Tippmanns and smaller bore barrels

[GreenMan]

I am mostly asking about the older blowbacks, but i figure this thread might be worthy to generate some discussion about how tippmanns are handling the smaller paint we all shoot now.

Basically, I have heard of some people having issues with shooting the 98/a5 style markers with small bore barrels. We know that these markers have bolts that sit pretty far into the barrel, hence why the freak back for these markers loads the insert from the front and allows extra room for the bolt to sit there. But even with this feature, I still think some people had issues with real small inserts, namely barrel breaks from the sudden decrease in bore.

Has anyone experienced some bolt stick/barrel breaks due to using too tight of a bore or too small of an insert? If so how tight can you go?

I used a Lapco bigshot in .687 and didn't have any problems, but even that can be a little big nowadays. I saw a negative review on a .683 sly barrel back complaining about bolt stick, so I definitely don't think a one-piece barrel in that bore is a good idea.

[THE_Incredible_Hulk]

I have an A-5 and a Hammerhead Kit and same with M98. I have not heard of ball breaks on small bore paint but that doesn't mean much. This weekend I am playing in Viper's Tombstone game. I'm planning on using A-5 with an extended hopper. I'll report back paint bore and barrel performance.

[Interl0per]

Okie shoutout! Wish I would have got registered

[Interl0per]

Haven't tried it on a Tippmann but I got a lot of breaks with a .679 back on my Emek. With field quality paint and older guns I think you're definitely better off with a bit of overbore, even matching is going to be hard to do with how inconsistent it can be. I just got the exact same barrel for my current 98 based on this experience.

[THE_Incredible_Hulk]

It's not too late to register. And if you register choose the Earps. That's the side I'm playing on.

[Pumpytrilly1]

I think I ran a 682 or 679 in my freak back. My 98 custom did fine.

[Chappy]

I run polished stock barrels or older 687/688 aftermarket barrels on my tippmanns, and they shoot darts.

[jerryjjackson69]

.685 barrels were hit or miss on causing the bolt to get stuck forward across the majority of the Tippmann line. Some markers of each model would do fine, others would have the bolt stick forward. This included the Cronus, 98, A-5, Phenom, TiPX, all the US Army series of their Tippmann brand counterparts, and the TMC. We used to put together decked-out tactical packages in the store I worked at and that always included an upgrade barrel. We just stuck with .689 because .685 was hit or miss.

We did have issues with Tippmann threaded Freak barrels with the stepped bore breaking paint for lots of different customers. It could have been mass user error, but we stopped selling them because it got to be such a pain.

[GreenMan]

appreciate all replies, and i notice most people didn't have any troubles. i don't recall having any myself, but i am remembering having issues one scenario that spontaneously resolved later on, and i might have been using a barrel kit before switching.

jerry, thanks for sharing, i was fishing for someone with first-hand experience with the issue. interesting that some had problems and some didn't, i expect that from the older models due to loose tolerances, but the newer models is kinda surprising. some people say that actual barrel tolerances aren't that perfect anyway, so it could be a compound issue. and of course temp and humidity. i appreciate the insight on the freak barrels, cause i am a little suspicious of the design.

hulk, i would appreciate it if you do report back, especially if you end up with some small paint.

[Chappy]

Variations on the swellification (pretty sure that is a real word) of the bolt oring can cause different levels of issues with these. It’s the reason most of my tippy don’t have bolts on the orings. They really don’t do much if anything.
Ive never seen an increase in performance on a tippy with a small barrel. I have no data or evidence to share, but I don’t believe a small bore on a tippy gets you anything but bolt stick

[THE_Incredible_Hulk]

I, too, am thankful for Jerry's reply. I think he just saved me a lot of frustration this weekend! I'm going to use 689.

[Axel]

I, too, have given up on bore sizing Tippmanns. They have a great detent and they're gas hogs anyway so what do you really gain

[jerryjjackson69]

The .685 barrels we typically used were Custom Products brand, as were the .689. Custom Products typically has very true to size bores, but almost every manufacturer is +/- .0015 since annodizing has variance as a finish process. The blowback markers that did have an issue would only get stuck when fired with no gas source. Once they were gassed up, they would cycle with no problem. But if they got stuck with no gas, you had to use significant force to free them up. The Spool valve markers had more frequent issues, and often the bolt would get stuck forward until dislodged with a tool or the barrel was removed. But again, this wasn't consistent. Some of them had no issues. If you want to run a small bore on your Tippmann give it a test shot or ten. If any stick then I would stop testing and increase bore size. We never saw any permanent damage from a bolt getting stuck a few times, it was only permanent damage from the Spool valve models that someone kept trying with that eventually saw permanent damage.

The benefits of a small bore on a Tippmann... maybe a little quieter? Some of the old abused blowbacks need a .689 to reach velocity. You'd really only see the potential efficiency benefits on a spool valve model I think. I ran a M98 to cocker barrel adapter at a mech blowback tournament this year with a stock .689 EMEK barrel on a 1998 Model 98. It made for a perfect overall length and was definitely a tiny bit quieter than a stock 98 barrel. It shot really well all day. I only broke one ball.

[Toestr]

A good solution to this might be to get the Tippmann bolts where the oring is half way back on the bolt (like pictured), and sand down the bolt in front of it.

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[Dusty Bottoms]

I just use .687-.689 and call it a day. Paint in my area never seems to be near as small as alot of guys on here report encountering in their area.

[Myrkul]

I run a .687 Lapco bigshot on my 98 and it shoots great.