Review: X-Shot Longshot (Aus version)

Longtime readers of this blog will know that I'm an absolute sucker for bullpups, so even in my absence from the hobby, the release of the X-Shot Longshot was very interesting for me. It got to the point where I was contemplating importing one, but thankfully Kmart came through and saved me that trouble.

All is not sunshine and rainbows though. Australia is subject to some extremely strict toy laws, which has resulted in us receiving weakened blasters, and in many cases, not being able to access entire blaster lines at all (e.g. Rival). The X-Shot Longshot has not escaped this scrutiny...

Note: For convenience but also to avoid confusion with other Longshots, I will be referring to this blaster as the XLongshot.

Mod: Longshot Trigger Guard

A quick mod this time, of a Longshot trigger guard.

Pic Spam: Nerf N-Strike Longshot CS-6 (Blue)

Among other things, I received a blue Longshot from the US. I'm not going to review it since I already reviewed the yellow Longshot here, but I can give you all sorts of pretty pictures of the blue.
Note that the blue Longshot retail package contains 2 yellow 6 dart clips (mags), while the yellow Longshot contains just 1 orange 6 dart clip (mag).
As far as I'm aware, the blue Longshot never made it to Australia for retail, hence its high value among Aussies.

A wild Zombie Strike Longshot appears!

Thanks to Basic Nerf for the post, a new ZS blaster!
Normally I don't post new blaster posts, but I thought this one deserved it.

Source link: http://www.smythstoys.com/nerf-251sc/nerf-zombie-strike-longshot-136151itm.aspx?qwSessionID=7e3d20de-e870-44a7-b4ce-93374c0aaa6e

HFCBE - Brass Breeched Nerf Longshot CS-6

As requested. HFCBE Brass Breeched Longshot.
The Longshot CS-6 is a popular blaster among modders due to its huge direct plunger tube. Brass breeches are popular because of their unique 100% air seal property. This combined with strong springs (14kg+ are popular) and shotgun grips to make priming easier and faster. With measly 8kg though and bolt action, how fast can you fire a brass breeched Longshot?

Time: 8.72
No. darts: 9
Theoretical ROF: 0.917dps or 55.0dpm

Note that this ROF is not indicative of what you or someone else can get from a Brass Breeched Longshot, as ROF is largely dependent on the quality of the brass breech and supporting mods. Mine were not that great hence my ROF is not great. Also note that with a shotgun grip ROF would increase dramatically.

Loadouts 10: Personal Loadouts Part 2

Scenario Description: Loadouts that we use.
Keys to Victory: N/A
Unnecessary Burdens: N/A

P13c30fch33s3

Clip (Mag) System 1a (General use)

Primary: Elite Alpha Trooper CS-12 (Retal stock, EPPS, 12/18 dart clip [mag], Secret Strike Pocket Shotgun on side rail, BT V2 8.5kg spring)
Secondary: Elite Triad EX-3
Gear: N-Strike Tactical Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mags), whatever suitable darts (most likely to be stefans or Elite darts) 
Purpose: To provide well rounded, tacticool and generally awesome clip (mag) system-ness.

Strengths: Range (primary), ROF, reloading is fast, SSPS provides emergency/spread shots at reasonable range, secondary is good and reliable, jamming is rare, looks amazingly tacticool and awesome
Weaknesses: Accuracy (unless use of stefans, primary specific), primary is useless while reloading
Description: Because the Elite AT uses a direct plunger over the N-Strike AT's reverse plunger, the EAT has more potential and is easier to get up to great ranges. Additionally firing it is much more quiet because the AR is still intact, and the EAT looks much better because it has had minimal modding done to it. I am awaiting the results of an AR removal test to see whether or not I should remove it.




Clip (Mag) System 2a (General use)

Primary: Elite Stryfe (whatever attachments I feel like, 12/18 dart clips [mags], 2 or 3 14500s, rewired)
Secondary: Elite Triad EX-3
Gear: N-Strike Tactical Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mags), whatever suitable darts (most likely to be stefans or Elite darts)
Purpose: To provide tacticool flywheel goodness, which gives easy to get high ranges and spammability
Strengths: Range (primary), ROF, reloading is super fast, secondary is good and reliable, practically no chance of jams
Weaknesses: Accuracy (unless use of stefans, primary specific), primary must be revved up for max range, rapid fire reduces range temporarily, range lost over time due to draining of batteries
Description: As said earlier, the Stryfe is the most tacticool blaster I've used, beating the Recon by one tac rail. It's also very light, surprisingly thin and looks awesome, along with performing very well. Essentially it acts the same as a Rayven, but is more quiet, more tacticool and more smooth to use, which is why I prefer it over the Rayven.

