J and J Ceramic Paintball Gun Barrel - Review

The J and J Ceramic barrel is a cheap, entry level aftermarket barrel for the Tippmann 98 Custom. The version I used was fourteen inches long.

Price
The J and J Ceramic barrel is $40, putting it on the low end of barrel prices.

Durability
The J and J Ceramic barrel is made of ceramic (obviously), which is the same material used in pottery. Although you might think that that would make the barrel fragile, that proves to be untrue. I have heard stories of paintballers running into bunkers and shattering their J and J Ceramic barrels but I have treated my J and J Ceramic very roughly and it hasn't shattered yet. The only problem I have experienced is some minor scratching but that doesn't affect the performance of the barrel.

Accuracy
Accuracy of a barrel is the most important factor in deciding which barrel to buy. The J and J Ceramic is definitely an improvement over the stock Tippmann 98 Custom barrel but definitely has some problems. The bore size of J and J Ceramics is smaller than average, meaning that it has a tighter fit around the paintball. This is done to increase accuracy but I have found it has an opposite effect. Due to the increased stress on the paintball, you get more breaks and curving balls. One of the positives of the J and J ceramic is that since it is made of ceramic infused with teflon instead of porous metal, it does a much better job of cleaning itself after barrel breaks. While the J and J Ceramic doesn't excel in accuracy, it does a good job for the price it is sold at.

Sound
The J and J Ceramic is a very quiet barrel that rivals the Stiffi and other Carbon fiber barrels available for double or triple the price. One of the reasons for this is its ceramic construction, which does a better job of allowing the sound waves to "leak" out, rather than forcing them all out the front of the barrel. The other reason it is so quiet is more than one third of the barrel is ported, meaning that there are three rows of small holes that allow the excess gas to gradually escape instead of coming out with an explosive pop.

Special Features
Another great benefit of the ceramic construction is its weight, once again, the J and J Ceramic is only exceeded in this category by the Stiffi and other barrels of ceramic construction. Another special feature of the J and J Ceramic is its interior design. The first five to six inches of the barrel are smaller than the last eight inches of the barrel. When a paintball travels down the barrel it builds up speed for the first five to six inches and then rides the rest of the barrel length on an air condition. This creates the same effect a barrel kit does, although not allowing you to change bore sizes.

The J and J Ceramic is a good barrel that is well worth the money. It makes a great first investment in your Tippmann 98 Custom or any other paintball gun it is available on.

Sources:
Personal Experience