
Are you confused about which paintball barrel to get? Look no further than our top ten picks for the best paintball barrel of 2022!
In the middle of a heated gunfight, minor advantages can make the difference between a clutch play and a blunder. You want to be absolutely on top of your game, and there’s no doubt that your equipment should be the same. That’s why you must have the best paintball barrel of 2022.
Nowadays, markers get more attention as they’re flashier pieces of gear, but experienced veterans know that the barrel matters just as much, if not more so. The right barrel can give you an upper hand in matters like accuracy when you’re in-game.
What Is Paintball Barrel?
There isn’t much to worry about if you’re new to paintball markers and barrels because I’ll explain all the factors in detail throughout this review.
The barrel of a paintball marker, in simple terms, is a long cylindrical tube. Paintball rounds exit this end of the marker to hit the enemy when fired.
As such, it might feel like it won’t factor in much to actual performance, but that’s a common misconception.
As the part of the marker responsible for ejecting the rounds, it plays an integral role in the entire process. It affects essential factors such as accuracy.
The barrel’s length and interior patterning considerably impact the accuracy and travel distance of your shot.
Paintball barrels come in various lengths as well, which also play into the whole experience. The barrel length can also affect multiple factors such as the sound of the shot, the consistency, etc.
What Do You Need a Paintball Barrel for?
You might be wondering whether a paintball barrel is something that you even need to invest in or whether it’s just a pointless gimmick.
It might just surprise you to learn how big of a role barrels play in paintball shootouts overall and how many different kinds of barrels there are.
These variations have advantages that they grant based on the materials used, the construction, and the length, among other factors.
Premium quality barrels will lessen the deviation of the shot that happens when you fire. The recoil and handling will significantly improve. Barrels over 14 inches will increase accuracy greatly.
The Top 10 Best Paintball Barrel In April 2022 [Recommended]
All of these options, models, and variations of barrels might get confusing, so here are a few of the better selections that I’ve handpicked for the concerned customer.
Smart Parts Freak XL Carbon Fiber One Piece Barrel – Autococker / AC – 14”
Smart Parts and their famous Freak line of parts and barrels are prevalent among airsofters and paintball enthusiasts.
This unit is one of the top-of-the-line barrel models, easily noticeable by the usage of carbon fiber. Using carbon fiber means that it will deliver, at the very least, double the tensile strength while being half as heavy.
The construction of this barrel is carbon fiber through and through without any fillers.
People usually think that the fourteen-inch barrel length is the best paintball barrel length when considering all the different factors. Longer barrels offer more consistency, but shorter barrels offer way more maneuverability.
This length is just right and delivers an ideal blend of both characteristics performing at a high level overall, making it a safe choice for enthusiasts.
Another advantage that carbon fiber brings to the table is that it allows for full-sized porting on the barrel inside.
One of the more substantial selling points of this barrel is that it comes with adapters that are individually counter-threaded to allow the user to switch barrels on the fly with ease.
Carbon fiber usually costs a pretty penny and is reserved for enthusiasts and hardcore players who don’t mind breaking open the bank for performance.
Fortunately for us, this particular barrel considers these and still manages to deliver a pretty good product.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good porting
- Optimal barrel size
- Decent value
- Adapters included
Cons
- Expensive
- It should’ve been a two-piece kit
Why Should You Buy This Product?
This barrel provides excellent value on a product that should be in a much higher price bracket than it currently is.
rap4 22 Inch Flute Sniper Barrel for Tippmann A-5
This unit from rap4’s paintball barrel is for people who prefer a long-distance snipe fight thanks to its massive 22-inch barrel, answering the question of what the best paintball barrel for accuracy is.
Metal is often primarily used in most paintball barrels. Metal more often than not provides excellent durability and stability, lagging behind only extreme quality materials like carbon fiber.
This paintball barrel is no different, featuring an all-metal construction. It brings with it all the stability and durability that metal is known for.
Barrel length is one area where this unit stands, one cut above the rest, both figuratively and literally. Because this unit features a 22-inch barrel, clearly built for sniping, this barrel will allow you to stay hidden in the bush and pick off your enemies one by one.