Clip (Mag) System 3a (WIP, Sniper)

Primary: N-Strike Longshot CS-6 (brass breech, varying spring combinations, Scout IX-3 on bottom, N-Strike Pinpoint Sight, Slydev Front and Rear Iron Sights (no drop), Slydev Longshot Front Tac Rail, Slydev Tac Rail Sling Loop, Secret Strike Pocket Shotgun on side, 12 dart clip [mag])
Secondary: Spectre REV-5/Snapfire 8/Triad EX-3
Gear: N-Strike Tactical Vest
Ammo: 12 dart clips (mags), stefans
Purpose: To provide high power, high accuracy clip (mag) fed goodness from the revered Longshot.
Strengths: Range (primary), reloading, blaster can still be loaded while reloading, accuracy, can have shotgun effect by double/triple feeding
Weaknesses: ROF is lacking, Longshot is quite bulky
Description: Simply updating the tacticool on the Longshot. Thanks primarily to Slydev for allowing so much tacticool. Ranges with stefans are beyond 30m (100ft), and Elites/Streamlines are far to unstable to accurately measure range.

Single Shot 1a (Sniper)

Primary: Avengers Hawkeye Bow (modded to fire darts)

Secondary: Elite Alpha Trooper CS-12 (BT V2 8.5kg spring, 12/18 dart clip [mag])
Gear: N-Strike Tac Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mags), suitable darts (Elites or Stefans)
Purpose: To provide high range and accuracy firepower, with clip (mag) fed rapid fire backup
Strengths: Range (primary), accuracy (primary), rapid fire (secondary), reloading (secondary)
Weaknesses: Reloading (primary), accuracy (secondary)
Description: A Stryfe is a great blaster, but the fact remains that because it's a flywheeler it need to be revved up to fire. In those times when you don't have time to rev up, you're left with the sole option of running away. To avoid this, you need a non-flywheel secondary, and thus the EAT was chosen. Why? Well, besides the EAT being an all round great blaster, most importantly it has no fire delay. While with the Stryfe you have to rev up to fire, with the EAT you can just whip it out and fire. Obviously the EAT is larger than the Stryfe, but as a sniper I don't really intend to do a lot of running unless absolutely necessary.

Airgun 1 (Sniper)

Primary: Buzz Bee Big Blast (couplered, Raider stock on pump)
Secondary: Elite Alpha Trooper CS-12 (BT V2 8.5kg spring, 12/18 dart clip [mag])
Gear: N-Strike Tac Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mags), suitable darts (Elites or Stefans)
Purpose: When you just have to outrange everyone else by a ridiculous margin
Strengths: Range is absurd (primary), accuracy (primary), rapid fire (secondary), reloading (secondary)
Weaknesses: Reloading (primary), accuracy (secondary)
Description: Just a quick note to make this section make more sense, the average engagement ranges that my friends have is at most 15m, because the blasters we use are generally stock or lightly modded. Buzz Bee Big Blasts are well respected blasters in the modding community, because of their huge airtanks, low retail price and general modding potential and ease of modding. Anyway, when I say 'range is absurd', I mean it. My 4B can fire stefans beyond 55m (180ft), making it a true Nerf sniper. So we've got range well and truly covered, the EAT is for if someone gets too close. It's not like I actually want to hurt my friends...

EDIT: Don't pay the exact range claim too much stock, just know that 4Bs far outclass the blasters we normally use when it comes to range.


Airgun 2 (Psuedo-Sniper/NIC war)

Primary: Nerf Supermaxx 1500 (overhauled for stefans)
Secondary: Elite Alpha Trooper CS-12 (BT V2 8.5kg spring, 12/18 dart clip [mag])
Gear: N-Strike Tac Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mags), suitable darts (Elites and Stefans)
Purpose: For a balance of high range and ROF
Strengths: Range (primary), accuracy (primary), ROF vs other airguns (primary), ROF (secondary), reloading
Weaknesses: Accuracy (secondary), ROF (primary)
Description: The Supermaxx 1500 is well known among the Nerf modding community for respectable ranges (100-130ft depending on stefan) as well as a higher than usual ROF for an airgun (has a turret as well as a small tank, meaning low pump count). This makes it superior against most other airguns at mid range encounters, but without the ridiculous range of (say) a 4B, it isn't a true sniper type blaster. Again, because of the inherent slow firing of an airgun plaguing the SM1500, I have an EAT for backup close-mid range rapid fire.

