explain Freak XL

[Brandon]

I've had a freak SS system since they came out years ago, I recently got back into the game and find out there is a longer control bore called the XL. What's the deal???

Can I use my old Freak backs and replace the tip or is it completely different back and front sections.
I really like the idea of having a longer control bore but if I have to change all the backs and fronts to except the new inserts I might stick with what I have.

Thanks

[Jordan]

You can buy an extension that will allow you to use your old Freak stuff with the new inserts.

I think Nummech and SSC make them, off the top of my head.

[Chuck E Ducky]

The XL kit is just a longer control bore. It’s marketing hype. Keep what you got as long as your kit goes small enough for today’s tiny paint. If not you can just buy the sizes you need smaller cheap. No need to “upgrade” to the XL inserts.

There are people that bore out barrel tips to XL, make barrel tips that attach to your existing back that hold the XL length. Or you can really by into the snake oil and get a completely new barrel system that takes the longer inserts. There are aftermarket ones as well like the sconi that take any dye tips he also makes his own style one.

My advice is stick with what you got. Standard freak inserts work just fine. If you don’t have the size you need just by the insert you want. I can assure you whatever difference you think or the marketing team says it will make its not going to. Certainly not over the kit you already have.

[lew]

I bought a Freak XL as my first kit when I got back into the sport last year, and then lucked into a regular Freak kit for cheap after that. I don't see a bit of difference, although the XL does look really good on my Cockers, so there's that.

[Trbo323]

The XL kit is just a longer control bore. It’s marketing hype. .

There's this smart guy named Tom Kaye that would disagree with you on this.

According to him, a 8-10 inch "effective length" (aka, control bore) is what's the best for paintball. And yes, he did testing to come up with these numbers

Now granted, most of the difference you will see is going to be efficiency.

I do find it funny how Tom basically did all this testing in the 90s and 00s, released all his findings and it's taken the rest of the industry 20 years to figure out here was right

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[Brokeass_baller]

Came here just to say this. There used to be a section on AO dedicated to Tom's Tech Tips, but I can't find it anymore. But I did manage to find Tom's original post about it, so here's that.

https://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?8958-Barrel-Efficiency-Tech-Tip-1

[Hellion360]

There's this smart guy named Tom Kaye that would disagree with you on this.

According to him, a 8-10 inch "effective length" (aka, control bore) is what's the best for paintball. And yes, he did testing to come up with these numbers

Now granted, most of the difference you will see is going to be efficiency.

I do find it funny how Tom basically did all this testing in the 90s and 00s, released all his findings and it's taken the rest of the industry 20 years to figure out here was right

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To some extent this is true.
But the difference between 6 and 8 is imperceptible and mostly related to efficiency.

If you have a full freak set don't bother getting a freak XL set. I just picked up a marker that has a matched barrel bored for freak XL inserts and I was annoyed about it. (Not annoyed enough to not buy it, but nonetheless.) Ruined a perfectly good barrel tip.

[Trbo323]

Now granted, most of the difference you will see is going to be efficiency.

To some extent this is true.
But the difference between 6 and 8 is imperceptible and mostly related to efficiency.
.

>_>

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[Hellion360]

agree to agree LOL

[Brokeass_baller]

Here's Tom Kaye's write-up about effective barrel length and it's impact on paintball acceleration.

https://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?8958-Barrel-Efficiency-Tech-Tip-1

[gabe]

Hate to say it but there's a marked difference between my regular Freak and my buddy's freak XL both on autocockers. The XL wins hands down for better accuracy. Everybody is going to the XL because you get less hook shots.

Doesn't always have to be based on backyard science if it just works. Bunch of armchair engineers up in here trying to figure out why a little gel ball does different things based on another 1.5" of barrel.

[Chuck E Ducky]

People get so hung up on what barrels better then another. The performance difference in a barrel especially any decent barrel is more then negated and well within the consistency and quality differences seen in paint. It’s your money to spend just don’t expect to notice your 3 FPS boost actually playing paintball.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Basically there’s a huge used market for Freak barrels so sales dropped, so they launched the Freak XL so people would buy it instead of the old Freak.

[gabe]

IDK guys, there really is a difference with same paint, similar guns, same day. The XL just doesn't hook shots as much as the regular freak. Not just marketing hype IMO.

[Brokeass_baller]

I've been using a Freak since 2004ish and I've never had that problem. I use an XL now because of Tom Kaye mostly. Lol.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Really you have never had paint get in around the freak insert. After a break I feel like then never shoot straight after that. You have to take the barrel off clean the insert. Then swab the barrel where the insert goes in. They never shoot the same without completely breaking them down and cleaning. I love my freak inserts to. I got all kids of things bored for them. But they never shoot clean after a break. I try and shot the best paint I can and try not to break paint but sometimes it happens especially around this time when summer paint and winter paint is transitioning. Summer stuff can get super brittle breaks happen.

[gabe]

Yeah, if it's that bad I just take the insert out and swab the back and front separately and then the insert as well. Just basically clean it thoroughly in the staging area. But really, I can't remember a time when that's been necessary. Usually a good straight swab gets it shooting fine again.

[Trbo323]

Basically there’s a huge used market for Freak barrels so sales dropped, so they launched the Freak XL so people would buy it instead of the old Freak.

I don't think this is entirely true. Don't get me wrong, I think the Gardner brothers are money sucking scum and this is part of it but remember when this was released, the whole industry was already moving towards longer backs. J&j edge, evil pipe, empire... Whatever it's called, dye ul, and basically every upper tier marker that came with a small kit, they were all around 7"or longer backs. Stella released their kit and I think that's around when the g brothers got on board with the idea. The only real difference is the freak is a insert rather than a whole back

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