21 replies to this topic

[vicious foam]

Ok, well I don't use stephans because, when i did, my friends complained they hurt to much.
So I only use stock darts, usualy streamlines.
I've searched all over NHQ, NH, and pretty much the entire online nerf community for the BEST size and type of barrel for streamlines, but I can not find a good answer!

So I've tried 9/16 brass, for some reason that doesn't work. It seems too loose but I'm not sure.
I've tried 1/2 CPVC. Too small.
The guy at the ace store said PETG was really expensive and i don't want to order it off of Nerf Haven.

So what should I try next?

I was thinking 16/32 would be good, but im not sure.

[death by cheez]

16/32=1/2 inch, so try 17/32. However, most barreling materials are not suited for stock darts they are more suited to stefans. Still, PETG is a lot cheaper than brass if you get it off the haven, it's 50 cents for 1 foot.

PS tell your friends to be men! They only really hurt at point blank and out of extremely high-powered blasters such as the titan. Most of the time they just seem like a little tap.

Edited by death by cheez, 25 February 2010 - 08:15 PM.

[wasdf]

As death by cheez said, PETG is still cheaper than brass. I've heard PETCO sells PETG, but I'm not totally sure that's true (someone confirm that for me). Of course, stefans shouldn't hurt that much unless they're shot out of some ridiculously high powered blaster or if you've done some horrendous modification to them for the exact purpose of inducing pain. Under most circumstances they don't hurt much more than regular darts. I do agree that telling your friends to man it up a bit would be a better solution than to go waste money on barrel material.

[Daniel Beaver]

17/32 brass will give you a snug fit, and is what I use. CPVC also works, but it's inner diameter is inconsistent. PETG's inner diameter is too large to be useful for springer, but works well with streamlines in airguns.

There is a high degree of variability in the diameter of stock darts, so your mileage may vary. I find that Buzz Bee darts tend to be more consistent, and more well constructed than Nerf brand darts.

Edited by Daniel Beaver, 25 February 2010 - 09:50 PM.

[Airsoftguy777]

I find that Buzz Bee darts tend to be more consistent, and more well constructed than Nerf brand darts.

And the fact that Buzzbee weights there darts with plastic.

[flipoffacliff]

For cpvc if the fit is too tight, stick a pair of scissors in there and shave the inner diameter down until your darts fit. Hope this helps.

[vicious foam]

16/32=1/2 inch, so try 17/32. However, most barreling materials are not suited for stock darts they are more suited to stefans. Still, PETG is a lot cheaper than brass if you get it off the haven, it's 50 cents for 1 foot.

PS tell your friends to be men! They only really hurt at point blank and out of extremely high-powered blasters such as the titan. Most of the time they just seem like a little tap.

Yeah, i was thinking about that last night, then i realized it was 17/32. For future projects, I'll probably go petg.
already started my super secret (not really) project with brass. I do have a friend who works at Lows, he might be able to get me some cheap brass. I'll see. We play shirts VS skins, and im good at chest shots.

17/32 brass will give you a snug fit, and is what I use. CPVC also works, but it's inner diameter is inconsistent. PETG's inner diameter is too large to be useful for springer, but works well with streamlines in airguns.

There is a high degree of variability in the diameter of stock darts, so your mileage may vary. I find that Buzz Bee darts tend to be more consistent, and more well constructed than Nerf brand darts.

Thanks that is all very helpful.

For cpvc if the fit is too tight, stick a pair of scissors in there and shave the inner diameter down until your darts fit. Hope this helps.

Wouldn't that make it to rough for the dart to slide easily?

[BritNerfMogul]

Butyrate.

It's a great fit for stock darts. You can order it off McMaster Carr.

[HOTH]

Butyrate.

It's a great fit for stock darts. You can order it off McMaster Carr.

Agreed. Great barrel material for stock darts.

[Daniel Beaver]

For future projects, I'll probably go petg.

I want to reiterate: PETG is good for streamlines in airguns. It is a very bad choice if you are using stock darts with springers.

[vicious foam]

Butyrate.

It's a great fit for stock darts. You can order it off McMaster Carr.

Agreed. Great barrel material for stock darts.

Butyrate? I've never even heard of that. Someone please elaborate.

For future projects, I'll probably go petg.

I want to reiterate: PETG is good for streamlines in airguns. It is a very bad choice if you are using stock darts with springers.

Good timing, I was just about to drive to the local pet store to get some.

[wingd man]

My Petco just sells 1" PETG, so that may be your case, however, 1/2" PETG is an absotively amazing stock dart fit for Air guns. Keep in mind that, for some springers, like the Nitefinder, a very tight barrel fit can be extremely effective.

Edited by wing'd man, 26 February 2010 - 06:23 PM.

[Daniel Beaver]

I want to reiterate: PETG is good for streamlines in airguns. It is a very bad choice if you are using stock darts with springers.

Good timing, I was just about to drive to the local pet store to get some.

Sheesh, not all PETG is exactly the same. It can be made in quite literally any size at all.
Your local pet store probably carries Lee's brand, in 30" lengths. Their 9/16th thinwall is actually a decent fit for stock darts. If you have that option, you'll learn more by trying it, rather than just believing random misguided advice from the internet.

I had assumed he was talking about OMC's stuff. I recognize that PETG tubing varies widely, which is why I specifically warned him that he would find significant variation in stuff on the internet.

That said, you're right about trying stuff out first. Bring a bit of foam with you to the store and start sticking it into potential barrel material to see how well it fits.

