Pistol Primary Guidelines.

One can fare in battle with only pistols,  I do it all the time.  For the last year I have been using single shot pistols as my primaries in Nerf battle.  The Catch...They are Ultra Match pistols.   However if you want to wield pistols in battle one must understand where they have a place in battle in order to win.

Advantages of pistols as primaries:

1.  You don't have to reload a magazine, as long as you use the right ammo (not standard streamlines in Triads for example) you can just pick up ammo off the ground and keep firing what they are firing at you.  Virtually no chance of running out of ammo completely.

2. Simpler operation makes for lesser likelihood of jamming.

3. Reserves your clipfed and hopper based blasters for more intense close range battles while your enemies throw away ammo like candy all the time.

Disadvantages:

1.  Lower Rate of Fire.

2.  Lesser likelihood of a follow up shot.

3.  Typically lesser ranges, unless your me ;)

Essentials:


1.  MUST have a clipfed as a backup, Preferably a backup primary as well, especially when you are taking that long learning curve on how to shoot Old'e school again.  My recommendations are the Stryfe and the Retaliator on a holster type rig like I carry.  If you need the clipfed every battle, your still learning in my book.

2.  Pistol Primary, if single should shoot at least 120 fps in Modded stock with elite darts and at least 150 fps in a NIC war with domed stefans.  Most people who try using a pistol as a primary don't try it with a decent enough pistol to be a primary, which is why most who try quit.  Doing this gives you a pistol to pick people off with at and above 100' or a fast piston nobody can dodge under 100' giving welts as souvenirs ;)

3. Pistol Primaries, if dual Wielded should shoot at least 90-100fps and repeater.  Your best platforms I have seen in battle are dual Strongarms, dual Stryfes, dual Magnus's and dual Triad's, dual Triad's being my favorite, but dual Magnus's looks fascinating to me.  Typically these are close range assault players.

4.  Your ammo must be great! You get to bring less of it to a meet, I usualy bring about 40-50 darts to a war but I have shown up with 20 pieces of ammo once and did just fine, but it better be good like Xplorer darts, Sllia domes.  Trying to use Elites at long range is like trying to hit a barb wire fence with an airsoft from 120'.  you shoot less so you need to make your shots count more.

5.  Your blasters better be solid, no play in the barrel, no catch issues, no air leakage, no shitty darts and a way to tell yours apart from everyone elses quickly in battle (e.g. Shorter domed darts looking different than Elites).

6. Be willing to throw your blaster to the ground and quickly grab something else, if you can't, don't bother going old school.

Remember it can be done, but you really need to play around to get it right for you.

--Cartaya

"Ted Nugent Called, He Wants His Blasters Back ;)"

No you are not in the 80's or the 60's for that matter. Take a look at Mattels New Blaster Lineup for the Summer of 2014.  In particular, this blaster seems to be the big talk of the lineup.

I think they are ugly, but some people dig the looks for is "Cosplay evil villain looks" and with their most expensive blaster being...

*Air powered.
*Selective Fire (semi or full auto, switchable)
*Store replaceable magazines unlike the AS-10 Magstrike which was a major drag!
*Darts with Grooves that possibly can take 9/16ths O rings, (time to make a 9/16th bore Ultra Match).

It could outdo the Magstrike and maybe even...I dare say it...A Rapidstrike!

But it all depends, there are many things to consider.

A new dart system:

Do you really want to switch darts? It was hard enough for me to switch to Stefans, and I am still not quite there for my main battle blasters myself.  Since it is full auto, you better have at least 300 darts and 5 magazines to use it as a primary.  Also if nobody else is using it, picking up darts in battle is hard and if it is not a common battle platform, could be tough.

Construction:

How tough are they?  For example if the Retaliators were not tough, I could have never gotten a 14 Kg spring in the blaster, or 21 Kg's in a Star Shot may be even a better example.  These look a little weak and remember, these are the first Mattel is making, first of anything always has the most problems.

