I Upgraded ______ Because _______

[md_lucky_13]

If this seems like a stupid idea, then go ahead and close the thread and I will delete it later (or just delete it now).

I know there are no comparison threads, but it sure seems like there are a ton of threads about which barrel to buy, which bolt, what fits, and so on and so on. So, I thought a thread that just had personal information… Something you actually have done yourself and why… Would help eliminate a ton of those posts. For example:

Bolt:
- I went with a Jam Bolt (www.jambolts.com). I chose this bolt because of its anti-chop features, non-scratching Delrin material, and positive reviews. The price was $55 shipped, although I did pick mine up used. Would recommend dying the bolt black so the eye doesn't pick up on it. I don’t know if you can call this an Intimidator bolt that fits in Dragun guns, or a Dragun bolt that fits in Intimidators: either way, you have to use your stock bolt pin.

Barrel:
-I got a 14" Stiffi barrel. I originally bought it for a Spyder, but bought it knowing I would upgrade to a gun that accepted Spyder threaded barrels, such as the T1. Although it is an expensive barrel, I would highly recommend it. The finish is perfect; flawless and smooth as glass. The porting makes it extremely quiet. Price is usually around $100, but you can find used sometimes for much less.


I think you get the idea of the thread. This way people can see what the most common upgrades are, what the most preferred upgrades are, and, in the event that someone had an upgrade that was extremely disappointing; what upgrades not to get. Note that it is personal experience and not scientific analysis… not exactly product reviews, but more or less a purchase explanation.

[Tigress]

I think this is a good idea and I see no problem with keeping it around. However, if it has to be continually cleaned up or becomes too time-consuming for us mods, we'll have to come up with a different plan.

So lets keep this on topic. If you feel the need to comment on what someone posted, use a PM instead of replying in the thread. That'll keep it clean and on track.

[samis13]

I have a 14" stiffi too for my 03, I love it, and so do anyone I play with ;)

[-TC-]

A+ Timmy Bolts DO NOT fit T1s.

[todzilla85]

ya they do.....

[ReD ImPuLsE]

I got a QEV because the quick-disconnect fitting in the back pisses me off.

[zuberx6]

I went with the micro rock LPR for consitency it worked great

I upgraded the Inline reg for the same reason and also to be able to use different drop forward options and I'm very pleased with the results

[shocktroop]

I putted an LED light so my gun can have some styles like impys and shockers...lol

[KingKat]

I put everything on my gun because I wanted to pump it up to full potential.

[Gsauce1248]

Originally posted by KingKat
I put everything on my gun because I wanted to pump it up to full potential.

true dat lol(same goes for me)

[ShutterShooter]

Originally posted by KingKat
I put everything on my gun because I wanted to pump it up to full potential.

Assult block is holding your gun back from it's full potential because it's alot more restrictive than the stock.

I Upgraded to the Dragun ONE Kit Because my TES worked fine when I got it, but after a while all three of our TES had burping problems, so we sold off the stock parts to buy the kits for arund $25 net cost and at the time a ONE was $330 and my TES with the ONE kit would of been $225.

I Upgraded to the CIP V1.0 Timmy Bolt and Drilled BigShot Paintball Bolt Because both were on sale and cheap. I also wanted a delrin bolt to keep the inside from scratching and to reduce some kick.

I Upgraded to a Eclipse Dart QEV Because I increases CPS, but it also induced more kick and less efficency in our markers.

I Upgraded to a Modified Switch Because lighter pull so can I shoot faster.

I Upgraded to a new lighter Main Spring Because I had to compensate for the QEV and also it dropped my operating pressure to 200PSI and the Dwell to 3.

I Upgraded to a OGI Clamping Feedneck Because it was $10 brand new and it keeps my hopper from falling off.

I Upgraded to a TES Because the BooYaah frame I had on my old shutter fried on me and i didn't want to shoot a mech frame ever agian. So me and my two brothers all decided to sell off all of our spyders (had two shutters (one with the booyaah one with a ESP LCD frame), one sonix with a IPI frame, one eprint and a shutter body with all internals, plus a grip of LP stuff) and pick up TES's because they had electro frames, LCD, LP and most importantly an eye.

[evil snowman]

i upgrade my piranha(s) with a T1 kit. i find that tinkering with paintball markers is alot of fun.

