21 replies to this topic

[Xhosant]

It's generally accepted that nerf arms have such a bad accuracy that we don't even use the word 'grouping' (do we?) to describe it. That is because mechanisms and ammo are too full of subtle imperfections keeping the shots from being anywhere near identical.

So, I've been thinking: what if we had a way to average out those imperfections, could we get more accurate shots?

I am thinking, for example, 3 barrels shooting at the same time, with 3 darts tethered to each other. Could it be that, as one dart veers off left and another right, they would end up forced to follow their average trajectory, which would be closer to straight ahead?

[Daniel Beaver]

I actually find that well-made darts can be quite accurate, accurate enough to consistently hit a small post from 50-ish feet away if I put some thought into aiming.

 

I am thinking, for example, 3 barrels shooting at the same time

You'll see this occasionally at wars, and it's fairly effective and difficult for your opponent to avoid. Another concept is "shotgunning", where you load several darts into the same barrel, and shoot them all at once. This gives you a spread of darts - exactly how much of a spread depends on the peculiarities of your setup, and the quality of your darts.

No idea how tethering your darts would work out, but it would probably be fairly straight-forward to glue some twine to the heads of several darts and stuff them all into the same barrel. I think they would end up tumbling through the air, though.

Edited by Daniel Beaver, 23 November 2017 - 09:44 AM.

[Xhosant]

No idea how tethering your darts would work out, but it would probably be fairly straight-forward to glue some twine to the heads of several darts and stuff them all into the same barrel. I think they would end up tumbling through the air, though.

 

And that is exactly why it needs to be 3 parallel barrels, they need to drag their peers back on course, not into a backflip I suppose if there's a mod out there to make the Triad into a shotgun, that's the easiest way to test, but I don't own a triad or know of that mod...

[ToadBrews]

It's incredibly easy to make a triad (or any smart AR blaster) a shotgun. Remove the smart AR. done.

 

It shoots about 5-10 feet, but it's a shotgun!

[Xhosant]

Neat! Now we need a volunteer with a modded triad to measure the effect of tethering...

[Meaker VI]

 
And that is exactly why it needs to be 3 parallel barrels, they need to drag their peers back on course, not into a backflip

You problem isnt just parallel, its also that each dart is likely to recieve more/less of the air pressure than the others and start a tumble that way, or one have more drag and start to tumble that way, or etc etc.

Really, to get a better average hit your best bet is to fire shotgun rounds with known-decent darts. Your next best is to spend hours researching all the tried & tested & theoretical means for improving dart accuracy and do the best you can to improve your blasters accuracy.

[Xhosant]

Isn't that what we're doing, emphasis on 'theoretical' this time around?

But you have a solid point on air distribution. It will have to be custom-made, with the 3 paths mirrored. So much for the easy way through.

[meow121325]

use the sledge fire the shell has enough space at the top to allow a string to pass to each dart you see

Edited by meow121325, 16 February 2018 - 02:44 PM.

[Xhosant]

Anyone here have one to try it out?

[meow121325]

Anyone here have one to try it out?

yes I have one and ill try it out as soon as I can

[Xhosant]

Awesome! Here I was, having written off the experiment, and you're making it happen! Thanks, bud!

[meow121325]

Awesome! Here I was, having written off the experiment, and you're making it happen! Thanks, bud!

your welcome and it's YOU who is making it happen by coming up with the idea of it

[meow121325]

though I do have a question how do I set this up?

[Xhosant]

Hmm, let's see. First, we need the bullet. Get each of the three shots' tips tied to a thin thread, and to a shared knot, like, 2 or 3 cm of thread between the center knot and each tip. Key here is that the string length is as identical as possible for each of the shots: you need perfect 3-side symmetry.

On the actual test, there's two ways about it. One is to set a camera, shoot at a wall several times (some vanilla, some with the tied shot) from behind the camera, send me the video and I'll do the math. Option two, dip the tips in ink, use a white surface, take photos of it after each shot, clean it, repeat, send me the pics and I do the math. Option 3, pick a target, try it several times stringed and not,check what feels better

[meow121325]

Hmm, let's see. First, we need the bullet. Get each of the three shots' tips tied to a thin thread, and to a shared knot, like, 2 or 3 cm of thread between the center knot and each tip. Key here is that the string length is as identical as possible for each of the shots: you need perfect 3-side symmetry.

On the actual test, there's two ways about it. One is to set a camera, shoot at a wall several times (some vanilla, some with the tied shot) from behind the camera, send me the video and I'll do the math. Option two, dip the tips in ink, use a white surface, take photos of it after each shot, clean it, repeat, send me the pics and I do the math. Option 3, pick a target, try it several times stringed and not,check what feels better

thnx

[meow121325]

another question what do I use as ink for the darts

[Xhosant]

Not sure, but between chalk dust, stamp ink pads, or bottled ink it should work. Food coloring might do, even!

[meow121325]

Not sure, but between chalk dust, stamp ink pads, or bottled ink it should work. Food coloring might do, even!

ok cool

[Xhosant]

Oh crap, I forgot! It is crucial that the blaster's position is as identical compared to the paper between shots as possible! That means you want the target always in the same spot, and the blaster either placed against a marked bit of a furniture or even caught in a vice if you have one. Otherwise, I can't tell how much of the result is inconsistent shooting and how much is our trick.

[meow121325]

Oh crap, I forgot! It is crucial that the blaster's position is as identical compared to the paper between shots as possible! That means you want the target always in the same spot, and the blaster either placed against a marked bit of a furniture or even caught in a vice if you have one. Otherwise, I can't tell how much of the result is inconsistent shooting and how much is our trick.

thanks and also I have made a slug for the Sledge fire the string is threaded though the 3 darts and then tightly knotted the string so the darts were really close the range on the slug is better than stock and I plan on improving the seal and spring for the blaster 

[Xhosant]

That is because you effectively made a bigger shot for a bigger blaster, which is quite cool

But the test needs the darts loosely connected. We need them each to be free to fly badly individually, so that these tendencies can be combined into a hopefully perfect average.

[meow121325]

But the test needs the darts loosely connected. We need them each to be free to fly badly individually, so that these tendencies can be combined into a hopefully perfect average.

that is what I plan on doing next