Barrel

The barrel is the pipe used to launch the projectile, and is, along with the chamber, the only component found in all launchers. The diameter determines what projectiles will fit in the launcher, and the length affects how much energy is transferred to the projectile.

Modifications and improvements to the basic barrel include sleeving, rifling, hop-ups and flatline barrels.

There are many diameters of barrels popular in spudding, below are some that fit certain ammo:

  • 4.5mm brakeline - fits bbs, good for BBMGs
  • 6mm brakeline - fits airsoft bbs, a commonly used ammo in BBMGs.
  • 3/4" CPVC, 3/4" sch 80 PVC (looser fit), or 3/4" SCH 120 PVC - fits .68" paintballs
  • 1/2" SCH 40 PVC (.602" id) - fits "AA" batteries, marbles.
  • 1/2" SDR 21 PVC (.685" id) - fits .68 caliber paintballs.
  • 3/4" SCH 40 PVC (.804" id) - fits 12g CO2 cartridges, C batteries.
  • 1" SCH 40 PVC (1.029" id) - size "C" batteries, smaller sized bouncy balls.
  • 1.25" SCH 40 PVC (1.360" id) - fits size "D" batteries, film canisters
  • 1.5" SCH 10 Metal (1.682" id) - fits golf balls, but with tighter tolerances than the 1.5" SDR barrels.
  • 1.5" SCH 40 PVC (1.590" id) - a common size, good trade-off between power and potato usage. Available rifled from the SGTC
  • 1.5" SDR 21 PVC (1.700" id) - fits golf balls. Traditionally sleeved within SCH-80 PVC.
  • 1.5" SDR 26 PVC (1.734" id)- fits golf balls, but it is thinner than SDR 21, so the golf balls fit a little looser. Traditionally sleeved within 2" SCH-80 PVC.
  • 2" SCH 40 PVC (2.047" id) - fits caulk tubes and (large) potatoes.
  • 2" SCH 80 PVC (1.913" id) - fits 1.5" nominal pipe well, making it ideal for sleeving Also used as a golf ball barrel by itself, with the golf ball held in place by a rag patch, or other wadding. Also fits normal light bulbs! (Details).
  • 2.5" SDR 26 PVC (2.635" id) - fits beverage cans extremely well
  • 2.5" SCH 40 PVC (2.445" id) - fits tennis balls well.
  • 3" SCH 80 PVC (2.864" id) - fits many drink bottles well.
  • 3" SCH 40 PVC (3.042" id) - fits normal cans, empty propane torch tanks, certain wine bottles, and Gatorade bottles.
  • 4" SCH 80 steel (3.826" id) - fits softballs PERFECTLY. Kind of heavy though, at over 15 pounds/foot.
  • 4" SCH 40 PVC (3.998" id) - fits 29 oz. cans