Nail Dart Experiments

[Forum Admin]

It is about par with the corks performance just with a smaller diameter. I just need to build something that will let me make more than one at a time

[BoyntonStu]

It is about par with the corks performance just with a smaller diameter. I just need to build something that will let me make more than one at a time

I added an internal spring to the cork cutter tool that ejects a full cut cork.

It takes 30 seconds to cut a cork to barrel diameter.

I believe that 3 wads can be make from one cork.

Lighter and faster than hot glue?

[Forum Admin]

I think a cork ring would be lighter and faster. My next experiment is to see what effect increasing the hot glue's mass has on speed and energy. All the darts on this thread used the same size nail. Their difference in weight was due to the different tails. This played a major role in their energy levels as many of the speeds were similar.

[Forum Admin]

I assembled four hotglue nail darts, two with 1/4" long rings and two with 3/4" long rings. Here is some interesting data:

Dart Weight          Dart Speed
1/4" ring darts
168 grain              504.6 fps
164 grain              504.3 fps

3/4" ring darts
186 grain              645.9 fps
190 grain              620.6 fps

As you can tell from this info, the difference in speeds here is due to sealing, not weight. The 3/4" rings form a better seal, and produce significantly more power. As you can also tell from the data, a more consistent way to pilot is a must in making this gun suitable for hunting. Next is to see if the 3/4" rings have stable flight.

[Forum Admin]

Stable flight at 40 yards.  I really need to get some bigger nails, I didnt expect to get over 600 fps.  I'll be bumping pressure up to 600 psi before too long, so if I can push a 250 grain arrow (100 grain folding broadhead + 16" arrow)  at 600+ fps, it will make a killer deer hunting airgun. A arrow with 200+ fpe would be very lethal with nearly double the speed of most crossbows. I've got some arrows laying around somewhere, I'll have to give one a shot.

[Forum Admin]

I might as well add the fin stabilized dart data to this thread. The fin stabilized dart weighs 156 grains, the wad I used to seal it with weighs 40 grains. This adds up to 196 grains. To be sure I was chronographing the entire system, I superglued the dart to the wad. Normally, the wad is a discarding sabot and falls away quickly after leaving the barrel. It chronographed at 453 fps with a 25" barrel made of 3/4" sch 80 pvc pipe. This is on a 400 psi fill. The entire system had 89 fpe, as opposed to the dart which has 71 fpe. In other words, the heavy wad is robbing 18 fpe from the dart. In spite of that, these darts penetrate deeper than any other dart at 40 yards, which seems to indicate that they lose less speed and actually are more powerful at long ranges. To improve the fin stabilized dart, a lower weight wad is needed, I will probably switch to a foam plug and up the weight of the dart itself to maximize energy. Here is a picture of the 40 yard shot: (Compare it to my other 40 yd pics and you will see the penetration difference)

[BoyntonStu]

I might as well add the fin stabilized dart data to this thread. The fin stabilized dart weighs 156 grains, the wad I used to seal it with weighs 40 grains. This adds up to 196 grains. To be sure I was chronographing the entire system, I superglued the dart to the wad. Normally, the wad is a discarding sabot and falls away quickly after leaving the barrel. It chronographed at 453 fps with a 25" barrel made of 3/4" sch 80 pvc pipe. This is on a 400 psi fill. The entire system had 89 fpe, as opposed to the dart which has 71 fpe. In other words, the heavy wad is robbing 18 fpe from the dart. In spite of that, these darts penetrate deeper than any other dart at 40 yards, which seems to indicate that they lose less speed and actually are more powerful at long ranges. To improve the fin stabilized dart, a lower weight wad is needed, I will probably switch to a foam plug and up the weight of the dart itself to maximize energy. Here is a picture of the 40 yard shot: (Compare it to my other 40 yd pics and you will see the penetration difference)

As I was reading your thread the picture of a large gelatin capsule came into my mind.

IOW A hollow wad.


What about using a back facing shotshell hull.

What does it weigh?


Working backwards with a 12 gauge hull, what barrel could be used?