603 replies to this topic

[nerfboi]

2'', for me at least. I just went outside and tested a batch of darts, be sure you glue the weight down, to prevent it from moving inside the dart. If you don't they will fly in circles, killing accuracy out of a high power blaster.

Ok, then I've been making them the right lenght. Also, what do you use to weight it with?

[Galaxy613]

1/4th inch/6mm slingshot ammo and/or 3/0 lead fishing weights are commonly used.

Edited by Galaxy613, 28 May 2008 - 11:17 PM.

[Blacksunshine]

2'', for me at least. I just went outside and tested a batch of darts, be sure you glue the weight down, to prevent it from moving inside the dart. If you don't they will fly in circles, killing accuracy out of a high power blaster.

Ok, then I've been making them the right lenght. Also, what do you use to weight it with?

I use BB split shot. (not BB's)

Edited by Blacksunshine, 29 May 2008 - 01:47 AM.

[PC III]

2'', for me at least. I just went outside and tested a batch of darts, be sure you glue the weight down, to prevent it from moving inside the dart. If you don't they will fly in circles, killing accuracy out of a high power blaster.

Ok, then I've been making them the right lenght. Also, what do you use to weight it with?

I use BB split shot. (not BB's)

1/2'' slingshot weights. Also krazy glue does not work for fixing tears in darts.

Edit: 1/4''

Edited by P.C. III, 30 May 2008 - 11:53 PM.

[Galaxy613]

Frankly I don't think there really IS any way of fixing tears...

[PC III]

Frankly I don't think there really IS any way of fixing tears...

Hotglue holds for about 1 shot.

[Vishamon]

Instead of making PVC holders for your Stefans while you are gluing them, I recommend using the stock turret/clip from a nerf gun you have re-barreled. I use the stock barrel assembly from the clip in my Photon Blast Power Burst (I replaced the barrels inside the clip with CPVC) or whatever it's called. This holds eight blanks, and the spacing between them is perfect.

Edited by Vishamon, 02 June 2008 - 08:37 PM.

[venom213]

Instead of making PVC holders for your Stefans while you are gluing them, I recommend using the stock turret/clip from a nerf gun you have re-barreled. I use the stock barrel assembly from the clip in my Photon Blast Power Burst (I replaced the barrels inside the clip with CPVC) or whatever it's called. This holds eight blanks, and the spacing between them is perfect.

I do that with my CPVCed MS clips.

Another note about stefans is that I highly recommend using an ice cube/ice water+your finger to form the tip of your stefans. Unless the hot glue is the right temperature to melt into the foam and form a perfect dome, this method is highly effective.

[A side of nerf]

The nerfing group I play with doesn't allow stefans or CDTS's because of mostly pain factors. Recently I have found a way around this. I make CDTS's but attach some sort of foam on the end, (pipe insulation, or foam backer rod). The foam should be the size of a streamline head. This way it can fire in the longshot and recon. I will edit pictures in later.
-A side of nerf

Edited by A side of nerf, 02 June 2008 - 11:18 PM.

[NerfCrazy]

I use a tommy 20 turret to hold my stefans when I make them.

[ejrasmussen]

mega stefans require more weight than 1/4 slingshot ammo ,i use .30 slingshot ammo

[Split]

What glue are you using to put them in? Hot glue? Zap-a-gap? Liquid nails...?

I'm using hot glue. It's only on top of the weight.

I've got an idea I'm going to try out once my FBR comes in the mail, but until then, do you guys have any suggestions? The tips are still ripping out, and I've gone through about 40 darts.

[sam]

Burn a hole for the weight in your foam, then add glue, then add the weight, then more glue on top.

[Split]

Alright. Same gun, same problem. I will try that sam, thanks.

Another question:
A long range gun, what's better: Micros or Nanos. I love the idea of being able to have a 20 round nano clip, but if it sacrifices something (it explodes every time, range drops [doubt it], accuracy dies [important]) I'm not sure I want one. Maybe an on the fly converter..

[Kash munni]

Here's something a little different. I decided I didn't want to buy anything to make stefans, since my dad can get FBR for free from his work.

So I bored out a hole with a small screw driver then made it bigger with a big screwdriver. Now here's where it gets different. I insert into the big hole... .22lr brass shells! I go to the range alot to shoot, and I end up with TONS of shells from my ruger 10/22. They drop in nicely, and after that it's just a dome of hot glue. I am not sure how much they weigh, but I have a CPVC 8 inch barrelled BBB and a home-made hand pump mine air gun that I will be using them for. I made a couple test darts this way and fired them. It is 70 feet (measured)from my back porch to my fence, and when fired from the back porch they hit usually just below the half-way mark on the fence. I would estimate 80-90 feet with more space. I'll of course test them when I make some more darts.

So there's something productive to do with all of those stupid .22lr shells that you can't reload. Hope this helps someone!

[Split]

Here's something a little different. I decided I didn't want to buy anything to make stefans, since my dad can get FBR for free from his work.

So I bored out a hole with a small screw driver then made it bigger with a big screwdriver. Now here's where it gets different. I insert into the big hole... .22lr brass shells! I go to the range alot to shoot, and I end up with TONS of shells from my ruger 10/22. They drop in nicely, and after that it's just a dome of hot glue. I am not sure how much they weigh, but I have a CPVC 8 inch barrelled BBB and a home-made hand pump mine air gun that I will be using them for. I made a couple test darts this way and fired them. It is 70 feet (measured)from my back porch to my fence, and when fired from the back porch they hit usually just below the half-way mark on the fence. I would estimate 80-90 feet with more space. I'll of course test them when I make some more darts.