[Weaseldancer]

Let's see. I upgraded alot on my T1 both to make it perform better and because I like to tinker.

APM Tigershark Bolt: I upgrade to this to reduce internal wear on the marker. It also had the effect of increasing my FPS allowing me to lower my operating pressure.

Freak Barrel Kit: I upgaded the barrel as I do not care for the stock one and this upgrade gives me the best bang for my $. Also, if i change guns, all I need to do is get a different back.

Clamping Feedneck: Didn't like the stock one and didn't want to worry about losing my hopper

Bob Long Torpedo Regulator: The stock Regulator sucks. Better conisitency and more efficent

CP Lightning Drop and ASA with On/Off: Like this drop and got rid of that metric fitting on the stock one

Timmy Lasoya LPR abd Front Block: Didn't particulary care for the stock LPR as it would freeze at high rates of fire. This change really let me lower by operating pressure. I now run about 140 psi instead of 220.

Zenitram Trigger: 3-way adjustable and elimanted all of the slop from the stock trigger

25 gram switch: Much lighter than the sock, allows faster rate of fire

QEV: Helps eliminate half cycling at high rates of fire

Volumizer: Want to see if I can run at a lower pressure

Guage: Bob Long 0-300 psi guage. Stock one goes up to 600 and since I run around 140 psi, the stock guage is a pain to read.


Future upgrades:

T-Board with Break Beam Eyes: Want to upgrade the eyes and the board has savable settings and a higher rate of fire

Evil Timmy Front Block: Mainly cosmetic, I just like the look of this better than the Lasoya Front Block I currently have.

[SkyEye]

I use a spudnukl bolt and an older All American barrel. Seems to work decent. I also have a hybrid hedlock feedneck that works great for holding the egg on.

[JDMOTO]

i upgraded everything just to be diffrent... to out perform other mid-grade guns.. and to show the real power of the dragun.....

[uberphlux]

Originally posted by JDMOTO
i upgraded everything just to be diffrent... to out perform other mid-grade guns.. and to show the real power of the dragun.....
Very true indeed. A decently upped T1 can compete with most "thousand-dollah-eye-candy"
I upped almost everything on my T1

[RunANDshoot]

The reason I did all of my upgrades were because the t1 needed it to become a high lowend marker. If that makes any kind of sense.

*edit, here it is:

Aftermarket Barrel/Kit
MacDev MatchStik Kit: I bought this kit because after doing alot of research and after reading other reviews about this kit I just had to get it and try it out. For $99 it was steal. Great barrel kit from a great company. It looks very sweet, not loud at all, and it cleans very well. I got this kit very cheap but as of now the price is still $99 from CriticalPaintball.com. Shipping is about $10 and they give you free paint to shoot and test it out, NICE.


Aftermarket Bolt
JAM Bolt: As many know the stock eye is fairly weak which can result in chops. This bolt ROCKS, if you can find it cheap go for it...I know I did. Although I would of got it new if I had to. The bolt being delrin is even better especially because you can dye it black (or black/blue/red/whatever) if you want. This is highly recommended for any gun it is compatible with. $45 new


Aftermarket Inline Regulator (HPR)
MacDev Gladiator 04: I was between a CP and the glad..I went toward the glad because it was something different from the CP
reg everyone was getting and I knew it would be really consistent and looks awesome. Also because MacDev is a great company I knew they wouldnt do me wrong. When I got the reg sadly I recieved one that came 'bad' from the factory but DONT worry the defective piece was replaced FREE. :tup: This reg is really consistant and my chrono is +/-3 @ most. Lastly it cost $80 which is alot but it is worth every penny.


Aftermarket Drop Forward, Rail, Cradle, etc
SystemX Slider Push button On/Off: I switched from my Endo Cradle w. 32 Deg on/off because my friend wanted me to test it out (he is a sysx rep). Needless to say I really liked the feel and the look. Also if you upgrade the hpr you most definately have to upgrade the drop. $49 new is what you will pay.


Aftermarket Low Pressure Regulator (LRP)
Palmer Pursuit Micro-Rock: This is a regular buy for those who want a new lpr. I have had no problems with it and just like the glad it is also very consistant. It is rather plain looking it gets the job done. $45 is about the cost and if you want you can get other colors to match your gun. Not bad, not bad at all.


