There are many paths that can be taken in a review of the newNerfZombie Strike Longshot CS-12, which is essentially a re-color of the original Longshot CS-6 introduced under the N-Strike label in 2006. The near-legendaryCS-6 version was the first to use both the Nerf clip and direct plunger systems. It is widely considered the precursor of the Elite line. The new 2014 Longshot with aZombie Strike aesthetic was a great development for the Nerf Internet Community. It was especially exciting for those who enjoy modding as the original CS-6 version was greatly improved by some internal changes. We will not be reviewing the Zombie Strike Longshot CS-12 based upon its history or modding potential. Instead, we will review it purely based on how it performs today as a stock blaster that was released in 2014. After all, thats exactly what most consumers will do when they see it on retail shelves right next to Demolishers, Thunderbows, and Slingfires admittedly tough competition for a blaster that is essentially 8 years old.
Before we go into the performance of the Longshot CS-12, let’s first review the differences between the original Longshot CS-6 and the Longshot CS-12. Most obviously, we have the new Zombie Strike color scheme, which is a bit more garish in-person than it originally appeared in photos. The collapsible bipod is absent (as indicated by the remaining mounting stubs), and the original front-mounted blaster/barrel extend is also gone. The positive side is that the 12-dart clip is larger than the original 6-dart. The Longshot is now a Target exclusive in the United States. We’ll be covering that in more detail shortly.
Design and Ergonomics
Seeing the new Longshot CS-12 in leaked photos, we were stoked. The overall design was bold and aggressive with vibrant colors. It is a totally different story in the flesh. The body’s blue is more aqua than many photos (even ours), and the orange stripes in the muzzle are a sickly thinly applied shade of pale, salmon-like yellow that is totally different from the scope, clip and other intense orange bits. (And that well also should be noted that the paint job is very sloppy, with obvious overspray). In addition, the black color of the handle seems a bit random, since the gripunder the muzzle that used to be black is now that gross salmon-orange color. What happened to the Zombie Strike’s cloth handle wrapping? Apparently these were thrown-out on the alter of manufacturing convenience, since this is quite literally the exact same product mold as the original Longshot CS-6 (right down to the 5,095 cm markings). According to Hasbro executives, they want to reissue old favorites. However, this sloppy execution feels more like an attempt to please Target with an exclusive. We wished the product looked as good in person as it does in photographs. Also, it needed to be given at least some effort in its aesthetic transformation.
The Longshot is the same ergonomically as the original Longshot. You’ll either love it or hate it. We didnt have any huge complaints, and we actually liked the shorter overall dimensionswithout the barrel extension, though the collapsing functionof the shoulder stock is somewhat pointless, since itsrange is limited (and we didnt find it comfortable in the shorter position, anyway). The clip release is still only on one side, which some might find less than ideal. The fake scope is a complete waste of time with plastic optics so blurred that you could as easily be looking through a canning container’s bottom. Otherwise, though, its a reasonably well-balanced piece thats easy enough to hold and use. And its built with the same quality plastics as all Nerf products, even ifthose plastics twist and creak under usea bit more than some modern designs.
Performance and Use
We were not expecting the Longshot’s Zombie Strike version to perform as well as it did. Even so, we were disappointedby just how badly our copy of the CS-12 performed. Indoor range testing was very inconsistent, to be frank. First shot fired 4.6 m. Second shot 12.5 m. Third shot 3.0 m. Houston, we have a problem. After repeated attempts, and with a good angle of approximately 35 degrees, our average range was 12.2 m with an unlikely 15.8 m maximum distance. However, most of our max-distance shots were within the 15.
2 m. And even then, roughly 1 out of every 8 or 10shots was basically a complete dud, with darts spiraling like a helicopterout of the barrel and landing only a few yardsaway. So well be generous and call it at 15.2 m.
Because of the inconsistent ranges it was difficult to make a precise accuracy judgment. However, we can say that it was not worse than Elite-firing blasters. The barrel’s velocity averaged 13.7 m/s. We hit a max speed of 15.5 m-per-second, and a low of 13.1 m-per-second. Although this is not unreasonable for an N-Strike product it clearly is not up to the Elite speeds. So when you combine these low velocities with the fact that one out ofevery few darts comes out in a suicidal death spiral, its hard to call that accurate.
