Nerf Dart Tag Update

Urban Taggers got hold of the Quick 16, and an unnamed six dart blaster known as the Dart Tag 6.

The Quick 16 comes with a built in 16 dart Nerf banana clip, meaning that the user can load darts as they go along. It works with normal Dart Tag darts, but not streamlines. It is capable of slam fire, and in many ways is similar to an Alpha Trooper. It does not hold a stock. It is very similar in size to a Raider.

The Dart Tag 6 is a large sidearm ot accompany the Swarmfire and the Quick 16. It has a completely internal clip that is reloaded at the top of the blaster. It is similar in looks and operation to a Recon CS-6- it is similar in size to the main unit and is loaded in the same way.

For the next week until Friday the 7th of January, for reasons completely out of my control I am unable to make any posts. The problem has now been solved, so I'm fine to make posts until the 10th of Jan, when I'm heading off to Singapore.

January will be less productive then previous months here at Nerf Hotspot, but I'll still try to get the latest Nerf news on the site as quickly as I can.

Nerf Stampede ECS-50

This image popped up on Urban Taggers of the unreleased Stampede ECS-50. Looks like a really dodgy photoshop, but on pre-releases Nerf has done it before. The drum is like two Raider drums melded together, and just looks too big. The image is on the Hasbro website, and the Stampede ECS was thought to be called the ECS-50 when it was first released. And, knowing Nerf, they wouldn't resist the opportunity to re-release one of their most popular guns, like with the Clear and Sonic Series. I'll post more information on this interesting product development if it comes.

UPDATE 



This is the Beta C-Mag, compatible with the M16 rifle and the M4 carbine, among others. Just proof that it is possible...



Nerf Raider VS Alpha Trooper



Now that I've reviewed both the Raider and the Alpha Trooper, I'm going to do a comparison review similar to the my review of the Element and the Nite Finder.

Aesthetics- Unlike most of the N-Strike line, the Raider comes in blue and orange, compared to the Alpha Trooper, which is coloured in the familiar yellow and orange. Just to note, I prefer the yellow colour scheme, but I know a lot of people that wished the Sonic Series had been blue.

Features- The Raider comes with a 35 dart drum, is capable of both single fire and slam fire and comes with a detachable stock. The Alpha Trooper comes with a 18 dart 'mini drum' and is capable of both single fire and slam fire.

Range- The Alpha Trooper definitely takes this one. The Raider can shoot 30 feet once it gets momentum, with some shots falling below 15 feet. The Alpha Trooper consistently shoots between 35 and 40 feet.

Rate of Fire- These two guns have equal rates of fire due to the fact that they both have slam fire capabilities.

Accuracy- The Raider is more accurate due to the fact that the bullets curve in the air when fired in the Alpha Trooper.

Jamming Problems- The Raider jams a lot more than the Alpha Trooper, but both shred and bend bullets during slam fire.

Cost- The Raider costs anywhere between $40 and $75, while the Alpha Trooper is a $23 Target exclusive.

Overall- The Alpha Trooper pips the Raider due to its superior range, and the Raider's inconsistency and frequent jamming problems.

Image courtesy of SG Nerf

Nerf Alpha Trooper CS-18



Yesterday I got an Alpha Trooper, and after a day of use I have had enough experience with it to write a review.

ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES

• Comes with an 18 dart mini drum, though it holds 21 darts, which is a lot smaller than the drum that comes with the Raider
• Is a relatively small gun, about 60 cm long, and weighing just over a kilogram
• Is usually called a cross between the Recon and the Raider, because of its similar appearance and the use of a drum
• Can hold a stock, and though some people have reported that the Recon's stock is flimsy on the gun I have no problems with it. It has also been said the the Spectre's stock is perfect on the gun, though I have been unable to test this.
• The fire the gun the slam fire handle must be as close to the front of the blaster as it can go
• Like a Raider, it is capable of both single fire and slam fire.
• On single fire you pull the slam fire handle back and forth and press the trigger to release one dart
• On slam fire you hold down the trigger while sliding the slam fire handle pack and forth to release a stream of darts
• On single fire the RoF is about 2 darts a second, and on slam fire the RoF is about 5 darts a second
• Unlike the Raider, which is well known for its jamming problems, the Alpha Trooper has not jammed once during slam fire when I have used it.
• It is only $23 AUS

This gun is awesome. The range is fantastic, the RoF is magnificent, and the only thing that bothers me about this gun is its occasional inaccuracy; if the gun is not straight the bullets can go anywhere.

