Freak vs. Evil pipe

[HellFish]

Whats your opinion on this? I am looking for a new barrel, and everyone seems to say these are the best. One thing that confuses me though, how come on the freak you replace the fronts, and on the pipe you replace the backs? Why are they opposite? Seems like if you can't adjust the bore size of the entire barrel it wouldn't be affective? I am ignorant in this subject so someone please give me your $.02

Thanks in advance

[HellFish]

also on the freak, can you get all the fronts in the same color?

[Jedrith]

No you are mistaken, you change out inserts in the rear part of the freak, and the front is the same. It just makes for more parts, but easier to change. But to which is 'better' that can be debated.

[Docnlk]

I shoot a freak and like it alot. A teammate shoots the pipe. I guess that he isn't completely impressed yet. I've seen some magazine reviews and comparisons, and because you can buy one freak kit with a couple different backs and use it on all your different guns, they usually rate higher.
example: If you own an angel and a cocker, you can buy a complete angel freak set for under $200, then you buy a cocker threaded back for like $60, and you have a complete freak for both guns for $260.
If you own those same guns, and shoot a pipe, you need to buy two complete kits for both guns. At about the same pirce for a freak kit ($200), it will cost you $400 to be able to use a pipe on both guns.
so, in a quick cost analysis, freak will do better for your checkbook
Also, people are into both looks and functionality, but although funtional, there are no color choices on a pipe kit yet. If you have a black marker, or any other color that is accented in black, it looks good. I put it on my green bodied, chrome accented 2k2 cnc, and it just didn't look right.

[HellFish]

What do you think would look best with a dust pewter ir3? (from warped)

Also, I don't see myself shooting anything else than an angel for quite a while, so compatability with other guns is not an issue. With that in mind, is the pipe still better in your opinion?

[SkeL]

To my knowledge, the pipe is only available in one color. Silver to black fade. It probably won't look too good on your gun, so I suggest a stainless stell back freak kit with a silver all american or Tear drop front. It's all personal opinion, so that's my .02$.

[ilikeangels]

i saw a green to black fade today.

[Prophet]

Like Docnlk said, I have a Evil Pipe Kit (the 'clear' to black fade on a Champaign Dust iR3) that I use. I also have cocker thread guns so yeah I fall into the problem of needing something else for those, I'm not going to buy another full Pipe Kit. As far as the color thing, they will be releasing other colors supposedly. But otherwise you can always have it re-anno'd to match your gun (which I may do if I keep it).

So far I'm not superly impressed. Its a good barrel system, I like that it is solid backs and not inserts. You are limited by the fact that there are only 5 backs/sizes. It would also be nice if the backs were either Stainless Steel or at least a polished silver anno. The pieces fit together nicely and it seem to be a really nice barrel system. I haven't tested the ball clearing ability, didn't break a ball. But at the end of the day, there was some ball goo at the tip and it slid right off the end and was fairly clean.

I've only put about 1500 balls through it so far. When I get more done, I'll add to this thread.

By the way, this should be in the Loaders/Air Systems/Barrels Forum.

Moved. iR3 --> L/AS/B Forum.

[2k1DarkLCD]

they have black to red/blue/gray-silver/green fades available now for the evil pipe kit.......But I own a freak......and love it

[SkeL]

If you currently own a barrel set, like the evil pipe kit, and you have 2 guns, you can just buy one of those Lapco barrel adapters. I'm pretty sure you can get them for most guns-->most guns. It's a much cheaper alternative.

[Docnlk]

yeah, but for those of us that value form, although not as much as funtion, those barrel adapters can get fugly if you know what I mean. I like the idea of systems like the scepter. They still use insert sleaves, but they are made of heavier matereial, and they lock in place. With that, you also get the possibility of getting a seperate back for each kind of gun you may have. I have seen the scepter before on a friends timmy and he loves it. Prophet has looked into those more than I have, and we have talked about trying them out, so he may have more info (prices, url's, bores, ect.) that he is willing to give. Personally, I would much rather spend money on an insert sytem that can easily be expanded for use on many different threaded guns, than go with solid backs that you need a whole kit for each gun. Less you spend on barrels, more you can spend on paint to put through them!

[Prophet]

Basically, here is the info on the barrel systems:

Powerlyte Sceptor (www.powerlyte.com) - 1 back (Aluminum or Stainless Steel), 5 inserts (or 3 inserts), 1 tip. Usually costs around $185 to $200. Tips = $59, backs (ss or Alum) = $69, Edited inserts = $??.

Evil Pipe Kit (www.buypmi.com) - 1 tip, 5 control backs (Aluminum only). Usually costs around $200 or so. Parts not sold seperately, yet (that I know of).

Freak Kit (www.smartparts.com) - 1 tip, 1 back (Aluminum or Stainless Steel), 8 inserts. Usually around $175 to $200. Tips = $49, SS Back = $79, Aluminum Back = $59, inserts = $15 to $25.

All these prices are only estimates, or what I have seen.

[Knick Knack]

Prophet...on the scepter, inserts can be purchased seperately. Otherwise good assessment of the situation.

