Nerf Barrel Break - Internals Guide!

This guide will serve as a reference for the internals of the Nerf Barrel Break IX-2, along with parts comparisons with the Nerf Recon CS-6.

For a detailed review of the Nerf Barrel Break, click Here.

Nerf Barrel Break IX-2 - Disassembled

Nerf Barrel Break IX-2 - Internals Close-Up




Nerf Barrel Break IX-2 - Double Plunger Detail




Nerf Barrel Break IX-2 - Break Action Ratchet Detail




Nerf Barrel Break IX-2 - Spring Comparison with Recon CS-6

(Top: Barrel Break / Bottom: Recon)




Nerf Barrel Break IX-2 - Plunger Comparison with Recon CS-6
(Top: Barrel Break / Bottom: Recon)

Custom Fabricated Nerf Longshot Aluminium Bolt Sled - Review!

The Nerf Longshot has been one of the more popular blasters in the Nerf blaster range due to its high modification potential, but one of its weaker internal components is the bolt sled which has a tendency to crack or break when used with stronger aftermarket springs.

Solution: Custom Fabricated Nerf Longshot Aluminium Bolt Sled!

The custom fabricated bolt sleds are made from precision milled aluminium and designed for a direct fit in Longshots.

Nerf Longshot Aluminium Bolt Sled - Comparison with Stock Nerf Longshot
(Top: Stock Bolt Sled / Right: Custom Fabricated Aluminium Bolt Sled)

Nerf Longshot Aluminium Bolt Sled - Close-up Detail




Nerf Longshot Aluminium Bolt Sled - Internal Fitment

(Top: Stock Longshot / Middle: Modded Longshot / Bottom: Brass Breeched Longshot)

Custom Fabricated Nerf Longshot Aluminium Bolt Sled - Overview & Internal Fitment Video

Lanard Big Salvo Mod Guide!

The Lanard Big Salvo is an air-tank based blaster that can fire foam arrows in both semi-auto or burst "salvo".

This configuration is an ideal base to create a blaster that can fire foam darts too.

Here is a very easy mod to convert it from firing only foam arrows, to also being able to fire foam darts. In fact, this mod is so simple... it'll only take a few minutes to do. :)

Step 1: Remove the Air Baffles (AB) from the launcher tube tips. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to grip onto the baffle vents, then just twist it to remove.

Step 2: Cut to length your choice of barrel tubes. Use barrel tube material that can fit into the existing launcher tubes. Make sure the barrels have an air-tight seal within the launcher tubes.

In my example, i use 4 x 6" lengths of ½" ID smoked grey PETG tubes that slot perfectly into the launcher tubes.



Its done!

Pump it up, load the foam darts into the barrels... and fire! :)

Foam arrows can still be used after this mod is done, therefore you could fire both foam arrows and foam darts at the same time too.

Useful for Nerf game scenarios where there are additional special rules for foam arrow/missile hits. :)

:: Sample Test Fire Data ::

PTG: Parallel-To-Ground (Shoulder height, no elevation)
ATG: Angled-To-Ground (Aimed higher, 30 degrees elevation)

Distance is measured at where the dart lands (Average of 4 darts).

Firing foam darts:

PTG = 75 ft
ATG = 90 ft

Note that the test was done indoors with customised foam darts. The results are sample estimates for reference (your results may differ depending on foam darts, materials and mod techniques used).

Buzz Bee Hunter - Internals Guide!

This guide will serve as a reference for the internals of the Buzz Bee Hunter.

For the full review of the Buzz Bee Hunter, click Here.

Buzz Bee Hunter - Disassembled

Buzz Bee Hunter - Front Internals




Buzz Bee Hunter - Back Internals




Buzz Bee Hunter - Plunger Internals

Custom Fabricated Big Blast Aluminium Trigger - Review!

Finding that your modded Big Blast plastic triggers are constantly breaking?

Solution: Custom Fabricated Big Blast Aluminium Trigger!

These custom fabricated triggers are made from precision milled aluminium and designed for a perfect fit in the Big Blast, just swap the stock plastic trigger with it and its complete!

Buzz Bee Big Blast Aluminium Trigger - Comparison with Stock Trigger
(Top: Stock Trigger / Right: Custom Fabricated Aluminium Trigger)

Buzz Bee Big Blast Aluminium Trigger - Internal Fitment

Custom Fabricated Big Blast Aluminium Trigger - Test Fire & Fitment Video

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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Nerf Longshot Mod - Polycarbonate Shotgun Grip!

This is a quick mod guide by request from nerfers who spotted my modded Longshot with a customized Clear Polycarbonate Shotgun Grip during Nerf games, and have been asking how it was done.

The main benefit of a Longshot shotgun grip is a more efficient method of priming the blaster. Users can still support the front of the blaster while priming it, thereby maintaining steady aiming and better rate-of-fire.

In addition, the shotgun grip's dual arms both act in tandem to push back the bolt sled, which helps to balance out the load on both sides of the bolt sled during the priming action, thereby reducing uneven load stress (one of the common causes of bolt sled breakage, especially when using stronger aftermarket springs).

There are many ways to convert Longshots into "shotgun-gripped" versions. You can find many examples of similar mods at the various Nerf forums. Most of the mods require a fair bit of blaster modification and custom work though.

I use a slightly different (and simpler) method, with the objective to shotgun grip my Longshots without drilling or cutting the blaster casing, so that they can be reversible back to stock condition anytime and the shotgun grip can be transferred to another Longshot easily.

Okay, let's start...

Step 1: Remove the original bipod legs from the Longshot.

Step 2: Measure and draw out the arms and grip dimensions.

Here is my sample template (download and print it out in A4 size borderless mode).



Superimpose the schematics on the polycarbonate sheet. I use 3mm polycarbonate for the grip but 6mm polycarbonate for the arms (6mm thickness is highly recommended for the arms, especially for Longshots with stronger springs).



Cut out the sections using a jig saw or scroll saw. Please be careful when using power tools. Use a hobby knife or file to round off the corners slightly and smoothen the rough edges.

Step 3: Using a heat gun, i shaped the grip section into a U shape with twin inverted guide rails. Again, please be careful when using heating tools.




Step 4: Position the grip and arms.

Line up the screw points and use a motorized rotary tool (ie. Dremel) to drill the necessary holes.

Step 5: Position and solvent glue 2 small pieces of polycarbonate within the inverted guide rails, tinker with the dimensions until you get them to the right size and position.

This helps keep the grip in a level position when in operation.




Step 6: Assemble all the parts together.

I used 4 x 3mm diameter screws, washers and nuts to attach both arms to the grip, and a 3" length 4.5mm diameter bolt and nut, along with nylon spacers to thread through the original priming handle points and secure the arms to the bolt sled.

Here is another example of my polycarbonate shotgun grip with some additional shaping and trimming for customized ergonomics to suit my personal grip style.



As you can see, no drilling or cutting of the original Longshot casing is required.

The polycarbonate shotgun grip's inverted guide rails basically ride along the Longshot's existing groove at the bottom part of the front section.

This is just a quick guide to show a simple way it can be done... there are many other methods to do it too, see what suits your preference! :)