Modability:

What is the tank on this thing?  big? small? solid? could I just plug the overpressure regulator? does it even have one? and where is it, the pump? the tank?  Can I get it up to 100 flat in Full auto?

Do you just have to have it?:

Congrats, most people like you end up in rehab or hoarding something dumb like collecting vintage tampons.

Can the clipfire be Ultra Matched to achieve "Magnum Force?:

Possible, all depends on the plunger rod material, plunger head and trigger catch.  I like that it can fold and be concealed (My mom just notions to me, "Crap, trouble at Knotts Berry Farm, please not again Chris!")

See You In Disneyland.

--Cartaya

Coming Soon To Kickstarter, The Ultra Match Mod Kit.

The Ultra Match Series, powerful, accurate, expensive to make, difficult to build, this wiki points out just how difficult, and the one shown is not even a ZDS version.

Read all about it in this Wiki.

And this...

That does this...

This blaster should be an entry level stefan blaster to get people into better performing blasters, capable of being bought Turnkey minus for $40 and above.  If I had a practical way to offer this as injected molded parts with control of the materials used, It can be done.  Right now they are hand built, hand machined modded blasters that even the springs because I am not buying them in bulk cost $22.50 on an 18 Kg Pink Crush alone.

They are a work of art, but even if I had 100 orders, they just ain't doing me, my customers and myself justice trying to do it this way.

So I will seek the advice of the manufactures I know and find a way to start a startup company to build and sell these.

Current prices:

Ultra Match ZDS Firestrike 18Kg: $99, Pink Crush Version: $89

Bird of Prey: $119, with scope: $149

Compared to what is possible:

Ultra Match Firestrike 18 Kg's Kit: $30

Star Shot Ultra Match Kit: $40

And maybe even cheaper, to achieve...Magnum Force!

--Cartaya

The Slingfire.

What can we do with the Slingfire?  First and foremost argument is that...."It's geared, oh no!"  yes it is geared and according to Awesomely Nerf's excellent photo's the weak spot is here...

Himm..a touque limiter assembly?  Why the hell do we need that?  Oh wait? to limit the weight springs we use on modding our blasters, no thanks.   The Grey plastic, that is what we need to know about, is it weak ABS or maybe stronger like  HDPE?  if it's HDPE or High Density Polyethylene or even better Delrin, we could be looking at as much as 12 Kg's of modding potential.  My guess is that it is the plastic they use one the Firestrike grips, and that stuff is decently strong.

I think stronger and why?  This pic says it all.  

Notice the weaker ABS bolt sled, obviously they needed a stronger plastic for the gearing, I guessing you fix the Torque limiter problem, you are in business.

Now the rest of it, mod it like an SV Retaliator and you are in luck, maybe I can even put an Xplorer kit in it or my very own version of the Orange Mod works Stage 1+2+3 kit.  A friend of mine Trix1204  Thought that it looks complicated, nahh it ain't that bad, a Stampede is much more a mess and I wouldn't lose the rear grip.  It is however nice it is modular.

Final Verdict:  

Modability: 8.4 

Better than an EAT but not as good as a Retaliator (9.1) or a Old Longshot (9.8)  depending highly on the durability of the grey plastic and the need of that torque limited. 

Rate of fire: 9

It's a lever gun, duh.  I predict nice reloading built for better sustained fire than a Rapidstrike and more stable than a Rampage.

Size: 7

This I give a lower score because the stock removal does not keep the grip by default, the blaster is too big to be a pistol, too small to be a rifle.  It's meant to be a carbine only really, sawing off the rear stock would serve nothing but a personal preference.  I see no use to minimizing it and quite frankly, I think it would look dumb if you did.

I say buy it when it comes out.

I'll see you in Disneyland.

--Cartaya

Cartaya's Minimized RapidStrike Duct Tape Holster And Vids On How To Make Them, Finally.

