Do you really need rifling for FSR

[Impactfour]

After getting some more experience around them I'm itching to build an FSR marker of some kind. I have a single shot pgp that might do the job, but I'm looking for something to force myself to slow down so I can play before work days.

From what I've read I'm going to want a longer and rifled barrel, but I also watched Chuck E Ducky shooting absolute dimes last weekend, so there's that to consider.

I'm curious what people think, id be keeping the budget low, and am definitely going to be using a pump marker, possibly just a single shot nelson or something if I need rifling and barrel length that bad.

[Hellion360]

My experience is that just first strikes are quite a bit more accurate than paintballs.
I have seen that rifling makes a difference on long range shots.

I shoot them through a freak on my single shot pistol, and a rifled PWR insert on my mag fed marker.

[Jonnydread]

Not necessary, but evidence suggests it helps. Primarily noticeable at long distance like Erik says

[Chuck E Ducky]

I feel like my rifled barrel is slightly more accurate.

However it may be due to just being longer so I get a better perspective on the barrel. I also aim more with the longer rifled setup so there is that.

My Creeper Customs single shot PGP build was modified for a Kp speed demon bolt so its center fire and lock’s closed and the bolt tip oring seals nicely on the breach. It’s also freak bored and First Strikes are very consistent. I had to swap out the .682 I run for round ball to a .685 because it was a lil tight feeding FS vs Paintballs. So I highly suggest a barrel with bore options. That being I was pretty much point shooting them took a bit to get use to since they shoot so flat vs paint that shoots at more of an ark. If I missed it was often just over head high because I don’t normally feed it First Strikes. They have very little side to side deviation so it’s easy to walk them in if you miss. I dropped one on Shaftski’s neck but I was actually aiming for his pack. They shoot slightly higher then want I’m use to with paint. I had some incredible long range shots with the pistol and it’s just a short freak bored smooth barrel so I don’t think it’s worth the dedicated FS rifled barrel honestly. Riffled barrels often shoot round ball like crap unless the paint is small enough not to get the spinning effect.

You would do fine with a smooth bore.

[cockerpunk]

i seem to remember, we noticed an effect of rifling on FSRs. our hypothesis was that introducing the round to the air spinning would help it rather than only spinning up once it in the air.

but we found FSRs to be more accurate, and have a lot less drag than round balls. regardless of barrel.

[uv_halo]

There are two factors here that are related but, can be independent: Pre-spinning in regards to aerodynamics (how the fins interact with the incoming air) and, pre-spinning in regards to gyroscopic stabilization (keeping the nose aligned with the axis of the barrel).

[Ecapnation]

I found no improvement between bore matching my first strikes like regular paint and the boujee tube made by carmatech

[uv_halo]

What were your shooting conditions? What was your shooting setup? If you put a bunch of rounds through the Carmatech 'tube', I am certain you would notice a very significant difference in /performance/.

[Ecapnation]

Used it for a whole day on a former golf course field... Very open so range shots were wide open....mg 100 fresh first strike.... Shot not even slightly better range wise.

Sold it and stuck to my rifling is a myth standpoint

[uv_halo]

After getting some more experience around them I'm itching to build an FSR marker of some kind. I have a single shot pgp that might do the job, but I'm looking for something to force myself to slow down so I can play before work days.

From what I've read I'm going to want a longer and rifled barrel, but I also watched Chuck E Ducky shooting absolute dimes last weekend, so there's that to consider.

I'm curious what people think, id be keeping the budget low, and am definitely going to be using a pump marker, possibly just a single shot nelson or something if I need rifling and barrel length that bad.

It depends on your definition of need.

Are you willing to learn to play differently? Cost/effort efficient use of First Strikes requires a different sort of playstyle. Not letting yourself be drawn into snapshooting matches, not trying to blow through a bush to get the person on the other side, if you miss a shot, are you going to check your aim or, simply fire more shots, while adjusting. These are all play styles that are endemic to roundball play. Don't think of it as being a means to get more eliminations but rather, get the same amount of eliminations while shooting less.

If you're willing to change your playstyle, and you're playing on a speedball-sized (even in the woods) field then no, you don't need a rifled barrel.

If you're playing on larger fields then yes, a rifled barrel would be advisable.

[Impactfour]

For the most part I'm used to a lot of those aspects. I don't think I've used a hopper more than once in the past two years, and when I shoot my only non pump marker it's an armson semi with a stick feed on it. Mostly I'm trying to have the option of a slightly less physically active style of play to bust out now and then.

I'd say of the options at my local field there's not too many wide open long range spots, so I don't think rifling is worth the cost difference unless I could find a cheap nelson pump with threaded barrels available, that is unless you have any suggestions for cheaper options that I might not aware of outside of converting a tippmann

[Impactfour]

Thank you for all the insight folks, it's looking like a brass single shot with an insert is going to be the route i go. Now it's just a question of barrel length, the idea of a scout rifle style build is tempting...

[Chuck E Ducky]

Honestly I don’t think it matters much my barrel on my pistol is about 3/4” longer than the freak insert. Just get something that feels natural for you to shoot. Jonny started taking my Lunch after he switch to his pump. He was having difficulty point shooting the mag fed marker. That was always my biggest issue with them. The ergonomics of them all kind of blow. Except maybe the striped down Mg100.

I really want to build a break action one like Jesse built. I feel like a short barrel break action or even a break action pistol would be fun.

For single shot definitely get a good Dump pouch. Kolby sad he made some more with the padding in front like mine. I got one of those gauntlet wrist packs to hold FS/Paint and the mini dump pouch works way better IMO.

[Impactfour]

That's a damn good point. I think I'm more comfortable "aiming* longer barreled markers whereas with shorter markers like my pgps and duckslide I shoot more off instinct and pointing if that makes sense. If the goals making an marker to run less and aim more then something with a longer barrel might work better

short barrel break action would be sweet, something like a cute little single shot 20 gauge

[Chuck E Ducky]

Break Action Pirate Sheridan

[Impactfour]

That's mighty slick! I feel like something like that with one of those crosman 1377 stocks would be really fun and lightweight

[Chuck E Ducky]

That’s a dam good idea. They fit on stock Sheridan’s frames to.