So there's something productive to do with all of those stupid .22lr shells that you can't reload. Hope this helps someone!

.. Or just recycle them for plenty of money to buy weights and hot glue. What's even holding them in?

[Kash munni]

Here's something a little different. I decided I didn't want to buy anything to make stefans, since my dad can get FBR for free from his work.

So I bored out a hole with a small screw driver then made it bigger with a big screwdriver. Now here's where it gets different. I insert into the big hole... .22lr brass shells! I go to the range alot to shoot, and I end up with TONS of shells from my ruger 10/22. They drop in nicely, and after that it's just a dome of hot glue. I am not sure how much they weigh, but I have a CPVC 8 inch barrelled BBB and a home-made hand pump mine air gun that I will be using them for. I made a couple test darts this way and fired them. It is 70 feet (measured)from my back porch to my fence, and when fired from the back porch they hit usually just below the half-way mark on the fence. I would estimate 80-90 feet with more space. I'll of course test them when I make some more darts.

So there's something productive to do with all of those stupid .22lr shells that you can't reload. Hope this helps someone!

.. Or just recycle them for plenty of money to buy weights and hot glue. What's even holding them in?

Having a little trouble reading there?

and after that it's just a dome of hot glue.

[PC III]

You should glue them in from the bottom as well.

[Blacksunshine]

Yeah with the hole you make thru the dart I'm seeing the tips w/shell flying out of the fbr pretty easily.
Try shooting one out of a BBBB 12-15 pumps and let us kow how well they hold up.

[Kash munni]

Yeah with the hole you make thru the dart I'm seeing the tips w/shell flying out of the fbr pretty easily.
Try shooting one out of a BBBB 12-15 pumps and let us kow how well they hold up.

I don't have a Big blast, just a big bad bow. I Just fired a couple in my house and they both hit solid walls from about 15 feet and they're fine. I also fired the first "test dart" at least 20 times and it either my fence or the low wall on my back porch every time. It is still fine and in my dart bag. I'll get one and fire it againts a hard surface from point blank and see how many shots it takes to screw it up.

EDIT: It took 8 shots point blank against a wooden bed post with my modded BBB to break a dart. The shell didn't fly out or anything though, it was just the dome of hot glue that peeled off.

Edited by Kash munni, 09 June 2008 - 10:14 AM.

[Blacksunshine]

Yeah with the hole you make thru the dart I'm seeing the tips w/shell flying out of the fbr pretty easily.
Try shooting one out of a BBBB 12-15 pumps and let us know how well they hold up.

I don't have a Big blast, just a big bad bow. I Just fired a couple in my house and they both hit solid walls from about 15 feet and they're fine. I also fired the first "test dart" at least 20 times and it either my fence or the low wall on my back porch every time. It is still fine and in my dart bag. I'll get one and fire it againts a hard surface from point blank and see how many shots it takes to screw it up.

EDIT: It took 8 shots point blank against a wooden bed post with my modded BBB to break a dart. The shell didn't fly out or anything though, it was just the dome of hot glue that peeled off.

Well if they don't fall apart then maybe they will work out just fine. Good find.

[Mr Tubb]

I know this probably won't help very many people, but here (click) is the instructional video for my 'stefans.' As far as I know, they only work in blowguns (my primary.) However, you might be able to get them to work in a long barreled 'air gun.' One of the nice things about these darts, aside from typical 'stefan' advantages (inexpensive, etc), being used in blowguns is their ability to clean all of the spittle out of the barrel, meaning little or none of it will strike the target.

Edited by Mr. Tubb, 22 July 2008 - 04:13 PM.

[Split]

I know this probably won't help very many people, but here (click) is the instructional video for my 'stefans.' As far as I know, they only work in blowguns (my primary.) However, you might be able to get them to work in a long barreled 'air gun.' One of the nice things about these darts, aside from typical 'stefan' advantages (inexpensive, etc), being used in blowguns is their ability to clean all of the spittle out of the barrel, meaning little or none of it will strike the target.

Interesting. Much more time/energy consuming than stefans I think. What is non-liquid glue though? A gas?

A long range gun, what's better: Micros or Nanos. I love the idea of being able to have a 20 round nano clip, but if it sacrifices something (it explodes every time, range drops [doubt it], accuracy dies [important]) I'm not sure I want one. Maybe an on the fly converter..

Does anyone know the answer to this one? I'm still undecided, and it would change my clip capacity from 25 to about 32, which would be nice.

[Blacksunshine]

split. Id say micros are going to be your best medium. Although nanos will fly further, you sacrifice accuracy because they are lighter and more likely to be taken by wind and whatnot.

[Mr Tubb]

Interesting. Much more time/energy consuming than stefans I think. What is non-liquid glue though? A gas?

Well, I don't have access to the materials used to make a BB-hot glue domed type stefan. And, I can get everything I need for my darts, aside from the felt squares and foam, from my local dollar store. And by non-liquid glue I just meant a glue that wouldn't run or drip. And these really don't take that long to make (~1 minute plus drying time each.)

Edited by Mr. Tubb, 22 July 2008 - 09:45 PM.