Aftermarket Trigger
Zenitram Straight: I wanted something other than the stock trigger and zenitram being the only company having triggers out at the moment this was a logical choice. They have two great triggers two pick from. The sraight tooth is a great trigger if you
like to walk the trigger. As for fanning the trigger others usually go for the curved tooth which I havent tried but if its like the straight it should do its job well. Both being adjustable its a great pick up until the slasher (which is going to be limited) is released. $20 w/o shipping


Aftermarket Switch
Pyr8 25g switch: I got a new switch because the stock one was heavy. I bought a Pyr8 switch because he made them prewired and I didnt want to solder my own. I have no real reason why I picked a 25g switch over a 50g and I have no regrets. The magnet mod really helps and I have had no bouncing issues. Great upgrade. $13


Aftermarket Feedneck
OGI Twister: Although many have had locking issues with this feedneck I must be the one who was not plauged by this issue.
Others have expressed that even though twisted all the way a halo or eggy would not lock or to much room still remained. I
personally have had no problems with my halo or reloader b. Great way to keep your hopper on without having to sand the
feedneck. It cost around $25 but if you are lucky you can find it for cheaper :)


Misc Ups
Eclipse Dart QEV: I came across this mod awhile back and it gave my t1 great looks and more importantly it served a great purpose. The QEV increased the cps but results have now shown that it has increased the kick and lowered the effy as well. I
would not recommend this if you have a stock t1 but I will recommend this if you have up'd hpr and lpr. This is a great
upgrade if you have the mainspring mod. Also you will need to get an adapter...get one from Pyr8 he sells it all. $7-10

Mainspring Mod: I am looking into doing this after I do the ram mod but I want to do it because I want to lower my operating
pressure and have a better effy. (dont have yet) $Free

Kevo Ram Mod: I am about to send it to kevo to get this done. Out of the few that have done this mod it looks very promising
to help lower the kick and hopefully cps. (dont have yet) $13

Diode Mod: I did have this mod done just to see what it can do and for video purposes. Great mod if you want to use Nitro
mode. Auto and Semi only work if you unplug the eye from the board. It is very easy to do with either a diode from Radioshack
or a piece of wire. $2 or free

Zenitram LP Adapter: I bought this because its basically a must if you want to use a cocker style lpr. I liked it alot. Although you can thread/tap a lpc plug for spyders. The both do the same job. $15


Aftermarket Gauge
Bob Long Gauge: Any gauge will work but this was the one that looked the best. I found that having a different gauge it allowed me to have greater accuracy when setting the psi. $8-15


Aftermarket Board (dont have yet)
T-Board: This is the only board out at the moment but no other is necessary. Sadly I, just like many others are waiting on this to be released. I know I will like this product, no doubt about it. (Review coming) $65-70?


Aftermarket Eye (dont have yet)
Bouncebeam (Reflective): I believe the JDMOTO eye is the same eye Damon will offer for the T-Board instead of the breakbeam.
I am looking forward to this one because Id rather not drill my t1 yet for breakbeams. Also JDMOTOs review of how it performed was to my liking.


Eye Candy
LED Mod: Not much for performance but gives it a different look with a blinking LED. I like it and so does everyone else that sees it. $2 or free

Bubble Mod: Replacing 'The One' or 'T.E.S.' bubble jewel on the side can be replaced with a custom name. I liked doing this because its different and makes it your own. $creativity



Bah thats it for now I guess

[md_lucky_13]

Yeah.. Personally, I was shooting for more specifics.. I mean, its fairly obvious you upgraded something because you thought/knew it would make an improvement.. and saying "I upgraded everything because I'm the shiz" isn't really saying what and why... Doesn't really help answer specific questions people might have, like "why would I upgrade my bolt and to which bolt should I upgrade?"

[JDMOTO]

like.. i picked hybrid on/off cause its the best freakin on/off asa in the world.. just push the button and its off.. no turning just push a button thats it...

Also the reason i have these parts in my marker is because i took some time and made my own research comparing them to one another. Also people have diffrent ideas on which works better for them. Not everyone as the same goal in life and same for the marker. If it was upto me I'd do my own research....

[md_lucky_13]

I guess that is what I had in mind for this thread..

if someone out in the world was going research on the part they wanted to upgrade, this would be a perfect thread to start at..

Think of it this way:
The manufactor is going to make claims about their product. You can research those claims all up and down the floor, and you can understand every aspect of whatever you are interested in buying.. But, how does it work in the real world? Would you ever really know?

