HeDsHoTz
03-14-2009, 06:06 AM
This is a review of the Deathsix II barrel kit from Paintball Assassin.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6986/deathstix.png
Please note that I have only had the stock 2 piece barrel to compare to this barrel kit.
When I first heard the "hype" on the local forums here in Australia about the Deathstix barrel kits, I thought to myself "Are they really that good?"
I can tell you without a doubt now that "Yes. They really are that good."
The barrel kit (pictured top) comes with your choice of coloured carbon fibre barrel (red, purple, blue, silver, gold, white, ivory, "elite", sinister white, sinister black, carbon fade and "kokoda") and 4 backs (.686, .689, .692, and .695) to suit 98C, A5, AC, Ion and Spyder threads.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3883/deathstixrange.jpg
The Deathstix II are available in all colours in 14" and 16" with another two 24" barrels for those "snipers" out there, available in Carbon Gloss and Kokoda. Locally they're available for AU$175 for the kit through PaintballShop.com (http://www.paintballshop.com/)
The Deathstix II comprises of the ultra-lightweight carbon fiber barrel, with the now famous 5 to 5 porting at the tip. The Deathstix II is also reverse threaded for ease of install and removal. Unlike other carbon fiber barrels, the Deathstix II can be fluffy swabbed without fear of the swab fibers getting caught in the filaments of the carbon fiber porting, and eventually destroying the interior finish of the barrel. The barrel kit comes with a guarantee from Paintball Assassin that it's safe to fluffy swab.
The carbon fiber barrel changes the report of the marker significantly also. While many barrels make claim to quieten your marker, the Deathstix II does no such thing. It changes the report to a loud, sharp sounding CRACK when fired. It's actually quite intimidating for someone who hears it for the first time. With this barrel on my Planet Eclipse Etek2, there's no mistake that shots are being fired. When Australian Super7's Championship team Sydney SWAT break out with their Deathstix equiped Ego's, it truely is a cacophony to say the least. It almost sounds like a hail of automatic gunfire.
Apart from the intimidation factor, the barrel is super easy to clean. If you are in-game, simply shoot one or 2 balls through the barrel, and you'll be back to shooting darts before you know it. Regular after play cleaning will involve you passing the fluffy swab through it once, then rinsing with cold water, and passing a clean swab through it to take out the excess water. That's it. Put it away in it's hard case that houses the barrel and the 4 backs until you're ready to use it again.
The gloss coating on the barrels has also been improved so I've been told. In a review posted on PBChat.com.au (http://www.pbchat.com.au/) by a friend of mine, The Camo Kid, he stated:
"During the testing we noticed our initial concerns about the lack of protective coat were founded when we noticed that small chip of the laminate exposing what looks like raw carbon fiber. So am concerned about the durability of the finish during the life of the barrel, however I have been reassured that this finish will be improved on future barrels of this nature."
I can vouch for the fact that all the barrels in the Deathstix II range now have the epoxy resin gloss coating which alleviates the chipping of the print off the barrel.
All things considered, a great barrel kit with a not so bad pricetag.
Highly recommended.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6986/deathstix.png
Please note that I have only had the stock 2 piece barrel to compare to this barrel kit.
When I first heard the "hype" on the local forums here in Australia about the Deathstix barrel kits, I thought to myself "Are they really that good?"
I can tell you without a doubt now that "Yes. They really are that good."
The barrel kit (pictured top) comes with your choice of coloured carbon fibre barrel (red, purple, blue, silver, gold, white, ivory, "elite", sinister white, sinister black, carbon fade and "kokoda") and 4 backs (.686, .689, .692, and .695) to suit 98C, A5, AC, Ion and Spyder threads.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3883/deathstixrange.jpg
The Deathstix II are available in all colours in 14" and 16" with another two 24" barrels for those "snipers" out there, available in Carbon Gloss and Kokoda. Locally they're available for AU$175 for the kit through PaintballShop.com (http://www.paintballshop.com/)
The Deathstix II comprises of the ultra-lightweight carbon fiber barrel, with the now famous 5 to 5 porting at the tip. The Deathstix II is also reverse threaded for ease of install and removal. Unlike other carbon fiber barrels, the Deathstix II can be fluffy swabbed without fear of the swab fibers getting caught in the filaments of the carbon fiber porting, and eventually destroying the interior finish of the barrel. The barrel kit comes with a guarantee from Paintball Assassin that it's safe to fluffy swab.
The carbon fiber barrel changes the report of the marker significantly also. While many barrels make claim to quieten your marker, the Deathstix II does no such thing. It changes the report to a loud, sharp sounding CRACK when fired. It's actually quite intimidating for someone who hears it for the first time. With this barrel on my Planet Eclipse Etek2, there's no mistake that shots are being fired. When Australian Super7's Championship team Sydney SWAT break out with their Deathstix equiped Ego's, it truely is a cacophony to say the least. It almost sounds like a hail of automatic gunfire.
Apart from the intimidation factor, the barrel is super easy to clean. If you are in-game, simply shoot one or 2 balls through the barrel, and you'll be back to shooting darts before you know it. Regular after play cleaning will involve you passing the fluffy swab through it once, then rinsing with cold water, and passing a clean swab through it to take out the excess water. That's it. Put it away in it's hard case that houses the barrel and the 4 backs until you're ready to use it again.
The gloss coating on the barrels has also been improved so I've been told. In a review posted on PBChat.com.au (http://www.pbchat.com.au/) by a friend of mine, The Camo Kid, he stated:
"During the testing we noticed our initial concerns about the lack of protective coat were founded when we noticed that small chip of the laminate exposing what looks like raw carbon fiber. So am concerned about the durability of the finish during the life of the barrel, however I have been reassured that this finish will be improved on future barrels of this nature."
I can vouch for the fact that all the barrels in the Deathstix II range now have the epoxy resin gloss coating which alleviates the chipping of the print off the barrel.
All things considered, a great barrel kit with a not so bad pricetag.
Highly recommended.