Almost a year ago, Titanium Paintball released one of the highest quality barrels paintball has ever seen.  However, the original Longbow was out of the price range of many players.  To quiet many of the pleas of these players (including myself) to lower the cost from $140.00 for a single barrel, Titanium Paintball released the Longbow SS.  The Longbow SS features the same great hardbore finish that debuted with the Longbow, but at a price that many people can afford.

     The major difference between the two types of Longbow is that the Longbow SS features a control bore made of stainless steel instead of titanium.  What this does, aside from lowering cost, is slightly increase weight.  Stainless steel is slightly heavier than titanium, and almost as durable.  The inner bore is just as immaculate as the original; don’t think that Titanium Paintball skimped on the new Longbow SS.  The only difference in the two barrels is the weight, the durability, and the looks. The stainless steel is exceedingly durable, and will stand up quite fine to the average beating (even the above average beating).  But it isn’t as strong as titanium.  Titanium will hold up much better in the long term, especially if you play in an area where sand continually gets in your barrel and scratches it up.

     The Longbow SS belongs to the two-piece barrel kit family like its predecessor.  The control bore is stainless steel, and it has an aluminum tip.  The control bores are currently available for the Angel, Autococker, and Automag.  Backs for the A-5, Spyder, Bushmaster, and M-98 should be out before summer, with backs for the Impulse, Shocker, and Blazer to follow shortly thereafter.  For the control backs currently available, there are sizes of .684, .688, and .690.  A .681 back is in the works.  You can get tips in lengths of 10”, 12.5”, and 14”.  The 14” tips are only available in gloss or satin black, or Nickel.  The 10” and 12.5” tips are available in black, blue, red, green, and nickel, in either gloss or satin forms.  You can also get raw aluminum tips to have them anodized to match your custom marker.  The tips feature a straight muzzle break comprised of 5 rows of 2” porting.

     Because stainless steel is easier to machine than titanium, the Longbow SS has a bit of a fancier look.  The stainless back is polished to a mirror finish (almost as nice as the interior polish).  It also has a bit more of a dressed up look than its previous counterpart.  Titanium Paintball also engraved a logo onto the control back, to add a bit more flash to it.  However, it isn’t overbearing, its almost like a watermark; you need to hold the barrel just right to see it.  The over all result is an elegant barrel that looks better than the original, but doesn’t cross into the realm of gaudy.

     I didn’t have a high profile event to try this barrel out at, but I was equally impressed with the Longbow SS as I was with the original Longbow.  I was expecting the great performance this time, and I wasn’t let down.  The Longbow SS absolutely shoots darts.  In true Titanium Paintball fashion, the Longbow SS eliminates the need for a squeegee.  It shoots through breaks in under 4 shots, and then it is back to shooting perfectly.  The Longbow SS came through with another stellar performance that made it quite the joy to shoot.

     I tested the Longbow SS for velocity because I did so with the previous Longbow as well.  The bore I tested was .688, and fit my paint marvelously.  I compared it to the Orracle stock barrel, which is .688, and the same length as the Longbow SS.  After shooting the longbow, and chronographing at 295 fps, I swapped it for the Orracle barrel.  I found that I lost 5 fps from the Longbow.  Now, these results aren’t as spectacular as the results from the previous test I did, but remember all of the variables that weren’t held constant in that test, as compared to the variables in this test.  Some people complain that two-piece barrels aren’t as efficient as one-piece barrels, and generally that is true.  The Longbow (either versions) is about as efficient as two-piece barrels go.  Titanium Paintball tested multiple sized backs and settled on their current length of 5.5”.

     A crucial part to a great product is a great company to back it.  Titanium Paintball is easily one of the best companies in the paintball industry.  They have some of the best customer support out there, and value their customer’s satisfaction.  They will not stop until you are happy with the product, and it is a great feeling knowing that these guys stand behind their products.  The only complaint people could really lodge about the original Longbow was its price.  A three bore kit weighed in with a hefty price of $300, or $140 for a single barrel.  The Longbow SS softens that blow a lot, and costs $219 for a three-bore set or $109 for a single barrel.  The quality of the barrels is still there, and still top of the line.  The decreased price reflects nothing but the change in material, and the cost of that material.   There really isn’t a reason not to buy this barrel kit anymore if you are in the market for a barrel kit.  The price is right, the quality is top of the line, and the company behind the barrels is one of the best companies around.  If you aren’t playing in sandy conditions, or your bank roll can’t suffer a hit of $300, get the Longbow SS.  But if you can afford it, or are playing in sandy conditions, and go through barrels like toilet paper, then go ahead and get the flagship Longbow, made of titanium.  Either way, you can’t go wrong, it is impossible to go wrong with Titanium Paintball.