Smartparts barrel question...

[spammersdie]

Does Smartparts make their barrels out of aircraft quality aluminum? Or are they really compressed beer cans like everyone thinks......

I'm seriously considering getting a freak. Not because I care that much about different bore sizes.....I mean you would only ever use 2, maybe 3 at the most. But I like having the benefit of stainless steel in the control bore without having the extra weight. So yeah, are these things quality or not?

Note: please do not post if you are an irrational smartparts hater. I hate smartparts too, but their stuff isn't all bad.

[Jaster]

I'll start by saying I hate $mart Part$. Now that that's out of the way... I had a freak with s/s inserts and I really liked it. The inserts were very nice and solid. Shot darts with it. There are better kits though. You are right when you say you're only going to use 2-3 inserts anyway...kind of pointless to spend money on something you'll never use. Save yourself some money... get a CP two piece with different backs or something like the Kaner kit or the St!ff! Sw***ch kit.

[SchmittDawg2104]

I disagree, I never really had any experience with Smart Parts before. But now I have my Freak and I love it. Don't get the whole kit that's useless like you said, but instead get a back and a few inserts, and your good to go.

[STO Balla 22]

Just like Jaster said, it's a good kit, but you can get more for your money. I got mine for $70 from a guy that won it in a tournament, so I'm not complaining. :P

[reneirwolf878]

I've used the AA and progressive extensively with a few weeks use of the teardrop. I can say that they are pretty high quality barrels. I did have an AA roll off a balcony about 10 feet onto pebbles and it was fine minus a couple knicks.

[Kid33]

CP one piece > AA/Teardrop/Progressive


What about the Scepter or PHAT or Al Longbow? All of those are compareable in price and far outpreform the Freak.

[reneirwolf878]

Getting OT....SP barrels are nice, but for the same price you can get barrels just as good with out the smart parts tag

[AgentOrange]

Originally posted by Kid33
CP one piece > AA/Teardrop/Progressive

Agreed on that one.

And yea the freak is pretty good if you get the SS backs, but you can get better. Probably for a better price too. I think best (as always) is a CP 2piece. You can start out buying one back, and buy new backs as nessacary. And its a whole back, no inserts to mess around with.

[spammersdie]

Thanks for all the replies. But I like a bore made of stainless steel. Less friction and less wear. Does it make that much of a difference? No. But it floats my boat. I've seen them in action and I can honestly say they shoot very nicely. The only other option is Equation Design, but I'm not quite thrilled about there stuff.

[reneirwolf878]

You're not going to see a differenec in SS or aluminum. Almost no one makes SS barrels anymore since they are heavier than aluminum barrels and don't improve performance.

[AgentOrange]

Not to mention that aluminum is cheaper for both the consumer and the manufacturer. One reason why AGD is starting to switch over to an aluminum product line.

[spammersdie]

Almost no one makes SS barrels anymore since they are heavier than aluminum barrels and don't improve performance.

Yeah, well this is just the control bore we're talking about so it wont be "heavier" in any real sense. I plan on using an aluminum back. But I agree that SS isn't a major improvement over aluminum for a bore either, I just like it.

Not to mention that aluminum is cheaper for both the consumer and the manufacturer. One reason why AGD is starting to switch over to an aluminum product line.

Yeah, the funny thing is, I actually like the SS Mag bodies (especially the CF no rise). And they aren't that much heavier. But the autococker threading is a big advantage with the ULE's.