Blaster Breakdown 23 (November 2021) - Dart Zone Max Stryker - free, cheap & easy mods (+ Nexus Pro)

[@mattorama]

I thought I was the only one who shaved off the full length magazine release! Oh, maybe, on a total whim I want to shoot completely inaccurate full length darts... said no foam flinger ever.

[@MinistryofFoam]

Great guide for a great off-the-shelf blaster. I particularly liked the spacers which will allow users to compete in different games with different FPS caps.

[@Thesnakerox]

I've been trying to find ways to improve my blaster's performance without having to spring too much money on components that are 3D printed, and therefore have a greater chance of failing. This video is absolutely perfect for that! Will be doing most of these mods later on! Also, this blaster is actually somewhat dry-fire safe because the plunger is padded. However, I do know that depriming the blaster is better when using stronger springs!

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks, glad you found it useful. MS & NP are great platforms to get into modding, that's for sure! You might be interested in looking at my Nexus Pro XPT mod guide too - a relatively straightforward mod giving much higher performance due to greater air volume 😎

[@jeffreycarman2185]

Thanks so much for this video. I probably had heard about the max stryker barrel being so useless, but I am actually going to have to replace my barrel now. Thanks again!

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Glad you found it useful 😎 This one (and the NP) are so easy to mod, you have to believe that DZ did it on purpose. Which is great for us!

[@TooSkramz]

Thanks for this video! I've only recently returned to the hobby and most of my experience is with blasters from 10+ years ago. I finally caved and bought a Stryker on sale, you saved me a lot of time by outlining the immediate mods I could do. I love tinkering but this made my life that much easier.

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Glad to hear it, and welcome back 😁 You'll see a lot has changed!

[@TooSkramz]

No kidding! For instance, I didn't even know Rival existed until about a year ago. In the past few months I went from only having a few of my childhood blasters to having...a couple hundred. This hobby is all consuming 😂

[@dennistuinei7150]

Cheers Bruv! I’ve watched this video at least 100,000 times because I sincerely enjoy the information, the narration and the sound of your backyard.

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

I'm not sure my KZbin analytics show quite that many views, but thanks all the same 😎 Glad you enjoy 👍🏻

[@chill2n]

amazing video. we all need more content like this!

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Glad you enjoy it - I hope people can find it helpful 😎

[@therealMrGrey365]

Yup... time to buy and mod a Stryker

[@buckethead420]

best mod video out there. i like to actually mod, too. so many 3D plug and play kits out there nowadays... i really like diy my stuff with a dremel, cut down plastic parts and epoxy :-)

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Old school mod skills ftw 😎 There's always a sense of satisfaction getting something a bit janky to work well 😉 But I use kits too here and there, and if they get more people interested in modding then that's a great thing as well 👍🏻

[@m00k61]

Great vid

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks mate - hopefully some will find it helpful 😎

[@jamesbogensberger1179]

this such a great review and much better than other reviews. my question is why are you changing screws to hex screws? not sure im seeing the advantage

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks mate - replacing screws is just something I do for all my mods now. It eliminates the possibility of stripping the original Phillips head ones when I open and close the blaster over time. They're cheap to buy in bulk, so my attitude is why not?

[@jamesbogensberger1179]

That makes sense. I’ll look into it. I’m gonna go through your other vids. I really appreciate your this on though cause everything you did was simple but effective. Love the DiY nature of these tips. A lot of the community has lost sight of the home hobbyists 😁

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

@jamesbogensberger1179 lmao you're making me feel old 😎 But yeah, plenty of great blasters available nowadays, giving excellent performance out of the box. But there's something different about tinkering for your own enjoyment 😁

[@jamesbogensberger1179]

Well I’m 4 kids deep my brother, I’m starting to feel old as well 😉

[@TypingWithIsaac]

9:23 In my nexus pro, could I use my stock barrel as an outer covering for a 17/32nds brass tube? Or would I just order a section of aluminum/steel tubing that fits and cut it to size? Not sure when I'll upgrade my barrel, but I will eventually do it to get more FPS, and hopefully a little better consistency. Any help/advice is appreciated!

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

I think the stock barrel is too tight to fit 17/32" brass into - this alu I have is 1mm thickness, so the ID is 14mm. 17/32" is about 13.5mm, so it fits with some wiggle room (filled by epoxy). Other barrel options are Monkee Mods or Worker ones - ID is closer to 13mm but available in a variety of lengths. This is what I have in my HPA Nexus Pro.

[@haydenflemming7319]

What stock it that? And amazing vid btw!

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks mate 😎 It's a knock-off magpul CTR style one - I would have got it off Ali Express I expect.

[@okimoto3101]

hai Andrew, i realy like this stryker and not available in my country. do you think is worth it? i'm thingking to import this, but worrying because i saw the nexuspro had some issues with the buffer stock with / not upgrade spring.

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

What's your location? What do you want from the blaster? MS & NP are good for what they are, have some upgrade potential, but aren't as solid and long-lasting as other options.

[@okimoto3101]

@@andrewg_nerfmods ah oke thanks for the info, i'm fom Indonesia. in my community we only play 150fps max struglling to find parts and acces to 3dp. but some of e commerce start selling dart blaster from china and import service to buy dart zone in Singapore. :D

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

I would suggest looking into Worker products, with Prophecy or Swift. Prophecy is similar form factor to NP/MS, but much sturdier. You can get metal internals, and handle 150fps with ease. Swift will take you up to much higher fps (300 and beyond) but this may not be the right option for you if there are not games you can use this at. My experience with bringing Swift down to 150fps takes a bit of trial and error with springs, barrels, spacers etc. People in North America can get NP/MS very cheaply, so they're a good option. But for those of us in other parts of the world when the cost of shipping is taken into account, I think that there are better ways to spend your money. Plus, you get the fun of putting your blaster together yourself :) I have a build guide for the Prophecy in this playlist - have a look and see if you'd enjoy doing a build!

