semi auto problems

[TopSEAL]

I recently upgraded to a semi automatic Marauder from my Original Talon. I have been having problems with the paintballs breaking in the barrel though. They don't break until they reach the very end of the barrel. I tried decreasing the velocity but it didn't help, is there any way to fix my problem? Also the gun doesn't seem to shoot as accurate. Is this because of the broken balls or because it is a semi auto and not a pump?

 

[Meyer]

The action of the marker, semi auto or pump, has no bearing on the accuracy inherent accuracy of a marker, the movement of pumping may shift your aim, but paintballs will still fly just as precise in a pump as a semi.
If the balls are breaking in your barrel, there is either a blockage, like a chip or a bump in the barrel that breaks the paint, or the bore size of the barrel is drastically smaller than the paintball itself, try finding a smaller ball.
Of course, the quality of the paintballs is a question, if they are old balls, they probably have dimples or other impurities, or it is simply cheap paint, paint like that will break easily in the barrell.

Hope this helps.

 

[Philip]

Get some 1200 grade wet'n'dry, wrap it around a piece of dowl wood, and smoothen out the muzzle area.

 

[Liz]

Welcome TopSEAL
The accuracy will be badly affected by any breaks in the barrel, as the liquid unevenly coats the balls you subsequently fire. The cause of the breaks is, as Meyer says, either damage to the barrel itself, cheap paint or paint too big for your barrel. The fact that it tends to break only at the end of the barrel suggests the first is the most likely.
Before taking wet & dry to your barrel, see if you can borrow one that fits your marker off someone else as if the paint keeps on breaking then that won't be the problem. However, if it IS the problem then Philip's suggestion is a reasonably short term measure though I would replace the barrel eventually. To check whether it's the paint/bore match, take the barrel off the marker then drop a number of balls into the barrel from the end that goes on to the marker. The balls SHOULD pass through if you blow gently down the barrel. If they fall through easily then the bore is a bit big but that isn't anywhere near the problem a too small bore is. If they pass easily through most of the barrel then always get stuck at the end then either there is an imperfection in the barrel (wet & dry or replace) or the barrel is tapered for some reason (replace).
Always use reasonably quality paint (NOT Brass Eagle!) & if you keep it at home make sure you store it right (room temperature, turn the boxes every couple of days, try to keep in a dryish atmosphere if the bags are open).
If you find that you do have to replace the barrel, I would recommend you get a Freak set if you can afford it as then you can match the bore to the paint as even if you always shoot the same paint there are variations between different batches. If you can't afford a Freak, then make sure you go for a largeish bore size e.g. a 689 or 691. You may lose a little accuracy & gas efficiency but at least you won't get constant breaks if the paint is large.