The extra length will also help ensure that your paint pellets don’t hit leaves and bushes when firing from the cover.
The sleek black barrel also adds an element of slickness to your marker, aside from the performance advantages.
Top-quality design and engineering define this barrel, and an attractive exterior only adds value to this unit and whatever marker you choose to attach to it.
Despite choosing to scale back with metal components, this unit still offers excellent value in pricing. Toned-down pricing is just what an entry-level player might be looking for to get started in the sniping business.
Offering quality level sniping capabilities on a budget makes this an attractive prospect for any paintball player looking to get better.
Pros
- Sniper length
- Decent metal build
- Slick look
- Budget-friendly
- Well-engineered bore
Cons
- Not enough features
- Entry-level only
Why Should You Buy This Product?
If you’re an entry-level sniper looking to experiment with a decent aftermarket choice, then this can help you out.
12” Black Tippmann A-5 J&J Ceramic Barrel
Tippmann is a staple in the market for conventional barrels, and this barrel proves itself worthy of that good reputation.
The construction of this paintball barrel is nothing super special, but it gets the job done. Featuring 6061 T6 aluminum as its main component, this barrel doesn’t disappoint build quality.
Aluminum is the go-to metal for most paintball barrels because it is easy to work with while maintaining stability and durability on the cheap.
With a 12 inch barrel, this falls slightly short of the ideal 14-inch barrel. What it brings to the table in return, however, is easier flicking and maneuverability.
Quickly reacting to an opponent appearing in your vicinity is something a lot more easily done with this barrel. Excellent for paintball venues and maps that require a lot of room clearing and objective control.
This model features an attractive exterior characteristic such as a coating of Teflon and hard ceramic. This coating is excellent for the barrel because it reduces the friction and air pressure that the pellet faces.
As a result, this strongly reduces the chance of the projectile exploding in the barrel, which would be a definite setback.
When considering the fact that this barrel comes with so many features, the price is understandable. It is not as if it’s overpriced, but it fills the niche that it exists in perfectly.
Consequently, the high-level performance that you’re getting with this barrel is definitely a worthwhile purchase.
Pros
- It does not weigh much
- Easy to flick with
- Strong coating
- Self-cleaning method
- Quiet
Cons
- Not good for long-range
- No adapters
Why Should You Buy This Product?
Despite not being for everyone, if your job in your team is to get into a site, clear corners, and hold a building, this barrel will help you get that job done.
DeadlyWind Null Carbon Fiber one Piece Paintball Gun Barrel
This carbon fiber model from DeadlyWind brings premium, high-end features for the avid paintball enthusiast and is one of the best types of paintball barrels.
Carbon fiber isn’t a material used for just about anything. Extreme durability and stability are just some of the things that this straight bore barrel brings to the table—the unique three-layer design with uni-directional fibers used on the outside with a silk fiber inside guarantees extreme efficiency.
The manufacturers claim that you could run this barrel over with a car and barely leave a scratch.
The barrel length on this unit is the standard, efficient fourteen-inch form factor. Thanks to the carbon fiber used, this barrel is unbelievably light.
Swinging it around feels incredibly effortless, making it even easier to use in tight scenarios. Its fourteen-inch form factor already grants accuracy, so with a light body and easy flicking, it does feel like a complete package.
What sets this barrel apart from other units isn’t the fact that it’s carbon fiber-based but the fact that it has an extreme level of efficiency.
The multi-vector engineering and the amount of work that went into the design ensure accuracy and quietness. Most users have mentioned that paintballs misfiring and exploding in the barrel seldom happened, which is always great to hear.
The fact that this model can pack so many premium features into a barrel that gives you so much is worth it at the price point it’s selling for.
Despite being on the pricier end, it still manages to provide great value for enthusiasts looking for a solid upgrade.
Pros
- Carbon fiber
- Excellent design
- Super lightweight
- Minimal misfiring
- Easy to install
Cons
- Expensive
- Jamming complaints
Why Should You Buy This Product?
This unit will help any enthusiast-level paintballer to take their game to the next level with its numerous features.
GOG Apex/Apex 2 Ready All American Freak Barrel Front – Dust Black
GOG’s Apex-ready barrel proves that a solid barrel doesn’t have to have a hundred features to produce reliable results.
