Nerf pistols are no longer exclusive to children. Crafters who love to experiment have discovered a variety of modifications and tweaks that make Nerf pistols such a fun toy. While all Nerf pistols can be modified differently, learning the standard mechanics of the two main types will help you explore and design your own modifications. Learn the basics and start modifying this foam gun.
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Method 1 of 3: Getting Started
Step 1. Find the right gun to modify
There are many styles and designs of Nerf pistols, but the standard models are usually the best types for modification, as these are the most common. If you want to start right away, buy a spring-type or catapult pistol; these two types of pistols are the cheapest options that can be modified to the maximum. You can start modifying your rifle later. Get started one at a time and learn the two standard categories of Nerf weapons:
- Pistol springs work using an internal spring that is compressed by placing a plastic sheet behind the gun each time a shot occurs. This sheet then compresses the spring, thereby firing the foam bullet. The Nerf Maverick is the most frequently modified type of spring gun.
- The ejection gun works with the air pressure generated by pumping the gun, just like a water gun. These pistols have the potential to increase their power and accuracy of fire, with just a few simple modifications. The standard type of ejection pistol is the Big Blast, although this pistol was not actually made by Nerf.
Step 2. Gather the necessary equipment for standard modification
You don't have to do much to modify the standard Nerf pistol a bit, but you will need some gear in addition to the gun itself. If you are under 15 years old, ask your parents to help you use tools or cut something (if needed). To make the modifications described in the sections below, you will need:
- Whipsaw
- screwdriver plus
- Sandpaper
- Dremel torch or metal file
- Cable clamp
- Replacement parts/spare parts (if you want to do an upgrade)
Step 3. Learn how to create "stefans
"The Nerf brand itself stands for "non-expanding recreational foam," which is made mostly of polyurethane. All Nerf pistols you buy at the store include some bullets, but be aware: these bullets are easy to lose. and too expensive to buy individually. One of the basic modifications you should make when starting out is to create your own bullets to save money. There is a common method for this, developed by Nerf activists, commonly called "stefans". There are many ways to create stefans, but we will explain the easiest one here. You have to complete the modifications below to use it.
- You will need a foam backer post to cut the bullet. These poles are also sometimes called "caulk savers" and are available at all home improvement stores, usually in the winter supplies and caulking materials section. The interface will look familiar (the material is the same as the Nerf arrow material). These poles are also usually curved, which means you'll need to straighten them before you can cut them into arrows. Most people do this by spreading it out on a table or other flat surface, then letting it sit for about a day so that the foam settles naturally.
- To weigh arrows, most people use BBs or lead weights (such as those used when fishing). You will also need scissors and hot glue to make the stefans.
- Cut the foam pole into 5 cm long sections and make a small hole at one end for inserting the BB or lead weights. Use a little hot glue and attach the weights, then dry.
Step 4. Make your own modifications
Everyone has their own tricks and opinions on the best modifications to Nerf pistols, apart from liking the different types of pistols. There isn't one really "right" way to do it. The best way to learn is to try to disassemble a gun and learn how it works, then start developing your own ideas and modifications and try them out. Look for articles on this theme, about the following specific modifications for certain models:
- Making scopes for Nerf snipers
- Coloring Nerf guns
- Take Longer Shots with the Nerf. Pistol
- Easily Modify Nerf Longshot
- Modify Nerf Maverick
- Modify Nerf Recon CS 6
- Modify Nerf Nite Finder
Method 2 of 3: Modifying the Per Pistol
Step 1. Remove all the screws holding the gun case together
The first step to modifying a Nerf spring gun is to take it apart and inspect its internal components. The cases of most Nerf pistols are made of two sheets of plastic held together with plus screws. Larger guns usually use more screws, but smaller guns sometimes use only three.
Remove the screw with a screwdriver and set it aside. Separate the two gun sheets to remove the internal components. One side of the gun is just a cover, while the other side contains all the inside of the gun
Step 2. Remove the cylinder and remove the cap
If you're modifying a Maverick pistol (which is the easiest pistol to modify), the most common change beginners make is removing the air barrier and barrel stud. These two components prevent you from using the stefans and lower the power of each shot. To do this, you must remove the cylinder. This cylinder is where the bullet is stored before being fired.
- The cylinder holding the bullet must be pulled not too hard. Just grip it firmly enough then pull it away from the gun case. You will see a gray or light brown plastic disc. You must remove this plate.
- Usually, these discs have a small orange cap that you can remove with a screwdriver or your fingers. Don't lose this cap or you won't be able to put the Nerf parts back together.
Step 3. Remove the air barrier
At the end of each barrel there will be a small plastic chip and a spring. Remove the lid and remove any necessary screws, then remove the plastic pieces and springs. These components are used to restrict airflow and slow the bullet, without affecting the gun's ability to function and fire. Get rid of and discard these parts.
Step 4. Clamp the barrel post
Nerf bullets were hollow and inserted into the stash in each barrel of his gun. This arrangement has long prevented people from making their own bullets. Luckily, all you have to do is get rid of it. Remove the caps with the barrel posts from each cylinder and use a cable clamp or other type of tongs to cut these posts. Make sure you cut it as close to the end of the dish as possible.