Knick Knack

[Prophet]

Cool, the one site that I had found that had Scepter parts seperately didn't list the inserts, so I guess I should have prefixed that statement with 'from what I have seen' or something.

Thanks for the info though. Where have you seen the inserts seperately? The site I was looking at was www.topchoicepaintball.com.

[SkeL]

What I was trying to say was, a little 1 1/2 inch barrel adapter is worth the "fugly" look because it's saving you another 200$ for a pipe kit, instead of buying a whole new kit for your other marker. They usually come in black, and arent that noticeable. I'm more concerned about saving money than the looks of some small 1 inch black thing in front of my barrel. They are also a cheaper alternative to buying a whole new back for the freak/scepter kit as well.

[Knick Knack]

Prophet, I havent seen them on any site yet. I am a powerlyte dealer, and know that you can A)anyone can order them directly from powerlyte and B) a dealer can order them seperately.

As for barrel adapters. They arent good for a couple reasons. They arent made to match the particular barrel, so there wont be a perfect joint (which hurts accuracy). Also, they arent the same bore size as the barrel you might be using, which will also hurt consistency and could increase the chances of a ball breaking.

If you can afford an angel, I would splurge and make sure performance is top notch.

Knick Knack

[Docnlk]

amen to that Knick knack. Maybe you, being a powerlyte dealer, could hook up some kind of a deal for us aog'ers. Wink Wink. I would really like to see what kind of a difference the heavier made locking sleaves help with accuracy and the lot. Btw, what colors do they make tips in?

[IBJanky]

one more vote for the Freak :)

[Knick Knack]

Doc: for colors, check this thread: http://www.angel-owners.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5191

it had a whole lot of argument over colors ;)

As for the deals, if there is enough interest for a bulk order, I could pass the savings on. But at least 11 people would have to commit, otherwise there isnt much saving from normal prices...which makes it not worth the wait.

Dan

[Digitalpunk]

Hey, have any of you guys seen the new tips for the the Scepter, they are pointy at the tip, sexy-rific if you ask me.

2k1DarkLCD, where did you find colored Evil tips?

Digital

[freeloader12345]

Digital where is a pic?

[Knick Knack]

http://www.endlesspb.com/mgo/bluehybrid.jpg

That is a good picture of what the new tip looks like

Knick Knack

[Docnlk]

there are also a lot of good pics on forces of nature's site. There is quite a long article about the scepter and some new gun that powerlyte ius making.
http://www.forceofnature.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=320

[Knick Knack]

That article is almost 6 months old ;). The Scepter has changed a little since then (it performs just the same, if not a bit better). The Hybrid is now released and available for purchase. Talk to A. Sandidad or Bohach on these boards they both tried it out at MGO.

Knick Knack

[Digitalpunk]

Some at MGO

http://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/mardigras/2003/tech/MVC719S.jpg

Digital

[andygonzo]

Don't forget about the CP kit, there (i hear) i pretty good. But also alot more expesive

[Digitalpunk]

I don't really like CP barrels, everyone and their mother has them at my field, but they feel kinda flimsy. A guy on my team put one on his cocker and the tip and back didn't even screw all the way together.

Digital

[AKACode7]

Has anyone tried the Empire System, if so I'd like your .02$ on that. Thanks

[Kriptic]

I use a Freak Kit. For an Angel i would recommend 14" tip ALL AMERICAN style without a doubt. You can get the tips colored to your liking as well. It is definatly cheaper to get the kit and buy backs only.. i went through 3 diff backs already and whe n isel lthe gun, sell the backs on ebay separatly for extra cash... nice huh? Facefull magazine has a barrel review article and the freak got much better reviews. for the look, accuracy , weight and price.

[Kriptic]

Oh by the way, get a Dye barrel... You need one if you have an angel. It makes the gun shoot sooo straight and sooo accurate... Dye Ultralight get one. Get a whole set of Bore sizes, thats hwat iam about to do.. plus look on ebay.. they sell for like $40 i just got a 14" for $40 Now thats nice huh?

[RedBull]

First of all, I used to own a Freak System and now I have "the Pipe" and I have no clue about your backgrounds, but I have found through my years of playing(14) that, as my quality of guns has gone up so has the quality of paint. I only shoot a couple of types of high grade paint now and the "Pipe" backs cover those sizes. (I use two backs regularly.) I also shoot a cocker and all I have to do is switch the backs, because i'm still using the same size and kind of paint. The cost for those two backs is less than a moderate priced solid barrel. ( Like 70 bucks) People are always going to argue over which is better. They are BOTH great systems, and both worth the money! I am sure the sceptar is too. As for the cost, you bought yourselves the Ferrari of guns why not spend the same on the barrels and paint? At some point you'll find it comes down to the paint you use anyways! Good luck on your choices!!!

ps. the pipe and freak seemed to work about the same for me, I like the pipe cause it has less parts.

[superfire]

i would get the freak barrel,there number 1 in my case.

[Digitalpunk]

I'm going to buy a Pipe the second the blue tips come out, until then i'll just keep running my Infinity.

Digital

[2theMaxx21]

I wish that somebody could put the Freak and Evil side by side and see how they shoot. Same gun, bore, and paint. I haven't really seen anyone tell exactly.