Raspberry Pi “Stinger” blaster makes ordinary Nerf guns look tame

In a nutshell: A talented maker has taken things to the next level with his homebrewed “Stinger” blaster. This meticulously designed, feature-packed toy puts Nerf’s premium offerings to shame, setting a new standard for what a DIY blaster can achieve.

The Stinger has been nearly a year in the making, with creator JustFPV1 fine-tuning it to create what he calls the “world’s most advanced Nerf blaster.” Judging by its features, that bold claim might actually be spot-on.

Let’s start with the brains: a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller running on a custom PCB that connects all the hardware subsystems. These include an IR gate for magazine detection and a sharp display that shows all the settings, adjustable via a joystick. The display even slides out to reveal a live ammo counter, reminiscent of Master Chief’s iconic assault rifle from Halo. Plus, you can save up to five different firing profiles for quick swapping.

Firepower comes from a dual-stage brushless drivetrain, precisely calibrated for accurate RPM synchronization between the motors. This setup enables trigger response times of under 100ms from a standstill.

According to JustFPV1, the Stinger’s muzzle velocity is “comfortably above 200 feet per second” (FPS). Although that speed doesn’t rival modern rifles at around 3,900 FPS, it’s still fast enough to leave a mark if it hits the wrong (or right) spot.

The Stinger also boasts a custom solenoid system capable of firing an impressive 35 darts per second, along with advanced features like jam detection.

All that firepower is housed in a sleek, metal chassis with aluminum side panels featuring a brushed finish. JustFPV1 points out that these metal components also act as a heatsink for the internal motors. For added stability, there’s even a carbon fiber stock that opens and locks into place with a satisfying click – though from what we can tell, recoil isn’t really an issue here.

Despite the heavy-duty materials and complex electronics, JustFPV1 claims the Stinger has an impressively slim profile, measuring just 28mm at its widest point.

Safety hasn’t been overlooked, either. The Stinger includes a gyro sensor to prevent firing when pointed downward or upward, a main power fuse, and the option to fully power off the blaster. The battery is even soft-mounted to enhance its longevity.

You can see the Stinger in action on the creator’s Reddit post, with build details explained in his YouTube video. If you’re interested in owning one, you’ll need to reach out to him through his dedicated Instagram page.