Anyone try out the new Aradus Barrel yet?

[than205]

If we find out that they actually work well. I hope that we all petition these people to provide one for the mag. I know I'm intrigued. I also wonder if Tom has looked a these things. I just had a thought, what about our Micro-mag friends? They would be able to test it out for us, wouldn't they?

[TheMagMan]

I'm waiting for my Micro to get here to post some results. As said above I tested it already on my M98. Yes I purchased two barrels.

[eskimo]

Just out of curiousity, what do they run price wise?

[TheMagMan]

I get a deal from a buddy of mine. I can sell these for $98 shipped. Otherwise they are $99 + shipping from online stores.

I'm not running a classified ad here or anything but just saying.

I'll post the results from my tests on my micromag Friday.

[kemikos]

It's a nifty idea, but it sure seems like a gimmick to me.

First, there's that slot running down the barrel. TheMagMan said it's only 4" long - but that's 4 inches of space for the gas to escape around the paintball. If nothing else, it seems like it would hurt efficiency.

Second, that means that the part of the barrel that is adjusted to fit the paintball is only 4 inches long. The part after that needs to be at least large enough to fit the largest paint; that means that with most sizes of paint, the paintball won't touch the barrel after the first 4 inches. So it seems that the Aradus has the same drawback as most 2-piece barrels; it's a 4-inch effective length barrel with the rest of the barrel acting as a large muzzle brake. Add that to the fact that it already wastes gas because of the slot, and it seems to me that at the very least, it would be quite an inefficient barrel.

Keep in mind I haven't seen one yet, so I might be way off. I'm just making educated guesses based on the pictures and descriptions I've seen so far.

[TheMagMan]

kemikos,

How do you think the Freak barrel works? Same idea only this is adjustable. I know it's better then my Lapco and I'll be testing it against my Boomstick soon enough.

[than205]

Magman,
I'm curious whether or not you will have to adjust your velocity when you switch to this barrel. Theoretically you will have to turn it up. Also, would there be some sort of spin put on the ball because of the slot? How would we test this?
I agree that 4" of effective barrel seems very small. This has kept me from looking at the freak.

[minimag187]

Reply

I dont see what is so good about this "aradus". WOW it twist and clicks, no more changing sleeves! Changing sleeves isnt bad at all, cause you use the same one the whole day. It also uses even bore sizes also, and that gap looks pretty evil. I use a freak myself (does cost more though), and i see no problem with changing sleeves. My freak doesnt have a big old gap in it and i like the porting much more on my freak. You can also change fronts and different backs for changing guns on the freak.
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Minimag, Centerflag Hyperframe, 14" Freak System AA front, Superbolt, Kapp Foregrip extender, and AGD 68ci Flatline air system.

[than205]

well.
1. currently have one barrel. And I would like to carry only one to the field. no matter how small the sleeve is, it's more crap I would have to carry.

2. .004" increments seems to me to be acceptable.

3. I agree about the gap. Field testing will prove this out.

4. The freak is more expensive. I am curious what the effective barrel length is on the freak. I have been told some conflicting stories.

5. It seems to me that porting is whatever you believe it to be. (pretty or functional, I dont know)

6. To me a blacked out marker is cool looking. Thats just me, I know.

I'm curious how it works out in the field. Hopefully, WARPIG or Tom will do some testing on it.

Another down side would be that when fields figure these things out, would you be required to have the tourney lock on all the time?

[kemikos]

MagMan:

I know it's the same principle as the Freak system. I'm not a big fan of the Freak, either. It's nice to be able to change the size of your barrel, but even the Freak is still just a 6" barrel, when you get down to it. The Aradus is the same thing, but 2 inches shorter.

And if either the Freak or the Aradus works better on your gun than a Lapco, go for it! (Although I suspect that in that case, your Lapco is the wrong size...)

[TheMagMan]

Originally posted by kemikos
MagMan:
(Although I suspect that in that case, your Lapco is the wrong size...)

I own 3 Lapco Bigshots. I don't think so.

[kemikos]

Originally posted by TheMagMan


I own 3 Lapco Bigshots. I don't think so.

Lapco BigShot barrels are all the same size, .689". What I meant was, if you shoot smaller paint like Marballizer or All Star, you should use the AutoSpirit (.687").

But it doesn't really matter. If the Aradus or Freak or whatever works for you, stick with it. Paintball markers are as much about personal preference as anything else (except that 'Mags are the best, of course ).

[jtsarnak]

After looking at the site, the one thing of particular interest i noted was the claim of "straight rifling" in the barrel, supposedly implemented to stop unwanted lateral spin. So then I look at the captured stills of the inside of the barrel and I see ONLY the groove that everyone is weary of. Now, I assume this groove is there because the internal sleeve collapses and thus needs some amount of groove in order to be adjustable.

So it seems they pass off this groove as "straight rifling". Now, Armson makes straight rifling barrels and that straight rifling is simply linear grooves running down some length of the barrel.

Now I have never personally used one of these Armson straight rifled barrels, but the reviews I have seen have been favorable and none of them mentioned horrible efficiency (something I have seen mentioned in other barrel reviews like the All American). It seems that if the Armson hasn't been getting flak for it's gooves, this barrel shouldn't be doing too bad in that department either.

I still think the design, while creative and perhaps very functional, is still flawed at best due to the inevitablity of eventually breaking paint in it. What happens when paint gets in between the different layers of the bore? It seems like it will forever be a pain in the rear to deal with after that. Just my two cents.

[Poseidon]

sorry to break it to you lapco just but Lapco's barrels are "steped". The bore in the beggining of a BS is a bit smaller than the bore of the end of the barrel. I don't know how dramtic of a change it it, but it is a change.

[soilent green]

lapcos are not stepped untill the very end about an inch in it is a much different thing it acts more like a muzzel break than a step bore