So, how do you make one of Cartaya's neato duct tape holsters, everyone seen em, you know.....on the batbelt?

Well Today I made a new addition, since lately I am mainly picking people off with long range pistols, I decided I needed a 1 handed firing backup weapon to use.  I hardly ever need one, I am usually covered by people like who made this Minimized RapidStrike, Kyle Pettigrew, but you never know.  So here is a pic.

It works so good too, the vids how to make em are long, sorry, but this is no rush job, labor intensive and detail oriented.  Here is part 1, enjoy.  I will post part 2 when the upload completes.

Here is part 2, Draw and firing test at the end.

See You In Disneyland.

--Cartaya

When Zeee' Germans Lose, Look What Happens!

Murphy Ranch, back in the late 30's the Murphy Ranch was built by the Silver Legion (silver shirts) to wait for the Nazi's to take over Los Angeles.  They poured 4 million bucks of post Depression dollars to build a compound 1 mile from what is now Will Rogers Park.  The secret camp, was found not so secret because the day after pearl harbor, the mad men building this compound were taken away.  Spy's were all over this from day 1 as it would seem.  What was left was used by Hartford university for a time, later that grant was revoked and the rest burned down in 1978.  So me, Basic Nerf, our mutual friend Fujio (who scored me a Hydro Cannon and a UMB, to be seen later) Decided to see if it would be appropriate for an HvZ game.  Here is the video hosted by Basic Nerf's channel.

We had some fun, went down and back up several hundred stairs and had a battle to be seen in Part 2.

So what do I think of this place...

#1.  If you can't hike, you ain't tough, distance will weed out all the non hackers, I played HvZ 3 hours and 22 minutes with a Dislocated ankle for fuck sakes.  Part of the challenge in my opinion and possibly a great element of endurance for an HvZ game.

#2.  We can volunteer to clean some of the junk the week before to sweeten the deal with the Park Service.

#3. We can bring camping toilets.

#4. The place has a SERIOUS potential for a great "The Hills Have Eyes" kind of story to use in HvZ gameplay.

#5.  Some places will have to be called out of bounds or "no zombie zones" so people don't run in dangerous areas, e.g. the stairs straight up the mountain.

#6. We can also make a deal with the camp up the road, in return maybe they can help with a better place to get down the mountain and or supplies like toilets and heavy stuff like tables.

Did I regret only taking single shots and a brassed Retaliator (which wasn't used in battle)?  You will just have to see part 2.  Generally I like the Venue, but it needs to be fleshed out with a practice HvZ game or 2.

And...I didn't bring any booze to the hike, despite having a flask of Jack Daniels in the trunk, damnit!

I'll See You In Disneyland.

--Cartaya   

New Blaster Configuration, Is It Time?

So I have been to myself a lot lately, not much has there been to report till now, except the new trends in modded stock and homemade blasters.  The one annoying trend I see in modded stock, Flywheel Rapid Fire. Yesterday I was in Fullerton playing with the SCUN group, even there I saw a Stryfe used...as a backup blaster nicely used in it's role. Same as I intend to use a Minimized RapidStrike.  However most of the blasters fire came from Airguns and blasters that use hoppers.  I quickly found that after the wind picked up, Elite darts just couldn't cut though the wind.  Yes the Elite blasters were excellent for cover fire, but the heavier #6 washer felt tip slugs and my Soft Poly MHA domes were what got the kills.

"MY" trend lately has been, as you know, use a mean single shot Firestrike as a primary and leave  the Retaliator as backup.  It has been working my last 3 or 4 meets.  Yesturday even without a hopper, I faired well (covered by 2 very good teammates with Hopper blasters of course).  My point is that it is the Fidelity of the shot, skill of the shooter and abilities of your blaster that is going to get you to clip someone after yelling...

"Say Hello To My Little Friend!"

