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Choosing a barrel bore size?

kitbag

New Member
Aug 8, 2011
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a smaller or larger barrel bore or do you really just need to match it to your paint?

Anyone know what the bore of the stock Proto SLG barrel would be?
 

Bambulus

Wreckballer - PMGWC#2
Nov 13, 2008
1,733
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that special place.
www.leekspin.com
Stock Proto is a .693, if I recall correctly
:)

You'll get mixed answers. Some argue for underboring, some argue for overboring, some argue for matched bore. I just went with a .689 Un1tech and have never felt the need for anything else, though the whole bore kit can be picked up for quite cheap anyway.
 

Canon Fodder

Go to your brother, kill him with your gun.
Oct 28, 2008
1,442
494
108
Lancaster
Far to small and you'll burst the ball in the barrel, I've found that far to big and the ball starts "flicking" left or right or up or down towards the end of its range (although I've not read anything about this elsewhere so it might be something else causing it). In something that operates from a closed breach like a cocker our pump exact match or slight underboring is good as it stops the ball rolling out of the barrel but since an SLG operates from an open bolt you won't have that problem even with a massive barrel.

Since SLG's are cocker thread if you find its flying off target towards the edge of your range borrow a smaller barrel off someone at whatever event you're at and see if it make any difference. Most markers are cocker thread nowadays so someone will have one for you to try.
 

Gadget

Platinum Member
Jul 16, 2002
1,759
619
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Essex, UK
I've always tried for a fairly close bore to paint size match. Not a fan of underboring - can end up with soup in your barrel if the paint is fragile and/or it swells during the day - although obviously a boon to stop rollouts on cockers!

You can probably happily use an oversized bore, however your air efficiency will be worse, accuracy _might_ be worse and I've tended to experience more breaks when I'm rattling pea-sized paint down a tennis-ball sized barrel :)