Clear paintball barrel

[automeister]

Does anyone know who made clear paintball barrels back in the day? Were they safe? I want one but don’t even know what they were called or who made them.

[iamthelazerviking]

PMI had one that came with some version of the Piranha. Can't say anything about performance other than there's probably a reason they didn't become popular

[iamthelazerviking]

[Ecapnation]

PMI had one on one of the piranhas. Lesser known system.x made a barrel that was stainless back and acrylic tips..... Really most of early system x stuff was based on clear and chrome.

That being said I've not seen one of the system x ones in easily 20+ years

[iamthelazerviking]

From the reddit post I got the above image from, they said the barrel was trash lol

[Ecapnation]

It's just a plastic tube so not shocked... It scratches if you look at it wrong

[scottieb]

Age has made them brittle. They would be fine for wall hanging but I'd not play with one.

[Riot]

automeister - I have a mint one I’d sell. It doesn’t feel brittle, no cracks, no scratches, no stems, no seeds. I think value is in the $100 ballpark, but I’ll ask around.

you’ll have to PM me a phone number or email, the forum no longer accepts stock iPhone sized pictures and I’m too lazy to use IMGUR, or the like.

[automeister]

Thanks everyone for the info, I wonder if it was cheaper to make. What was the motivation behind the idea

[Drunkscriblerian]

Thanks everyone for the info, I wonder if it was cheaper to make. What was the motivation behind the idea

In the 90s, clear everything was trendy for a hot minute. You saw clear phones, clear laptops, Crystal Pepsi, etc. The trend went away after everyone realized how silly it looked. I'm guessing some marketing person at PMI saw the trend, thought the company could dry-hump it but technical limitations others have mentioned got in the way so the "clear barrel" didn't stick around. Kind of like the clear hoppers I've seen from the same period.

[uv_halo]

I think Tom Kaye made clear barrels to support his experimentation on spinning paintballs.

[Ecapnation]

Not production though

[Grendel]

If you really want a clear barrel you can just find/buy on of the old ones and replace the original Polycarbonate tube. They are real cheap and polycarbonate tube is easy to cut and drill. Then you just glue in place. Better yet just scavenge a barrel back and replace the front with appropriate sized polycarbonate tube.

[Daniel Tiger]

Can’t get any more clear than a ramrod….. let me know if you find one though. Half the reason I stalk the site is hoping someone puts one up

[Ecapnation]

A ram rod? I've got a Spyder threaded one

[William the Third]

Me too, I have a Spyder threaded one. Did they make a Freak tip, or did someone retread that one? Either way, I now want one.

[Riot]

I, too, have always wanted one of these.

[loveaboveall]

I've dabbled in making new clear resin barrels and parts. I have a mold of a lurker back. Plans to make the whole back set but that project is going real slow. I haven't figured out porting yet but if you have a favorite barrel and the stars align I might be able to help.

[Psycho91]

That's dope man

[loveaboveall]

Thank you

[martix_agent]

I've dabbled in making new clear resin barrels and parts. I have a mold of a lurker back. Plans to make the whole back set but that project is going real slow. I haven't figured out porting yet but if you have a favorite barrel and the stars align I might be able to help.

Whoever said that clear stuff from the 90's was silly is clearly wrong. This photo proves it.

[Psycho91]

The threads are in the mold it's made from no need to thread it later on

[automeister]

Would you be able to make another back?

[loveaboveall]

Psycho91 is right.

automeister yes depending on the back. I'll PM ya.