Overbore
Overview
Overbore refers to using a barrel or insert with a bore size larger than the paintball’s diameter, reducing friction but sacrificing efficiency and sealing.
Key Points
- Creates a loose fit between paint and barrel walls.
- Reduces friction and is more forgiving with inconsistent paint.
- Sacrifices air efficiency and can reduce velocity consistency.
- Useful in hot weather or with very fragile paint.
- Can help minimize barrel breaks with brittle paint.
- Often paired with heavily ported barrels for smooth flight.
Details
Overbore occurs when the barrel bore is wider than the paintball being fired. This loose fit reduces friction and allows paint of inconsistent sizes to travel more freely without snagging or breaking.
While overboring increases forgiveness, it reduces the efficiency of the marker because excess air escapes around the ball. This lowers velocity stability and may require higher operating pressures or longer dwell to maintain FPS.
Competitive players sometimes overbore slightly when using very brittle paint because it minimizes barrel breaks. It is also common in humid conditions where paint swells unevenly.
Overboring should be balanced against the performance goals of consistency and air conservation. Many players rely on barrel kits or insert systems to adjust bore size appropriately.
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