barrel length question?

[Commando52]

hello all.... what are the advantages/disadvantages pros and cons of the length of the barrel, 10", 12", 14", 16", and 18"... what difference does it make to have a longer barrel. does accuracy increase/decrease.. what?!? please explain, why manufacturers make these lengths? thanks....

[Hessian]

10''-14'' is prolly the best size barrel. when you shoot, the ball accelerates through the first 6-8 inches of the barrel, and after that, the ball will start decelerating. 16''-18'' barrels are long... so it takes more velocity to get the ball out at the right speed... say...280fps. with the long barrels, like i said, will have to have the velocity turned up a bit, compared to the regular 12''. and you know what happens when your velocity is up too much... ball breaks. companies make 16''-18'' barrels because on such of a high request, that people think... the longer the barrel...the farther and more accurate it is... not true. best length barrel i would say is... 12''-14'', i wouldnt go any higher than 14''.

[Moose]

read the stickies/faqs

[Eagle-Iz]

Commando hit it on the nose!!! I had an 18in Dye Boomstick and a 12in Smart Parts Tear Drop and I used the Tear Drop, even thought i think the boomstick is a better barrel. Also, playing with a bigger barrel will decrease your ability to move around your bunker easily.

[paintballdiablo]

Yeah, bigger is not always better! I use a 10 inch Freak on my Timmy.

[Commando52]

yeah i was thinking about gettin a smart parts 14" inch teardrop, for my piranha G3 VF BL, my piranha doesn't have good consistant velocity, the velocity hex is maxed, i chrnoed it and it came to like about 220 fps so i dont want to lose velocity on a longer barrel because my gun isn't that advanced. does the teardrop have tighter fit of the ball?? and how much would it cost to get a thing to increase velocity....thanks

[G2FishyPRO]

Do you have the right main spring in? I was having a similar prob with my fish until I realized that I had the weaker of the two stock springs in. I had the blue one in and was shooting low, but once I put in the red mainspring everything worked great.

Also just like it's been said before over 14 inches is a waste. I've got a DYE Ultralite 14 inch and would have gotten the 12 inch if I had the choice but it was a slightly used barrel at my local shop and I got a great deal on it, Thanks I-70.
hope this helps