Nerf Dart Gun Challenge (now open) disscussion thread

[SEAKING9006]

I'm going to go ahead and assume my current completed nerf rifle is going to work better with custom darts, and if I have any ready by the deadline I'll go ahead and enter it (albeit modified slightly to use a CO2 canister rather than the one shot air tank it uses ATM). Right now, using nerf taggers, it is unreliable at best. Accuracy is questionable, and the barrel is mounted crooked. But it works. It works, but badly. I'll likely want to machine a new bolt face and make more cartridges. Firing reliability is questionable and mechanical reliability is a crapshoot. New bolt face and custom darts should fix everything, leaking issues included.

I did mention that it leaks around the breech profusely, didn't I? No? Well, it does.

[iknowmy3tables]

if your not using cartridges then fresh streamlines tend to be the most firm, and will probably jam less. and if a seal around the bolt is leaky but is too small too be fixed with either scotch or electrical tape then I think it's no big deal because seals around the bolt tend to not matter much, if you can't get an effective gun done you could submit it as a prototype technology demonstrator or maybe even a non-qualifying submission although you'd probably not win, I'm just happy to have additional submissions

[SEAKING9006]

I'm using my own cartridges. I drew my inspiration from Boltsniper's FAR, and my replacement bolt face will very likely be a carbon copy of his, though re-sized a bit. The one I made has just two staples for an extractor (only works for like freaking ten shots before it has to be tweaked manually) and doesn't cover the rear of the cartridge like it should, not to mention that right over that area in the receiver there is a bit of a mistake in the cut, so there is a gaping hole over the rear of the cartridge, meaning that maybe half of the air is blowing out the top. The new design for a bolt face should completely eliminate this. Even though the FAR's shells are easier to make, they are hella big, so I went the much more difficult route and just used straight-up 1/2" Sch40 pipe lengths with a rimless design. By rimless, I mean the modern rim design, not a completely smooth cartridge. If anyone has pointers in securing a piece of 1/2" pipe in a lathe made from a drill, I would be eternally thankful. (Only one out of the seven cartridges I made will even chamber properly.)

Even if I slack off from now till the deadline, I'm still turning it in though.

[iknowmy3tables]

If anyone has pointers in securing a piece of 1/2" pipe in a lathe made from a drill, I would be eternally thankful. Sad (Only one out of the seven cartridges I made will even chamber properly.)

try using washers setup like below, I forgot to add lock washers, but anyways that should help, if the pipe slips then a single drop of super glue should hold it and still be removable later

I've considered using my miter saw for grooves in rimless pvc cartridges, if you have one you should try it, because the thick blade tends to cut perfect grooves about 2-3mm wide, a different kind of circular saw might work but be careful

[SEAKING9006]

Hmm, looks like it should work. I'll try it next chance I get. I had a jig that I made out of mighty putty and scrap PVC where I would put a cartridge to receive its rim in a half of 1" pipe, then my dremel would fir down onto one end where I would clamp it down, then I would adjust the bit to get the proper groove placement.

I'd try the miter saw, but I like having fingers.
Not to mention it seems like it would be difficult to get locked in place. I would use the miter saw to cut them to length though. (Bye bye crooked PVC cutter cuts!)

[covey12]

can i use internals from paintball guns and such? where do i post the finished gun at btw?

[SEAKING9006]

Whatever you need to make it work, you can use. I'd expect hybrids to be quite limited, of course. As for where to post, I dunno.

[iknowmy3tables]

we'll clarify that later, the we've extended the dead line to April 12 so people can take advantage of their spring break holidays

[Hubb]

Recently, I broke out my Recon and began work on it again. I really like the idea of a magazine fed system, and I like the look and feel of the Recon. I have in the works a complete overhaul for it. I want to scrap the whole spring plunger deal and go with something a bit more, shall I say, better. What I'd like to do is implement a pneumatic system for it instead.

If I do this with my Recon, is it qualified to be entered, or is the entries for homemade Nerf blasters only?

[twizi]

i might do it i have a shotgun prototype i use in paintball but it can be converted into a nerf with a bit of work

[iknowmy3tables]

it should qualify. I'd like to see more pneumatic Nerf guns with air supply's, particularly ones modded into semi auto's or full autos,
but tell me two things first: is the main valve more than just a blowgun? and do you intend to have the bolt pneumatically actuated?

[Hubb]

It will be a pneumatically powered Recon with a Hubb twist (in other words, will be the best Recon you, or any of those 'gods' at the nerf forums have ever seen.

[iknowmy3tables]

then it's in, I'm glad to see someone using the force of pneumatics on prefabricated loading systems. it seams like this approach has been underused and underrated for two long

[PVC Arsenal 17]

Well it doesn't look like I'll be presenting anything anytime soon. I just poured the last of my money into trials bike parts. Maybe I'll have something to show by the beginning of summer. It's a shame, because I really just need two components to complete my gun and the rest is a matter of finding time to assemble everything. I have time, but not money.

[iknowmy3tables]

crap, what do you need to finish?

well guys we're gonna need a plan B if we can't get enough submissions. I've got two possible directions for Plan B on my mind, tell me if you got any other ideas:
1) roll call on who has something prepared something, then extend the deadline if we don't have more than X amount
2) keep the contest open for submissions until we have obtained at least an X number of submissions