The Best Paintball Barrels – Improve your Gun’s range and accuracy

Every serious paintball player knows that every part of the gun is equally important, even the one seemingly banal such as the barrel.

If you want to optimize your gun’s performance and dominate the game, you should be interested in finding the best paintball barrels available for purchase. You can read all about them in this article.

What are you waiting for? Read on! 

#5 J&J 14” Paintball Barrel

If the word “high-tech” rings your bells, then I’m sure you’re interested in what J&J has to offer. The barrel from J&J that we’re inspecting today is made utilizing the latest technologies and know-how, so let’s see if it’s any good.

The barrel is made from aluminum, a common and loved material in the industry. However, this isn’t your plain old aluminum barrel; this one is coated with ceramic and infused with Teflon for impeccable smoothness and significantly improved shooting range.

Despite its masterful construction, many users have complained that, when a poor quality ball bursts inside the barrel, it’s tough to clean it, but you have to do it because it will mess up your game.

The length of the barrel is 14”, which is considered optimal by most experts so you shouldn’t experience any troubles in this field unless you prefer a longer or shorter tube for some reason. Also, the vents are beautifully designed and placed at the very front of the barrel so they won’t hinder the speed of your paint.

Overall, this is a decent barrel that performs much better than a stock one but is far from being the best one out there. It goes for a relatively low price, so you won’t have to spend a lot on it.

Pros: 

• Aluminum base is lightweight
• Ceramic coating and Teflon infusion enhance smoothness 
• Easy to screw onto the marker
• Beautifully designed 
• Reasonable price 

Cons: 

• Difficult to clean
• Accuracy issues for long-range shots

#4 Tippmann Sniper Barrel

All polished and shiny comes the Tippmann Sniper paintball barrel, and it has been one of the most popular models on the market recently.

First off, its sleek and curved carbon fiber body looks very elegant and professional, so you will surely be intimidating inexperienced players just by having it on your marker. It’s also very lightweight so you won’t be adding many grams to your hardware.

Second, this is a 14” barrel, so most players will probably be satisfied with the length. A potential problem that we’ve encountered is the lack of range that this model produces, compared with other barrels of the same length. This means that it might not be the right choice when playing in large fields or playing areas.

Third, the manufacturer advertises this barrel as being “micro honed for accuracy,” and from our experience, there is some truth to this. The shots that come out of it are quite precise so kudos to Tippmann!

This is a .98 barrel that’s made to fit the Tippmann marker, but it screws on pretty well to any other marker of the appropriate size.

As for the price, it is not too low nor too high, but it is definitely a fair deal considering that the product is made in the US.

Pros: 

• A sturdy and lightweight carbon fiber body 
• Sleek and polished exterior
• Very accurate
• Decent price

Cons: 

• Not good for long-range shots

#3

Constructed from light but durable carbon fiber, Deadlywind is as dangerous as its name. This is a top-of-the-line piece of paintball equipment, and we’re going to dissect it in the following paragraphs. 

If one could use only three words to describe this barrel, they would surely be – quiet, accurate, and lightweight. Fibur’s construction is very interesting, and it has three parts:

• The thread adapter – to match the marker
• Main barrel – the actual pipe
• Freak insert – the part that adjusts the bore

The inserts and the thread adapter are replaceable so that you can adapt them to your marker. The best thing is that buying several inserts is much more affordable than buying several different barrels, so this clever design pays off.

Now the issue with the design is that, for example, you can get an insert that matches the bore of the gun, but the main barrel might not be ideal for that bore. This is something to keep in mind, and we advise you to read about what other users have to say.

Now the price of this model is significantly higher than the previous two on this list, so don’t buy it unless you are 100% sure that it is what you need.

Pros: 

• Carbon fiber body
• Different inserts remove the need for several different barrels
• It gives the user a lot of flexibility
• Very precise shots
• Quiet

Cons:

• The barrel isn’t optimized for all bore sizes
• A bit pricey

#2

If versatility is your main concern when buying a barrel, then you have to read about the Empire Super Freak barrel kit. It could be just what you’re looking for!

Similar to the previous product, the Empire Super Freak comes with a multi-part design. In the kit you will find a barrel back, two-barrel tips (14” and 16”), five inserts of different bores, and a travel case to pack it all up in.

This will allow you to use it with different markers, and also see whether a longer or a shorter pipe feels better in your hands.

Now, all the barrel parts are made from aluminum, which is a trusted material, so there’s no need to discuss its quality. The trouble with these designs is that it is hard to optimize the entire thing for each bore size, so some may perform better than others.

Nevertheless, the accuracy of this model is outstanding, and so is the range. You can get it in two different finishes – dust black and polished black.

The Super Freak kit is not cheap by any means, so the price might throw off a lot of potential buyers. 

Pros: 

• All parts are made from aluminum
• Five different inserts in one kit
• Two barrel tips (14” and 16”)
• Includes a travel case
• Durable and well made

Cons: 

• Very expensive
• Not optimized for all five bore sizes
• The case isn’t very protective

#1

The final and most prominent model on today’s list is another Deadlywind product, and this time we’re taking a closer look at Null.

At first glance, it looks quite similar to its cousin, the Fibur, but it has one major difference – it doesn’t have interchangeable inserts. Yes, with the Null, you only get one bore size which is good in the sense that it’s optimized for it, but bad because it cripples your flexibility.

As for the length, it is a standard, 14” pipe, so it’s made to suit most players.

What makes this barrel so good is its weight and very interesting construction.

It contains three layers – a satin twill exterior, uni-directional fibers, and a “SuperSilk” interior for minimal friction when firing the paint. All of this contributes to its performance, which is among the best we’ve ever encountered.

