Review: Nerf Dart Tag Quick 16- we got one:)

There she is folks. Nerf Dart Tag Quick 16. She's you beaut and a bag of chips.

Lo and behold, we've managed to score ourselves a working unit of the new Quick 16, just in time for the New Year:) Told you we'd hit 2011 with a bang:)

The Quick 16 is one of the new upcoming Dart Tag blasters scheduled to be released sometime in 2011. Our test unit came complete with darts and manual which suggests this blaster is not far off from making it into stores. It's a 16 round capacity blaster that takes its cues from the Nerf N-Strike Raider CS-35  both in form and functionality, but with an in built ammo storage 'clip'.

So how good is it really? From our tests.. it's AWESOME. (warning- picture intensive post- apologies for those with slower connections. We'll post the images on our Facebook page as well)

Quick 16 on all new storage crate background!:)

The first thing I noticed with the Quick 16 is how solid it feels. These new Dart Tag blasters feel a lot thicker and sturdier than their N-Strike cousins- they're made of a different plastic and the form, right down to the barrels and grips feel thicker than what we're used to with N-Strike. If you hold the blaster by the barrel, it definitely feels wider than the Raider or Alpha Trooper do.  I joke the new Dart Tag blasters are almost made for "man hands", which for many Nerfers out there will be a welcome bonus.

Quick 16 with the jam door open

 The Quick 16 is still quite light weight though, and features the same "Bumblebee" styling as the Swarmfire. High tech looking panels, rounded edges with dark yellow and black accents; the blasters look amazing. Still, all that aside, as a blaster the Quick 16 isn't that different in design to holding a Raider or Alpha Trooper. It features many elements similar to N-Strike- for instance there's a jam door that can be slid open like with some of the CS branded blasters.

Yes, We have no. Bananas.

The Quick 16 has an interesting spring loaded internal ammo storage 'clip' that has a slight curve, similar to a real life banana clip (it's yellow too!) It takes regular dart tag velcro darts, and also accomodates sonic whistlers. Suction cap darts also work, but are a little squishy to fit in the slot when inserting. As reported earlier, Streamlines are a no go, they just don't fire and result in jamming. (we also gave some "Blue Stingers" a run, courtesy of Neil from the Canberra + Southern NSW Dart Tag crew which also worked a treat)

In case you forgot which review you're reading.. 16:)

With darts in the banana clip.

 On the side of the banana clip is an opening to show you how many darts you have left. 16 is a pretty decent amount to be carrying and is a good increase on the old Furyfire's as far as dart capacity is concerned.

Loading a swanky new dart tag dart

And, in you go.

And.. cocked and ready in chamber.. pew pew pew

Above the banana clip is a dart loading slot- it's as simple as pushing a dart down into the slot to reload the blaster. This is how you reload the Quick 16, and you can just keep sliding in more darts to capacity on the fly while you're playing. This is a great feature, and is more suited to Dart Tag style games rather than having to remove and reload actual clips like with the CS blasters, or slide the darts into a barrel like with the Fury fires. At times you do feel like you're squishing your darts on insert, but after a while you do get used to it.

The front hand grip/cock. And some..gills.

Once the darts are loaded, just like with the Raider it's as simple as cocking back the front grip and the top dart is then loaded into the chamber ready to fire. 

The Quick 16 has the same 'Slam Fire' capabilities as the Raider and the Alpha Trooper; it works the same way but feels sturdier than with the N-Strike blasters. The manual doesn't even call it Slam Fire, but "Rapid Fire" which is interesting.

It's a dart tag gun alright. And check that rear butt. Baby got back.

The rear design of the Quick 16 reveals a butt very similar to N-Strike blasters that have a stock attachment mount; however the Quick 16's mount is quite a bit thicker than the N-Strike blasters' and therefore does NOT support any existing N-Strike stocks (be it the Recon, Raider or Spectre stocks). While I think this is a shame, these blasters ARE thicker than N-Strike blasters, so I guess it makes sense they'll need their own independent stocks. Interestingly enough, the Quick 16 DOESN'T come with a stock, suggesting that there will be after market stocks available. Which would be very cool.

Big Butt. I cannot lie.

No fitty no Stocky,

 The Quick 16 is quite a compact blaster- when you put it head to head with an Alpha Trooper or Raider it's not that different in physical length. Performance wise, it's very good. I'm actually quite surprised at its power- perhaps because it's also using the Dart Tag darts, but I found the ranges were surpassing out of the box Alpha Troopers and with more accuracy. I'll do some test videos when I can real soon, but for now it's definitely a lot more impressive than I thought it'd be.

Quick 16 against an Alpha Trooper.

So what's the verdict? Given I LOVE my AT and Raider.. I absolutely love this thing. It looks sensational, it's solid to hold and it works a treat. The easy reloading on the fly via the top slot totally works for me, it means it's just a matter of carrying a sack of whistler/dart tag darts and this blaster and i'm ready to go as I can fire several rounds and load up more darts while I'm ducking for cover. I'm a real fan of the styling of these new Dart Tag blasters, and I think it's fantastic that they're actually designing blasters around the game and breaking out of the N-Strike poor cousin status. No tactical rails.. no biggie to be honest:)

I'm of the belief these new Dart Tag blasters will be out in the early half of 2011; They're obviously being manufactured, there's official in box manuals, new blue and white darts are also ready to go and there's mention of the new Dart Tag jerseys. I'd say it's only a matter of months till we start seeing them on shelves. I'd have NO idea how much they'd go for or where they'll come out first. All I can say right now is they'll be worth the wait.

Update: They're starting to pop up on eBay but they're not cheap; still sometimes if you wanna be a bleeding edger you gotta be willing to cough up the dough. Amen to Eric though, he's my man!

A few more pics just for funsies below:)

Down the barrel of the Quick 16

The front grip from the other side

In hand

From different angles

It has an eyelet on the grip.. but nothing at the front to attach a shoulder strap

Underside of the Banana clip

From the front