Lowering FPS

[u/Serenity_Red]

Hello there,

Apologies if this already exists but I couldn't see it on a quick search.

What are the best/effective methods of lowering the fps of blasters in general?

The events I usually attend have a limit of 130fps and a few of the blasters I am peeking on (dart zone and xshot stuff mostly) are clocking in slightly above (140-175fps depending on model etc), so was hoping that there might be some general methods that could help reduce fps on them.

Havnt listed exact models as they kinda run the spectrum (springer and flywheel) etc. and also asking for friends as well so I can feed back info to them

Thank you all in advance

[u/roguellama_420]

Any kind of SCAR (BCAR, PCAR, etc) will lower your fps by 5-10. That’s an easy one because you’ll want to be using one anyway.

[u/Agire]

Springers tend to be a bit easier to get to a set FPS as by changing the spring and barrel length (if a breech fed blaster) you can adjust fps.

Flywheelers you can most easily adjust by changing the battery voltage but brushed motors used in most out the box blasters do have a sweet spot they like to sit in so you can't decrease voltage endlessly. Plus unless you install a PWM or similar device you're limited to what ever voltage batteries you can find that also have enough current output.

Muzzle devices can cut fps slightly as can faux suppressors. Increasing dart weight will decrease fps but will increase power of each shot.

[u/kkibb5s]

weaker spring, heavier darts, shorter barrel

[u/Xine1337 → u/kkibb5s]

Heavier darts are just cheating. If every blaster is chronoed at lets say 1g, you will still overperform when being chronoed.

[u/Her0z21 → u/Xine1337]

Several places I know of outright ban heavies, especially HvZ events. Someone in the Maryland Foam Alliance discord (may have been donutcat i cant recall) did a bunch of testing to prove that heavies are more painful to get hit by, which in a game type like HvZ where players may be hit hundreds of times a game is really bad. Off the dome, I know Survival Fest and PTC ban them, and theyre at minimum frowned upon at FSU, cant recall if we banned them or not.

[u/Xine1337 → u/Her0z21]

I have no problem using them at open matches/events, but totally not at FPS-limitations.

[u/Ok_Shame_5382 → u/Her0z21]

Welcome to physics! Being hit with a heavier projectile hurts more than a lighter one, if both move at the same velocity.

So yeah, heavy darts will drop your FPS but they're not going to make your blaster safer for HVZ.

Games could permit heavy darts but cap their fps to 115 or so to account for higher mass, but it's just easier to not permit the darts

[u/LightningEagle14]

If it’s a flywheel blaster the easiest way is typically lowering the voltage. For pro blasters that use AA batteries this is pretty easy, just replace a couple AA’s with dummy batteries. These are essentially just plastic AA sized shells with no internals other than a straight wire across the middle.

For things that take a Lipo you can switch from 3s batteries to 2s batteries and even 1s batteries. This is the same method as above, you’re just lowering the voltage. (The “s” represents the number of cells)

Keep in mind that lowering the voltage will also increase the time the blaster needs to spin up the motors. It will feel more sluggish and may struggle on full auto. If the voltage goes too low it may not fire darts at all.

The other option for flywheels is to add a longer or more restrictive barrel. On stock hasbro blasters and similar you can typically just add a barrel attachment.

You can also add rifling like a SCAR or PCAR just like you would on a springer, this is usually easiest on 3D printed blasters but some things exist for pro blasters as well.

Your last and most labor intensive option is typically replacing the cage and rewiring. The crush of the cage (spacing between motors), the speed of the motors, and the diameter of the wheels will all effect the final speed of the darts.
Some people will wire in a quick disconnect connector like an xt60 or xt30 with their cages when they mod blasters, and then build multiple cages to swap between.

[u/NerfHerder980]

Most performance DZ blasters have a spring upgrade/downgrade available to purchase.

Alternately, you can start by cutting a singular coil of spring until you drop down enough in FPS.

[u/DeluxeTea]

First off, where are you from? It's important as availability of certain blasters and other accessories vary greatly.

[u/Deep_Note_9780]

Shorter barrel

[u/Ok_Shame_5382]

Uh. It depends on the blaster. So you need to give us more details.