Bolt Chrono Test

The Test

The bolt comparison test consisted of the four aftermarket bolts, the MAXair, the IPB Werm Delrin, the VooDoo Delrin and the DEZign Venturi as well as the stock venturi Impulse bolt.  The setup consisted of the following:

• A non-Vision Impulse was used with a VooDoo Full Flow installed.
• The entire gun was cleaned and lubed, including the Max-Flow, prior to the test.
• The Dwell was not adjusted once the test started.
• The output pressure on the max-flow was set at 145psi.
• For the test the air source was a NitroDuck 90/4500 preset compressed air tank running on gun.
• The paint used in the test was RP Premium (the new paper like shell)
• The barrel was a 10" Freak with a .687 insert.

As you can see once the VooDoo Full Flow is installed in an Impulse it removes the large velocity gains normally introduced by installing a Delrin bolt.

Thanks to the scale at the local US Post Office I have included table #3 to illustrate the weight difference between each bolt.

Results:

Average FPS

	Average	Score
DEZign Venturi	292.15	1
Stock	286.70	2
IPB Werm	283.45	3
MAXair	280.10	4
VooDoo	279.30	5

• The DEZign bolt was the only bolt that increased velocity over the stock bolt.

Standard Deviation

	STD	Score
MAXair	1.79	1
VooDoo	2.17	2
Werm	2.31	3
DEZign Venturi	2.41	4
Stock	3.36	5

• The MAXair was the most consistent bolt of those tested, having the least amount of standard deviation.  The VooDoo bolt was second and the Werm bolt was third.

Best Performance

Taking the scores from Average FPS and Standard Deviation and adding them together we should be able to see which bolt is the best all around bolt from this test.

	Average	STD	Score
DEZign Venturi	1	4	5
MAXair	4	1	5
IPB Werm	3	3	6
Stock	2	5	7
VooDoo	5	2	7

 

Conclusion

If you need maximum efficiency with consistency look at a DEZign Venturi bolt.   If price is an issue, look at the MAXair which was not as efficient but was significantly more consistant.  For a balance of consistency and efficiency, look at the IPB Werm bolt.

My theory is that without the VooDoo Full Flow the weight of the bolt plays a huge roll in the velocity gains seen when installing aftermarket bolts.   This is because a lighter bolt is easier to move and therefore requires less pressure to do so.  Remember that on an Impulse WITHOUT a VFF, the air is fed into the valve which then feeds into the air passage on the side of the body that feeds the solenoid.  When an Impulse without a VFF is fired, air flowing to the solenoid is sucked away, lowering the solenoid's pressure, as the valve opens and propels the ball.   This would result in a heavier bolt needing more pressure to hold the valve open.

Once a VooDoo Full Flow is installed on an Impulse, the velocity gains of an aftermarket bolt are not as significant.  When the VFF is installed on an Impulse, the same pressure is applied to the solenoid each and every shot, so the weight of the bolt does not effect velocity as much.

Any aftermarket bolt will still give you the advantages of low maintenance and reduced kick.  Not having to put Dow 33 on the bolt will increase accuracy because there will not be any Dow seeping past the bolt to the bolt face and then sticking to the balls.  The lighter bolt will still noticeably reduce the amount of kick the Impulse has when cycling.

I guess what I am saying, when it comes to aftermarket bolts on an Impulse with a VFF, buy the one that you feel looks good, because they will all perform about the same.

Special thanks to Shawn "Wild Child" Foti from Team Chill Factor for hanging out and shooting my Impulse over the chrono while I recorded the numbers.