This gun gets 9/10. The only thing that stops this gun from getting a perfect score is that I have no idea about the durability of this Nerf gun.

Nerf Raider CS-35

The Nerf Raider was released on the 9/9/09, celebrating Nerf's fortieth birthday, and has the highest ammo capacity Nerf has ever produced. Introducing... the Nerf Raider CS-35

ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES

• Comes with a 35 dart drum magazine
• Comes with a removable stock with four different modes
• Has both single fire and slam fire capabilities
• Is cocked using a shotgun grip at the front of the blaster
• Average range during single fire about 30 feet
• Average range during slam fire about 20 feet
• If people try to slam fire too fast the gun frequently jams. If the user aims for a dart a second it is fine
• The gun is designed for left handers. If right handers use it the drum is in the way of the target
• Costs anywhere between $40 and $75

This used to be my least favourite Nerf gun. The frequent jams and poor range put me off it from the start, but the more I use this gun, the more I come to like it. Plus, the drum can turn a Recon or Longshot into a killing machine.

Nerf Maverick Update

In June this year I bought my first Nerf gun, the Maverick REV-6. And seven months on, it has been officially retired to the trophy cabinet, with a chilling warning. Almost...

A month ago, everything started going wrong. I noticed that in June my Mav was shooting a good 35 feet, but was now struggling to reach 25 feet. Now the range sits around the 15 to 20 feet mark.

The darts hit with about the same amount of force as a pillow. Sometimes, they fail to leave the barrel at all, or only come out partly, meaning you have to push them back in before resuming.

After reloading, when you've pushed the barrel back into place, it doesn't click back in. It just spins around for 20 seconds; 20 seconds in which you can't fire a bullet.

In conclusion, if you use a Maverick alot, it will wear out fast.

So, taking its place as my primary in Nerf wars will be my clear Maverick, which can still fire 35 feet, but the bullet arcs of to the right when using streamlines.

My classic Maverick is set to be replaced by a Sonic Maverick, that I'm hoping to find cheap in the post Christmas sales.

And so will continue my quest to find the best way to dual wield Mavericks.

Nerf Dart Tag Update



Two more Dart Tag guns have been added to the 2011 line up.



First up is the mystery gun from the image here. It's official name is the Quick 16, and as expected it is very similar to the Raider. Best of all, it comes with a Nerf banana clip. The wait is over!!!

Also rumoured is the as unnamed Dart Tag 6. Little is known about this Dart Tag sidearm, but it is not battery powered and holds 6 darts.

Has me looking forward to the next Dart Tag tournament, that's for sure.

Clear Series Update



Along with the Nerf Vulcan, three more clear Nerf guns officially come with red darts. The Raider comes with 35 red streamline darts, the Deploy comes with 6 red streamline darts, and as of the 15th of December the Nite Finder comes with 3 red suction darts. And the Maverick comes with 6 red suction darts. 

This is a Target only exclusive... in the US. Anway, it's interesting to see more guns coming with exclusive red darts.

Super Soaker Updates.

Along with the officially released Thunderstorm and Point Break, three more blasters are rumoured to be released in the new look Super Soaker line for 2011. All images courtesy of Urban Taggers.

Tornado Strike. Pump action. Comes with stock and removable clip. Two streams of water.

Scatter Blast. Pump Action. Five streams of water.

Hydro Cannon. Shotgun grip pump action. Detachable Shield. 3 Tactical Rails.

To summarize, the Thunderstorm and Point Break have already been released in the Eastern States, and the Tornado Strike, Scatter Blast and Hydro Cannon are all on their way for a 2011 release. Out of all of these blasters I'm looking forward to the Tornado Strike the most- it looks like the most practical and has a lot of water storage. On the cool scale you can't go past the Hydro Cannon- the Titan of the Super Soaker world. More info to come!!!



Super Soaker Update

Nerf is ready for Summer, with two more fantastic editions to the Nerf Super Soaker lineup. Best of all, they are both officially released in Australia, available in Target stores all around the country. Photos courtesy of Urban Taggers.


