# Nerf Technology **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700 "2013-03-01T05:16:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reyemile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/1 "2013-03-01T05:16:19Z")
It seems that every year, Nerf releases a new cadre of toy dart guns with all kinds of “new” features. Are they actually improving their guns, or is it just a gimmick? Specifically, in terms of accuracy, range, and rate of fire, how does a Nerf gun today compare to a comparable dart gun from 10 years ago? 20? 50? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/2 "2013-03-01T16:21:35Z")
Yep, they’re improving. But they have to do it in ways that comply with safety regs, I believe. [Check out this article](http://www.wired.com/design/2012/09/how-nerf-became-worlds-best-purveyor-of-big-guns-for-kids/all/) from Wired from last year about their history and their latest gun. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/3 "2013-03-01T16:37:37Z")
Don’t know the answer to the OP but I just wanted to say that I wish I had one of those original dark purple footballs they used to make. I loved those. > [@Reyemile](#): > > Are they actually improving their guns, or is it just a gimmick? Probably no more of a gimmick than, say, car makers making a new model every year. It probably does drive sales. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/4 "2013-03-01T16:57:01Z")
I think they’re definitely improving. A year or two ago I was able to take the Nerf gun we got for a nephew and shoot down the RC helicopter that we got for my father-in-law. I doubt I would have been able to do that with the Nerf guns of my youth. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/5 "2013-03-01T17:04:20Z")
I wonder how much the Nerf gun sales are to adult nerds rather than actual children. They’ve been a fixture in several offices in which I worked. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/6 "2013-03-01T17:40:17Z")
Last year Pop Sci had an article on how the Vortex Lumitron is the longest-ranged Nerf gun yet [How It Works: 20-Yard Shootout | Popular Science](http://www.popsci.com/content/20-yard-shootout) Does anyone know if the Lumitron is particularly better than the other Vortex guns? I don’t want to pay extra just for glow-in-the-dark stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/7 "2013-03-01T17:48:32Z")
_Wired Magazine_ just had an article on this. IIRC there is improvement from model to model. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/8 "2013-03-01T18:09:23Z")
> [@akennett](#): > > I think they’re definitely improving. A year or two ago I was able to take the Nerf gun we got for a nephew and shoot down the RC helicopter that we got for my father-in-law. I doubt I would have been able to do that with the Nerf guns of my youth. Quite a family. Thanksgiving must be a bloodbath. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/9 "2013-03-01T18:54:02Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > _Wired Magazine_ just had an article on this. IIRC there is improvement from model to model. Post #2… ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nerf-technology/651700/10 "2013-03-02T03:41:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I wonder how much the Nerf gun sales are to adult nerds rather than actual children. There seems to be a big market for aftermarket steampunk conversions, I wonder who’s buying those things? > **[Steampunk nerf gun - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?page=1&q=steampunk%2Bnerf%2Bgun&ref=related)** > > Check out our steampunk nerf gun selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. [sup]I’m not affiliated with any nerf products, steampunk or no.[/Sup]