger
and slightly smaller. The subtle differences are measured in terms of
thousandths of inches, and people have been led to believe that these
thousandths of inches will translate into the difference between a perfect
shot and a widely inaccurate shot without so much as a shred of proof to
back this claim up. There are paints that are considered "large bore" and
"small bore" and "medium bore", but there isn't a single paint manufactured
that has a median size that exceeds a .01 standard deviation from the 68
caliber standard.

In short, you can just "buy paintballs". Some work better than others, but
the problems of cheap vs quality paint often stem from differences in
manufacturing and materials. Cheap paint tends to break in your gun more
often, often having a thinner shell and fill to save on costs.

> If I buy one barrel upgrade (I am thinking perhaps of a J&J Ceramic) do I
> need to look for a certain bore size or are they all the same? If so, do
I
> then need to go find paintballs that match it bore size of the new barrel?

The J&J Ceramic is my personal favorite upgrade barrel for the Tippmann
line. They are rugged, reliable, lightweight, inexpensive and accurate.
They are considered a medium bore barrel, and fit most paintballs well
enough. I believe they have a standard bore of .688 or .689(considered
medium bore).

> Any info that can help me understand this barrel stuff would be much
> appreciated!

Hope this has helped.

> I would also appreciate your insight into what a worthy upgrade barrel
would
> be for better accuracy and what barrel length might be best.

The J&J Ceramic, 12" length, is what I, personally, would consider an
optimal barrel for the M98. It combines effectiveness, versatility and
price in a way that is almost unparalleled by any other barrel. Don't think
it's the only option out there, but it happens to be the one I like the
best.

--
Jeff Goslin - MCSD - www.goslin.info
It's not a god complex when you're always right