PWR Inserts and Barrels

[Cdn_Cuda]

School an old ignorant Freak user on PWR barrels! Are there much difference between various company’s inserts? PE vs ID vs Dye v CBN? What are impressions with barrels?

For actual barrels, and noticeable difference between say a PE or CBN?

Been pondering picking up a new barrel for general duty.

[iamthelazerviking]

All the inserts are the same just branded differently. Except for maybe the Dye ones which have other claims and more expensive. Infamous made a stainless version that are very rare.

Paint is really awful almost everywhere though. No amount of money in barrels will make it shoot better.

If you're using an open bolt, I think having maybe 2 different barrels or backs is all you need. No inserts etc.

Closed bolt, if the paint is decent, standard Freak to keep it from rolling away is enough. Or tape. Or 3d printed fingerz.

The size of the bore stamped on a barrel/back/insert are typically quite a bit of of what they actually measure out to be.

If I were to come back and buy barrels again, it would just be a one piece "689".

[Cdn_Cuda]

Would be for pumps mostly. I have a nice set of 1 piece Lucky barrel kit that’s great for my Emek. Likely only want .684 and down sizes. No point in owning a full kit, never use the big inserts.

[Pumps4ever]

I am in the process of switching over. I do like the feel of the PWR inserts better than Freaks...

Like the look of the dye and CBRN inserts but I do not know if there are really any difference in performance between any of them... I believe maybe some are made with difference materials. But the Dye's look super sweet

Sold my FreakXL kit with a marker earlier this year but will prob get one when I see a good price for a slightly used kit...

Kept my standard freak set since sometimes that size comes up on some cool barrels or custom barrels that some builders create...

[The Jayster]

Same here. I have an ID kit and the stock barrel on my LV2 uses PWR inserts. I also use the Freak XL barrel that came on my Shocker Era. I prefer the PWR system because the insert sits snuggly into the back whereas on the Freak XL the insert can slide past the back's end. Small detail but that's how it is.

That being said, I don't really believe in full kits anymore. Paint on average has gotten so small and inconsistent, that I use 0.685 backs on average and thus prefer to slightly overbore. Say I run field paint through my perfectly adjusted and maintained LV2 and tank, then I get readings varying from say 275 to 295 and anything in between, why bother? I've given up on longing for the good old days of hitting +/-5 fps 95%+ of the time. They ain't coming back. Then they wonder why paintball's dying but I'm digressing. Or am I...?

The only time I pay closer attention to the insert size is when using a Phantom with a 'Phreak' bored barrel obviously to help prevent roll-outs (paint has gotten so small that even the ASP detent mod goes only so far).

[Pumps4ever]

I do really think if the paint was regular size the sport could reserge

[The Jayster]

Paintball (like many other sports) faces some uphill battles but you're absolutely right: paint that actually shoots straight would go a long way to revigorate paintball.

[Chuck E Ducky]

For pump just get a .681 one piece and someRedLeaderSB laser cut detent rings and call it a day.

Paint today is crap and small.

All I run is a .681 if I get rollouts I put Red rings in.

Something about a one piece Barrel they just shoot so nice.

[Schultz98]

Has anyone spoken to people in the industry and got any info on why no one is capable of making decent paint anymore? That seems like a really big deal

[The Jayster]

I'll put it this way: The bulk of the industry is now concentrated among a handful of individuals whom I suspect are more interested into squeezing out every buck for short-term profits than sustained growth. Long gone are the days of Tom Kaye, Bud Orr, Denis Tippmann Sr., Mike Cassady, etc. There are some noteworthy exceptions, like the people at PE or DYE, but I don't see them as wielding enough influence to sway the state of affairs.

The actual paintball 'captains of industry' surmise (maybe correctly) that paintball is in its death throes and thus try to maximize $$ when they still can. Others would say then that this way of thinking is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[Schultz98]

I would agree with the latter part of thinking, it is a self fulfilling prophecy. I switched from paintball to airsoft for a number of reasons around 2009, was even a tech at a field for the last few years. The way kids play airsoft at the indoor fields, you can tell they wish they were playing paintball instead. People call it "speedsoft", its basically paintball but cheaper. I really wish some people who had a passion for the game took the reigns, because there is a ton of kids who would play if they could afford it, and ammo wasn't so shitty that it effects gameplay.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Any tips preferred over others?

[Pumps4ever]

I like the nano, but they also have Dyes... there are some cool choices for sure

[Buff_phroggie]

I know some are slightly different sizes. I believe crbn speciffically makes them in between the PE sizes. If you wanted the absloute most options for size i think getting both insert sets would give you that.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Not too worried about having all the inserts. With football shaped balls these days each ball various so much.

[Buff_phroggie]

I really like the crbn barrels. I have one that takes freak inserts and it feels more consistant than the same insert does on my stock luxe barrel. I have also had great luck with the crbn barrel that i use on my pump or my trilogy

[Cdn_Cuda]

Looking more into it, the Eclipse version is the cheapest as it comes with an actual barrel insert whereas the other barrel are $200 CAD before inserts. I have a soft spot for Deadly Wind though and offers a one piece with insert or the MOAB barrel, which is interesting g if not overdone

[latches109]

I have eclipse, ID, dye and CRBN inserts in various sizes. Eclipse shot the best for me, save your monies.