This unit is a barrel front which means that it’s intended to supplement and be supplemented in turn by a barrel back and a tip if you wish. Despite being a component, there was no skimping on build quality for this unit.
It features a Teflon and ceramic coating which helps dissipate turbulence and provide stability and accuracy.
Barrel length is variable on this unit thanks to the two-piece nature of this barrel front. It is six inches by itself, and the total length depends on the barrel back you choose to add and the tip, if any.
The shaft is spiral ported and has a stiff arbor honing, which only adds credence to the excellent design.
Compatibility is the name of the game when it comes to the features of this model. This unit often features as one of the standard components in many of the best-regarded setups for paintballing.
Many paintball veterans swear by its reliability and adaptability because of its ability to accommodate Apex and/or Apex 2 tips for one of the best setups.
The excellent value that this barrel brings to any competent setup isn’t something to shrug off easily. It might not be the cheapest, but if it finds itself on the endgame setups of top players, it must be pretty good.
Pros
- Teflon and ceramic coating
- Adaptable
- Highly compatible
- Stiff arbor honing
- Can fit Apex
Cons
- Not the cheapest
- Requires other components to shine
Why Should You Buy This Product?
If you’re looking to build a robust setup, this should help you get all the parts together for a high-level paintball experience.
Tippmann Sniper Barrel
The simply named Sniper Barrel from Tippmann tells you everything you need to know about what it will add to your paintballing experience.
In terms of construction quality, there’s not much to say. This manufacturer is known for its highly reliable materials and engineering, so the quality and finishing on this is assuredly as good as it should be.
When paired with a good marker, this will offer almost unbeatable quality in terms of reliability.
One of the more curious aspects of this barrel is its claim to be a sniper barrel at the standard fourteen-inch form factor.
Most sniper-oriented barrels are usually much longer, with one of the units on this list clocking in at twenty-two inches even! This barrel gets the job thanks to the fact that it has one of the best paintball barrels bore sizes.
The best features of this unit are undoubtedly the form factor and the engineering of the interior of the barrel. An exceptionally smooth and polished inner bore grants it the advantage of minimal barrel breaking.
The channeled porting on the muzzle dampens the sound signature while boosting accuracy numbers.
Expenses for this unit are mostly average. It doesn’t empty your wallet, but neither does it do all that it does for free. With this product, you’re paying an average price for something that does what it claims to do.
Pros
- Smaller form factor
- Good barrel design
- Extremely polished bore
- Minimal ball-breaking
- Dampened noise levels
Cons
- Not the best value
- Not as accurate as longer snipers
Why Should You Buy This Product?
You should definitely look into getting this if you want a sniper barrel that also grants you maneuverability along with higher levels of accuracy.
DeadlywindFibur X8 Carbon Fiber Main Barrel
Deadlywind’s other carbon fiber-based offering brings customizability and adaptability to the high-end table. It allows enthusiast-minded players to get the whole package.
Like the other carbon fiber options on this list, this one passes all the durability and stability checks with flying colors.
Thanks to the reliability of carbon fiber as a material, there is no need to concern yourself about the build quality of this unit. It’ll hold up against any of the other contenders on this list in a spectacular fashion.
The barrel length on this is ambiguous due to the multi-part setup necessary for this unit. By itself, it is eight inches in length, but you’ll need a threaded adapter and an eight-inch insert.
These don’t come with the central unit, so you’ll need to purchase them separately, which might turn you off from this.
Requiring proprietary components to function better might seem like a negative, but there’s a silver lining to that as well. Their design is proprietary, and that means that they will work together cohesively as a well-knit unit.
You won’t run into problems and issues with compatibility and adaptability because of the preset nature of this model.
This barrel is definitely one of the pricier options on the list, and for a good reason. You could think of this as you would think of an iPhone.
It does its job exceptionally well in the ecosystem that it was designed for and comes with its own set of solid advantages. That makes it one of the best paintball barrel kits on the list.
Pros
- Carbon fiber-based
- Works well with proprietary components
- Uses silk fiber
- Uni-directional threads
- Very lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires proprietary components
Why Should You Buy This Product?
