Range:
Both Blasters vary.
In my testing, I have used 5 different darts: Elite, Streamline, Full
Vinyl Jacket (VFJ, Hard tip dart), Off Brand Elite, and Buzz Bee
Ultra-Tek Darts.
Nerf Longstrike CS-6: Nerf
Longshot CS-6
W/ Barrel Flat:
Full Vinyl Jacket: 20
ft. Full
Vinyl Jacket: 22 ft.
Streamline Dart: 20
ft. Streamline
Dart: 21-23 ft.
Elite Dart: 20-21
ft. Elite
Dart: 22 ft.
Off Brand Dart: 21
ft. Off
Brand Dart: 20-21 ft.
Buzz Bee Ultra-Tek: 24 ft. Buzz
Bee Ultra-Tek: 23-24 ft.
W/o Barrel Flat
Full Vinyl Jacket: 21-22
ft. Full
Vinyl Jacket: 28 ft.
Streamline Dart: 22-23
ft. Streamline
Dart: 26 ft.
Elite Dart: 21
ft. Elite
Dart: 22 ft.
Off Brand Dart: 25 ft. Off
Brand Dart: 21 ft.
Buzz Bee Ultra-Tek: 23-24
ft. Buzz Bee
Ultra-Tek: 24-25 ft.
W/ Barrel Angled
Full Vinyl Jacket: 45 ft. Full
Vinyl Jacket: 40 ft.
Streamline Dart: 44-45
ft. Streamline
Dart: 39 ft.
Elite Dart: 37
ft. Elite
Dart: 39 ft.
Off Brand Dart: 43-44
ft. Off
Brand Dart: 44 ft.
Buzz Bee Ultra-Tek: 36 ft. Buzz Bee
Ultra-Tek: 40-41 ft.
W/o Barrel Angled
Full Vinyl Jacket: 44
ft. Full
Vinyl Jacket: 49 ft.
Streamline Dart: 45 ft. Streamline
Dart: 36 ft.
Elite Dart: 40
ft. Elite
Dart: 42 ft.
Off Brand Dart: 49 ft. Off
Brand Dart: 40 ft.
Buzz Bee Ultra-Tek: 40-41 ft. Buzz Bee
Ultra-Tek: 42 ft.
Down to the bottom line, with an off-brand, or FVJ, both achieve just
under 50 feet angled, w/o a barrel. But
who actually uses a nerf gun at a 45-degree angle? Without the barrel, the Longshot achieves
better range, with a barrel, the Longstrike does. I will break the tie with the dart originally
included with both: The streamline. In
that case, the Longshot lives up to it name and shoots longer than the
Longstrike.
Accuracy:
What good is a gun when you fire it and you totally
miss in a nerf war. That is why you need
to know two things: 1. Accuracy is mostly in the darts, but 2: Accuracy is
somewhat in the gun. Unfortunately, it
usually comes at the cost of range. But
these are the comparisons at 15 feet, trying to hit a 3 ½ inch target. All shot fired flat. (How it would be in a nerf war)
(Key: “H” means accurate hit.
“X” means inaccurate. “1-3 inches off”
means it could hit a fellow nerfer, but not a sharp-shot contest)
Nerf Longstrike CS-6: Nerf
Longshot CS-6
W/ Barrel
Full Vinyl Jacket: H Full
Vinyl Jacket: 1-3 inches off
Streamline Dart: 1-3
inches off Streamline
Dart: H
Elite Dart: H Elite Dart: 1-3 inches off
Off Brand Dart: H Off
Brand Dart: 1-3 inches
off
Buzz Bee Ultra-Tek: H Buzz
Bee Ultra-Tek: H
W/o Barrel
Full Vinyl Jacket: H Full Vinyl
Jacket: 1-3 inches off
Streamline Dart: X Streamline
Dart: 1-3 inches off
Elite Dart: X Elite
Dart: 1-3
inches off
Off Brand Dart: H Off
Brand Dart: H
Buzz Bee Ultra-Tek: 1-3
inches off Buzz Bee
Ultra-Tek: 1-3 inches off
W/ Scope
Barreled
Full
Vinyl Jacket: H
Streamline Dart:
X
Elite
Dart: X
Off Brand Dart: H
Buzz
Bee Ultra-Tek: 1-3 inches off
W/
Scope Barreled
Full
Vinyl Jacket: H
Streamline
Dart: 1-3 inches off
Elite
Dart: H
Off
Brand Dart: H
Buzz Bee
Ultra-Tek: X
Bottom line, off brand Chinese darts and FVJ’s seem to be extremely accurate in long strikes. But the longshot has a hard time boasting any accuracy. Longstrike wins accuracy.
Comfort/Usability:
Even though it only holds 2 6 clips, the Longstrike
avoids the problem of clips getting in the way, and at my size, has a good
distance from the back of my arm, and blaster stock, up to the bolt. Despite the slant of the handle, it is relatively easy to
reach the trigger. The only problem with
the gun that I have is the distance up to the clip/mag release. It is too far up, and cannot be reached by my
hand, much less a younger kid’s hands.
Besides this, the Longstrike has no other problems to my knowledge.
The Longshot on
the other hand, has three problems: The stock and priming lever. If you power-up (Spring Upgrade/ Spring
Stretch) the Longshot, the stock will remain weak and go into the storage
position if you aren’t careful. This
makes the priming lever’s position uncomfortable. And depending on the clip your using, the
stock’s mag holding ability, although useful, can somewhat get in the way.
Even though the
Longstrike only has two problems, while the longshot can have up to three, I
think the longstrike’s mag release problem is a lot worse in the heat of a nerf
war. Because despite being
uncomfortable, the gun can still be primed.
The Longshot’s mag-release and trigger can be reached by the same
hand. Longshot wins comfort/usability.
Modification Potential:
Longshot is known
as one of the most modifiable blasters.
It’s direct plunger tub is known for being able to take large spring upgrades, as it is the largest direct plunger tube.
Longstrike has a
reverse plunger tube, so it is harder to get a better spring.
(Correct me if I am wrong). I have heard
of an air system mod. Because of my
rather limited knowledge, I won’t score anything here.
Conclusion:
All this being said, a Longshot or Longstrike seem to
be dependent on rather you want range, or accuracy. Remember, the Longstrike and Longshot’s range
is only ever within a 3 feet difference.
I would actually lean some towards the Longstrike, because you would
waste less darts with same range and better accuracy. But you still have to reach and move your
hand to release the mag.
The Longshot won 2 rounds, and the Longstrike won 1. The Longshot, with its modification potential, is a great blaster, and probably the better of the two. My personal favorite, however, is the Longstrike.
(Apologies for switching from clip to mag as I write.)
