Nerf
This article is about the Parker Brothers toy. The term nerf is also used to refer to a nerf bar on a truck or SUV.Originally introduced by
Parker Brothers in
1969 as an indoor-safe ball created by
Reynolds Guyer,
Nerf, or Non-Expanding Recreational Foam, was an instant success. Sales of the balls mounted to four million in the year of their inception. Later, the range of Nerf products expanded through the
Super Soaker company to include
mock weapons that fired Nerf ammunition, such as rifles and pistols.
Some enthusiasts have made their own blasters predominantly out of
PVC and / or brass tubing. An example of this can be seen in the Fast Action Rifle, or
FAR, designed and made by Evan Neblett, known as
boltsniper of the NIC (Nerf Internet Community). Boltsniper is the leader as far as more complex homemades go (see e.g. his
latest rifle). However, Nerf homemades can also be
very simple, comprised of only a ball valve and some PVC. Then there are those in between boltsniper's rifles, and the simplistic guns like cxwq's
BAMF, or Carbon's
SNAP.
A type of inexpensive homemade dart called the
Stefan Dart was developed by
Stefan Mohr in 1995. Materials to create these darts include
foam backer rod (also known as
caulk saver or, less formally, "FBR"); fishing weights, 1/4" slingshot ammo, BBs or similar and hot glue. An instrument, usually the tip of a hot glue gun, a
soldering iron or a
drill, is also used to create a hole in the back of the dart (similar to
minié balls). This hole allows air to build up in the pocket and give it more power, while also flexing the foam at the "rim" of the hole and pushing it against the barrel walls. This makes a better seal with the barrel, therefore making sure all of the air is used from the blaster. This type of dart is more aerodynamic than standard Nerf suction cups darts, so it travels farther and straighter. Stefans are inexpensive, costing about $0.03 each in materials, compared to Nerf darts which can be anywhere from $0.25 to $0.50 per dart. The sizes of
Stefan Dart generally made are mega (5/8 inch), micro (1/2 inch) and nano (3/8 inch). The nano dart is generally ballistically superior due to less air resistance and mass.A newer model Stefan is the Matchstick Stefan, madewith Plasti-Dip. Plasti-Dip is a liquid that hardens into a rubber subtance, used to coat the handles of tools. It is applied to the tip of each one to increase durability. The name is given "Matchstick" because of its appearance and the creator's surname.
Fall 2006 weapons
The Nerf Dart Tag Magstrike and Longshot CS-6.
The Dart Tag Magstrike is a machine gun of sorts, using a pump action to fill an air bladder stored in its stock. It has 2 removable clips that hold 10darts each. It is expected to be a newer edition of the already powerful Powerclip. This gun is part of the Dart Tag line and will be available in red and blue.It will include one pair of protective glasses and one Dart Tag vest. You have to pump it 22 to 32 times to fire a clip.
The Longshot CS-6 is a rifle that uses a clip system with new "streamline" ammo.This new ammo lacks a rubber collar on the tip of the dart, a feature of past darts which tended to get stuck in the clip or barrel. It is not Stefan compatible out of the box. Hasbro's initial claims that the Longshot was equipped with a functional scope have been found to be incorrect; the lenses of the Longshot's scope have no perceivable magnification properties. Hasbro's claim of a working scope refers to fact that the scope is removable so you can put it on any gun with the appropriate sliding rail size. The front of the main gun has a folding bipod for more accuracy. The front 12 inches (approximately) of the gun is a removable pistol. The extending stock has a switch to lock it in the extended or nonextended position, and holds a spare clip. This weapon is part of the N-Strike line.
As of now the Longshot CS-6 is known to be available in Wal-marts and Targets on the west coast and is available on kidsurplus.com[
1] , The Magstrike is available online and some stores around the US. They sell for $30-35.
Separate groups of 'Nerfers' tend to discover the ability to modify Nerf guns for increased performance. These people find a community on the Internet, sharing tips and ideas for modifications. There are several primary modifications that are done to Nerf blasters. These include: barrel replacement, disabling over-pressure release valves, air-restrictor removal, and rubber banding or spring replacement.
One of the more common modifications is to replace the barrel for improved accuracy, efficiency, and range. The material the barrel is replaced with will create a perfect seal with the dart. Progressive barreling uses tighter seal at the back than the front so that more pressure is able to build behind the dart before release. The only problem with this type of modification is that it tends to increase reload time because the dart must be placed into the tighter barrel which is more difficult and slows one down during the heat of battle. This progressive barreling practice is also referred to as "nesting". The most common barreling material for progressive barrels is brass which is found at hobby shops and typically used with diameters of 9/16" for the main barrel and 17/32" for the tighter barrel. Nesting has also been done using Crayola marker bodies, fitted into 1/2" PVC. While not quite as effective as brass nesting, Crayola/PVC nesting is a potential alternative to those without access to brass materials. Other barreling materials for non-progressive barrels include PETG, CPVC and PVC. Others have been used but are much less well known.
Disabling the over-pressure release valve increases the possible tank pressure in air blasters. Most Nerf guns with an air tank will have a hole in the pump for excess air to escape. By plugging this hole, more air is allowed to be pumped into the tank, which in turn allows more pressure to build up behind the dart. The drawback of plugging the gap is that the air tank has the potential to rupture after being pumped too many times.
Most modern dart-firing Nerf weapons incorporate barriers to restrict airflow and make the toys safer. These barriers usually take the form of a piece of plastic directly beneath the inserted dart, often a part of the peg each dart is slid over when loaded. Modders will typically remove these air-restrictors as the most basic of modifications. With the air pathway unobstructed, ranges increase, but the percentage of improvement varies from model to model. Most modders remove the air-restrictors to remove the peg as well, a necessary step before Stefan darts (lacking the hole in its core which the peg normally fills) can be loaded.
Spring replacement and rubber banding of spring powered blasters is used to increase the speed at which the air is released. This is done by replacing the weak, stock spring with a much heavier one. In the case of banding, an elastic band is placed along the plunger shaft, in effect doing the same job as a heavier spring. However, going through with either of these methods of modification may result in permanent damage to both the case and the internals, as the plastic bodies of the guns were never designed to cope with the added stress such modifications often add.It will also be harder to cock.Electric Nerf guns can be modified to take higher voltage or use faster motors.
*
Hasbro's official Nerf site*
NerfHaven*
NerfHQ*
Orange's Nerf Page*
Boltsniper.com*
This is Not Healthy Nerf*
NerfWorld*
Nerfcenter*
Nerfpalace*
The Foam Fighters*
NerfX
