Palmer’s Pursuit Shop Barrels

[gospeedgo1]

Hello,
I am looking to purchase a nickel coated brass 14” .690 dual-spiral ported barrel from Palmer’s Pursuit Shop (PPS) after reviewing the Paintball Barrel Test by Mann posted on PbNation back in 2007. The PPS brass 12” .690 dual-spiral ported barrel was the quietest barrel tested (decibels). Also, the PPS barrel scored 4th in analysis of precision (shot grouping size) according to the chart posted on page 36 of the thread. The other top barrels are no longer available new and/or louder. In speaking with PPS, the nickel coated may help reduce chance of random spin and/or rpm speed, and make the barrel easier to maintain (does not tarnish as quickly).

Does anyone have any experience with their dual-spiral ported barrels and how they compare to modern barrels that are thought to be quiet (i.e. Lurker, Inception Designs, Dye UL-S)?

I do plan to pickup some of the above mentioned barrels to compare against by measuring loudness (decibels) and pitch (hertz).


PbNation Paintball Barrel Test thread: https://www.pbnation.com/showthread....topics/2218018

[Jordan]

PPS barrels aren't internally plated in case that's what you're thinking... they're polished brass internally.


I have no experience with dual-ported barrels but the single spiral ported ones I have used from PPS have been both quiet and accurate.

[Grendel]

I have un-ported, single ported and dual ported PPS barrels that I use with my Pyre and Blazers. I love my PPS barrels they all work well but the un-ported (10") is so loud my teammates threaten to steal it from me and throw it away. My single and dual ported barrels are in 12" and 14" lengths and I see very little differences in their performance other then the dual ported seem to be slightly softer sounding and most likely less efficient. I have both 0.687 and 0.684 and given current paint size I almost exclusively use 0.684 at that size and with the installed Wedgits I rarely have any rollouts. I would not buy a barrel 0.690 currently, back when that data was collected paint was larger typically around 0.687-0.690 in my experience. My absolute favorite of my barrels is a 12" Dual ported with an ID of 0.684 and standard Wedgits, it works with any paint I find and is reasonably "quiet". As is said time and time again in these threads the barrel is not the largest factor in sending balls well down range what is the largest contributor to how well you shoot is the paint quality itself.

[Cunha]

There are a lot of factors that go into accuracy. I will say that the palmer barrels are great. 12 or 14 inches, dual or single ported with WEDGITS for an autococker is a fantastic barrel. I would probably get it in .685 bore but honestly the big bore (.689) with deeper wedgits is also a really great way to go in my experience.

But I don't notice them being more silent than say a deadlywind barrel, which is my current preference for the weight.

None of those other barrels you mentioned are particularly quiet just regular average quiet ported barrel sounding barrels. I think that carbon fiber barrels do have a bit of a different tone to them perhaps because they are non metallic they don't have any ringing at all?

Basically all of the well ported barrels of equal lengths are similar noise levels.

I did make more magically perfect shots with my palmer brass barrels on autocockers and blazers than any other barrels but who knows if that was just luck or whatever. Might have been the barrel, might have been the weight of the barrel, might have been luck.

Can't go wrong with a palmer barrel, they really are superb.

[gospeedgo1]

PPS barrels aren't internally plated in case that's what you're thinking... they're polished brass internally.

I have no experience with dual-ported barrels but the single spiral ported ones I have used from PPS have been both quiet and accurate.

Thank you. I called Palmer’s to confirm my notes, they did confirm the nickel coating is interior and exterior. I was about to say, well, no need for nickel coating then, might as well let the exterior build character. 🙂

I am at home alone with our infant for baby bonding, I will respond as I can to everyone in between. Thank you for your responses.

[Cunha]

Some palmer guns and barrels are plated all around, and some are not.

Most people are happier with nickel because it doesn't look shabby in the way brass does if you don't keep it polished.

[Grendel]

Well patinaed Brass is my preference, though I do have a anodized aluminum sleeved one that matches my Blazer.

[MAr]

they are quiet and beautiful, and accurate. The best shot I have ever known (Deek) uses a nickel single ported barrel.

I remember one guy had a triple ported PPS barrel - it was hot as hell! Probably even quieter. Too bad we lost all the old photos. Was his name Devils Head or something?

[Cunha]

There was a guy named Devils Head lived pretty close to palmers in california so it coulda been him.

I too like regular brass Grendel. I also like that there is no finish to damage, it's just raw.

[Jordan]

Thank you. I called Palmer’s to confirm my notes, they did confirm the nickel coating is interior and exterior. I was about to say, well, no need for nickel coating then, might as well let the exterior build character. 🙂

I am at home alone with our infant for baby bonding, I will respond as I can to everyone in between. Thank you for your responses.

That is good to know... up til now I thought their stance was no plating inside the barrel.

[gospeedgo1]

I have un-ported, single ported and dual ported PPS barrels that I use with my Pyre and Blazers. I love my PPS barrels they all work well but the un-ported (10") is so loud my teammates threaten to steal it from me and throw it away. My single and dual ported barrels are in 12" and 14" lengths and I see very little differences in their performance other then the dual ported seem to be slightly softer sounding and most likely less efficient. I have both 0.687 and 0.684 and given current paint size I almost exclusively use 0.684 at that size and with the installed Wedgits I rarely have any rollouts. I would not buy a barrel 0.690 currently, back when that data was collected paint was larger typically around 0.687-0.690 in my experience. My absolute favorite of my barrels is a 12" Dual ported with an ID of 0.684 and standard Wedgits, it works with any paint I find and is reasonably "quiet". As is said time and time again in these threads the barrel is not the largest factor in sending balls well down range what is the largest contributor to how well you shoot is the paint quality itself.

