What Are Paintball Barrels Made Of?

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Paintball combines healthy exercise in the woods with the thrill of staining the clothes of other people. The barrels of the paintball guns, more commonly called markers, can be made of aluminum, steel or brass. The length of a marker barrel affects range, but the material used to make a marker's barrel can help a paintballer find the best possible piece of equipment to suit the play style he prefers.

Aluminum Marker Barrels

Players on a budget should choose aluminum. They cost less than their competitors, and while they are cheaper, these barrels do not need to be cleaned as frequently as the ones made out of brass.

Brass Marker Barrels

These barrels make the end of a paint ball gun shiny. They cost more than the aluminum barrels, require regular cleaning and generate a slightly higher amount of friction. Polish needs to be applied to the brass from time to time to keep brass looking its best.

Stainless Steel Barrels

Stainless steel barrels offer the highest quality. They are also more difficult to produce and thus command higher prices. These nearly frictionless paintball marker barrels do not require frequent cleaning and do not rust. While steel barrels are not quite indestructible, these barrel markers take abuse very well.

Paintball Barrel Marker Lengths

Marker barrels come in two lengths. They affect the range of the gun, but which type is chosen depends on whether the player prefers stealth operations or to strike their enemies from afar. The longer barrel double the range of the paintball gun.