27 replies to this topic

[KingCosmo7]

I know there are different ways to make stefans but in my opinion length is the key factor in how far it will go.

[bpso86]

Inch and a half.

Longer=more friction=less power. Plus, I don't use a longshot or recon so I dont need long darts for the clips.

[AJZ]

I have both 2" and 1.5" lengths and it seems that the grey (1.5") stefans work better than my red (2") stefans in pistols, smaller guns, etc. Both seem to work fine in my longshot and BBB.

Smaller darts = pistols and pretty much anything

Larger = more powerful, not so well in pistols

Edited by AJ.Z, 08 August 2008 - 11:00 PM.

[KingCosmo7]

Inch and a half.

Longer=more friction=less power. Plus, I don't use a longshot or recon so I dont need long darts for the clips.

But shorter = less air resistance = faster deceleration

[baghead]

I've become accustomed to making 1 3/4 inch stefs. when mixed with my group's method of letting darts dry they're the perfect dart size, nice balance, and top range and accuracy.

[doubleshot]

I just kinda cut em to a length that looks decent. I don't really get all scientific like these cats above me here. At apoc the only difference different stefans made was because they were either the right diameter for my barrel, or they weren't. I didn't really see any variance in distance or accuracy as far as length goes.

Edited by doubleshot, 09 August 2008 - 01:03 AM.

[Tornado13]

Personaly I use 1.5 inch stefans because they work good in all guns. At least for me they do. Also with my Longshot my stefans are short enough for shotgunning.

Sidenote: Yay first post! (After 1 and a half months of waiting for approval)

[perezinthenet]

So far I've only used 1.5 inch stefans and they work great so I'm sticking with them

[TED]

You're talking about a difference of .5-1". You're results with any dart between 1.5" and 2" really won't be any different.

[CrazyIvan VI]

Inch and a half.

Longer=more friction=less power. Plus, I don't use a longshot or recon so I dont need long darts for the clips.

But shorter = less air resistance = faster deceleration

I'm sorry, it might be because I'm really tired. But shouldn't that say,

Shorter = Less Air Resistance = SLOWER deceleration?

And Longer =/= less power.

Depending on the air output of your gun, wouldn't a longer stefan creating more friction allow you to have a shorter barrel?

[Split]

Yeah, cosmo messed that up, he meant more air-resistance. Not that either bpso's or his statements are true.

The weights matching the power of the gun has always determined distance for me, and the weights being on center or not has always determined accuracy. I generally use 1.75", partly because from a 100' roll it gives me 85 more stefans, but mostly because 1.5" is too short. 2" stefans work very well though, and I do like round numbers if I'm fabbing up a breech or something.

It's all about practicality. Range and accuracy won't be affected by the length. The amount of jams in a deodorant clip, for example, will be.

[trogdor65]

Well I use 4 cm (1.6 in.) long stefans, the metric system just makes more sense to me.

[Cmdrmack]

I go with 2.25 in. That's a little shorter than a stock dart, but still long enough for a CS-6 magazine.

[Shadowblade]

I'm actually experimenting with .75" to 1" stefans right now. I'm loading 3-4 of them into my converted watergun barrel and using it as a shotgun. 2 or 3 of those short stefans also fits into my modded NF, thus converting it into a mini shotgun.

[Lt Stefan]

1 3/4" It makes them an ok size while they remain accurate and not too small.

[Salmon]

When I was a noob I used to make like 3-inch-long stefans. It's not a good idea.
But anyways, I say 1 1/2", or at least cut your blanks that long. I make Sluggy-style darts, and they come out ~1 3/4" long fully tipped. They have yet to fail me(besides having a minor range decrease from traditionally made stefans, but the time it takes to make them makes up for that.)

[Forsaken angel24]

I personally keep them in between 1.25"-1.5".

Not only do I find they are more accurate, but they are less likely to bend in a pocket, pouch or however else you carry them during a war. This length works best in my barrels. I use OMC's petg and 9/16" brass.

[imaseoulman]

Of all the factors that affect the range of your NERF blaster, 1/2" difference in dart length isn't very significant (two inches, however, is very significant). For my air guns I use 1/2 length Converted Tagger Darts weighted with 1/4" steel slingshot ammo in CPVC. I just cut the tagger dart in half, and I think that is about 1.25". I have yet to find any other dart/barrel combination that achieves the same range in high powerd guns.

So to sum it up, about 1.25" (with 1/4" variation).

[bpso86]

And Longer =/= less power.

Depending on the air output of your gun, wouldn't a longer stefan creating more friction allow you to have a shorter barrel?

I was simply saying that in the SAME GUN with the SAME BARREL, the shorter stefan will pack more punch and be able to shoot farther simply because it has less material contacting the barrel walls. This is why long stefans don't work in guns with meager air outputs (pistols, etc.), but with high powered guns the length doesn't make a big difference.

Obviously, though, the difference is miniscule, if you have something like a big blast and are trying to decide between 1.5" and 2" stefans. I always go smaller because it allows me to use smaller weights, get more darts out of my foam and overall they're cheaper because of this.

[Lynx]

I made a mini batch of stefans of foam that I found in the park in Columbus (white fbr in the middle of a field).

With a crossfire, BBB and a 2k, the best length is 1.5+a little.

It is better to over estimate than under. anything longer than 2 gets to big and anything shorter than 1.5 is just too short for good aerodynamics (shooting a rock instead of a dart).

Basically, do what your guns perform best with.

I might make a batch with smaller weights for pistols and one for primaries.

Man I can't wait until my McMaster order comes in.

[KingCosmo7]

Inch and a half.

Longer=more friction=less power. Plus, I don't use a longshot or recon so I dont need long darts for the clips.

But shorter = less air resistance = faster deceleration

I'm sorry, it might be because I'm really tired. But shouldn't that say,

Shorter = Less Air Resistance = SLOWER deceleration?

And Longer =/= less power.

Depending on the air output of your gun, wouldn't a longer stefan creating more friction allow you to have a shorter barrel?

my bad. i meant like how you can through a base ball further than a wuffle ball since it is more heavier and can bust through the air better.

[Aimless]

From my experience, 1.5" darts work the best. I find that my blasters can shoot 1" darts much faster but they go all over the place, 2" darts fly true but the FPS is so low that mortar shots are the necessary for any range. The insanely tight CPVC (.468") I use needs darts that are as short as practically possible.

[halfway33]

I personally keep them in between 1.25"-1.5".

Not only do I find they are more accurate, but they are less likely to bend in a pocket, pouch or however else you carry them during a war. This length works best in my barrels. I use OMC's petg and 9/16" brass.

listen to angel...... I mean.... its angel. 1.55 to 1.6 inch for me. More darts for less cash.

[Blue]

I personally keep them in between 1.25"-1.5".

Not only do I find they are more accurate, but they are less likely to bend in a pocket, pouch or however else you carry them during a war. This length works best in my barrels. I use OMC's petg and 9/16" brass.

listen to angel...... I mean.... its angel. 1.55 to 1.6 inch for me. More darts for less cash.

You necroed a dead topic. Which is bad. Anyways, since this thread is back, 1.5 inch.

[halfway33]

I personally keep them in between 1.25"-1.5".

Not only do I find they are more accurate, but they are less likely to bend in a pocket, pouch or however else you carry them during a war. This length works best in my barrels. I use OMC's petg and 9/16" brass.

listen to angel...... I mean.... its angel. 1.55 to 1.6 inch for me. More darts for less cash.

You necroed a dead topic. Which is bad. Anyways, since this thread is back, 1.5 inch.

I'm new here. is that bad?