Board Thread:Questions and answers/@comment-31076655-20180513162530/@comment-27306930-20180519013120

I believe you Demon², I do. But the science isn't on our side. Nerf barrel attachments are intentionally designed to be purely aesthetic. In a properly functioning stock blaster, the dart and the barrel never come into contact with each other, physically or aerodynamically.

There's a lot of misinformation about Nerf barrel extensions because many people apply the characteristics and properties of real-steel barrels to Nerf blasters. Which is like comparing real cars to toy cars. It's blurred by the fact that many modders use brass or metal barrels, which behave more like real firearms. There are lots of articles that are not factual, or misinterpretations of how Nerf blasters actually work.

Some experts believe the phenomenon you are experiencing with reduced ranges using your barrel extension is caused by the darts improperly coming into contact with the inside wall of the barrel extension. In other words, the darts graze the inside of the barrel which causes a reduction in velocity, and induces instability to varying degrees. Personally, I know this was happening with a really long, very narrow barrel attachment I used on a Stryfe. The Retaliator barrel extension is also long and narrow, and is probably prone to this same phenomenon.

If that's true, then it has more to do with the blaster than the barrel extension itself.