Thank you Grendel. Mann measured the Marballizer at .691, Rec Sport at .689, Xball Gold at .685. The Xball Gold did produce the most precise shot grouping of the bunch with roughly a .005 overbore.

I spoke with Palmer’s about wedgits, since I plan to use the barrel for open bolt markers and with tourney grade paint, they did not recommend them.

I usually only shoot tourney grade paint (i.e. Empire Evil, GI Sportz 5 star, Valken Rememption Pro, HK Army Exclusive/Premier) but have had mixed results with paint quality (paint purchased at local paintball store and fresh). I still run across not round balls, inconsistent sizing, rough shell seams, seams with valleys. I am thinking of trying out Valken Graffiti or New World since they have a slick shell and what appears to be decent shell seams, they may be less likely to develop random spin and/or less spin rpm.

I apologize I did not expand on it earlier, there are other testing I have come across. rntlee posted three videos related to precision, spin, and bore size. The Marballizer he used measured .686-.688 at the equator. Dan (That Paintball Channel) posted a video discussing barrel boring. There are quite a bit of links to data in his video’s description. Oh, it looks like the links to Punkworks spreadsheets no longer work. I have access to them and will try to load them later.

I also reviewed Simon Stevens from Inception Designs information. In the interview with Dangerman, he suggests underboring for efficiency, velocity consistency, and quietness, but no mention of accuracy/precision unless I missed it.


Rntlee bore size shot spread video 1

https://youtu.be/r7LMQLSfiDY

Rntlee bore size shot spread repeat, video 2

https://youtu.be/Tzum4cAFGDE

Rntlee sabots/patched paintballs vireo

https://youtu.be/b_ei7TExgCU

That Paintball Channel’s barrel boring video

https://youtu.be/gLPE8ZR1LOk

Dangerman’s Simon Stevens interview part 1

https://youtu.be/4YGojFjY97o

Dangerman’s Simon Stevens interview part 2

https://youtu.be/tSZtt26PQug

[gospeedgo1]

Here is the data from Punkworks that pertains to shot grouping vectors and/or spin for those interested. It does not appear I can upload excel documents, so these are PDFs. Enjoy.

Oh, wow, it’s been years since I looked at all the data, a ~.003 underbore also seems to perform good too along with overboring.

[gospeedgo1]

There are a lot of factors that go into accuracy. I will say that the palmer barrels are great. 12 or 14 inches, dual or single ported with WEDGITS for an autococker is a fantastic barrel. I would probably get it in .685 bore but honestly the big bore (.689) with deeper wedgits is also a really great way to go in my experience.

But I don't notice them being more silent than say a deadlywind barrel, which is my current preference for the weight.

None of those other barrels you mentioned are particularly quiet just regular average quiet ported barrel sounding barrels. I think that carbon fiber barrels do have a bit of a different tone to them perhaps because they are non metallic they don't have any ringing at all?

Basically all of the well ported barrels of equal lengths are similar noise levels.

I did make more magically perfect shots with my palmer brass barrels on autocockers and blazers than any other barrels but who knows if that was just luck or whatever. Might have been the barrel, might have been the weight of the barrel, might have been luck.

Can't go wrong with a palmer barrel, they really are superb.

Thank you Cunha. Interesting to see the other barrels I am considering aren’t super quiet when there have been many comments made across different forums and Facebook about them being the quietest. I do have a Deadlywind Fibur and Stella Insert Ready barrels with regular length brass and stainless inserts to compare it to. I do find it interesting that many people report the Deadlywind Shaft FL barrel/tip to be louder, I wonder why.

[SpinDoctor15]

I'm surprised to see such a wide variance in shot-grouping with the Dye Boomstick. That's been my preferred barrel for multiple markers over many years. Maybe that explains why I'm not so good at paintball? hehe.

[glaman5266]

I was surprised at that too. Every Boomstick I’ve ever used shot pretty well. I mean, paint quality is the biggest factor here, but still. Surprising.

[Cunha]

Thank you Cunha. Interesting to see the other barrels I am considering aren’t super quiet when there have been many comments made across different forums and Facebook about them being the quietest. I do have a Deadlywind Fibur and Stella Insert Ready barrels with regular length brass and stainless inserts to compare it to. I do find it interesting that many people report the Deadlywind Shaft FL barrel/tip to be louder, I wonder why.

I've seen every single barrel being described as incredibly quiet by basically every single new owner of said barrel. It is really subjective. I wouldn't bank on it unless you have some kind of rain protector situation going on which is a whole different story. If you have lots of holes (to a certain extent) you are going to have a more quiet report. the holes can be angled differently and may have a different effect on the shooters perception of noise and stuff.

I wouldn't rely on one persons data. There is huge manufacturing variance in all of these barrels and huge variance in all of the paintballs. If you took 10 dye barrels of same exact spec and shot a couple cases through each of them you would have a pretty good idea, but then you need to hope the gun doesn't have a huge variance based on how recently it was taken apart and lubed and stuff.

Its kinda trial and error. Find what you like. I do highly reccomend a palmer barrel as for me they have shot better than almost anything else. Why? Who knows. They are just good.

[Stilgar]

I have no science to add. But I like my two pps barrels. One is a short 8 inch no port barrel, the other is 12inch single port.
the brass barrel on my painter is also really nice