Our best effort got us 6 shots in 10 seconds, but without any kind of accuracy. When it comes to rate-of-fire, the Doublestrike is also just “ok.” Because of the uncomfortable hammer pull–and especially because of the aforementioned issue with air being pushed back into the chamber on cocking–we had a difficult time getting repeatable, sequential shots. We took 20 shots, and the average chrono speed ended up being a steady (but not stellar) 60 feet-per-second. Thankfully, with this being a muzzle-loader, it’ll be easy enough to use denser, more accurate darts from another brand (Buzz Bee’s Extreme line of darts come to mind here).ĭart velocity also showed a wide range of variance, with a low of just 43 feet-per-second, all the way up to a speedy 69 feet-per-second. And for whatever reason, it actually seemed to be a bit worse in that regard than most Nerf products, including the very similar Nerf Elite Triad (which uses a similar Smart AR system). However, shot accuracy was poor, with the typical Elite swerving characteristics on full-display. For instance, we were able to hit ranges of 55 feet, 60 feet, and all the way up to 65 feet reasonably easily. ![]() But what about actual performance? We found the Zombie Strike Doublestrike to be the epitome of a mixed bag in most measurable parameters. Here’s a quick GIF to illustrate the problem: The only remedy was to keep one hand in front of the blaster to hold the dart(s) in place, while the other hand is used to prime. Perhaps there is a tolerance issue or other quality control problem, but this happened to us over and over. It then becomes impossible to fire correctly. In practice, however, there’s one big problem: the Doublestrike’s cocking action allows the hammer to be pulled just a bit too far down, and when it comes back up into the cocked position, a small bit of air pushes the dart forward, unseating it from the chamber. Simply pull back on the hammer with a thumb, pull the trigger, and blast away! Or, so one would think. Thanks to the use of a “Smart AR (air restrictor)” system like that seem in the Elite Triad and Elite Rough Cut 2×4, one can fire a single dart from either of the two, muzzle-loaded barrels. Using the Zombie Strike Doublestrike should be fairly simple. It’s a bit of a chore, actually, which isn’t something you want in a hammer-primed blaster. It’s somewhat awkward to reach in this application, and isn’t particularly easy to cock. Unlike the Hammershot, the Doublestrike does not invite you to pull the hammer repeatedly. But a bigger issue is the hammer pull, which is small, and very uncomfortable to use. If your an adult with average-sized hands, your pinky finger will be left sitting uncomfortably on or below the bottom of the handle. It’s another thoughtful, balanced-looking design, which is what we’ve come to expect from the Nerf brand.Įrgonomically, the Doublestrike lives up to its “pocket pistol” billing, with a decidedly small handle that really only allows for a two-fingered grip (plus one on the trigger). ![]() We also love the faux handle wrap, and the “cut out” side chamber with Nerf detailing embossed. Out of the box, the Doublestrike doesn’t disappoint in the aesthetic department, with the aforementioned Derringer style double-barrel muzzle, bright colors, and cool Zombie Strike branding (hooray for actual paint instead of stupid stickers!). ![]() ![]() Of course, opening the actual box and removing the blaster seems to be getting harder and harder all the time (BOOMco is the worst), but overall, the shelf-appeal and packaging of the Doublestrike is spot-on. It’s very eye-pleasing, and just goes to show how far behind most competitors are in virtually every aspect of bringing quality blasters to market, all the way down to nailing the shelf presence. And the box design is pure Zombie Strike goodness, with a deft balance of Zombie grit mixed with bright, fun colors. The retail package is mostly open, allowing potential buyers to try out the hammer action right in the store (sans actual dart firing, of course). But we found the Doublestrike to be one nagging flaw shy of being the perfect pocket pistol for which we yearn.Įven before it’s taken out of the box, the Nerf Zombie Strike Doublestrike makes a good first impression. It’s a great concept, and a nice alternative to the bulky blasters many companies are producing. And that’s just what we’re getting with the Nerf Zombie Strike Doublestrike, which bears no small amount of resemblance to the classic Remington Model 95 Double Derringer. With the success of the Nerf Zombie Strike Hammershot, it’s no huge surprise that Hasbro might look to create another one-handed, hammer-action blaster.
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