Blowgun Hunting Ballistics 

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this notification!!! I bet many people will feel the same!!

This is the best video on Blowguns, ever created sir. Well done! Thank you for all your efforts and time you spent, to put this up, I really appriciate it!

Wow, I'm thankful to have found this channel just today, but even more thankful that you decided to put out another video four years later. Please keep making videos. Your straightforward style takes me back to a better time on RU-vid, and you have a talent for teaching.

WOW !! Everything I wanted to know about Blowguns. I bought a Blowgun in approximately 1986 and had tons of fun with it. I don't remember whatever happened to it, but I have a new one now. And WOW have things changed,

Increase in velocity with a longer blow gun will depend on explosive lung capacity of the person using it. My grandson got a pretty good velocity increase up to 10 feet while my greatest velocity came with 7 foot long blow gun.

Amazingly comprehensive. This video is so necessary for effective and ethical use of blowguns for hunting. Watching this also can save money, by informing the customer as to what they need to use. I learned so much, and haven't even seen his video on sights yet. I found tubing online, but it's specs are rounded to .62 ID. I just purchased the CS 4' standard, but it's difficult to find other models and any accessories now. May have to make our own everything now to stay in the big bore power.

I just came across your videos because I’m a new blow gunner so I’m doing a bit of research. Your videos were the first to come up when I was looking for ballistics on different darts. I know this is 2 years old but I hope your doing well and still blow gunning. Thanks for sharing this info!

John, thank you for this! I can tell you put some effort into the video. I'm getting back into blowguns after a hiatus due to busy work schedule, and my accuracy isn't what it once was. I was a member of the old "blowguns lefora" before it went to a different format and everyone left. I still have my 5ft one-piece Pro, 4ft 2-piece, and a .50 and .40 4ft. Just bought a Tim Wells CS model. I was looking at some of the new darts available, and saw some carbon fiber darts that go for $30 each! That's just too much. I did buy some broadheads from FSFF that dwarf the CS broadheads. Definitely a close-quarters dart, but devastating. Disappointed to see that the stun dart is unavailable, but I still have like 30 of them. Yeah, those multi-darts are horrible. Haven't found one good use for them. Anyway, off to watch your accuracy video. Thanks again.

This is one of the easiest effective weapons to make. I used to make them with copper tube, modeling glue, thread, coat hanger, and clear plastic bottle or overhead projector sheets.

Very cool vid! Been making my own blowguns for years. Had great fun breaking the laws back in California. Blowguns are not legal there. They also have some pretty stringent hunting laws. i had a 12" little piece of 1/4" brass pipe and made darts out of these Q-tips with hollow plastic stems, cut in half with half a round wooden toothpick for the point, that fit the brass tube perfectly. i went hunting flies with them. Got pretty good, easy to get within about 10" of the game, could hardly miss. That was breaking two CA laws - being in possession of a blowgun and hunting without a license (if you take their requirements at their word, there is literally one thing and one thing *only* which does *not* require a license to hunt there - rattlesnakes.) But you need to be fair to the smaller bore tubes. In South America, where these things put meat on the table regularly, they use a smaller diameter but much longer blowgun, typically around 13'. Anything under about 8' is a kids toy. They use these to pick monkeys out of the tops of 120' tall trees (like off the top of a 12 story building) using darts resembling bamboo skewers with plant fibers like raw cotton wrapped around the trailing end to size it to the bore (they don't have to run the monkey through with these, just get the poison-tipped dart to stick). With your .625 diameter blowgun, you're running out of air at about 7'. Doing a little math, π(.625ˆ2)X84"=~103 cubic inches. 103/π(.5ˆ2)=~130", so, for the same volume in a .5 diameter tube, you'd need something nearly 11' long. Build one and i think you'd be surprised with the performance. Your projectile is accelerating for a longer time... Be fair. ;-) But your 7' blowgun makes sense to me, impressive and a nice build. 😎 (liked, subscribed...) Still, got nothing on the Amazon belt-fed full auto versions - i.imgur.com/bweGKcD.jpg See? 🤔

I'm so happy that this video exists, thanks!

Outstanding and a must see for serious shooters

Thank you sir, I used this video in making my decision on buying a blowgun👍👍

Looking forward to more...