[@okimoto3101]

@@andrewg_nerfmods thanks for the recommendation 👍

[@jacoblewis437]

Hey Andrew, what is the name of that ergonomic foregrip you have? It looks really clean and I may want to purchase one myself.

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Hey mate - I literally just search "ergonomic foregrip" on Ali Express 😆 The listings change so I don't usually include product links, but I'm sure you'll be able to find it 👍🏻

[@hiitskino9887]

Hi, do you have a guide on how you made the custom barrel? I've been wanting to make one for my spamf

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

My local hardware store sells aluminium tubes with 16mm OD and 14mm ID. The OD of 17/32" brass is close to 13.5mm, so there's a little space between the two that I fill with epoxy. Once cured, I Dremel and sand a smooth chamfer on the end darts go in.

[@hiitskino9887]

@@andrewg_nerfmods is that bunnings by any chance or a different store?

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Yes indeed - look for Metal Mate.

[@hiitskino9887]

@@andrewg_nerfmods aight cheers! Much appreciated

[@bryzabone]

Nice 👌🏼

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks mate 👍🏻

[@mikedelatorre8275]

Im having trouble finding the replacement screws. Can you provide a link or specific size please?

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

I find them on eBay - search for "self tapping screw hex m2.6" and you should find them. You can get either black or silver colour. 10mm length will do the job here.

[@adamalvarez4528]

Hi does the angled pump grip help in a easier prime compared to the stock pump grip? Or is it just for esthetics

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

The short answer is yes 😆 Helping the prime depends a lot on the person using and the spring weight. From completely to vertical to completely horizontal and every angle in between, a different combination of muscles are engaged from hand to shoulder. And some people have longer arms than others, of course. The only real way to know if a certain grip makes a prime easier or harder for you, is to try it out and see.

[@adamalvarez4528]

@@andrewg_nerfmods I figured it might be a hands on thing, thanks for the reply

[@superfunforce8052]

Nice 👍🏻

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks mate 😎

[@tejasm1977]

great guide! What is the length of the original barrel given with the blaster stock internals?

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Glad you enjoy - I think the original barrel must be 15cm, or close to it.

[@tejasm1977]

@@andrewg_nerfmods awesome tysm!!!!

[@tejasm1977]

also andrew would 9/16 brass work in the stryker? I want to use full length darts for some matches thats why. I know short darts are better but its easier to find long darts during a war when I have to reload.

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

I think it's about 6 inches

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

9/16" won't give as good a seal on the dart - being a looser fit, some air will escape around the foam and fps will need lower. Long darts can be used in 17/32" barrels - if you're worried about smooth loading then you could have an initial section of 9/16 that goes into 17/32 - as long as the transition piece is very smooth (ie nice chamfer) then that could be a good solution for you.

[@n1ghtmar3mach1n3]

Does it matter if I use sheet metal or wood screws, so long as they're self-tapping?

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

I can't imagine it makes much difference - as long as they're not going to destroy the screw post. You could always test on a cheap blaster you don't care about first, to see how they go, before using on this one.

[@jamesschofield6264]

Im an aussie nerfer too and ive been trying get a stryker or nexus but i cant find it anywhere for less than $100 dollars where do you get them

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

You will not get either for under $100 first hand. You might find someone selling one second hand, though. Cost in the US plus shipping then here would mean that selling under $100 would be taking a loss. BlasterTECH is the best value that I know of.

[@jamesschofield6264]

@@andrewg_nerfmods ok thanks for the info

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Where are you located? Most cities have a group on FB where you could enquire about 2nd hands.

[@jamesschofield6264]

@@andrewg_nerfmods im located in newcastle which is about an hours drive from sydney

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

If you haven't already, I'd suggest joining the Sydney Nerf group - they have members all around NSW.

[@vincentfrenchii8523]

@ Andrew G; Do you have a good link where one can buy the acres you used in this video in the States?

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Acres? I think autocorrect has struck again 😆

[@vincentfrenchii8523]

Yes. Yes, it did. I meant to put screws…🤨😂

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Haha - makes sense 😆 Try searching for something like "Hex self tapping screws" on eBay - they all come from China, so I'd guess there's not much difference shipping to USA as shipping to Aus.

[@dirtbikemike2956]

Gg bro

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks mate

[@Valandar2]

Some of this is actually illegal in the US - specifically the removal of the safety.

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Oh, how so?

[@Valandar2]

@@andrewg_nerfmods The safety is required by US law. If you remove it, and a youngling gets ahold of it despite your best intentions, you are thus liable for anything that happens as a result.

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

@@Valandar2 Every single Nerf blaster has a warning molded into the shell saying not the modify it - surely any kind of mod would be illegal in the same way?

[@Valandar2]

@@andrewg_nerfmods No, because those warnings are from the company to cover their butts, and aren't required by law. The safeties are literally legally required.

[@flinging.in.the.static995]

Nice shirt

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

Thanks mate 😎

[@jons9239]

Where can we get that spacer!?

[@andrewg_nerfmods]

If you buy from BlasterTECH in Australia you'll get them thrown in for free. Out Of Darts sell similar, and other suppliers probably do to. You can also make your own with a piece of PVC or similar - just needs to be the right diameter to rest the spring against.