Custom 98 Top Barrel

I've got a fairly stock marker infact the only thing not stock is the double trigger. But i find the stock barrel on a Custom 98 is extremly unaccurate. I mean i used my marker for the 1st time expecting much better performance than site markers, and my paintballs were flying off in all directions, at one point they were vearing off so much i thought they were going to come back and it me! very upsetting.

So i've been looking at some barrels and i've got to say the flatline barrel is really getting me a little hot under the collar, but i'd like to know what other barrels there are and why they good?

Thanks

If you want better accuracy, check out a JJ Ceramic or LAPCO Bigshot. Barrel kits also solve this problem but they are a bit expensive.

If you want better distance, look into an Apex.


Edited by sinisterNorth - 30 April 2008 at 3:43pm

Tippmann's stock barrels leave much to be desired.  They are usually the first upgrade a new owner purchases that has the greatest impact on the marker's performance.  There are a lot of barrels out there that will improve your marker's accuracy and a couple that will improve it's range.

Two of the best barrels for the money are the Lapco Bigshot and the J & J Ceramic.  I've owned both.  I prefer the J & J for the price and the easy ability to clean the barrel after a break inside.  Two swipes of a squeegee and the insides look like they have a mirror finish.

For distance, you have the Flatline Barrel and the BT Apex Barrel.  Again, I own both.  Both barrels have an amazing ability to increase the range of your shots.  For your opponents that don't know any better, that extra range gives them a healthy dose of respect after they see a demonstration.  The Apex Barrel is adjustable.  You can control the 'Flatline' effect with a slider switch.  You can also do trick shots by twisting the barrel tip to fire left, right or the infamous drop shot (my favorite setting) where you can dive-bomb paintballs over obstacles to hit your target.

Neither barrel is very accurate past the normal range of other barrels nor should they be considered 'sniper' barrels because of their extended range.  At best, they are good for suppression fire.

You need a barrel that is "98" threaded.

look online.  Most sites will have them seperated into which barrels fit different markers.  I know www.actionvillage.com has it setup so you just select the gun then the length you want and they give you different options.  You want a barrel that is between 8 and 14" though.  They will give equal accuracy and it comes down mainly to prefference.  My favorite barrels have been mentioned... J&J

"i used my marker for the 1st time expecting much better performance"

Check your Velocity!

I had a 98 I bought for my son it was over 330 FPS out of the box. He could not hit anything beyond 20 feet.

We lowered the velocity and saw dramatic improvement, we did not have a chronograph so we just went off other guns. At that point he could at least get a ball to shoot straight for about 30 yards. The following week we put it on a chronograph and tuned down to about 290 FPS which helped even more.

Ended up adding a J&J barrel in time. It shoots pretty good now.

You will never get great accuracy from a paintball gun but they can be improved with modifications. The stock barrels are OK, and they are the  first thing I would replace.