[Johnypenguin]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a two piece barrel over a one piece?

[Crashkt90]

Easy to clean, you can get more then one back.

[paintsoldier8]

Advantages:
-can switch out backs
-can switch out tips
-can use tips for different threaded guns

Disadvantages:
-non consistent bore
-can come undone between two halves and can be difficult to remove from gun
-less efficient than small bore one piece
-may be difficult to find different backs
-can't be any shorter than the back's length

[WillyW0nka]

If you ever decide to get your barrel anno'd to match a gun, a 2-piece barrel back can be plugged and the bore size will remain the same after the anno process. If it's a one-piece barrel, it can't be plugged (because of the porting) and your bore size will change after the barrel is anno'd. (I.e. a .689 might turn into a .690 or .691).

["T-MAC"]

they both get the job done

[WillyW0nka]

Originally Posted by "T-MAC"

they both get the job done

Do you seriously consider that a good answer?

[NickRowell]

Originally Posted by WillyW0nka

Do you seriously consider that a good answer?

I think what he's saying is, the advantages and disadvantages aren't that horrible if you consider that they both shoot paint.

[aresfiend]

[Sirriko]

Originally Posted by "T-MAC"

they both get the job done

Totaly true, but bore sizes are an up.
And a common misconception about one piece barrels being easier to self clean is bs. No difference: http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=2218018
"Is a one piece barrel more accurate than a multiple piece barrel?
No. Many 2 piece barrels use a front that has a larger diameter than the back or insert. This means that when the ball transfers from the back/insert to the front there is no external forces that are being placed on the ball, and the front will not cause the ball to change from its original flight path.

Does a one piece barrel "self clean" better than a multiple piece barrel?
No. We tested many one and two piece barrels with a break test. During this test the one piece barrels did not preform as well as some of the two piece barrels. We believe that there are many other factors that are more important in "self cleaning barrels" than how many pieces they have.

What allows a barrel to self clean?
We believe that the attribute that contributes most to a barrel being able to “self clean” is the smoothness of the bore. This along with matching paintballs to the correct size bore will allow paintballs after a break to basicly squegee out the broken paint, and return the barrel back to somewhat of a clean state. I will go into more detail in a later post where we post data from the break test. "

[Mighty Whitey]

Mmmhm

[drgonzo]

Originally Posted by Sirriko

Totaly true, but bore sizes are an up.
And a common misconception about one piece barrels being easier to self clean is bs. No difference: http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=2218018
"Is a one piece barrel more accurate than a multiple piece barrel?
No. Many 2 piece barrels use a front that has a larger diameter than the back or insert. This means that when the ball transfers from the back/insert to the front there is no external forces that are being placed on the ball, and the front will not cause the ball to change from its original flight path.

Does a one piece barrel "self clean" better than a multiple piece barrel?
No. We tested many one and two piece barrels with a break test. During this test the one piece barrels did not preform as well as some of the two piece barrels. We believe that there are many other factors that are more important in "self cleaning barrels" than how many pieces they have.

What allows a barrel to self clean?
We believe that the attribute that contributes most to a barrel being able to “self clean” is the smoothness of the bore. This along with matching paintballs to the correct size bore will allow paintballs after a break to basicly squegee out the broken paint, and return the barrel back to somewhat of a clean state. I will go into more detail in a later post where we post data from the break test. "

Some of those specific claims have not been borne out in later testing. Do note that testing is now 6 years old.

More important than self-cleaning (and note, self-cleaning is not mentioned in this thread before you brought it up) is swab/squeegee cleaning. In my experience no barrel can truly "shoot clean" to the same level as an actual cleaning.

Most two-piece or insert-based barrels tend to collect more paint after a break in the area between the two barrel pieces or between the insert and the barrel, than a barrel that does not have such an area to collect paint in. Whether this has a practical effect is debatable, but I definitely unscrew 2 pieces and find paint between the pieces if I've had a break, even after I've squeegeed and swabbed them clean.

As for the OP, old as it may be, the most significant benefit of one-piece barrels is cost. Many people find that a single underbore barrel in addition to the stock barrel is an effective setup, and when that single barrel is a one-piece, you end up paying less than if you get a kit or a single two-piece.