Those who are concerned about durability can rest assured that this model is as durable as they make them. The company ran the barrel over with a truck and didn’t even scratch it, so that should be enough for you.

Another great thing about it is the price, which falls somewhere in the middle, so it is accessible to most people’s pockets.

Pros: 

• Very accurate
• One of the lightest barrels out there
• Comes at a great price
• Shoots quietly

Cons: 

• Fixed bore size (Doesn’t have interchangeable inserts)

Choosing The Best Paintball Barrels: Things To Consider

Types of Paintball Tanks 

On today’s market, we can find barrels that differ in many respects, but the basic distinction that could be made is the one between one-piece and two-piece barrels.

One-piece 

Back when the game of paintball was invented, one-piece barrels were the only kind there was. With the introduction of two-piece barrels, one-piece models still remain relevant due to being more economic, (cheaper) and simpler to use for beginners. They have some drawbacks, and we will explain them in the following section.

Two-piece

Two-piece barrels have almost become the new standard, and we’re going to explain why. These barrels have a front and a back piece, both of which are independent of each other. 

The back piece attaches to the marker, and different markers can use balls of different size, so the width of the shaft has to match that. Front pieces can be found in different lengths, and you can switch them up without changing the back piece. 

This ability to customize your gun made two-piece barrels popular and more expensive than their one-piece counterparts.

Barrel length

Barrel lengths range from 8-20 inches, and they are one of the first factors to consider when buying this part of the paintball marker. According to experts, 14 inches is the ideal length because it provides optimal accuracy to the shooter. However, if you find another length that feels better in your hands, feel free to go for it as your shots will only be minimally affected. 

An advantage of a short barrel would be the ease of movement, especially through crowded or tight spaces, so players who do a lot of running, jumping, and crawling might prefer this kind. 

Players who aren’t in the front lines might like longer barrels better because they’re easier to aim with. Also, you can use them to shoot through branches or bushes, so it’s ideal for hiding when playing in nature.

Paintball Barrel Material: Aluminum, Stainless steel, or Carbon Fiber?

As you could have guessed, barrels are made from various materials with the most common being aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon fiber. All three are smooth and feel pleasant to the touch, but they do have their differences. Let’s see what they are:

Aluminum 

Aluminum is lightweight, durable, and inexpensive, which makes it the most widely used material for barrel making. 

Now, it’s crucial to mention that aluminum is the middleweight among the three, so it’s not too heavy nor too light. Due to this, it is easy to maneuver and prevents kickback when firing so one can take very precise shots with it.

Carbon Fiber 

The priciest and the most high-tech material is the widely-praised carbon fiber. Known for its extreme sturdiness and unbelievably light weight, it has gained a lot of popularity among barrel makers. 

Players who like their gun to be as light as possible will probably take a liking to this one, just know that the gun will kick when shooting, more than it would with an aluminum or steel barrel.

Stainless Steel

The last and probably least popular option for barrel material is stainless steel. Its characteristics are relatively similar to aluminum, but it doesn’t have any significant advantages over the former and is a lot heavier.

Note that not all barrels are made purely from one material, but that many of them utilize a combination of more. For example, a favorite mix is aluminum and ceramics/Teflon, to enhance the barrels smoothness and durability. It’s difficult to say which is better – a single material barrel or a combined one, so it’s entirely up to you to make this judgment.

Bores

Bore refers to the inner diameter of the barrel, and you need to find one that suits the size of the paint that your gun is using.

How do you know if you have the right bore size? Do a quick test:

1. Take a paintball and put it in a barrel placed vertically
2. If the ball falls straight through the barrel, it means that the bore size is too big
3. If the ball gets stuck in the barrel, but you can get it out with a light blow of air from your mouth, it means that is just right

Make sure to choose the size carefully because a wrong one will seriously hinder your shooting. Just for reference, bore sizes go from .689 to .674, with the most common one being .689.

Some manufacturers have decided to make barrels with interchangeable bore inserts. This means that you can have one barrel and several bore inserts so you can use them with different markers. 

Such a design is economic, but its problem is that not every bore size will work perfectly with the main barrel, or with other words, it’s not optimized like the barrels which have only one bore size.

Paintball Barrel Interior

The interior finish has a big influence on the friction of the paint as it passes through the pipe. The smoother the finish is, the less friction will occur so make sure to investigate this feature when comparing several barrels you liked.

The unsmooth interior may lead to many problems such as low range/speed of the paint, and even breakage of the pain inside the tube.

Besides friction, the kind of interior finish will also dictate how easy it is to clean the barrel. This is a crucial thing to think about as you’ll be needing something that can be cleaned quickly, especially if you need to do it in the middle of a game.

Vents

The small holes on the barrel are called vents, and their purpose is to remove excess pressure that has built up in the pipe. The closer the vents are to the marker, the quieter the shots will be, which is great for players who like to stay in stealth mode. The downside of this is that the speed of the ball will also be a bit lower, which can detriment your performance in some situations.

On the contrary, vents on the tip of the barrel will produce the opposite effect – lauder, yet more powerful shots. So at the end of the day, you can’t have both silent and super fast shots and should consider the paintball barrel that will suit your playstyle, the map you’ll be playing, and the type of game. Ideally, you should have multiple barrels to hot-swap based on the individual game you’re playing.

Final Verdict 

Slowly but surely we’ve reached the end of today’s article, and hopefully, you’ve gotten comfortably acquainted with the best paintball barrels that we’ve found. Now, we need to answer one more question:

Which one is the best?

In our opinion, takes the gold here because its price to quality ratio is simply unmatched by any other barrel that we’ve encountered so far. No matter if you are a beginner or a pro, you will certainly benefit from having such a barrel.

What do you think? Do you agree with our choice or no? Let us know in the comments!

Last update on 2022-12-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API