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The Tippmann A-5 uses its own A5/X7 thread pattern (also shared with the 98 Custom on some barrels), and swapping the stock barrel for a longer, tighter-bore one is the cheapest real accuracy upgrade on the marker. Below are nine currently sold A5-thread barrels spanning ceramic-coated budget options to adjustable-selector systems, with pricing checked this session rather than estimated — this is a genuinely narrow aftermarket (one discontinued paintball marker’s specific thread pattern), so nine real barrels is the honest count rather than padding to ten.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tippmann 14″ Sniper Barrel (A5/X7 Thread) | $45-$60 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Empire Apex 2 Barrel System (14″) | $55-$65 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | J&J Ceramic 14″ Barrel | $30-$40 | Amazon |
| 4 | Custom Products (CP) Two-Piece Complete Barrel | $55-$65 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Lapco BigShot 14″ .687 Barrel | $60-$70 | Amazon |
| 6 | DYE Ultralite Boomstick Barrel Back (Tippmann 98/A5 Thread) | $50-$70 | Amazon |
| 7 | Deadlywind Null Carbon Fiber Barrel (14″) | $55-$65 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | GOG Freak Jr Barrel Kit (A5 Thread) | $95-$125 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Trinity Barrel (A5 Thread) | $25-$35 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Tippmann 14″ Sniper Barrel (A5/X7 Thread)
Tippmann’s own factory long-range barrel for the A5, one-piece aluminum with a micro-honed bore and a multi-hole muzzle brake that quiets the shot.
- One-piece aluminum construction
- Micro-honed and polished bore
- Multi-hole muzzle brake
- Direct A5/X7 thread fit
- Guaranteed factory fit and thread pitch
- No surprises for stock-paint shooters
- Fixed bore size doesn’t tune to different paint brands
- Heavier than the carbon-fiber option below
Empire Apex 2 Barrel System (14″)
A two-piece system with a 9-position adjustable curve/spin selector built into the tip, the most tunable barrel in this list.
- 9-position adjustable ramp selector
- Two-piece front/back design
- Available in 14″ and 18″
- A5-threaded back
- Lets you dial in curve for wind or field barrel-tag rules
- Widely stocked, easy to find replacement fronts
- More moving parts than a one-piece barrel
- Pricier than basic aluminum options
J&J Ceramic 14″ Barrel
A budget one-piece barrel with a ceramic-coated bore, the cheapest real upgrade over the stock A5 barrel that A5 owners cite most often.
- Ceramic-coated inner bore
- One-piece aluminum body
- 14 inch length
- Direct A5/X7 thread
- Lowest price of any barrel here
- Ceramic coating reduces breaks on tight-fitting paint
- No adjustable spin/curve feature
- Coating can wear with heavy use
Custom Products (CP) Two-Piece Complete Barrel
A two-piece threaded barrel from Custom Products, a longtime paintball parts maker, for shooters who want a swappable front without Empire’s adjustable-selector premium.
- Two-piece design (swappable front)
- A5-threaded back
- Precision-bored aluminum
- Dust Black finish
- Two-piece design lets you swap fronts without rebuying the whole barrel
- Straightforward aluminum build
- No adjustable curve feature like the Apex 2
- Less brand recognition than Empire or Dye
Lapco BigShot 14″ .687 Barrel
Lapco’s precision-bored aluminum barrel in a .687 bore, a size many A5 owners report matches field paint better than the stock bore.
- .687 inch precision bore
- 14 inch length
- Dust Black finish
- A5/X7/BT-4 thread
- Tighter bore spec can mean cleaner breaks with some paint brands
- Lapco is a well-established barrel maker
- Tighter bore isn’t universally better, it’s paint-brand dependent
- No spin/curve adjustment
DYE Ultralite Boomstick Barrel Back (Tippmann 98/A5 Thread)
The back half of DYE’s modular Boomstick barrel system, in stainless steel, cut for the Tippmann 98/A5 thread — pairs with a Boomstick front for a full two-piece setup.
- Stainless steel construction
- Modular front/back (Boomstick) system
- Tippmann 98/A5 .688 thread
- Lightweight ultralite design
- Modular system lets you swap fronts to tune bore size
- Reputable competitive-paintball brand
- Requires a compatible Boomstick front bought separately for a complete barrel
- Pricier per piece than one-piece barrels
Deadlywind Null Carbon Fiber Barrel (14″)
A lightweight carbon-fiber barrel with a straight-bore design, aimed at reducing the front-heavy feel of an A5 carrying a long sniper barrel.
- Carbon fiber construction
- Straight-bore .688 design
- Standard porting
- 14 inch length
- Noticeably lighter than aluminum barrels at the same length
- Reduces muzzle-heavy balance on long sniper builds
- Carbon fiber costs more than comparable aluminum barrels
- Less impact-resistant than metal barrels
GOG Freak Jr Barrel Kit (A5 Thread)
A three-piece kit (front, back, and swappable inserts) that lets you match bore size to whatever paint you’re shooting, the most tunable-for-accuracy option here.
- Front/back/insert three-piece kit
- Swappable bore inserts
- A5-threaded back
- Insert swapping is the most precise way to match bore to paint
- Regarded as a top-tier competitive barrel platform
- Highest price in this roundup
- Overkill for casual/rec-field shooters
Trinity Barrel (A5 Thread)
A budget aluminum barrel for shooters who want a longer barrel without the roughly $50-plus buy-in of the name-brand options above.
- Aluminum one-piece construction
- A5-threaded
- Budget price point
- Cheapest way to get a longer barrel on an A5
- Simple drop-in fit
- Less refined bore tolerances than Lapco/J&J
- Fewer independent reviews than the established brands
Buying tips
- Confirm your marker is an A5/X7 thread and not a 98 Custom thread — some listings show both patterns on one product page and they are not interchangeable.
- A longer barrel adds front-end weight; if you’re shooting offhand for a full day, weigh the carbon-fiber option against the aluminum barrels before going 16″+.
- Bore size (commonly .687-.690 on these barrels) affects paint compatibility more than length does — cheap paint runs slightly oversized and can chop in a tight bore.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.