Paintball Barrels Guide There are a large number of paintball barrels on the market and believe it or not, there is a reason for it besides trying to make more money. Selecting the right size barrel for your paintball gun is probably the most difficult decision you will make when buying a marker. The length of paintball barrels is what determines the velocity of your shot or how quickly the paintball leaves the barrel. Barrel length is also very important in terms of accuracy. The shorter the barrel the lower the accuracy, shorter barrels also give the paintball less time to accelerate to 300 feet per second before leaving the paintball barrel. Short paintball barrels are barrels that are less than 8 inches in length, standard length barrels are between 8 and 10 inches long, while extended barrels are typically around 12 to 14 inches in length. If you purchase a short barreled paintball gun remember that it will have less range and lower accuracy than a standard gun. Many paintballers believe that longer paintball barrels provide better accuracy than standard length barrels, and while it is true, it is not always the best choice and is dependent on how your paintball gun is set up. The longer the paintball barrel, the lower the pressure drops because the gas expands more, so if you want to use a longer barrel and take advantage of the higher accuracy, then you may need to up your pressure charge per trigger press to compensate for the longer barrel. Longer paintball barrels also provide more friction that can slow the paintball if not countered. Some paintball barrels that you will find are ported and longer than most other barrels, but remember that you will use a lot more gas because of the ports. The reason paintball barrels are often ported, is because the porting acts as a sort of silencer and makes the gun shoot much more quietly. Longer barrels if used in the right combination can improve your accuracy and range, but longer paintball barrels also have several disadvantages to them. The a paintball marker with a long barrel is going to be harder to maneuver around quickly in close quarters or in thick vegetation.

Paintball Tip #1 Educate Yourself! There are a variety of books, videos, and magazines that are availabe to help you improve your paintball game. Whether you want to master the game of paintball or just learn more about it for pure enjoyment, there is plenty of information available. Our favorite Paintball Guide can be found here.

Paintball Tip #2 Don't Buy The First Gun You See! Take your time and learn about the different types of paintball guns and their applications. This will better allow you to invest in a paintball gun that you will be happy with and will fit your needs and budget.

Paintball Tip #3 Protect Yourself! Always wear protective clothing when playing paintball. Its true that paintballs are non lethal, but they can still damage an eye and leave a serious welt. So always wear a full face mask, pants, and long sleeve clothing when playing paintball.