AIRSOFT INNER BARREL
What is an Airsoft Inner Barrel?
An airsoft inner barrel is connected to the hop-up which loads BB from a magazine. This BB passes through the inner barrel as it shot out. The inner barrel plays attributes to accuracy and range. It's as simple as that.
What is the best inner barrel for airsoft?
It depends on the build your going for, if you want to shoot extended ranges then a longer inner barrel is recommended. But the right length for the airsoft replica is usually a safer option. Too long you risk damaging the barrel and your gun as it may be poking out from the end of the outer barrel.
Does a longer airsoft barrel increase accuracy?
No, it is not true. There is more space for the barrel to affect the BB's flight path negatively. If there’s a small bump in a long barrel (very minute one), it will affect the BB trajectory more so than a barrel that is shorter but bent the same way.
Another adverse effect of a longer bore has to do with volume ratios. If the ratio of air being pushed out of the cylinder compared to the volume of the inner barrel is too little, the BB will stop accelerating before it reaches the end of the barrel which can cause a few issues. If the ratio is too high, the barrel will be over volumed which can cause inaccuracy.
As the BB reaches the tip of the barrel, it tries to stabilize itself. Once the bb is stable, it should be out of the bore to avoid any off-axis rotation to help prevent flyers and other accuracy problems. That brings up stabilization in the barrel.
Generally, it’s easier to stabilize a shorter barrel due to the lesser surface area. That also means it will be more consistent because it won't vibrate much. That's not the case for longer barrels though. They're generally harder to keep stable.
Airsoft Inner Barrel from an Experienced Players Point of View
‘Wider bores are better because there is more room for the bb to stabilize, but not hit the barrel walls. This prevents off-axis rotation from contacting the barrel walls.
Honestly, bore quality/smoothness is the most important factor. It directly affects your shot consistency. Bore width is next in order of importance. Bore material is after that. The least important is bore length.’ - Quake