I just came across your site. OMG! Thank you for the time consuming data collection and interpretations. Your passionate research has definitely elevated the sport to the next level and offered me many explanations about my 4 foot Cold Steel performance/limitations!!! Blowgun manufacturers and their R & D department should review your resarch to enhance their accessories like the broadhead darts. Again, awesome work!!!

Hi John glad to see your back and sharing another great video on blowguns. I have been shooting blowguns way back when I was about 13. Making them first out of electrical conduit and aluminum. Then buying a few different versions of the Cold Steel blowguns. What I have found after doing a lot of shooting with the different Cold Steel darts, they all have one shortcoming in common. The dart cones. I know in one of your videos you addressed how to deal with dart cones that became deformed from packaging. That was a big help. But I still found them not to be very consistent. I had 3D printed some cones to experiment with and from my limited testing with them they seem better. Not having a chronograph I don't have any numbers to share. If you ever wanted to try some of the cones out I have printed let me know I would be glade to send you some to run some tests on them. Can't wait for the next video. Vinny L.

Excellent video. Very informative and well made. Thank you.

Awesome.....I made my own blowguns after I saw stuff about them on RU-vid and when I tried it and witnessed the accuracy the power the ability I couldn't believe what I have made I used some sharp carpet taks and lottery ticket forms for the cone shape rear of dart also I found barbecue wooden scewers that where much longer than carpet taks so I had two separate types of ammo both worked amazingly accurate I must say my carpet tak ammo went deep deep deep into my bedroom wall straight through plaster lodged into the breeze block the other side of my wall into the next door neighbours breeze block I had trouble looserining my dart also I short my carpet tak dart ammo into a hard leather slingshot target spinner with surprising result my ammo pierce right through the hard leather spinner target and it took my ages to work dart loose trying not to damage my spinner any more the wooden scewers ammo I experimented with different lengths of dart shaft i must conclude the natural long length of the barbecue scewers were perfect size ammo it flew straight towards target penetrating really deep I was so shocked I use my 4 ft PVC pipe most often but I sometimes use a longer pipe sometimes shorter I have many different pipes I make darts for and use I stopped using the metal pipes because it would cause rust always do I knew to maybe use stainless steel for blowdart pipe but I love the PVC pipe because it's light and doesn't cause rust etc my longest blowdart pipe someone who was a friend of mine an elderly gentleman who is an inventor saw my original pipe as I demonstrated to him and a group once they were all intrigued and couldn't believe the accuracy and power so my inventer friend the next week at the group meeting he came in with a pipe for me it was a useable diameter that was close tothe calibre if my other pipes and it was longer than any pipe I owed it is made out of awierd material but hey it works awesomely it is clear Perspex I tell you now the penetration from the darts I made specifically for this goes deeper than all my other darts and the distance I can shoot with it is further than I imagined I could shoot it only down side is it's not practical to walk around with 5 ft plus length pipe although super light as it's clear Perspex etc . ...stay blessed people peace

This is the second time watching your video. I like the ballistic data you have made and collected. You have lot of information and hope you will have another video soon. Thank you for your time effort to making this video.

Very good explanation.

Fantastic your back,

3 years wow. Great vid

Excellent, excellent,excellent, EXCELLENT!! So glad I've subscribed!

excellent video, as always_ Thanks

Well done video 👌🏾

Great video! Looking forward to the next ones!

This is some awesome information to have. Thank you for this!

Nice you finally came back

This is an awesome video , thank you sir!

I’m glad to see this channel put up more videos. Thanks!

Thanks! More please.

Excellent work and information! I don’t care for the names of the blow guns. The performance speaks for them.

Dude, thank you! I love scientific method applied to rad hobbies. I'm subscribing, you are concise and I appreciate the effort you put into your video.

Great video! Thanks for the hard work. I always went with the rule of thumb that the maximum effective range of a blowgun is ten times its length. This shows beyond doubt that my thumb is only so long. I think the Cherokee blowguns made of cane may benefit from lengths over six feet, but not aluminum tubes. The guys who shoot them generally say that benefit is accuracy, not speed anyway.

