The Blaster Labs Inaugural Blaster Dart Comparison

A comprehensive analysis of Nerf dart weights, sizes, compatibility, and more!

Recently, we tested a blaster that was completely transformed in performance potential, merely by using a different type of dart. This reminded us how important proper dart selection can be, particularly for those who are looking to get the most out of their stock-class blasters. Sure, we’ve gathered data here and there when new types of darts hit the scene, but we knew a more formalized and more comprehensive test was in order. To that end, it has taken half-a-dozen members of our team many days of testing, re-testing, measuring, sorting, photographing, cataloging, recording, and organizing, but we’re pleased to finally be able to share what we believe is now the most comprehensive dart comparison and information database currently found online.

Before we dive-in to the data, we’d like to take a moment to recognize some of the work that has already been done in regards to dart testing and measurement. We’re certainly not the first to attempt something like this, and while we believe our findings to be broader in scope than what has come before, many previous tests have gone deeper into particular aspects of dart performance than we have attempted here. To that end, we’d like to point out some of the more noteworthy efforts in this regard (with apologies to anyone we may have missed):

• A Statistical Analysis of Nerf Blasters and Darts, by Shawn O’Neil and Kate Drueen
• Drag Coefficient of Nerf Darts, by B. Trettel
• The Dart Zone (several tests), by TorukMakto4
• Brit Nerf UK Nerf forum (various articles), notably ones by Foam Data and associates
• Dart Analysis and Comparison, by Bay Area Nerf

Equipment and Methodology

Collecting dart data for the community’s use is something we took quite seriously, because we know there are any number of individuals who will do their own tests, and likely come-up with something different than what we found. We’d like to note, therefore, that all of the data shown below is ours alone, and may conflict with test results reported by others. We have done our best to be as accurate and impartial as possible, using methods we deemed to produce the most reliable results one could reasonably expect. But foam darts are not objects of precision. They are mass-produced in factories that may also produce any number of other products, during any given time of the year, and with any given mix of form/mold wear, raw ingredient variation, and quality control changes. In other words, if the results shown below are different than what you may have found using your own tools, don’t sweat it. It’s just Nerf.

• Testing Environment: All testing was conducted in a fully-enclosed, office-type setting at 72-73 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Dart Body and Tip Weight: All weights were acquired using an American Weigh Scales AWS-100 precision scale with 0.01g resolution and calibrated using a 100g weight. We typically tested 2 or 3 of samples of each product from which an average weight was derived.
• Dart Size: Length and diameter measurements were taken using a Carrera Precision CP5906 Digital Caliper set, which is accurate from .001″ to 6.” Keep in mind that foam is “squishy,” so there is some variability inherent in the product itself, and our measurements are an average.
• Dart Velocity: We utilized our standard Competition Electronics Pro Chronograph, which is capable of measuring a velocity range of 21-7,000 feet-per-second with an accuracy of +/- 1%, and is equipped with a Competition Electronics Indoor Lighting System to ensure accurate indoor measurements with no environmental variables. We took the average of three darts shot, per dart type.
• Dart Range: As with our usual reviews, we relied on a Lufkin Measuring Wheel, which measures feet and inches. The ranges provided are an average of three shots per dart type. In cases where there were extreme variations, additional shots were taken and the high and low outliers were removed from the sample set.
• Blaster Compatibility: We used a stock Nerf Elite Stryfe and Nerf Elite Strongarm to test general compatibility with Nerf clip-based blasters (Stryfe), and Nerf front-load models (Strongarm). Compatibility with other blasters in the Nerf line-up may vary.

For our dart range and velocity tests, we opted to use a standard, unmodified Nerf Elite Strongarm, which was chosen for its familiarity within the community, relatively simple operation, and wide range of dart compatibility. All range tests were taken parallel-to-ground, using a simple jig to stabilize the blaster and provide uniformity of testing. As noted above, for both range and velocity we took the average of three shots fired with each dart type (excepted cases of extreme variation, in which case, additional shots were taken). We understand a more in-depth test would use a much higher sample size, but given the breadth of darts being tested, we opted for a less rigorous approach that would allow us to survey a broader overall range of products.

Observations? Perhaps not surprisingly, darts with higher mass such as the Buzz Bee Extreme seemed to have lower velocity and a shorter range, but were subjectively more accurate (a metric we did not attempt to quantify). We also found that most Nerf-branded darts were widely compatible with Nerf blasters, as could be expected, while off-brand darts that were clip-system compatible were few and far between (the X-Shot Excel being one exception). Perhaps most controversially, we did not find a huge variance in performance among Nerf Elite darts with different production codes. We found the same minor variations (in overall size, tip mass, and foam density) that others have reported, but our sample set was not large enough to reach any definitive conclusions. For most players, we suspect individual skill, tactics, blaster choice, and experience will be a bigger factor in overall game performance than the specific dart code. But for the most skilled players, they may notice these minor variations, so we won’t pretend they don’t exist.

With the above being said, following is the summary of our results. Obviously not every dart type known to man is included (and new ones from China seemed to be showing-up all the time). But we hope this provides the community with useful data from which individual choices can be made, and further testing can be pursued.