Thunderstorm. Battery Powered with removable clip. Range about 15 feet.

 

Point Break. Pump action trigger blaster. Range about 35 feet. Similar in size to the Nerf Scout



 More info to come on these interesting new blasters!!!

Nerf Nite Finder VS Nerf Element



This is a quick review comparing features of the Nite Finder with the Element EX-6.

                                        

•  Bullet Storage - The Nite Finder holds 3 bullets while the Element holds 6. However, the Elements bullet storage is built into the blaster, so bullets can actually be stuck inside.                 
• Average Range- The Nite Finder is famous for it's incredible ranges, which makes the fact that the Element can shoot further all the more impressive. An Element with suction darts can out perform the Nite Finder with whistlers

• Accessories- One of the Nite Finder main selling points is its built in laser, that activates when the trigger is held down halfway. The Element comes with two tactical rail accessories; a light beam and a scope, that come with the Recon and Longshot respectively

• Cost- The Nite Finder is one of the cheapest Nerf guns, usually selling for 10 to 15 dollars, as well as coming in a two pack for $19. The Element however is almost always about $35

• Size- The Element is bigger and bulkier than the Nite Finder, though the Nite Finder is substantially heavier due to the batteries

Both the Element and the Nite Finder are equally matched. The Element can hold 3 more bullets, but is $20 more expensive then a Nite Finder, while both still have the problem that only new bullets fire in the guns.

Overall- Nite Finder 8/10
              Element 8.5/10

Nerf Super Soaker- Soaker Wars

2010 was the first year that Nerf has owned Super Soaker, and in the Soaker Wars series four guns have been released.

Nerf Super Soaker Shot Blast

Nerf Super Soaker Bottle Blitz

Nerf Super Soaker Hydro Fury

Nerf Super Soaker Rattler

Nerf Dart Tag Update

A new image of the unreleased Nerf Dart Tag Swarmfire...as well as another unreleased Nerf Dart Tag gun that resembles the Raider.

"Dart Tag line is going to be very different than the N-strike line. When N-Strike went for military and modular and standard clip fed, dart tag thrives on making the most different blasters. Therefore the new dart tag blasters look like clip-fed, but the clip is built-in, so no fast reload, but firing mechanism actually works like clip system."

Official info from Nerf!!! It's the first time Dart Tag has ever really interested me, as N-Strike is so awesome, but I'll keep my eye out for when the Swarmfire or the other mystery blaster hits the shelves!!

Nerf Longshot CS-6

1. 



This blaster has always been among the most popular Nerf guns, but Nerf has confirmed that this blaster is being discontinued, and Australia is one of the few places that it's still available-

Check out the Nerf Longshot CS-6!!!

ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES

• Was the longest Nerf gun until the release of the Longstrike this year
• Has a removable barrel extension, a fold out bipod and a scope
• Comes with 1 six dart clip and can store another in the stock
• The barrel extension is also a blaster on its own, with its own trigger and priming handle. However the smaller blaster is too large to be a hand gun, and the Recon without any attachments is far more effective
• Uses a direct plunger system that allows for long ranges up to 40 feet
• Is primed by pulling back a 'bolt'
• To load the clip the bolt must be back the whole way
• Occasionally can shred darts but that is usually by fault of the user; is the gun is loaded properly with new darts, there should be no problems
• Can cost anything between $50 and $80
• Originally came in blue and came with 2 clips instead of one, but was turned yellow so as to fit with the rest of the N-Strike range
• The 'sharpshot scope' has no magnification qualities, and rarely improves accuracy

Overall I'm going to give this gun 8.5/10 stars. It is consistent, has fantastic ranges, and who doesn't enjoy snapping on all the attachments and sniping at helpless victims.

Nerf Spectre Update

The word is out that the new Spectre REV-5 blaster is coming to Target stores in Australia. The gun will be $24. For those of you that don't know about this gun, it is like a cross between the Maverick and the Recon. The main unit is a similar size to the Maverick, and the stock is said to be a perfect fit for the Alpha Trooper. The barrel extension is compatible with the Recon, Longshot and the Longstrike. I'll post more information if it comes.