Just watched your video,good well made and extremely informative ,looking forward to next one. All the best from the UK .

Excellent video just starting in the theme and your videos are the best in the web, congrats from Uruguay 👍

Excellent video . I shared on a couple of forums . A video that positively promotes the sport . Keep up the good work .

Well done! The best video I have ever seen about blow guns. Kind regards from Germany.

Great video

I make my own darts and have found if I place the cone further down the dart with 6mm of the darts shaft sticking out the back they will shoot very tight groups and travel further. I believe but may be wrong that the air behind the cone is low pressure and turbulent causing drag and having the shaft as the last point reduces this affect to the point its noticeable.

Great info!

Great job!

Very cool man, great job all around thanks.

Love this content can't wait to use this in the field while I'm hunting for squirrels and rabbits

Excelente documental,

Great graphing.

very informing!

I’d love to learn more!!!! Liked and subscribed

Thank you! Excellent information. Liked and Subscribed :)

I'm sure glad that you've made it home :) Great job! Great Video!

Very good video Thanks for doing the work

Amazing video. From Italy , you are top👍

Neanderthal 1: Have you ever thought about the ballistic data that makes these blowguns so effective? Neanderthal 2: *Takes another hit of Opium* *grunts* *Fires a perfect shot bullseye on some bird that no longer exists midair* *Grunts and pounds chest* Neanderthal 1: BUT THE SCIENCE GREG. WHAT ABOUT THE SCIENCE?! Neanderthal 2: *eating raw bird with confused look on his face*

hes back

Yooo this dudes back

Thanks, John. Your videos are the best. As a slinger I really hope you try some modern latex on that slingshot.

Thank you for the awesome video. You should come to the blowgun section on the slingshot forum sometime. I hope more videos are on the way.

Exellent video I can't find anyway to get a slock master or similar in stock or even ship to the UK its so frustrating

Me who saw his vid a month ago when he said nxt vid realized he didn’t post two yrs then he posts it man what a surprise

I have been cutting the razor tip darts in half , they seem to fly faster truer.... I figure the cone pops off anyways so dart is still going to pass through yes

Here's a Tip for DIY Tig Welding Rod for Darts. Variety of Dia, And Various Metals Alum Stainless Mild Steel Titanium .Etc. Forge your own Points. Cheers!!

I just subscribed!

I can’t believe I am seeing a new vid ! nice video and very informative... So I believe I should make a 5ft blowgun as it would be best.

congrats for publishing the data. when is the blowing technique due for ?

Great video.....loved it....just some information on fishing with blow gun darts size of fishes we can try.size of dart weight of dart.practical distance for using dart for fishing...thanks a lot

nice

If i am not wrong the blowgun was popular in France between Loire coal miners because it helped clean their lungs. They used rifle barrels as blowtubes

John I appreciate you sharing your knowledge… I am looking for a new hobby and Learning how to purchase a blow gun and darts and blowing technique Thank you…

Very informative video. Would love to see a comparison for shorter and lower caliber blowguns. As I'm still not sure which sidearm I should go with, a 36in 40cal or a 24in 50cal (those are the only ones I can get where i live).

the breath of a competent man will easily exceed 230 fps with a big bore. thx your video

Hey there! Thank you for this video! I am a long time blowgunner, and, I'm very interested in where you purchased your aluminum tubing to make your own! I would love a 6" blowgun, but, due to shipping prices, I'd rather talk to someone who's done it! I prefer the 3mm thick walls of the professional cold steel big bore blowguns, but, having a helluva time finding something more than 1.5mm thick! Thanks again so much for this video, I subbed!!

Great video. I'm just getting into blowguns and found your video really informative. I recently purchased a CS 5'. It shoots well. I had wanted to build a custom gun but haven't been able to locate any .625 caliber tubing. Any ideas on a source?

Hi. Good job on videos. Did you use EMT tubing for your custom guns?

I'd be interested to see the velocity of a 8ft .50!

Where were you able to get your hands on the .625 cal aluminum tubing?