Loadouts 6: Personal Loadouts Part 1

Although there have been a large number of loadouts already featured previously, none of them have actually been designed specifically for ourselves, but rather for an ordinary Nerfer. Some of these may suit some of you out there, but chances are you'll have to tweak them slightly for your own needs.

Scenario Description: Loadouts that we use.
Keys to Victory: N/A
Unnecessary Burdens: N/A

Clip (Mag) System 1 (General use)

Primary: N-Strike Alpha Trooper CS-18 (Pinpoint Sight, Retal/Barricade stock, 12/18 dart clip [mag], Secret Strike Pocket Shotgun on custom side tac rail, no AR, OMW spring)
Secondary: Spectre REV-5/Snapfire 8/Elite Firestrike
Gear: N-Strike Tactical Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mag), whatever suitable darts (most likely to be stefans or Elite darts)
Purpose: To provide well rounded, tacticool and generally awesome clip (mag) system-ness.
Strengths: Range (primary), ROF, reloading is fast, SSPS provides emergency/spread shots at reasonable range, secondary is good and reliable, jamming is rare
Weaknesses: Accuracy (unless use of stefans, primary specific), primary is useless while reloading, reloading Firestrike
Description: It's no secret that the AT is my go-to blaster and one of my all-time favourites, so it's only fitting that it features first. The AT is somewhat low profile, has slam-fire, a great stock seal and great ranges, as well as a decent amount of customisation. Accuracy is somewhat lacking, but because everyone uses clip (mag) system blasters it's not a disadvantage. The SSPS is for backup shots, and I rarely use it (which is good), but it has been very helpful. The secondary is for use when I lack the ability to reload my clips (mags) when they're empty. Expect an update on this loadout when I get an Elite AT.

Clip (Mags) System 2 (General use)

Primary: N-Strike Rayven CS-18 (whatever attachments I feel like, 12/18 dart clips [mags], 2 or 3 14500s, rewired)
Secondary: Spectre REV-5/Snapfire 8/Elite Firestrike
Gear: N-Strike Tactical Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mags), whatever suitable darts (most likely to be stefans or Elite darts)
Purpose: To provide tacticool flywheel goodness, which gives easy to get high ranges and spammability
Strengths: Range (primary), ROF, reloading is super fast, secondary is good and reliable, practically no chance of jams
Weaknesses: Accuracy (unless use of stefans, primary specific), primary must be revved up for max range, rapid fire reduces range temporarily, range lost over time due to draining of batteries, reloading Firestrike
Description: Besides the AT, the only other CS blaster I would consider using that I have used (until my Longshot gets fixed up) is the Rayven (and to a certain extent, the Retaliator). No other blaster I've used has had the same blend of range, ROF, spammability and awesome factor, which is provided by flywheeling goodness. In particular, the Stryfe also offers what I consider to be the greatest tacticool potential of any blaster so far, featuring a stock attachment point, barrel extension muzzle, 2 tac rails (one on top, one on bottom) and clip (mag) compatability. Despite having to rev up (which I consider to be a firing delay) I still find the Rayven and its cousins to be really fun to use. Admittedly as of writing this post I've only used the N-Strike Rayven, but the Elite Rayven is essentially the same (if not better), and many, many people say the Stryfe is awesome so expect an update of this loadout in the future.

Clip (Mag) System 3 (WIP, Sniper)

Primary: N-Strike Longshot CS-6 (brass breech [which must be fixed], +AT spring, whatever tacticool I feel like, 12 dart clips [mags])
Secondary: Spectre REV-5/Snapfire 8
Gear: N-Strike Tactical Vest
Ammo: 12 dart clips (mags), stefans
Purpose: To provide high power, high accuracy clip (mag) fed goodness from the revered Longshot.
Strengths: Range (primary), reloading, blaster can still be loaded while reloading, accuracy, can have shotgun effect by double/triple feeding
Weaknesses: ROF is lacking, Longshot is quite bulky
Description: My current Longshot has been brass breeched badly, and is not getting the range or accuracy it should. I intend to rectify this ASAP by getting replacement brass, allowing it to reach maximum potential. Longshots are reknowned for their huge plunger tubes which result in awesome ranges with strong springs and good stefans, and I intend to use a somewhat watered down version more suitable to my wars. The Longshot's one key weakness is lack of ROF, which most other clip (mag) system blasters have, but the sheer power of the Longshot gives it an advantage to hide its disadvantage. A special feature of using a brass breech is that you can double or even triple feed, yet have all the darts leave the barrel at a reasonable velocity (obviously reduced from a single shot but still usable), effectively turning the Longshot into a shotgun. This sort of makes up for the lack of ROF, in that multi-shots can be just as deadly in close quarters as rapid fire.

