Longbow?

[jewie27]

it's cool, except for the fact it has a 10 foot barrel... lol.

[Eagle]

well, they recommend an 18" barrel, and I usually run either a 12" or 18", so we'll see.

[warbeak2099]

Bah, never use anything longer than 16". You just lose performance after that. I'm sure the loss isn't as noticeable with an 18" as it is with a 21", but it's still there. A 14" would be long enough for a Qloader. A 16" would be longer than the Qpod. So, you really don't need anything longer than 14". But for the Longbow magazine system, I guess I'd use a 16". Just for looks, but I wouldn't want to use an 18" to make it look better but in turn lose performance.

[doc_Zox]

ever see a phantom shoot 10 rounds at 325 fps on a 12 gram?
the remaining 10 are 275-250 fps

long barrels build pressure behind the ball

[Hexis]

Where does this magical "pressure behind the ball" come from? As the ball travels down the barrel, the air space behind it grows, which would decrease the pressure behind the ball, not increase it. Unless the valve is open to the air source for the entire travel time (of the ball) in the barrel.

[onedude36]

This was proved in tom's tech tips. after 8-10 inches of un ported barrel, its just excess friction. try a 12 or 10 inch unported barrel and see if it improves your efficiency on your phantom. 5 bucks says it will.

[old school]

If you are building an ETac from the ground up, I would HIGHLY suggest getting a Qloader over the Longbow Magazine System. My reasoning is as follows:

• Capacity
  The Qloader holds 100 rounds per magazine (Qpod), the longbow 21 - why have an ETac with that sweet hybrid mode and be limited to 21 shots?
  
• Price
  The qloader 5 Qpod system is (at last check) cheaper than the longbow setup with only 1 magazine - for the initial setup you get 500 rounds of capacity versus 21 for less money.
  
• Current gear compatability
  Qpods will fit in (some/most) 150 round pod carriers. Longbow magazines will require you to customize some other means of carrying more with you or spend more money on a customized carrying system.

I play the sniper role quite frequently (ghillie suit and all) and had the same decision to make. While I can snipe with the best of them, when you play against highly skilled players they are GOING to flush you out and stay on you like a pack of hungry wolves. Having the ability (especially with an ETac) to exchange volleys with your new found friends can get you out of harms way and into a good place to take the next one or two down from. The Qloader can be used similarly when desired and mounted in a low profile manner for sniping yet give you the versatility of supplying cover fire for teammates or changing roles as needed on the field. Sniping is an art and alot of fun but even as a sniper it is great to be able to throw out some paint to keep heads down as you high tail it to your next ambush location. If your competition plays regularly and has taken the lessons to heart that come with experience, 20 rounds just isn't going to cut it once you go on the defensive. Anyone that says otherwise likes to hear themselves talk or needs to come to CA and play with some buddies and myself because their opposition is not at a skill level that will improve their game.

Changing magazines on the run is never easy either but I have found the Qloader with under barrel mounting is far easier than any other feed mechanism I have tried (I own a warp and a few other mechanized loading systems).

Another bonus of the Qloader is it can toss out an entire Qpod as fast as the hybrid trigger and my finger can react to each other without ever triggering the level 10 mod. Granted I never shoot through 100 rounds non-stop when playing but it is nice to know I have the option.

If you havent bought the ETac yet, consider contacting SpecOps to see about buying the Qbow predone for you but as an EQbow (unless you are like me and enjoy the highs and lows of customizing the crap out of your gun). If this information sways you into buying the Qloader, feel free to hit me up as I have already gone through many of the quirks / growing pains it will share with you like any other mechanized loader.

[Creative Mayhem]

If you are building an ETac from the ground up, I would HIGHLY suggest getting a Qloader over the Longbow Magazine System. My reasoning is as follows:

• Capacity
  The Qloader holds 100 rounds per magazine (Qpod), the longbow 21 - why have an ETac with that sweet hybrid mode and be limited to 21 shots?
  
• Price
  The qloader 5 Qpod system is (at last check) cheaper than the longbow setup with only 1 magazine - for the initial setup you get 500 rounds of capacity versus 21 for less money.
  
• Current gear compatability
  Qpods will fit in (some/most) 150 round pod carriers. Longbow magazines will require you to customize some other means of carrying more with you or spend more money on a customized carrying system.

Changing magazines on the run is never easy either but I have found the Qloader with under barrel mounting is far easier than any other feed mechanism I have tried (I own a warp and a few other mechanized loading systems).

Another bonus of the Qloader is it can toss out an entire Qpod as fast as the hybrid trigger and my finger can react to each other without ever triggering the level 10 mod. Granted I never shoot through 100 rounds non-stop when playing but it is nice to know I have the option.

I agree 100% The Qbow really is the best setup, I never liked the idea of only 20 rounds. Plus it gives you a cool milsim look

[Eagle]

I'll take a look at the Qbow set up, I just want something extra light, and I already have a warpfeed, and really don't want to deal with all the feed hose involved. And I don't intend to run this strictly with this feed system, I figured on swapping to the warp depending on the game. And I intend to build this piece by piece, for as old school said-the highs and lows. Plus the always popular money issues.

[fullofpaint]

I jsut ordered the Q-bow should be here tommorrow, I might post pics and a review after.

[Jaan]

Where does this magical "pressure behind the ball" come from? As the ball travels down the barrel, the air space behind it grows, which would decrease the pressure behind the ball, not increase it. Unless the valve is open to the air source for the entire travel time (of the ball) in the barrel.

It's well know that with firearms all else being equal longer barrels (to a point) will increase the bullet velocity. More time is spent by the expanding gasses pushing the projectile and continuing the acceleration. It would make sense if paintballs worked the same way.

It's magic!

[TheTramp]

It would make sense if paintballs worked the same way.

It would make sense if paintballs worked the same way. Unfortunatly the burst of air has fully expanded after about 8 inches so the ball is simply traveling forward after that, not being pushed.

Long barrels are good for one thing IMHO...working cover.

[Pancakes]

Bah, never use anything longer than 16". You just lose performance after that. I'm sure the loss isn't as noticeable with an 18" as it is with a 21", but it's still there. A 14" would be long enough for a Qloader. A 16" would be longer than the Qpod. So, you really don't need anything longer than 14". But for the Longbow magazine system, I guess I'd use a 16". Just for looks, but I wouldn't want to use an 18" to make it look better but in turn lose performance.

If you mount the q loader under the barrel like most people do, it actually comes out that a 16 inch barrel is almost exactly as long as the q loader (not 14") and as for losing performance with an 18" barrel, the only performance you will lose is efficiency, and while using a q loader efficiency isn't exactly high on the list of priorities.