[moosa]

Could I add a relevant question of my own? I'm curious what barrel size/material would be good for stock tagger darts (as in the whole dart in the barrel). Either for air guns or springers. Might anyone know?

[crazeelax608]

Could I add a relevant question of my own? I'm curious what barrel size/material would be good for stock tagger darts (as in the whole dart in the barrel). Either for air guns or springers. Might anyone know?

Depends on the gun. If you're using a decently powerful air gun (Titan, airtechs, any squirt gun) then some sch40 1/2" PVC works very well (and it's basically your only option). However, BE CAREFUL using this. PVC varies EXTREMELY slightly in diameter, so it may say sch40 PVC but the inner diameter may be too wide or too small for your darts. I recommend you take a dart or two to the hardware store and test out their PVC. It should be a loose fit, but it should not be able to easily slide through without some extra force (your lungs), otherwise the dart will rattle around in the barrel, creating friction and a bad shot. Basically, you're looking for loose but not too loose.

If it's a spring gun, I wouldn't recommend using a material that allows your whole dart in the barrel. Springers simply dont produce enough power, unless it's a crossbow you're using. However, if you absolutely NEED a material like this for some reason, 1/2" PVC, again, is pretty much your only option.

[KaneTheMediocre]

Could I add a relevant question of my own? I'm curious what barrel size/material would be good for stock tagger darts (as in the whole dart in the barrel). Either for air guns or springers. Might anyone know?

Depends on the gun. If you're using a decently powerful air gun (Titan, airtechs, any squirt gun) then some sch40 1/2" PVC works very well (and it's basically your only option). However, BE CAREFUL using this. PVC varies EXTREMELY slightly in diameter, so it may say sch40 PVC but the inner diameter may be too wide or too small for your darts. I recommend you take a dart or two to the hardware store and test out their PVC. It should be a loose fit, but it should not be able to easily slide through without some extra force (your lungs), otherwise the dart will rattle around in the barrel, creating friction and a bad shot. Basically, you're looking for loose but not too loose.

If it's a spring gun, I wouldn't recommend using a material that allows your whole dart in the barrel. Springers simply dont produce enough power, unless it's a crossbow you're using. However, if you absolutely NEED a material like this for some reason, 1/2" PVC, again, is pretty much your only option.

1/2" EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing, it's made of steel) is a slightly looser fit on average than 1/2" PVC, and will fire out of air guns more reliably than 1/2" PVC. The tolerances are much tighter, and you won't ever get a "bad" piece--every one will fit darts the same way. Most taggers will slide down it merely dropped, which can be a disadvantage, but it will vacuum load VERY well. Also, the barrel will stay straight no matter how long you make it. Home depot, for example, sells the stuff for $1.35 per 10 ft, so 13.5 cents per foot is even cheaper than pvc. Thinwall PVC will also nest outside it, which is handy for breeches and connecting to PVC couplers. Plus the OD is about right for most rocket/arrow ammo.

[billyblue888]

1/2" EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing, it's made of steel) is a slightly looser fit on average than 1/2" PVC, and will fire out of air guns more reliably than 1/2" PVC. The tolerances are much tighter, and you won't ever get a "bad" piece--every one will fit darts the same way. Most taggers will slide down it merely dropped, which can be a disadvantage, but it will vacuum load VERY well. Also, the barrel will stay straight no matter how long you make it. Home depot, for example, sells the stuff for $1.35 per 10 ft, so 13.5 cents per foot is even cheaper than pvc. Thinwall PVC will also nest outside it, which is handy for breeches and connecting to PVC couplers. Plus the OD is about right for most rocket/arrow ammo.
[/quote]
Wouldn't that stuff way a lot especially with a longer barrel

[BritNerfMogul]

Butyrate.

It's a great fit for stock darts. You can order it off McMaster Carr.

Agreed. Great barrel material for stock darts.

Butyrate? I've never even heard of that. Someone please elaborate.

Ask Draconis. He gave me some awhile ago, and it's been great for both airguns and springers because of the fit for darts. You do need ramrod, but it's perfect.

[KaneTheMediocre]

[quote name='billyblue888' date='Feb 27 2010, 06:51 AM' post='267186']
1/2" EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing, it's made of steel) is a slightly looser fit on average than 1/2" PVC, and will fire out of air guns more reliably than 1/2" PVC. The tolerances are much tighter, and you won't ever get a "bad" piece--every one will fit darts the same way. Most taggers will slide down it merely dropped, which can be a disadvantage, but it will vacuum load VERY well. Also, the barrel will stay straight no matter how long you make it. Home depot, for example, sells the stuff for $1.35 per 10 ft, so 13.5 cents per foot is even cheaper than pvc. Thinwall PVC will also nest outside it, which is handy for breeches and connecting to PVC couplers. Plus the OD is about right for most rocket/arrow ammo.
[/quote]
Wouldn't that stuff way a lot especially with a longer barrel
[/quote]

Not really. The walls are about 1/32" thick.

[Hi Yah]

CPVC drilled out with a 1/2" drill bit.

[moosa]

CPVC drilled out with a 1/2" drill bit.

For what exactly?

[vicious foam]

Ok went to Sullivans Hardware in Cicero Indiana yesterday and found 17/32 brass. Its a great fit for stock darts.
I finished my 2 mods I was working on (wright ups soon if you guys are interested in a singled brass barrel DTB
that hits (guestemated) 70+ feet, or a singled longshot that gets great ranges and is desined for stock darts)
and they work GREAT. They are the best nerf guns I own now. Just need to glue some suff in to keep the barrel straight. Thanks for all the help.