Barrel Question

I know you guys think this is gonna be another which is better thread, but I have a question/statement I would like to make.  I know everyone has always said stay away from GTA barrels.  When I bought my A-5, it was a rather large package deal that included three barrels.  I got the stock one (obviously), a flatline, and a 12" GTA barrel.  I didn't necessarily want the GTA, but I wanted everything else that came in the package so I guess I got the GTA as just a bonus. 

Now to my question/statement:  After reading everyone's bad comments on GTA barrels, I decided to order a Stiffi barrel for $100.  I was expecting a great improvement over the GTA.  Everyone says that the GTA's bore isn't smooth and is basically like the stock barrel, but I find that it is a mirror finish just like my new Stiffi barrel (Stiffi claims one of the smoothest possible bores out there).  Even the feel of the bores is exactly the same.  I was just wondering if maybe I just got a well honed barrel or maybe people just were being a bit baised.

Sorry for the long drawn out thread, I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed this.

The GTA is a longer stock barrel that is all. Most stock barrels have a good finish on the inside of them, thise doesn't matter that much. How the barrel looks doesn't matter. Its all about paint to bore match. The stock barrels/GTA barrels are like .697 bore. This is HUGE. A Lapco Bigshot is .689 bore, so which is going to fit your normal mid-sized paint best, thus increasing accuracy? I suggest you do some accuracy testing before claiming that a barrel is good due to its finish.

if you where gunna spend $100 you should have gotten a freak kit, the stiffi isnt worth it, carbon fiber barrels are no better then aluminum or composite

eldiablo_si wrote: I have done some accuracy testing.  Extensively as a matter of fact.  I turned a 6 inch flower pot on its' side and could consistantly put them inside of it at like 50 feet.  It seems to be within the same class of accuracy as my Stiffi barrel.  My Stiffi barrel is a .695 and I'm using PMI Slam balls.  Not quite sure what bore size they are, but they fit pretty well.  Once in a while, a ball will manage to just roll through the barrel, but almost all stay in with no problems when I test fit at random.

A .695 Stiffi is rediculusly huge, it should be .689, or .691 if you dont have multiple barrels. I am calling Shens until you get video bench testing the GTA barrel against multiple one-piece barrels. Personally I dont see the point in wasting money  on the Stiffi, when a Lapco Bigshot gets about the same accuracy, and is $50 less.

Look guys, I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong.  All that I am saying is that the GTA Barrel isn't as bad as everyone says it is.  Maybe I just got lucky and got one that was made better than others, I don't know.  And when I say extensive testing, I simply mean that I have used it for a more than 5 hours of just shooting around to find the extent of its' accuracy.  It is accurate, but as I said before it's not quite as accurate as the Stiffi barrel.  I'm not trying to start anything, I was just making an observation.  Plus, I understand that the Stiffi isn't any better than any other barrel for half the price, but I wanted the Stiffi barrel and I got it.  It is, after all, my decision on what I buy for my gun.  Good day.