This model, paired with its other components, offers one of the most balanced aftermarket packages in terms of handling and reliability, so it’ll step up your game.
DYE Precision GF Boomstick Barrel
This unit from DYE’s Precision GF series uses glass fiber technology to stand out from the competition.
In terms of construction, this unit utilizes this manufacturer’s already existing carbon fiber barrel tech but chooses to substitute the carbon for glass fiber instead.
Beneath the glass fiber exterior lies an interior of surgical grade 303 stainless steel. This steel provides sufficient amounts of durability and even helps protect against corrosion and rusting to a degree.
The length of this barrel comes down to fifteen inches which is a slight deviation from the usual fourteen inches. This length skews this model towards accuracy more so than maneuverability, but it shouldn’t be that big of a difference.
It also features a two-piece construction, and this unit comes with an Auto cocker threading, so it might need an adapter for different markers.
One of the more major game-changers that this barrel brings to the market is its customizability and unique muzzle port design. The glass fiber tech it features allows the manufacturer to produce these barrels in many different color options for different tastes.
A unique muzzle port design allows this unit to offer excellent accuracy for its length and dampen noise well.
The pricing on this model is what makes it a hard choice to pick up. For some reason, this barrel is more expensive than carbon fiber offerings which are much better for durability.
I’m not convinced that the shiny colors and glass fiber tech are worth the steep asking price.
Pros
- Color options
- Glass fiber tech
- Decent accuracy
- Noise suppression
- Unique muzzle port design
- Stainless steel interior provides sufficient durability and protection against rust and corrosion
Cons
- Not budget-friendly
- Not as durable as carbon fiber
Why Should You Buy This Product?
This model will definitely appeal to the more aesthetic-minded paintballer, given its wide range of color options.
TRINITY Tippmann Cronus Accessories Paintball Upgrade
TRINITY’s new paintball marker barrel is a reliable all-rounder that’ll fit right in most tactical loadouts.
A black anodized finish on an aluminum body makes this barrel a definite eye-turner. Aluminum is the industry standard material that most marker barrels use.
Aluminum is just a generally reliable and cheap material to work with that doesn’t sacrifice quality, so most barrels use them. Thankfully, this model doesn’t deviate from this and gets the job done.
The sixteen-inch barrel skews towards accuracy more than power and maneuverability. An extremely well-polished interior accentuates this maneuverability.
A smooth surface on the interior reduces friction between the paintball and the barrel itself, giving it greater travel distance and accuracy. Through micro polishing the interior and giving it a machined finish, this happens.
One of the more exciting features of this barrel is the porting on the muzzle. The VORTEX porting reduces air friction inside the barrel granting the user increased performance and noise dampening.
This design makes it one of the best-rifled paintball barrels. A .689 boring means that any paintball size will easily be compatible with this unit. It definitely doesn’t hurt that it is also reasonably lightweight.
The pricing on this model isn’t anything unreasonably high—a competitive price for a barrel that offers a decent amount of features and compatibility. If the features appeal to you, then feel free to pick up what should be a solid investment.
Pros
- Lightweight
- VORTEX muzzle porting
- Anodized finish
- Compatible with most paintballs
- Micro polished interior
Cons
- Not as sturdy as carbon fiber
- It only fits the Cronus marker
Why Should You Buy This Product?
This product will get you to where you need to go on a budget, and its features will help you become a much better paintballer on the ground.
Smart Parts Freak Carbon Fiber One Piece Barrel – Autococker / AC – 14”
A full carbon fiber barrel that doesn’t compromise on anything to deliver the best performance it possibly can.
While this barrel uses carbon fiber-like many others on this list, this model claims to not skimp on the amount of fiber it uses. It utilizes a composite of carbon fiber for everything from the exterior to the bore on the interior.
This carbon fiber definitely ensures a highly durable product that won’t fail you under most conditions.
It doesn’t try to specialize or do anything unique and chooses instead to go with the classic fourteen-inch balanced barrel. The very efficient accuracy-to-maneuvrability factor of the fourteen-inch form factor is what makes it one of the best paintball barrel lengths.