Fire, and win the round, rather than that winning dart, dancing all over the air and losing the round.

Fishtailing has been an issue as blasters become more and more powerful, the darts get wilder and wilder.  I find on mine, domes have worked best.  Recently in depth threads in Nerf Modders Welcome on facebook basically lead to the idea that compression of the dart as it flies out of the barrel make the surface jagged and thus, fishtail.  The faster you shoot it, the more air pressure it took to get it there, makes sense.

So you have to ask yourself, Is it time for a new blaster loadout?   You know, one where you don't just give up and pack some Trustfire Batteries, a Rapidstrike, 12-18 round magazines and just throw away ammo saying the hell with it?

I say that is dumb, work on stability of your shooting platform, your aim, why do you "need" to throw away 200 rounds of ammo when Cartaya can bag just as many fools with 15 rounds and an Ultra Match.  You don't "Need" to have that much firepower.   However, the RS and Stryfes are great blasters and some people I know, "Want" to and are great at it.

My friend Kyle Pettigrew, my favorite player because he is serious and damn good at Military Navy Seal type tactics.  He makes a great teammate for a guy like me who likes to pick people off from +100.  So there is a place, if you're good like Kyle with a FA or a Stryfe, go for it.

My problem, everyone thinks that's their place lately.  I have seen rounds where over 2000 darts are fired most hitting nothing but air.  I mean even Kyle owns an Ultra Match and can appreciate it, once made an awesome singled Longshot, had one for awhile now.  Wouldn't you know it, Singled Longshots are just now starting to be trending in NIC forums again.

See You In Disneyland.

--Cartaya

"Ultra Match 2" In Prototype Stages, With Possible Ven om Kit Versions "Cartaya Veno-Strike" and "Magna Veno-Strike" In The Works.

The Mega Magnus plunger tube, with it's surperior 1.25 Diuameter and 1.24 Cubic inches per running inch of volume and a inner counter sealed barrel that can possibly be used to make a clipfed version later barely, with modification of the tube and the Firestrike shell.

The result is lots of air 2.6 cubic inches rather than 2.1 compatible with the same plunger with a new O-ring.  But there is more to this falls new versions of Firestrike insanity, let me explain.

First off, this prototype is using a brass coupler prototype for use with thinner grey darts, the new version will use a 9/16th brass barrel all the way to the Plunger tube but allow a 17/32nds coupler to be used for rear loading as this video shows.

These can even be pre/loaded as shotshells with me playing with the idea on the Bird of Prey.

It pulled about 80 flat each dart, not bad, but that's not all campers.

I am currently in talks with Master NIC Modder Ven om to help make the ultimate Firestrike yet.  3 types, the standard Veno-Strike which is his kit as he originally intended, The Cartaya Veno-Strike which uses the Ven om kits and possibly higher yields with an Ultra Match Firestrike and a new custom version which uses the largest plunger length a Magnus tube can be used in a Firestrike called the "Cartaya Magna Veno-Strike."  I am giving him proper credit and fair share part of the commission if it becomes a reality that they are to be sold as finished units.

But speaking of that, now were talking expensive, springs, taking apart a Mega Magnus Blaster, Ven om's commision and mine.  But think of it, no longer stuck to 1 yield of springs once installed, possibly more power (21 kg's or better) and a HELL of a lot more range with a system that is more user friendly and holds up better over time.

Until then, build more darts.

Your Friend In Space

--Cartaya

Future Issues Of Nerf, Part 1.

Park Legality:

At what point are the blasters going to meet opposition and why playing in public parks.  What I have seen so far is in general not opposition to Nerf blasters, but the commotion such an event with almost 100 people battling with them can make. One such scenario has been the ban of Humans Vs. Zombies from Mission Oaks park in Camarillo, CA.  This park is a nature area between housing tracts, perfect for an HvZ game.  Residence around the park got alarmed at people running around with technicolor blasters and getting too close to their fences trying to avoid Zombie tags.  It is a park, it is a public place, we don't get mad at softball games that can draw 100's of fans, do we?

