Paintball Gun Accuracy

[Promasta]

Ok I want everyones opinion on this. What makes a paintball gun accurate? I am very sure that it is three things only:
1. Smoothness of barrel
2. Paint to bore match
3. Consistency (fps)
I am so sick of guys with Tippmanns saying their guns are the most accurate. This must be false because they don't have good paint to bore match or consistency.
Also why are Autocockers more accurate than other guns if the barrel and regulator is the same?

[shneeko6]

Autocockers are not more accurate than any other kind of gun. One of the biggest myths in paintball.

Your list of three things pretty much cover the basics of what makes a gun accurate. You could really go into detail such as weather and wind, but no need to get that indepth.

[Vyce-Gripp]

I believe that the reason Autocockers seem more accurate is because they are closed-bolt, and therefore they force you to have a good paint-to-bore match to keep the balls from rolling out of the barrel. But no, they are no more accurate than other guns.
Another thing that contributes to accuracy is the roundness and smoothness of the paintball itself.

-Gripp

[babustos]

Ok I want everyones opinion on this. What makes a paintball gun accurate? I am very sure that it is three things only:
1. Quality of paint
2. Paint to bore match
3. Consistency (fps)
I am so sick of guys with Tippmanns saying their guns are the most accurate. This must be false because they don't have good paint to bore match or consistency. Tippmanns will be less accurate than EP guns if the paint to bore match is the same.
Also why are Autocockers more accurate than other guns if the barrel and regulator is the same? Autocockers aren't more accurate than other guns, its a common myth.

[Crede777]

I believe that the reason Autocockers seem more accurate is because they are closed-bolt, and therefore they force you to have a good paint-to-bore match to keep the balls from rolling out of the barrel. But no, they are no more accurate than other guns.
Another thing that contributes to accuracy is the roundness and smoothness of the paintball itself.

-Gripp

Actually the perceived accuracey of autocockers is two-fold.

1. They are among the first markers to ship with a decent barrel stock. This decent stock barrel gave a perceived accuracey out of the box.

2. The backblock movement, which is horizontal (front-back) movement eliminates some kick and that translates into a feeling of a smoother, more accurate string.

[babustos]

2. The backblock movement, which is horizontal (front-back) movement eliminates some kick and that translates into a feeling of a smoother, more accurate string.

Thats preference, I like the way an Ion shoots so much better than an e-bladed Cocker.

[Mentalmonkey10]

Thats preference, I like the way an Ion shoots so much better than an e-bladed Cocker.

I think he ment that they had a smoother shooting feeling than the other markers on the market when the e-bladed Cocker came out.

Accuracy is mainly from paint quallity, paint-to-bore match, decent barrel, user, reg/consticancy, "kick". Other than that, there is also wind.

[Blacksheep]

Well...

1. Airflow consistency
2. Paint Quality
3. Barrel Quality
4. Paint-to-Bore Match (All tests I've seen are that it doesn't do much?)
5. Operating pressure (which will affect the airflow consistency)

And then, there's recoil, possible bolt position, and a bunch of other stuff, but if you have a consistent gun, good barrel and good paint, all other factors should be negated.

[Promasta]

So if you put a CP reg and a Stiffi Switch Kit on a Spyder Xtra it will be the most accurate gun out there?

[babustos]

No, EP guns with those ups will be more consistant. Honestly don't bother upping your Spyder like mad, just get a better gun if you want better accuracy, although barrel, bore match, and quality of paint will affect accuracy the most.

[Mentalmonkey10]

And then, there's recoil, possible bolt position, and a bunch of other stuff, but if you have a consistent gun, good barrel and good paint, all other factors should be negated.

Bolt position dosn't mattter. It's a myth. (if you talking about how closed bolt markers are more accurate than open bolt ones.

So if you put a CP reg and a Stiffi Switch Kit on a Spyder Xtra it will be the most accurate gun out there?

No. The opperation of a Shocker or Timmy or Ego makes it more consistant than a Spyder. Also, there is the kick of the Spyder that makes it less accurate (when shooting ropes) than a high end.