Post by 99GenX on Nov 1, 2005 8:49:26 GMT -5
Over the past two years, I have owned somewhere in the likings of 6 different Freak Systems, two of them being the entire kit. People tend to downplay them now since at one time they were the only decent kit on the market, and have now been far surpassed by such kits as the MacDev Matchstik, Stiffi, etc.
"I am going to score it on a 1-10 scale on a few different factors; looks, ability to shoot a range of different paintballs, weight, breaks, sound, accuracy, and price..."
Looks: Based upon stock looks, the Freak is a rather "average" looking barrel. The tips are available in two different types (without going into aftermarket tips) and a wide variety of colors. If Freaks were not so rampant, I would give this category an 9 for it's uniqueness and see-through design on the backs but since they are everywhere including your kitchens garbage can
, it's getting a 7.5 in my books.
Paint Favoritism: It is a barrel kit with 8 different backs which helps this category immensely. The only hang up is, the freak tips can sometimes be a little slim for larger "economy" paint (although this is not noticed with the AA tips). Overall, since it's a kit with 8 inserts, it's getting a 9.5.
Weight: With the aluminum back, this barrel is rather heavy compared to other high end barrels. I prefer the cheaper and lighter aluminum backs that when combined with an AA front, is very light for an all aluminum barrel - 7 (averaging the Stainless and aluminum backs).
Breaks: When a proper paint/bore match has been made, you will get no breaks out of the bore itself. The only problem I have noticed (and as stated above) is that the Freak tips can sometimes be rather slim and actually thinner than the widest inserts (which can lead to tip breaks with large paint) - 8.5 (averaging the Freak tip and the AA tip).
Sound: With either stock tip, this is a fairly quiet barrel which emits more of a "ping" than most other barrels I have noticed - 8.
Accuracy: "Accuracy is as good as your paint/bore match" - 8.5 (the aluminum inserts could be somewhat better made but the stainless ones are pristine).
Price: New, a full kit will still run you upwards of $150. For that price, several barrel kits that are much better can be had. Used, Freaks do not hold their value well and full kits can be found as low as $70 (which is one HELL of a steal) - 7.5 (average of new and used price).
So, the final tally comes out to: 7.5, 9.5, 7, 8.5, 8, 8.5, 7.5
Which results in an average of: 8.1 or 81/100
For a kit, this is a fairly good score which would have actually been higher if I had not taken the Freak Tip and Stainless backs into consideration (which I find far inferior to the Aluminum backs and available stock All American tips).
Also take in consideration, that these scores were compared to other kits, not to single bore barrels I have owned. If compared to single bore barrels, I would have expected a score in the high 90’s from this barrel.
For the new price of $150 you would be better off looking into a St!ff! Sw!tch kit, but for a reasonable used price, the Smart Parts Freak Barrel Kit is a opportunity waiting to be had!
vvv - ;D Aluminum back & All American tip
^^^ -
Stainless back & Freak tip
"I am going to score it on a 1-10 scale on a few different factors; looks, ability to shoot a range of different paintballs, weight, breaks, sound, accuracy, and price..."
Looks: Based upon stock looks, the Freak is a rather "average" looking barrel. The tips are available in two different types (without going into aftermarket tips) and a wide variety of colors. If Freaks were not so rampant, I would give this category an 9 for it's uniqueness and see-through design on the backs but since they are everywhere including your kitchens garbage can
, it's getting a 7.5 in my books.Paint Favoritism: It is a barrel kit with 8 different backs which helps this category immensely. The only hang up is, the freak tips can sometimes be a little slim for larger "economy" paint (although this is not noticed with the AA tips). Overall, since it's a kit with 8 inserts, it's getting a 9.5.
Weight: With the aluminum back, this barrel is rather heavy compared to other high end barrels. I prefer the cheaper and lighter aluminum backs that when combined with an AA front, is very light for an all aluminum barrel - 7 (averaging the Stainless and aluminum backs).
Breaks: When a proper paint/bore match has been made, you will get no breaks out of the bore itself. The only problem I have noticed (and as stated above) is that the Freak tips can sometimes be rather slim and actually thinner than the widest inserts (which can lead to tip breaks with large paint) - 8.5 (averaging the Freak tip and the AA tip).
Sound: With either stock tip, this is a fairly quiet barrel which emits more of a "ping" than most other barrels I have noticed - 8.
Accuracy: "Accuracy is as good as your paint/bore match" - 8.5 (the aluminum inserts could be somewhat better made but the stainless ones are pristine).
Price: New, a full kit will still run you upwards of $150. For that price, several barrel kits that are much better can be had. Used, Freaks do not hold their value well and full kits can be found as low as $70 (which is one HELL of a steal) - 7.5 (average of new and used price).
So, the final tally comes out to: 7.5, 9.5, 7, 8.5, 8, 8.5, 7.5
Which results in an average of: 8.1 or 81/100
For a kit, this is a fairly good score which would have actually been higher if I had not taken the Freak Tip and Stainless backs into consideration (which I find far inferior to the Aluminum backs and available stock All American tips).
Also take in consideration, that these scores were compared to other kits, not to single bore barrels I have owned. If compared to single bore barrels, I would have expected a score in the high 90’s from this barrel.
For the new price of $150 you would be better off looking into a St!ff! Sw!tch kit, but for a reasonable used price, the Smart Parts Freak Barrel Kit is a opportunity waiting to be had!
vvv - ;D Aluminum back & All American tip
^^^ -
Stainless back & Freak tip