If you cannot physically try the product before buying it, the next best source is from other people who have used it and are please/not please with it. That is what this should be.

I got _______ because I heard about it from _________ and read about it _________. So far, the product has _____________ in my opinion, and was worth/not worth the purchase...

Why you got it, what it does, and if you are happy with it.. Just another resource that people can look at before buying any parts, and get honest real-world oppinion of what they are about to buy..

[Bloencustoms]

Changed my trigger switch out for a lighter one. Replaced aluminum bolt with delrin. The replacement of the switch made walking the trigger possible where I couldn't before. The replacement of the bolt enabled me to keep wear inside the marker to a minimum. Finally, I anodized it with a red to yellow fade, because I can. ;)

[Reloaded]

I'll add my two cents to help (or hinder) this thread:

Regulator: AA Messiah... had good luck with a Armageddon system on my old Minimag RT so I went with it on the Dragun because they have amazing service and fantastic products, and it was a steal on eBay used. :)

ASA/drop: Wanted more of a drop so I swapped in a CP Lightning drop and on/off ASA, like the look and the feel. Followed up with a FBM Power Angle which totally kicks *** and makes the balance of the marker feel 10x better.

Compressed Air: Crossfire 45/45 feeding this bad boy... small, light and packs enough punch to get the job done way better then CO2... would be perfect if I wasn't fixing leaks in the TES all the time (lose air too quickly).

Feedneck: CIP Timmy feedneck... didn't want to modify my loader so this was easy.

Bolt: Jam Bolt... zero breech chops and delrin, added chop protection is awesome as the eye isn't 100% fool proof. Have an APM Tigershark too but haven't used it yet... it was cheap and I'm a sucker for added stuff. :)

Spring kit: cheap and effective to control my FPS, easy pick.

Barrel: Freak system... had it for my Sniper 2, bought a chrome back for the TES and volia, they work well and I have enough options for all the different types of paint I'll encounter on my journey.

Loader: Halo B... which might be acting up, wicked *** loader but it might be pushing past my detents and it crushed some field paint last time I was out. I might look into the Angry board for the Halo as it says it's nicer on brittle paint then the current Z-code board, but we'll see. Takes a minimum of almost an hour to clean if you have a serious break inside, huge, HUGE drawback game day.

Trigger: Zenitram, three points of adjustment but I still have side-to-side slop... looking to add a small washer between the trigger and frame to eliminate that but I can't find a thin enough one. Also did the magnet mod., which helps a lot but I still bounce cause my trigger is adjusted so tight.

Microswitch: 50g IS switch... gives insane BPS, but you will bounce if you have your trigger set too tight (I think 3mm trigger travel is what I have and I bounce like mad, even on Semi 04) :)

That's it... future upgrades may be rubber grips (fingers crossed), T-board (buh bye bounce, you mofo), and maybe the Apoc striker (if they ever produce it). Maybe a new V/A if I can find on that fits without mods and doesn't leak. A pimptastic TES in the making... :)

[OrbitalDeath127]

I upgraded my stock Black Dragun vertical adapter to a TES vertical adapter because I wanted to obtain a lower pressure. I am very pleased that I did, because prior to the TES vertical adapter, my regulator (MaxFlo which I also highly recommend because of its high tolerance to CO2 and fast recharge rate for HPA and CO2) was set to regulate the pressure down to about 600psi. However, upon adding the TES vertical adapter, I was able to lower my pressure down to 250psi.

Another upgrade I have on my gun that I really like is my Ultralite barrel. This is probably one of the best barrels, in my opinion, because of it's weight and the feel of it. Mine happens to be a two-piece, but I only have one back and one front, which I hope to be able to add more to. :)

[md_lucky_13]

Wow, this thread died fast...
No one else has upgraded anything for any good reasons? Common.. Why did you toss that extra $400 on.. looks? :P

[[NA]WARLORD]

I upgraded for the sake of upgrading since stock markers are so boring, lol.

Barrel: 2k3 Smart Parts All American. I have used this barrel for years, and now that the newer version has interchangable tips, when I get the Freak Jr, I will have 3 differnt length barrels. Also I use Marbilizers exclusivley, since my old team was sponsored and thats what we used 99.9% of the time, and they work well all day long in that barrel. Plus, since I play mostly recball, its quitness in the field is a definate advantage.