Clip (Mag) System 4 (CQC)

Primary: Elite Retaliator (no attachment or just Retal stock, 12 dart clip [mag])
Secondary: Elite Jolt
Gear: None
Ammo: 12 dart clips (mags), Elite darts/stefans
Purpose: To allow for maneuverability in close quarters while still providing good blasting ability
Strengths: Range (primary), reloading, ROF, extremely light, maneuverability
Weaknesses: Vulnerability when reloading, accuracy (with Elite darts)
Description: A number of the wars I have are hosted in a house, so ranges aren't totally necessary and maneuverability is much more important. Thus I crafted this super easy to get loadout which is powerful and rapid fire, but light and small so I don't knock any walls or doorframes, chairs, vases etc. The Retal gets good ranges and can fire reasonably quickly when required, and is light and easily maneuverable. The Jolt and spare 12 clip(s) (mags) fit easily in a number of pockets in my various pants, so I have no need for the tac vest. Also because most of these battles are quite short, I have no need to scavange darts and store them for future use.
This loadout is not too well suited for larger wars I have at the playgrounds you see in many of my war vids, because one of my Retals is stock, and the other only lightly modded and thus lack the range of the above blasters, and the Elite Jolt is not powerful compared to say, my Firestrike.

Vortex 1 (General Use)
Primary: Vortex Pyragon (40 disc drum)
Secondary: Spectre REV-5/Snapfire 8/Elite Firestrike
Gear: Vortex Ammo Belt
Ammo: 10 disc mags, darts for secondary

Purpose: To provide high range and accuracy which can be spammed about, and make maximum use of Vortex discs
Strengths: Range (primary), reloading, blaster can still be loaded when reloading, accuracy, capacity (primary)
Weaknesses: Discs vulnerable to wind and rain, discs curve, reloading Firestrike
Description: The Pyragon is widely accepted as the best Vortex blaster so far, boasting a ridiculous capacity of 40 discs in a huge drum, ranges beyond that of ordinary vortex, consistent disc curving (and thus accuracy) and an insane ROF of nearly 7 discs per second. I've used this to great effect, once taking out an entire team on my own with Pyragon slam fire, which won us the game (it was CTF). The secondary is merely for dart usage, since Vortex is still far inferior in terms of appearance on the battlefield.



Single Shot 1 (Sniper)
Primary: Avengers Hawkeye Bow (modded to fire darts)

Secondary: Elite Stryfe (12/18 dart clip [mag], on bandolier, 2 or 3 14500s, rewired)
Gear: N-Strike Tac Vest
Ammo: 12/18 dart clips (mags), suitable darts (Elites or Stefans)
Purpose: To provide high range and accuracy firepower, with clip (mag) fed rapid fire backup
Strengths: Range (primary), accuracy (primary), rapid fire (secondary), reloading (secondary)
Weaknesses: Reloading (primary), accuracy (secondary)
Description: The idea of being a sniper is that you can hit your opponents from ranges that their blasters cannot reach. With the BBB's huge plunger tube, this is easy with some simple mods. With high power single shots also comes a slow reload time, so for close quarter battles or for when the BBB is not loaded, the Stryfe can be pulled out to deliver a small wall of foam into your opponent's face at a reasonably close range. Notice that the strengths and weaknesses of the blasters are contrasting, so as to provide maximum scenario coverage.

Loadouts 5: Sniping

On smaller play areas, pretty much all Nerf blasters can fire the greatest engagement ranges required. However, on larger play fields ordinary Nerf blasters cannot fire far enough to reach most of the field. This is where snipers and modded blasters come into play, which can fire much further than ordinary blasters and with greater accuracy. There are few true sniper blasters, but those included in this loadouts post are the ones I feel are most suited to the task. Note that I have not included airguns which are extremely powerful (e.g. Titan, 4B) as they require stefans to really shine. Stock darts just get ripped apart, but the listed blasters can do well with stock darts.
Note also that where there is a "(m)" before the blaster's name, it means that the blaster must be modified to be an effective sniper.
Scenario Description: Player is relatively well concealed, behind or near cover, and can hit enemy players/targets while not being within range of enemies.
Keys to Victory: Accuracy and patience. If you can't get a good shot off, don't waste your ammo and give away your position. Sure, if you really need to fire then go ahead, but if there isn't that urgency then keep your shots for when you can guarantee hits.
Unnecessary Burdens: Large, non-sniper primary blasters. As a sniper, you should be travelling light to be able to fire, then move from cover to cover to prevent being retaliated against. Alternatively, if you're good enough, you can prevent enemies from taking your hiding place, which is good if you've found a particularly good spot for sniping. To do this you'll need lots of ammo and quite a bit of skill. If you are constantly being shot at, then either the play field is unsuited to snipers, you're not being a good sniper, or you're holding a critical position.