- You can smooth out the remaining pieces by using sandpaper. This is optional, but can make your gun look tidier.
- Reinstall the cylinder by putting the orange cylinder cap together and rearranging the cartridge chambers. You can now move on to the final dish.
Step 5. File the rest of the final disc to perform the "Russian roulette" modification
Remove the gray plastic disk from the end of the cylinder and look for an arc-shaped plastic bulge on the side. This section is used to prevent the cylinder from rotating freely, so you can rotate the chamber in the gun like Jesse James. The gun will still fire the bullets normally, but this time you will look cool.
- If you wish to complete this modification, file the protrusions with a metal file or Dremel drill. Smooth it out as much as possible to flatten the plastic so that the chamber inside the gun doesn't get stuck. If this space is blocked, the gun rotation will not work properly. Make sure you get parental permission and assistance if using heavy equipment.
- Reattach the end plate to the gun and insert the cylinder as well. If you just want a longer shooting range (1.5 - 3 m) and the ability to rotate the space, you can stop here. Put your gun case back together.
Step 6. Update the springs
If you want a more powerful gun, replace the springs with stronger ones. Check the firing component of the gun by removing the spring. These springs are inexpensive weak springs and you can easily upgrade by buying a higher quality one at a hardware store. Take a used spring to the store to find a new spring that is the right width and length, and buy one made of a higher quality material.
Sometimes, changing the spring will leave some space in the back of the gun, so that the spring doesn't come into contact with the plastic. To work around this, you can use small coins - three or four - that are tucked in and become a place for the spring to rest. This coin must be sized to fit into the space in the gun
Step 7. Consider replacing the barrel
Some modifiers who like extra power like to cut the barrel at the end of the gun and replace it with a wide PVC pipe that fits their stefans. Maintaining a stronger seal and increasing the spring pressure can allow your bullets to shoot farther and faster.
- If you want to do this, cut the barrel of the gun where it meets the body of the gun, then throw it away. Cut 1.25 cm diameter PVC pipe along the barrel, then carefully use glue to attach it. It's best if you glue around the outside, so that there are no lumps of glue on the inside of the gun.
- If you like the look of your gun, don't do this. Barrel replacements will make your gun look a bit odd though you'll get extra power in exchange.
Method 3 of 3: Modifying the Throwing Gun
Step 1. Remove all screws and look at the internal components
Nerf doesn't make a lot of ejection pistols - people usually just refer to a gun like this by its common name "Nerf gun". So, be aware that this is a common modification among Nerf enthusiasts. These pistols are usually made by creating a pressure that is about five times higher to amplify the air pressure that will fire the bullet. A valve will work to ensure its safety, so the gun will not explode. You can change this valve and get a more powerful gun, but do so with caution.
Step 2. Remove the air barrier
If you want to get rid of the air barrier and barrel post, do so in the same way as described in the previous section. You can file the plate protrusions, remove the springs and airflow regulators from each cylinder, and then reinstall them. You can also change the barrel if you want.
Step 3. Remove the pump circuit
The pump usually consists of one large part in this type of ejection gun. These pumps have a long inlet section and a thicker chamber, which acts as a reservoir for air - as in bicycle pumps or other pressurized pumps. Remove the pump as it should not be attached to anything once you have removed the case.
Remove the end cap and pull the primer from the air case. This section should have a rubber seal, which is used to create impact and pump air
Step 4. Glue the pressure relief valve with hot glue
At the end of the chamber where the air is pumped, you will find the air valve, which is a hole. This valve is used to let some air out if you over-inflate the gun. If you stick this valve, the shot you make will be much more powerful.
- Use a dot of hot glue over the hole to flatten and cover it. Let the glue dry completely before you proceed.
- Be aware that the air valve is inside the plastic housing, so it doesn't get damaged when you fill the gun with air. What we're talking about here is plastic for toys, not strong metal, so you could damage the gun if you did this, making the gun irreparable. The shots you make may indeed be more powerful, but only for a while before your gun breaks.
Step 5. Upgrade the seal
Another way to increase strength is to remove the O-shaped rubber ring from the plunger portion of the air pump and replace it with a thicker rubber. This creates a tighter seal around the pump, so you get more pressure and power with each shot. Again, if you remove the valve, the pressure on the plastic will be enormous, so be careful.
Discard the rubber seal and take it to the hardware store, to the plumbing department, to find a similar replacement seal. Look for a new seal of the same diameter but with a thicker valve. This seal will feel fuller in the gun barrel and be difficult to pump. This is because there is more pressure on the barrel of your gun
Step 6. Do a test run and be careful when pumping
You may only need to pump once or twice to collect a lot of air. Don't start pumping as if you wanted to pump the air mattress, or your gun will break. Be careful that the gun is not destroyed and beyond repair.
Tips
- Make a laser pointer using a laser pen. Purchase a legal laser light or similar spotlight. You could of course use a laser pen, or a key ring, or even just the light itself from a light bulb. Ideally, look for light that can be 15 cm long or less. However, you can still use a stronger highlight.
- Don't modify the gun if you don't know what you're doing.
Warning
- Modifying a Nerf gun can damage it.
- Pistols can misfire and damage property or injure people/animals.
- Never point the gun at other people or animals.