Loader: Viewloader Evolution, mainly because it was cheaper then the Halo and the Halo wasnt in stock when I bought it :evilgrin:

Reg: Bob Long Torpedo, left over from 2k2 Black Dragun I sold.

Drop/Bottomline: Shoctech medium and 32* on/off, also left over from Black Dragun.

Tank: Nitro Duck X Stream 68/4500, perfect size and its an adjustable screw in style, perfect compliment to the on/off I already had.

Bolt: APM Tigershark Delrin, because it came highly recoimmended from you guys awhile back. Intend to replace later.

Trigger: Zenitram Blade style, had one on my Black Dragun, loved it. Single best upgrade you can put on the Dragun markers, IMHO.

To be upgraded later:

Bolt: Jam Bolt - heard a lot of good things on this, may check one out soon.
Barrel: Freak Jr, only because I can get a kit for 100.00, and since I dont need more then 3 inserts, this makes it the perfect choice for me.
Switch: Lol, still waiting for Bodger to send me the free ones he promised ( Hint, hint Bodger:D)

Also may get one of the pnuematic kits down the road since the "One" kitsare no longer around.

[splattttttt]

In Order of Necessity
1st. Bolt, Delrin, self lubing, easier on internals, moddable,lighter(cycles quicker)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/splattttttt/P1010063.jpg
2nd. LPR, widened intake port, increased recharge rate, lowerd operating pressure, shotened dwell
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/splattttttt/P1010043.jpg
3rd. Ram, reduced weight, increases cycling, reduced kick, lowerd operating pressure
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/splattttttt/P1010058.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/splattttttt/P1010059.jpg
4th.Micro Switch, (Bodger switch mod)
http://www.kingman.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=333489&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1 ,
what can I say.

Result
This mod should be considered as a single mod, in that this package allowed my marker to cycle on full auto using stock board imputs of 30(max)cps with a dwell of 3ms. Not yet tested on Gold Wave for sound bite accuracy.

[ScarFace]

i upgraded the stock tes drop and asa for a uni-mount because the gauge on my tank wouldent(sp) screw past it :evilgrin:

great thread btw

[TESFan]

I upgraded my TES because:

The One Kit: To eliminate burping/recocking problem, and to open my gun up to further upgrades.

Tigershark/Jam Bolt: I upgraded to the Tigershark bolt to get rid of the wear that my stock bolt would of done, to lower chops, and to increase FPS, im getting a JAM bolt to completely eliminate chops.

Zenny Trigger: I upgraded to the Zenitram Tooth Trigger (Blade) to have a lighter trigger, and to control where it is/how far the pull is, ect.

25g Switch: I upgraded to the 25g switch to have a really light pull, I took out the lever because it obviously eliminated bounce since I have none with a Zenny trigger also.

CP Reg (Soon to come): Im upgrading to the CP reg to have better consistency/looks/flow.

Micro-Rock LPR (Soon to come): Im upgrading to the Micro-Rock for lower pressure and dwell, and to increase recharge rate, along with the cycling rate.

QEV (Soon to come): Im upgrading to the QEV to up my cycling rate.

Edit: Forgot Barrel :O

Barrel: I upgraded to the Ultralite barrel to improve accuracy (somewhat, I know accuracy depends on more than barrel) and looks.

Check-It Products Sure-Fit Feedneck: I upgraded to the CIP Feedneck to lock my hopper on there and not have it sliding around if I sand off too much, and to not even waste the time of sanding it.

[md_lucky_13]

Last time I will bump this up to hopefully get a few more responses..

Even if you only upgraded a single item on your gun, why? What made you do it? Notice any difference? If so, what?

[Reloaded]

Originally posted by md_lucky_13
Last time I will bump this up to hopefully get a few more responses..

Even if you only upgraded a single item on your gun, why? What made you do it? Notice any difference? If so, what?

What do you still want to know... you've got a lot of info to work from already...

[md_lucky_13]

Oh don't get me wrong. The responses have been awsome, and I think the information is perfect.

I was looking for more quantity, not complaining about the quality.

[half-step]

Regulator: CP - I wanted a new drop forward and I wasn't going to mess around with connectors and adapters. It was also a good price for a great regulator.

ASA/drop: Psycho Ballistics Bullet with On/Off - A better fit for my 20oz CO2 tanks & I wanted the on-off. I also went with macro line. Also don't like the looks of the stock drop.