Sales

Toys R Us is having an awesome sale at the moment.

This is the first sightings of the Sonic Series in WA, and as it is a Toys R Us exclusive I don't think we'll have to wait long until the rest of the Sonic Series is in Australia. Also, Nerf Deploy is now in 2 locations, (its first sighting was in Toyworld last week) which hopefully means that this awesome blaster will have a long stay in the stores.

Nerf Titan AS-V.1

Nerf has come up with some pretty cool things over the years, but in my opinion the most fun, inventive and plain scary thing Nerf has come up with is- the Titan AS-V.1!!!

ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES

• Is a very big gun- about 80 cm long
• Comes with one 12 inch long mega missile
• Comes individually in red and blue but is not available in Australia
• Comes as part of the Unity Power System, that contains the Hornet and Scout for around $70 AUS
• Came as part of the Hulk Abomination Blaster with the Hornet but is now discontinued
• Has a superb range of over 60 feet
• Shoots it's full range after 20-30 pumps
• Has a pressure gage though it reaches full after about 7 pumps, which is only enough to fire about 20 feet
• Cannot be overpumped because it lets out air if to much is brought into the blaster
• Has a reverse tactical rail
• Has a fairly accurate sight
• New missiles can be bought from Hasbro here, however this is only in the US, and there are currently none available from Amazon or eBay 

Overall I'm going to give this fun 7/10. It is incredibly fun to score impossible to miss headshots, but it does seem to inspire some people to run off and hide the Mega Missile, rendering it useless. And since I'm using this as part of the Unity Power System, and I've already fired the Hornet, who really wants to be left with the Scout as their primary. Not me...

Nerf Dart Tag

This is just a quick review about the different Dart Tag guns that Nerf has produced. More indepth review to come if I get to test these guns.

                                     
 Nerf Crossfire

            Single shot blaster

            Holds 5 extra bullets

            Range 35 feet

            Has inverse tactical rail

Nerf Stormfire

           Large pistol-like single shot blaster

           Is similar to a Nite Finder without the laser, and holds a bullet in the base of the handle

           Is primed by pulling back the charging handle at the back of the blaster

Nerf Hyperfire

          Holds 10 darts at the front of the blaster

          Is primed with a slide

          High rate of fire and long range of around 30-40 feet

          Dart's can pop-out of the barrels, but this doesn't occur as often with streamline darts

Nerf Furyfire

          Holds 10 darts

          Similar to the Maverick in operation

          Good range of 35 feet

          Is the new official Dart Tag blaster in Dart Tag leagues and organised competitions

OTHERS-

• The Nerf Magstrike AS-10 is now an N-Strike gun, but was originally a Dart Tag set that came with a Magstrike, a vest and two clips, compared to the N-Strike version that comes with only one clip.
• The Swarmfire (Dart Tag 20) looks to be released in the early months of 2011, though Nerf is yet to make an official announcement
• The Quick 16 and Speedload 6 are both also rumoured for a release in the early months of 2011



Sales

Kmart- 
Vulcan EBF 25- $48 usually $69
Maverick REV 6- $12


Toys R Us- 
Recon CS 6- $34.99 usually $49.99
Raider CS 35- $49.99 usually $69.99


Target-
Stampede ECS- $69 usually $99


Myer- 
Nite Finder EX 3- $14.95
Maverick REV 6- $14.95 usually $19.95
Recon CS 6- $26.95 usually $59.95
Raider CS 35- $59.95 usually $79.95
Stampede ECS- $79.95 usually $129.99
Longshot- $49.95 usually $79.95


Toyworld-
Vulcan EBF 25- $59.99 usually $79.99
Barricade RV 10- $29.99
Deploy- $39.99
Longshot- $49.99 usually $59.99




Hope this helps :)

Nerf Vulcan Update

A while ago, a clear Vulcan belt appeared on the website Taobao. After months of speculation about the addition of a Vulcan to the clear range. I'm proud to introduce the Clear Series Vulcan EBF-25. This is an official Nerf release, unlike the Dart Tag 20. The clear Vulcan is exclusive to Target US stores, and nothing has been said so far about it's availability in Australia. It comes with a clear ammo box, a belt and a tripod, and 25 red whistler darts. I'll post more infomation as it comes.