Underbore Suggestions

Hey all,

 It's been some time since I've last visited. I was wondering if some of you might have some suggestions for me regarding barrels for my Tippmann A5, and eventual X7 Phenom.

I've been running an overbored barrel for a long while. I have a lot of interest in a barrel, or barrel system that provides the following criteria;

I'd really like to try out an underbored barrel, preferably 12" average overall length, and preferably two-piece. The other dynamic is that I have great interest in the Apex2 thread-on tip, so it would be great if this barrel was optionally threaded to meet this extra bit of criteria. The two-piece option would eliminate the possibility of being "stuck" with a threaded barrel end for the Apex2 when and if I decided not to run it. As I lean toward mil-sim, of course I want it to look cool - or at least black and not pink or green!

So far, the only barrel that seems to come the closest to matching all of this criteria is Flasc Paintball.

My intentions are to improve consistency and efficiency. I'm pretty much strictly a woodsball player, and this marker and barrel setup is not intended for speedball use. I don't have the time or resources in my area to fuss with bore match, therefore I'd like to try the route of under rather than over. The Apex2 is something I'd like to try in the woods, but I don't want to use their barrel.

So, some questions out to the knowledgeable;

How underbored do you think is too underbored?

Can you point me in the direction of some specific barrels that might provide all, or at least most of this criteria? From want I gather, J&J and Custom Products make some of the best barrels. As I said before, Flasc is about the only one that offers me all of this criteria, but I don't know a whole lot about them.

Thanks a bunch!

- Kendall

The concern of mine, which has been confirmed only by one person on a separate forum, is that the nature of the open bolt, large chambered Tippmann may struggle during the transition of paint from marker to an underbored barrel.

Essentially, without looking into bore/paint match, just as a general stance, what might or might not be too underbored for the A5 and/or X7 from a technical standpoint?

Because let's face it; There's not a hell of a lot of improving of accuracy with a barrel upgrade on a blowback marker. So, the efforts are simply to improve efficiency and consistency. My marker is generally both, but from what I've read; the underbore might be a touch more of both. What I don't want to do is take a step backward by overdoing it, and have balls break in my marker.

Soupy think there is a happy medium bore size? I can see where going to the extreme of an underbore may cause some issues fr me, but I've used a 10" Lapco big shot for a long while - and batting some type of actual flaw inside the barrel, the large bore seems to be hampering me I'm terms of accuracy. I've stuck a smart parts smaller bore barrel one piece (though I'm not sure of its actual bore size) and the fun seems to shot much better.

Perhaps I'm just spinning my wheels..

Yes, apex compatible is a must.

The empire super freak barrel kit comes with an apex ready tip I believe and it'll have all the bores you'll need.