The is no one "Best barrel", you do however want to get the best paint to barrel match as possible. If you use the some paint time after time (and the company that makes that paint is consistant), you can find a barrel size that matches. Your local pro shop can help you with this. "Boomsticks" and the like are good barrels for this. If you are constantly using different paint you may want to look into a barrel kit like the "small parts freak kit." These often contain different barrel inserts designed to match whatever paint you are using at the time.
It depends on what you need.
If you need an accurate barrel, go for a CP two piece barrel. It has removable backs with different bore sizes. Anything more expensive is a waste on a 98.
If you want range, go with a Flatline or Apex barrel. They put spin on the ball, allowing it a flater trajectory.
If you need lightweight, go for a carbon fiber barrel like Stiffi carbon or AZ carbon wrapped aluminum.
No it will not. the Handguard on the barrel is in the way of the handguard on the shroud.
they will be about the same since they both have the same porting on them, between 12"-16" you wont see a performance or noise difference
Yes, all 98 threaded barrels fit: model 98 98 custom alpha black/ bravo one project salvo/ tango one carver one They will NOT fit: tippmann A5 Tippmann X7/ phenom TPX pistol tippmann prolite spyders or any other companies
20 inch.............
For short barrel, Tippmann makes a 3 inch "smg" barrel. (this will decrease range and accuracy) For an accurate barrel, a Custom products two piece 12-14 inch are cheap and consistent barrels. (this depends on paint quality) For a light barrel, The Azodin or stiffi Carbon fiber, or Carbon wrapped barrels weigh much less than pure aluminum. (my AZ 16 weighs the same as 14 us quarters) For longer range, An Apex barrel is the most adjustable and usable. Like a flatline barrel, in creates backspin, causing the ball to go farther. It has 8 settings of spin as well as being able to rotate 360 degrees, for long shots, hook shots and drop shots. (The more you increase spin, the less accurate and fast the paintball becomes.) If you want a Milsim look, a CP tactical, or any rap4 shrouded barrel will look great.
Depends. For long range shooting, you're probably not going to find one off-the-shelf with the 22 or 24 inch barrel. You can still reach out and touch something at 300 yards or more with a 16 inch barrel. If you want it to be as "authentic" of an M4 as possible, then you'd want a 14.5 inch barrel with a permanently pinned and welded flash suppressor long enough to bring the barrel length to 16 inches.
On the actual military weapons (whether they have the M4 profile barrel or the government profile barrel), the barrel length is 14.5 inches. On civilian "M-forgeries", a 16 inch barrel is more commonplace, although the 14.5 inch barrels can be found on the civil market, provided that they are equipped with a permanently mounted flash suppressor or muzzle brake of a sort which brings the overall barrel length to 16".
Firstly the 16 is 2 inches longer. Secondly some say that this is where a paintball barrel overcomes the optimum barrel lenght and starts to use up more co2 to fire a paintball. Others claim this is at 18 inches. The exception to this are Tippmann's who waste a lot of C02 each shot, and have a velocity adjuster that does not change the amount the valve produces, but limits the amount the ball gets, the excess just gets blown out to a cyclone feed or response trigger or nothing if nothing is attached. This means they are technically more efficient with 18, 20, even 22 inch barrels, because you will play with velocity adjuster almost out, and will still shoot the proper fps.
It just depends on the barrel. For instance, the flat line is made for longer shots, so mid-short range players really don't need one. Try a 12-14" barrel for mid-short. Personally i use a 16" barrel but I snipe or play mid- back. Smart Parts barrels are pretty nice, that's what i have.
Any rifle or shotgun you can buy from a dealer in PA. They must be at least 26 inches long, and rifles must have at least a 16 inch barrel- shotguns an 18 inch barrel.
500 / (16 x 12) = ~2.604 gallons/inch
why? Anybody that's been around paintball more than 5-6 days knows that you never even want a barrel longer than 16 inches, and even that is excessively long...go online and buy a Stiffi, an Apex, or a Straightline barrel...they will be the length you need and be more accurate than your gun has ever been...please don't waste money on an off-brand barrel either, they suck. Seriously though, spend $50-75 on a nice, name-brand barrel and you will be so much happier in the long run.