Nerf Blaster - FPS Chronograph Speed Tests!

In the spirit of popular TV series like Myth Busters and The Deadliest Warrior, here is the Nerf blaster version of FPS Speed Tests! :)

I've managed to get a Shooting Chrony F-1 FPS Measuring Chronograph, so its now possible to generate some reference FPS data for stock and modified Nerf blasters.

You can spot the same device being used in the above mentioned TV series to measure projectile speeds for data comparisons. It can measure speeds from bullets, arrows, pellets, paintballs... and yes, foam darts too. From 30 FPS (feet per second) to 7,000 FPS.

As a projectile passes over the 1st sensor, it starts a counter and when the projectile passes over the 2nd sensor it stops the counter, the device calculates the FPS in realtime and the results pop up on its LCD screen.

FPS measurement is of keen interest to Nerf enthusiasts and especially modders who can finally get some quantitative data on the actual speed of the foam darts fired from modified blasters (instead of saying "its faster" just by looking).

Here is a quick review of the Shooting Chrony F-1 that will be used for these FPS speed tests:

Shooting Chrony F-1 (Box)




Shooting Chrony F-1 (Un-Boxed)




Shooting Chrony F-1 (Assembled with Light Diffusers)




Shooting Chrony F-1 (Mounted on Camera Tripod)



The device is designed to be portable (it folds up into the size of a brick).


Okay, lets start measuring FPS speeds!

Here are a few sets of reference FPS data that i've generated from some of my blasters.

Test Perimeters:
- FPS data are an average of 12 recorded shots from each blaster.
- All test shots are fired with the blaster barrel muzzle approx. 6 inches from the 1st sensor.
- Tests are done indoors with natural light sources.
- Foam darts used are Converted SDL Darts (CSD).


- Nerf Longshot -

Stock Longshot




Modified Longshot (AR Removed, 14kg Spring, Deadspace Elimination)




Brass Breech Longshot (AR Removed, 14kg Spring, Deadspace Elimination, 100% Air-Tight Brass Breech System)




- Nerf Recon -

Stock Recon




Modified Recon (AR Removed, 6kg Spring)




Modified Recon (AR Removed, 11kg Spring)




Brass Breech Recon (AR Removed, 11kg Spring, 100% Air-Tight Brass Breech)


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