This form factor, coupled with the durability that carbon fiber brings, makes this model a formidable opponent in the aftermarket barrel game.
One of the more exciting aspects of this barrel is the All-American porting it uses. This porting dampens the marker’s noise levels as the paintball exits the barrel.
It also creates an efficient path for the gas to level itself with the surrounding atmosphere before ejecting the ball. A patterned spiral design is indicative of the manufacturer’s traditionalist reliance on tried and tested methods.
The price of this unit is definitely on the more expensive end. This expense is nothing unexpected when considering the whole carbon fiber build that it comes with. I like this, but I don’t know whether I’d rate it higher than some other options on this list.
Pros
- Full carbon fiber
- Spiral pattern design
- All American porting
- Noise dampening
- Extremely durable
Cons
- Not very budget-friendly
- Not enough features to justify a purchase
Why Should You Buy This Product?
The build quality of this product is unparalleled and will definitely be in your corner if you’re a rough user who’s not afraid of getting down and dirty with your gear.
How Do I Choose The Right Paintball Barrel of 2022?
Choosing the right paintball barrel can be a very demanding task, thanks to the numerous market options. Listed below are a few key factors you should be looking at when looking for the right barrel.
Build Materials
The materials used for construction are absolutely one of the most important aspects of choosing a barrel for your marker.
Build materials influence everything from heat dissipation, aerodynamics, noise suppression, accuracy, and a host of other things. That’s why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the material a barrel uses is, more often than not, the biggest deciding factor that determines a purchase.
The most readily available and widely used material is aluminum. Most manufacturers prefer working with aluminum thanks to its high malleability, cheap cost, and lightweight.
It doesn’t hurt that aluminum is also very easy to machine process. Most entry-level marker barrels tend to use aluminum because of these perks.
A couple of materials that saw a passing amount of use were titanium and stainless steel. Stainless steel never took off, thanks to the fact that it was around five times heavier than aluminum on average.
Titanium also did the same because manufacturers had a terrible time trying to work with it.
The gold standard for materials in the paintball industry is carbon fiber. Despite being extremely durable, it has levels of weightlessness comparable to aluminum.
It is expensive, but through innovations to the refining process, we found a way to do it on the cheap, which is why it’s the first choice for any serious paintballer.
Barrel Length
Many people wrongly believe that barrel length is directly proportional to shot accuracy, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
The most common form factor for barrel lengths is the fourteen-inch barrel. This form factor is the most commonly used because this length strikes the best balance between accuracy and maneuverability.
This exciting combination makes the best length for paintball barrels. Most of the barrels available on the market, no matter what material they use, are found in the fourteen-inch length range.
An average range for barrel lengths overall is, in all likelihood, the ten to the twenty-inch range. While most sniper barrels take advantage of the misnomer that a longer barrel means better accuracy, they still serve a particular function.
Their main functionality is that the longer barrel allows a sniper to sit and hide in thick brush cover and not have their paintballs hit a leaf and burst prematurely.
On the flip side, shorter barrels are generally seen as useless because of the lower accuracy and shot consistency. This notion is not true because shorter barrels more than makes it up for in the weight and maneuverability categories.
For someone looking to enter a structure and clear rooms and tight corners, the ability to reflex fire is absolutely integral. This metric is where the shorter barrels come in.
The issue of barrel length ultimately comes down to user preference and the method of usage. A fourteen-inch barrel is a way to go for anyone concerned with having an optimally efficient setup. It’ll give you the best of both worlds.
Compatibility
Compatibility can definitely become a confusing issue due to all the different types of barrels and markers and which can accommodate which.
The barrel thread mostly determines this. There mainly four types of barrel threads. The first and most commonly available kind of barrel thread is the Autococker variant.
The Auto cocker paintball thread is one of the first-ever thread types and is still used in most markers and is extremely popular thanks to its customizable and complex nature.
Most of the other variants are mostly proprietary and fit only their marker models. These include the Tippmann A5/X7 threads, which are only just for the Tippmann model markers.
Other threads include the Impulse and Spyder threads which aren’t as prevalent. These are also used almost exclusively with their own branded markers.