I have seen people get upset at other problems they include but not limited to:

*Bullhorns, to rally the event.
*Dart's left over from battle left out in the park.
*Shooting of bystanders.

Without the ability of public play, why play Nerf?

Portability of Modded Blasters.

 As single shot pistols reach in the future much easier to attain 100 foot ranges, we could see more controversy.

It used to be, before the Air Zone Panther came out, the smaller the blaster, the less potential it has for power.  Well the Panther, made all blasters, at one point, that came originally as stock, equal, Small or large. This of course included ones kids can pack in their lunch boxes.  It was the cheap, small, easy to mod 100+ blaster of it's day.  Efforts were made to make the tanks smaller, but so many of them were made already.

This didn't seem to ban small blasters, or put ridiculous limits on them but one has to wonder, if they ever will.  Remember the origins of Nerf blasters were originally single shot pistols, there is nothing more challenging and fun than fighting a war with a single shot that can do above 130 flat.  Even if we don't want to terrorize the teachers, students, Disney employees, movie theater patrons, ect. With the advancement of Nerf modding techniques, we could see more trouble on the horizon.

Mod Limits:

Blasters get more and more powerful the more meets I go to, mine do, but so does everyone elses.  Trustfire batteries are all over benches, Few Retaliators and Rampages have stock springs anymore and the color of white PVC and gold Brass appear more common every meet I go to.  Seldom to I see an injury, or someone bitching at me that the blasters I have are too painful, but is it on it's way?

Why do I mod?  to have better tactical advantage in a stock or modded stock war.  Obviously, if mod limits get tighter, less modding is done.  This could lead to a lack of development in Nerf mod technology.  What this could do, is make Airsoft and Paintball more feasable and Nerf to become unpopular.  This is why I dislike Mod limits, even in a HvZ game.

Underselling Modded Nerf Blasters:

I hear it every day "hey, the Firestrike is only a $10 blaster, why do you charge $89.99 for a 16 Kg Ultra Match".  I see many cave in, with great ideas and products sell for too cheap or barely enough to pay the shipping.  This is a move to keep things reasonable, cheap. The problem is if you do that, the modder making the great blaster, isn't supported to keep doing his work and make a career out of it.  What usually happens is that they guy who could have made blaster parts with a CnC for much cheaper, keeps having to do it by hand, it isn't as good as it should be and eventually it doesn't go anywhere.

The idea needs to not just be development, but also reward.  For another type of market does exist that is not accessible to the everyday consumer unless they are members of Nerf Haven or various Facebook forums.  My goal is to make these available on Big 5 and Wal-Mart shelves, the only way to do that, mass production.  A mod company must make a fair margin to stay in business, or else.

Blaster Legality of Modded Nerf Products:

When does a blaster stop being a toy? Start being an action sport weapon purely?  An extremely grey area.  One that comes up with my firends, family and fellow Nerfers every day.  But no body has the answer.  For now, the Ulltra Match according to Manhattan Beach PD is a Toy, misuse and bored housewives may change that one day.  And how much of that would be the Modders fault, or the people taking shots at lifeguards with em :)  (All full of ideas today ain't I :) )

See You in Disneyland.


--Cartaya

Fire Sale?

Holy snikes!

A star shot for $10!  Retaliator $12! A sweet revenge for less than 10 bux!  One has to ask, what the hell is going on!  There is a catch, this is not the store price, making me think that the warehouse there are lots of these.  You have to buy it online, and all in the week before I get paid for the month, Pouty!

But I have dealt with bad timing all my life.  Could it be next years stuff is that good?  Or is it some purchasing agent at Targets early retirement party for overbuying and we are also celebrating?!

So go clean house folks, there's like 11 items on sale.

I'll See You In Disneyland

--Cartaya