More Slydev Parts - Iron Sights, Longshot Attachment & Sling Points

My order of Slydev stuff finally arrived, and I'm already quite impressed with it. Not just aesthetics wise, but they're practical too!
FIS - front iron sight
RIS - rear iron sight
LSFTRA - Longshot front tac rail attachment
SLTRA - sling loop tac rail attachment

Nerf Brass Breeched Longshot Range Test

I finally got around to recording me fire my BBLS outside with stefans.
EDIT: Probably don't pay too much stock to my range claims in the video.

Nerf Longshot w/ Brass Breech Test Fire

In this video I try to show off my brass breeched Longshot. Unfortunately you can't really see the darts because of lighting, the camera quality and the dart velocity. Nevertheless, you can hear the firing sound and impact sound.

Ranges with Heavy Silicone Darts (~1.6g total weight I believe) average 25-30m.
Ranges with Lite Silicone Darts (~1.2g total weight) average 24-28m.
Ranges with Streamlines are anywhere between 20m and 30m because they go completely nuts after about 10m.
Springs are: Stock LS spring, OMW 5+kg spring (total load ~8kg)
EDIT: Don't give these ranges too much weight, I doubt they were properly flat shots.

Nerf Longshot vs Longstrike

This is a comparison of Nerf's two sniper rifles - the Longshot and Longstrike.

Nerf Longshot Test Fire

Test fire of my modded Longshot.
Using an OMW AT spring (5kg+), Serv Stampede Spring (10kg+) and stretched NF (old) spring (2.5kg?).
Totalling approx 17kg+ load.
Impossible to prime with one hand.
Ranges 25m+
EDIT: Don't pay those ranges too much attention, as reasonable as they are for a high power Longshot, they probably weren't measured properly at the time.
Reinforced Boltsled with aluminium sheet.
Stock breech and stock Streamlines.
A brass breech and good stefans would get it hitting 30m+ reasonably easily.

Longshot LSFG Integration

I recently epoxied and blu-tacked my LSFG onto my Longshot after cutting a whole lot of stuff off. I would have used hot glue but the glue gun exploded before I could use it. :( I've got a new one, so hotglue reinforcements done.
The LSFG has had its AR's removed because it is pathetic. The Longshot is stock so far, until I get boltsled reinforcement brackets, at which point I'll mod it if I feel like it. I'm intending to do the following:
-Remove AR's
-Add NF spring
-Reinforce boltsled
-Reinforce stock (if needed)
-Reinforce LSFG integration (with hot glue)
The shotgun grip I've made is completely removable and works well, but is slightly uncomfortable (being wood).

Nerf Longshot ACOG Scope Mod

This is a better looking ACOG than my toilet paper roll one.

Materials:
Plastic cutting tool
Hot glue
Hot glue gun



Oh yeah, an LS scope.

Instructions:
1) Cut wherever there are coloured lines. Black means remove the piece, and the different colours correspond to different parts in the scope.

2) Assemble and glue the parts like this:

Click the pictures to view a larger image.

You're done! It's really that easy. It's actually more complicated, but I forgot to take pictures during the process. Sorry. Basically, you avoid cutting into the plastic lenses.

Nerf Longshot CS-6 Usage Tips

Some usage tips for my new blaster.

Nerf Longshot CS-6 Review

After all my hate posts of the Longshot, I have a new favourite. No more. Too bad Longshot. I've reverted to my good old Alpha Trooper. The Longshot was originally released in a blue/yellow paint scheme, then the current yellow/orange paintscheme. For a short time, it was also released in a rather exclusive red/orange paint scheme, dubbed the 'Crimson Series'. The latter paint scheme is extremely rare, and extremely valuable. The current Longshot comes with the Longshot Front Gun (LSFG), the bolt (in 2 pieces), a very large scope, a 6-clip (mag) and darts, and the Longshot itself.