Nelson Pump Stroke, Aluminum vs Plastic Handles

[procarbie]

Something I’ve been wondering about, and sorry if this is kind of a dumb question: how does the pump stroke of a Nelson with an aluminum pump handle, like a Line SI, differ in feel from one with plastic handle, like a Trracer? Of course there’s more that goes into the feel of the action than just the material of the pump handle—but in my mind wouldn’t an aluminum pump going back and forth on an aluminum barrel just cause friction/be grindy feeling/scratch the hell out of the barrel? And yet I’ve heard the Line had one of the best pump strokes of any Nelson ever, so it must not be like that—but how? Different densities? Maybe the plating of the metal had something to do with it? Help me understand MCB

[Chuck E Ducky]

The SI Line has dual side pump rods. It kind of floats on the barrel. There barrels are smooth and thick and the handle is beveled on the outside edges that ride on the barrel. It’s got a smooth pump stroke as long as the barrel and pump handle stay clean,

The plastic Trracer handle is very similar in design it’s just plastic. They both are going to feel very similar

CCI uses a plastic handle and the pump rod is keyed into the trigger frame and grabs the bolt underneath close to inline with the barrel. The plastic handle is smooth and works well.

All Nelson feel very similar. You might get a lil more feel out of the aluminum variants. While the Plastic ones may be a bit smoother as the drag a lil less and absorb more of the feel in the pump stroke. Regardless we are talking about splitting hairs here. It’s best to find one with the features you want. Trigger feel is what really changes with the different variants.

Like the Ghost, RTR, Carter sliders feel much different then the hinge of the SI Line, Nelspot, CCI, Trracer

[procarbie]

The SI Line has dual side pump rods. It kind of floats on the barrel. There barrels are smooth and thick and the handle is beveled on the outside edges that ride on the barrel. It’s got a smooth pump stroke as long as the barrel and pump handle stay clean,

CCI uses a plastic handle and the pump rod is keyed into the trigger frame and grabs the bolt underneath close to inline with the barrel. The plastic handle is smooth and works well.

Both feel very similar. You might get a lil more feel out of the aluminum variants. While the Plastic ones may be a bit smoother as the drag a lil less and absorb more of the feel in the pump stroke. Regardless we are talking about splitting hairs here. It’s best to find one with the features you want.

So the reason I’m asking is because I’ve got a SI handle coming from Bacci that I want to use for a FSR Empire Trracer project I’m working on. I bought it partially because I dig the aesthetic/prefer the feeling of metal to plastic, but also because it’s a one armed handle (pic below) and I plan on rigging up a funky little adaptor that will connect from where the arm connects to the bolt on the left side, over the top of the body to the right side, so the pump will still apply even pressure on the bolt but leave the right side of the marker completely unobstructed for ease of hand-loading FSRs. So I also chose it because there will be an increased level of stress on that pump arm, and I thought a plastic one trying to do the same thing may break.

The handle has a roughly 1” ID and it’s going on a Lapco Bigshot Assault that has a 1” OD in the part where the handle will sit, so in theory it should be fine. But I’m mainly wondering whether the aluminum handle is gonna scratch the hell out of the barrel/not feel good on it.

If that’s the case then oh well, I’ll adapt the handle for some other project. But while I wait for it to arrive I figured I’d see what y’all thought

[Chuck E Ducky]

Oh it will wear on the Ano. The plastic ones do over time. But it s not going to be anything detrimental to how it plays. The main thing you want is that it’s keeping that bolt as straight as possible. If you want smooth.

One arm will make it bind more if it’s pushing and pulling on one side and the bolt can bind. I run into this with my FS phantom. When operating it I need to firmly grab the bolt handle and keep the bolt squared as I actuate and cock it.

[mikew]

Another point to consider is comfort.

I found heavily textured aluminum pump handles very abrasive when using a lot of auto trigger unless I wore gloves.

[flyweightnate]

With anodized aluminum, hard grit tends to get pushed out. It embeds in plastic, turning it into sandpaper.

I've had a bad Line SI or two, but many more that were excellent. Phantoms are not as good. Can't comment on Trracers to say whether it's material or arm design.

Just wipe it clean at the end of the day, and after a dive or swim. It'll be fine.

[Brokeass_baller]

I've never ever had that happen with my plastic pump handles. I've owned Trracers, Hammers, and Phantoms.

[flyweightnate]

I've only seen it a couple times, but when it's bad it's real bad.

[Jonnydread]

I think out of the Nelson pumps the line SI pump stroke feels the best

[Chuck E Ducky]

The SI line 👌🏼

[Cunha]

The metal handle guns work great, as do plastic ones. One of the best Nelson pump strokes I’ve ever felt is the apex elite which has a single rod thick steel with a plastic handle. Very good feel if I had the commitment i would make a stock class apex

[procarbie]

On one of my Empire Trracers the barrel I like to use is thinner than the inner diameter of the pump, causing the pump stroke to be sloppy. At the recommendation of some guy in a YouTube video (such a clutch tip, thanks whoever you are) I used velcro cable ties (the little ones you use for guitar cables and such), which I was able to wrap around the barrel and trim so they act as spacers and there is no play with the pump. I wrapped them so the felt side is what makes contact with the barrel, and the inner plastic side contacts the pump. When you pump it they move slightly, but mostly stay put. I experimented with different amounts of them until I found that for this barrel, three wraps was the optimal amount.

Reason I bring all that up is because it has made the pump stroke very smooth, much better than it is with the stock barrel and leagues better than the Phantom I used to own.

That was really the one thing that always kept me from loving my Phantom (ok not the one thing, but the primary thing), and was ultimately the reason I sold it. It just didn’t feel good to pump. I was told at the time that eventually it would “break in,” but after about a year of playing with it it didn’t feel any different. Such a bummer because the fit and finish on that thing was immaculate.

[Jonnydread]

The empire trracer has a great pump. The only drawback is the feel of the chintzy plastic, but it’s quite smooth. Phantoms really benefit from an undercocking kit, but the stroke will never be mind blowing.

[procarbie]

I maintain that all conditions taken into account (including price point), that the Empire Trracer is the best large-production Nelson ever made BUT I understand that is the hottest of hot takes and I don’t intend to start a war by saying that lmao.

But yeah I’m a big fan of em lol. Picked one up just to have as a cheap beater pump and ended up realizing I liked it more than any of my other markers. Now I have three (though one has a broken power tube and so it has become a donor for the other two). One is for stock class/open class play, and the other is exclusively for hand-loading FSRs. Almost done with that build, can’t wait to show it to y’all!

[BigRed]

The metal handle guns work great, as do plastic ones. One of the best Nelson pump strokes I’ve ever felt is the apex elite which has a single rod thick steel with a plastic handle. Very good feel if I had the commitment i would make a stock class apex

I have to agree with your assessment Cunha, it is smooth like butter! I still think I shouldn't have sold mine...even though I never used it.