There are ways to circumvent these requirements. Barrel thread adaptors allow the user to bypass these requirements and use whatever variant of threading the user wants to use.
These do come with their drawbacks are proprietary threads use designs that most benefit their models. Other models might have unforeseen complications.
These complications are why it’s always important to do your research on models and threads and what exactly you want to use. It really doesn’t make sense if you’re looking for the best paintball barrel for 1v1s but end up buying a sniper instead.
One of the easier ways to do this is to visit your local paintball shop and look around. Feel free to ask the employees there about compatibility and availability, as chances are, they’ve been in the business much longer than you have.
Miscellaneous
Here are a few other minor factors that you should also try to keep abreast of when you’re thinking about making a purchase.
Bore sizes are one of the most under looked factors regarding barrels and markers. Ideally, the bore size should be identical or close to the type of paintball you’re looking to use. Bigger bore sizes will result in a loss of accuracy and general inconsistency.
Smaller bores will mean a lot of ball-breaking. There are many options that barrels come with, such as a .698 or even a .674, so it is important to know what exact kind of paintball you want to work with.
Barrel kits are also something the discerning paintball player should look into. These usually include both a barrel back kit and a front as well. The most commonly available kits use carbon fiber.
These kits give you a lot of adaptability to whatever paintballs you have at hand. You can easily switch out your barrel back to best fit whatever sort of paintball you find yourself having to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a longer paintball barrel increase accuracy?
No, a longer paintball barrel doesn’t always equate to improved accuracy. Longer-length paintball barrels are commonly called sniper barrels.
The main functionality of these sniper barrels is the fact that their lengthier barrels allow you to shoot through brush cover very easily. Considering these as the best paintball barrel for accuracy isn’t a good idea.
Are paintball barrel kits worth it?
The answer to that question depends entirely on how dedicated you are to the sport. A barrel kit is probably pushing the limits of how much an average consumer should be spending on such a product.
For someone who regularly attends tournaments and plays on the regular, barrel kits are definitely a worthwhile pickup. The worth of these barrel kits depends ultimately on you and your usage.
Is the freak XL worth it?
In terms of raw performance, the freak XL is probably one of the better ones around.
The advantage of any barrel kit is that you can adapt your bore to the paintball size, so it all depends on what size paint you usually use and what bore size your stock barrel has.
However, full kits are overrated; you’ll only need a couple of sizes. I’ve been using .678 size pellets as of late, so I don’t think you absolutely have to buy a whole kit.
How do paintball barrel inserts work?
Paintball barrel inserts function by supplying the player with the most precisely sized barrel to match their paintballs. Paintball barrel inserts are usually sold in sets and differ in size slightly.
These options help the user to choose the best barrel for their needs, improving firing accuracy.
What is an Auto cocker barrel?
Auto cocker threading, also known as A/C threading, is a common barrel thread used in paintball guns for speedball and woodsball. It has become the industry norm for most high-end tournament paintball arms.
The A/C threading’s fine design allows for a close fit, resulting in a better seal between the barrel and the paintball gun.
How do freak barrels work?
No matter what marker you fire, the Freak System helps you get more shots from any fill-up. You lose less air propelling if you bore-match them. This boring means you can lower the pressure on your regulator or loosen the velocity screw on your marker, making it harder on paint and easier on the air.
Final words
Choosing the right paintball barrel for accuracy will be simpler than ever before if you’ve read this far.
Paintballing is a sport that necessitates the development of various skills such as leadership, teamwork, and coordination.
The best paintball barrel of 2022 is cleaner and more precise, so we recommend them. However, do your homework and weigh the benefits and drawbacks.
While it’s a lot of fun to play, figuring out all the different models can be a little frustrating for beginners.
Even if you succeed in completing all of the tasks, you will face a new challenge in selecting paintball equipment.
If you don’t know which paintball barrel is best for your playing style, check the guide above. You’ll find most of the answers you need there.
Make sure to keep an eye on your budget. There is absolutely no reason to overspend and get expensive gear that you’ll just stuff in your closet to gather dust.
If you’re seriously considering a purchase, ensure that it’ll see proper use. Impulse buying hurts no one but your wallet.
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