I’d think the stun dart would lose more velocity than the razor tip. Because of size and design the stun dart definitely has more drag

Hi - Firstly thank you so much for setting out some systematic info on blowgun. I know there has been very little because I've looked for it. Think I have worked some good speed into my system so been trying to get a more accurate idea: Yesterday did some video but in the first test could not see the dart at all. In the video editor saw two distinct sound blips which I believe were the fire and strike sounds 0.04 sec apart. Shooting at a 5 meter distance. If that's moderately accurate it means somewhere around 300 fps. The dart is about six inches of bamboo skewer with a copper ferrule /nose on the front. Driving cone is wrapped from a specially shaped piece of Ozalid trace and superglued. Weighs around 8-10 grams I guess. Having shot my mouth off before having produced good evidence seems not too smart; but I'm pretty confident that I've got some real thwack into this thing. Will try and do a better video test in next day or so.

Will you please do a video on the Slim Reaper dart and the whisper razor dart?

I really wish some one would make a hunting dart around 75 grains, but that had better F.O.C. for improved accuracy with a replacement cone. I can’t seem to find replacement cones any where for the CS big bore darts.

This was such an awesome video! Great job! Where do you recommend getting the one piece tube for a custom gun from?

Please make more blowgun videos!!!!! Can you please tell me what size tubing to buy for a .625 build, I am having trouble getting it in my area. Everybody says it’s not sold by the id size

Any one know a place to get drawn tubing.625 inner?

Very interesting. Thank you, Too bad you don't make videos about the subject anymore.

Could u recommend a 5 to 6 ft one piece blowgun for hunting brand name and where to purchase

Where did you source your .625 tubing and how much did it cost? I am wanting to build a blowgun because what I want isn't commercially available, but I can't fund the right tubing. Everything I can find is .625 (5/8) OD, I'm pretty sure I need .625 ID

Wish u would have tested the 2 piece cold steel and the slock master too. To see if it really matters vs the one piece ones.

would be the coldsteel 4' model also enough for hunting squirrelsized animals?

Have you looked into darts with spin vanes and also pulling the barrel through with CRC/PTFE dry lube? It decreases the friction on my air rifle so much it exceeds the UK legal power limit by over 4 foot pounds so from 12 ft-lb to 16 ft-lb when both the barrel and pellets have been treated.. that's a huge gain.

Wait a second. I’ve seen this guy somewhere before! I think he’s got his picture on the FWC website talking about the fish brain app. Is that you. Holding a giant fish?

I'd like to see how hard the stun dart hits at different distances.

Have you ever determined the volume of air being used to launch a blowdart from human lungs? I’ve been tinkering with co2 powered blowguns, since you can achieve as high as 700fps with pressurized gas in a blowgun ( nearly 5X what a king will produce) however I’m having trouble finding proof of concept with big bore darts.

Where can I find the tubing to make my own?

So, how does the extra length change accuracy? I love this blowgun. I have a 6 ft two piece. This hits hard. It however needs to be practiced with for good hits for consistent kills. Bad hits equal many more shots needed to get the job done. Shot placement is everything, and you have to practice practice practice your shooting and placement.

How can I calculate my nail dart's Ballistic Coefficient?

Where can I get those one piece 5 to 6 feet blowgun? I have checked the web including Tim Wells web site and they only sell those 4 ft and those detachable one.

whats the best blowgun and dart to eliminate nuisance turkeys on my own property in virginia

Where did you end up finding .62 tubing? Anything I find that is close is never smooth on the inside 😟

Which caliber will shoot faster(with the same length of tube)? .40 or a .60 caliber blowgun?

Where can I find .625 tubing? I'd love to make a 7 footer.

I mean theoritically the maximum energy of a blow gun depends on volume of your sign, for example if you use a .625 big bore for 160cm long, it will be equal to a 12mm blow gun in 240cm metres long for its maximum energy theoritically. The maximum speed is also depends on its calibre and your air pressure, the 12mm blowgun will be 1.7 times faster than a 16mm blowgun on its maximum speed theoritically if you blow a very light projectile with no resistance. generally a 12mm blowgun will be perfect in power, speed, ballistic and accuracy, it will be perfect for small prey like bird or monkey, especially when you are using a venom darts which can be perfect in aero shape. but a big bore blowgun can hunt a larger prey with broad head because low speed means low resist when cutting flesh with a certain mount of energy.