Despite the fact that the blasters‘ shortcomings are very disappointing, they still have some good points. Because where the Longshot CS-12 is bad, its really bad. We discovered that this blaster is not a fan of being hustled and may have an inherent design flaw that prevents it firing consistently. We experienced more jamming issues than any other blaster that we tested. We destroyed a lot of Elite darts. At one point, we had three darts jammed in the barrel and breach at once. We found a dart whose tip was pointed at 45 degrees upwards when we removed the clip. ), with the back-end still in the clip. More than half the darts included with the Longshot have foam chunks missing. In fact, we were able to see tiny foam bits flying out the barrel as we fired. And yes, we fiddled with the clip alignment, etc.
, and no amount of noodling around seemed to change anything.
Perhaps it should go without saying, butwith the aforementioned jamming issues we encountered with the Longshot CS-12, rate-of-fire was not this blasters strong suit. Here, the jamming issues were at their absolute worst, with any attempt at firing quickly being stunted by at least one jam. Nonetheless, with enough persistence and by slowing down our priming and firing sequence to what seemed like a comically slow pace, we managed to finally succeed in firing off12 darts in 16 seconds. But it was the hardest we have ever had to work just to get a consistent, error-free test in that regard, with jams typically occurring with a frequency of aboutone instance per clip. We ended up replacing about half of the darts that came with the Longshot with undamaged Zombie Strike Elites we had on-hand, just to keep things as legitimate as we could.
Value and Fun
Unfortunately, things dont get any better for the Zombie Strike Longshot CS-12 in the value department, because ours was at retail, and we can think of many, many blasters that operate much better for a lot less money. If this was a novelty blaster being released solely for collectors or something, and it was priced at then it would at least be a reasonable enough purchase to buy for the different color scheme, and of course the modding potential (which is huge). The Zombie Strike Longshot CS-12 is a poor value for money. It has a slipshod recolor, reliability issues, poor performance and a cost that’s less than a Demolisher (which can reach 21.3 m and fire 4 darts per sec),
But is at fun, at least? The Longshot CS-12 is a pleasant to hold and has a nostalgic feel that we love. Pulling back the priming lever is still enjoyably tactile (unlike most everything flywheel-based). We even enjoy the sound of the spring unloading, which we don’t get with newer designs. But it the end, its just so frustrating to use and underwhelming in performance that you dont really even want to bother withit. And the fact that its rather ugly doesnt encourage you to even attempt to live with its faults just for the cool factor.
We know what you’re thinking, maybe it was a dud. Perhaps we just got the one Longshot CS-12 with a problem. Yes, it is possible. But how many times should we give Hasbro a pass on early production unit problems? How many of us were burnt by the first year Centurion dart-chewing? What about the low-serialnumber Slingfires which didn’t make it? We also have two Magnus blasters in production that can barely reach 15.2 meters. Its almost getting to the point where this is becoming an expectation, or a the very least, a far too regular accident.
We are venting and we almost wonder if early adopters don’t pay Hasbro to be their guineapigs, unwittingly helping them solve design and quality control issues. It wouldn’t matter if the blaster worked or not. But our Longshot wasnt blatantly broken in any way we could definitively gauge, it was just annoyingly unreliable. so we doubt most consumers would even think something was wrong. They will get what they want, which is dart destruction, jamming and poor range consistency. We can confidently say that our unit was purchased with our own money from a Target in Lancaster, PA.
Just what it says what a consumer would have gotten.
It would be an understatement to say that we were disappointed by the Longshot CS-12. We fully expected this to be one of thesurprisehits of the year. Instead, it just ended up being one let down after another, despite how hard it tugged on our nostalgic heartstrings. We were reminded by Reddit’s good people Foam Data, Lord Drac that the original Longshot CS-6 also had its problems, such as a poor dart tooth design, slow rate-of fire, and a slow rate of firing. It really only became a viable modder’s tool. Perhaps it was our fault that we expected the 2014 version would be comparable to blasters today. And in the end, thats the onevery goodthing about the Zombie Strike Longshot CS-12: it remindsus just how much progress has been made in 8 years, and makes us happy we can nowget products from Nerf that area lot more fun, for a lot less money.