Air System: 20oz CO2 anti-siphoned. Stayed with CO2 because we have better access to getting them filled. The anti-siphon only cost us the adapter, tubing, and loctite.

Feedneck: Low-rise twisting clamp feedneck. Wanted a better way to use my Egg II. Wanted nothing to do with sanding the stock feedneck or the Egg.

Bolt: I started with the APM tiger shark bolt. I wanted a plastic bolt to keep the inside of the gun from getting scratched up from the stock aluminum bolt and it was very inexpensive. I now own a Jam Bolt and it was the best decision I made. I also dyed it black to help it become invisible to the eye and it looks better. You gotta love the fact of no chops. :)

Spring kit: To help adjust FPS and it was cheap.

Barrel: J&J 14" two-piece barrel. Came with the purchase of my TES and it works great.

Loader: Egg II with Z board upgrade. I like the way it looks and it gets the job done. Upgraded to the Z board for the obvious reason . . . faster feeds.

Trigger: I like the stock trigger so I just modded it. I drilled and tapped it for set screws to add all the adjustability. I can now adjust the trigger stop and trigger pull on the switch.

Microswitch: 50 gram. Lighter pull switch is a given. Makes it easier to walk the trigger.

Battery: I wanted a rechargeable battery system. So I installed a Java battery and a connector to allow charging of the battery right in the gun. Now I just use a Spyder charger to charge my battery. The Java battery also has long charge life.

Valve: Maddman rocket valve. I wanted a better valve. More efficient and a better seal. It was also a good deal on Ebay. My only regret is trying to get parts for it now from Maddman and their issues. Waiting since July 2nd for my 2 rebuild kits. :mad: I love the valve and its adjustability. I just hope Maddman gets it together soon.

[vikingshadow]

Ok, I upgraded my T1 for many reasons, but the main ones are because I like to tinker and I wanted the best efficiency I could get - plus I had money burning a hole in my pocket...

I upgraded my stock HPR to a Bob Long Torpedo because I've used it on other markers I have. It's an awesome reg and contrary to what some say, has a super fast recharge and hardly any shootdown. I wanted that since I planned on firing at higher rates...

I upgraded my LPR to a Palmer's Micro Rock because I had read that the stock LPR couldn't keep up with higher cycling. So far it has kept up perfectly with no shoot down. I also got the adapter because I didn't want to mess with doing a modification...it was easier just to get the adapter!

I updated to macroline because it was lighter and matched the color scheme of my gun. Plus, I had never used it before and thought I'd give it a shot. It works perfectly.

I modified my microswitch because I couldn't see spending 5 bucks or more for a switch that I could just as easily make just as light without removing anything from the gun. Just pop the switch loose from the pins, open it up, mess around and *POOF*, all done. Mainly, though, to get the higher firing rate a lighter switch will give you...

I upgraded my stock drop to a CIP Speedy drop with on/off because of CIP's excellent products. I wanted the on/off so I can turn the gas off to the gun when it's just sitting around waiting to be played with (in between games.) No chance of leaks in this manner! I also like the closeness I get to my gun that a medium size drop gives me. So far, it's been a perfect addition to my marker!

I upgraded the quick disconnect to an Eclipse Dart QEV and adapter because I heard that it would allow the gun to cycle more. It has increased kick and I think reduced efficiency some, so I'm looking into the spring mod to see if that will reduce the kick and possibly the efficiency problems.

I upgraded my stock bolt to a Tigershark bolt because it was lighter which would reduce the kick some. I then upgraded to a jam bolt to try and decrease what little chops I get. I have yet to play a game with it, but the 4 hoppers of paint I ran through went without a single chop until I turned the eye off and ran nitro 25...

I painted those fugly clear grips because, well, they're fugly! Used rubberized paint and it works great!

Finally, I upgraded my stock barrel to a J&J Edge kit for a couple of reasons. J&J has a reputation of being self cleaning (I did not have any luck whatsoever with the Ceramic barrel) so I thought that any chops I might get might clean easier - again, this rumor proved to be false. However, the kit is good because I can match paint sizes pretty easily and it was relatively cheap (on sale for 100.00) It was also a cosmetic upgrade - it looks pretty hawt on my T1...

Have no plans on getting a T board since I'm pretty pleased with what I have right now...