Toy Review: Nerf N-Strike Longstrike CS-6

Nerf prides itself on its N-Strike toy line. Grown men occasionally pick up a yellow blaster to shoot other grown men in their office buildings for stress relief. The toy blasters range from revolvers to belt fed chain guns that are all capable of firing foam darts suitable for indoor play and children. It was a matter of time before Hasbro extended its Nerf N-Strike line to include rifles.

The Nerf N-Strike Longstrike CS-6 is shaped like a bolt-action rifle. Measuring 37 inches, it is the longest Nerf rifle currently available. The long length is due to its base rifle with permanently attached stock combined with a removable barrel extension. The rifle is on the Streamline Clip system and includes one clip with six foam streamline darts. The stock can hold two more clips, which are sold separately. The bolt action on the Longstrike CS-6 loads the dart into the blaster and a simple pull of the trigger fires it.

Despite being shaped like a sniper rifle, the Longstrike CS-6 has the same range of any other Nerf blaster. The design is merely cosmetic. Without the barrel extension, the blaster looks like odd for a blaster with little aesthetic appeal. Two tactical rails line the top of the blaster for sights and scopes. Included is a flip up sight used for better aiming but that too is merely cosmetic. Given its blue and orange color scheme in contrast to the orange and yellow N-Strike color scheme, this blaster sticks out like a sore thumb and not in a good way.

The barrel extension is orange and blue to match the rifle. It clicks into place easily onto the Longstrike CS-6 or any other N-Strike blaster with a similar barrel. It has a tactical accessory rail along both the top and bottom of the barrel to accommodate sights or lights. The front of the barrel has a flip up iron sight used to aim better. While the barrel extension looks neat, it does not really assist in boosting range or accuracy. In fact, the barrel actually reduces the range since most of the energy launching the dart is lost getting it past the barrel.