SpudFiles

Hey guys,

I'm having issues with my nerf footballs fitting in a 2" barrel. They fit and slide down the barrel fairly well, but when shot at 40-60 psi, at a 45 degree angle, they go maybe 50 feet. This is all out of a sprinkler valve launcher with a 3 foot barrel and a 3" 1 and 1/2 foot chamber. Is this normal? I've shot apples out of it at 80 psi and it went close to 3 or 400 feet.. I just feel like i should be getting a significantly larger amount of distance out of these rockets than i am..

Thanks for all the help.

Sounds about right to me. You need to add more air pressure or add a better valve

If you want power go dust collector valve.

Quote From earlier post.

Go dust collector

If they are just sliding down the barrel then they may not fit properly. Try wrapping one with some tape to get a tighter fit. It may also just be that they aren't nearly as dense as an apple so they have much more resistance and slow down quicker.

Mr.Tallahassee wrote:If they are just sliding down the barrel then they may not fit properly. Try wrapping one with some tape to get a tighter fit. It may also just be that they aren't nearly as dense as an apple so they have much more resistance and slow down quicker.

That's what ive tried.. They dont "fall" down the barrel but rather descend gradually.. So it is not a tight fit where i need a ramrod, but not loose enough to it just freefalls down

Zorlord wrote:That's what ive tried.. They dont "fall" down the barrel but rather descend gradually.. So it is not a tight fit where i need a ramrod, but not loose enough to it just freefalls down

So it's not the fit. The ball is probably too light to go any real distance. Try using higher pressure. That's about all I could suggest.

Mr.Tallahassee wrote:

Zorlord wrote:That's what ive tried.. They dont "fall" down the barrel but rather descend gradually.. So it is not a tight fit where i need a ramrod, but not loose enough to it just freefalls down

So it's not the fit. The ball is probably too light to go any real distance. Try using higher pressure. That's about all I could suggest.

Okay, thanks for your help. I'm trying to avoid resorting to dumping high pressure into it simply because eventually these are going to be used for scenario airsoft.. I think ill experiment with faster valves and see if helps.. Ive been experimenting with making burst disk cartridges, which may yield better results.

id say its loose put some paper behind it.

For a better fit with the football you could aslo try wrapping some tape around the ball in one spot to it fits snugly. I know its primitive but it works.

8tonsemi wrote:For a better fit with the football you could aslo try wrapping some tape around the ball in one spot to it fits snugly. I know its primitive but it works.

Mr.Tallahassee wrote:If they are just sliding down the barrel then they may not fit properly. Try wrapping one with some tape to get a tighter fit. It may also just be that they aren't nearly as dense as an apple so they have much more resistance and slow down quicker.

I believe far_cry has a .gif image in his signature about this very incident.

Been lurking on the forum for awhile. Also building an m72 style nerf launcher. Would sch80 2" pvc pipe with id of 1.913" be too tight of a fit? Only have 3 nerf vortexs to sample, they range in size 1.930" to 1.970"

lndncr2 wrote:Been lurking on the forum for awhile. Also building an m72 style nerf launcher. Would sch80 2" pvc pipe with id of 1.913" be too tight of a fit? Only have 3 nerf vortexs to sample, they range in size 1.930" to 1.970"

you should be fine. sch 40 2" pipe has an id of 1.9 i believe, and the balls fit fairly well. the fins just cause resistance.

I think what i might do is put either wadding behind them, wrap them in lots of tape, or make a sabot for the rockets. What i think is happening is that there isnt enough friction between the ball and the tube, so the ball flies out before all the air is expelled.. Been working on other projects at the moment, but ill test everything out and let you guys know the results.

What works good for Nerf rockets in a SCH 40 barrel is to use closed cell foam 2.5 inch stress balls. These will act as a seal and protect the fins at higher launch pressures.





edit; add link

dewey-1 wrote:What works good for Nerf rockets in a SCH 40 barrel is to use closed cell foam 2.5 inch stress balls. These will act as a seal and protect the fins at higher launch pressures.

Can you replace those rollie wheels what a battlemech? because that launcher is totally bad ass.

Dewey I love that cannon. However I dread the day that I need such a design. Goos stuff my friend, good stuff!!