Barrel material affecting the shot?

[Dave]

I am thinking about purchasing a Lapco Bigshot, either in stainless steel, or aluminum.

I would like to know if AGD knows the different reactions of the barrel to the weather compared to the material its made out of... here are some examples:

Aluminum VS Stainless steel

which one changes more with sharp temperature changes? I know that metal does react to heat and cold.

Which is more likely to hold its shap in the even of a collision with something? Aluminum is very stiff, and steel is more springy, so which barrel material could survive a harsh impact better?

I know you can think of more examples maybe...I am asking if AGD can prove if aluminum OR stainless steel for a barrel is better, and why.

Or is there just no point to this? Would the difference be so slight that the inconsistancies in the paint it self would overshadow this issue?

Thanks to anyone who can help...

-Dave

[a_malfunction]

The material a barrel is made of isnt really that important. The ball isnt in the barrel long enough for heat to affect it. Stainless is a bit more durable. You really cant hurt it very easily. Aluminum is a fairly soft metal, but when it is annodized it can also be very durable. I think it is just as you said at the bottom of your post, the inconsistancies in the paint overshadow any advantage one material has over the other.

[X-Plosive]

According to Tom aluminum causes less friction than ss does Less friction is goooooooooood. Resistance is baaaaaaaaad.


added in edit: maybe it wasn't tom but it was some test I heard about a while ago with two barrels. One SS and one HARD ANO aluminum barrel. They were mounted at 45 degree angles and then a ss rod was placed in them. The ss rod in the aluminum barrel slid through with ease. This test shows that SS causes more friction but once more this test was SS on SS contact and then SS on Aluminum. You are also using a paintball in a game and not a stainless steal rod. You can't go wrong with aluminum. I would go for a LAPCO Autospirit or Bigshot in aluminum.

[Army]

The temperatures needed to alter the metals integrity would be far above what the weather can dish out, and nobody play Pball in that kind if cold!


As long as the barrel does not sustain enough of a wang to actually dent the barrel wall, the internal diameter will be fine. What you really want to watch out for, is any dings or bends to the muzzle edge. If the lip is bent in enough to touch the ball on it's way by, a spin will develope and the ball will not go straight.

[PBchopR]

PS; The paint is more likely to be affected by temperature changes than the barrel, though aluminum barrels expand and contract quite a bit. To test this, take a barrel and size some paint to it. Stick the barrel in the freezer, overnight, and try the paint through it the next day. See what I mean? The question is- If your paint and gun are both outside in the same temperature, will they expand and contract at the same rate? If not, perhaps there could be issues with fits that were tight to begin with. Anyone?