Nerf N-Strike Elite: Rayven CS-18 Blaster

The original version of the Rayven (i.e., the original all-green version) was a pretty good dart gun, if you happen to like the "bull-pup" configuration (i.e., having the ammo clip behind the location of the trigger).I'll be honest and admit that I'm not a fan of this configuration -- there are plenty of good technical reasons why a real firearm should be made in a bull-pup configuration for use in close-quarters indoor combat situations, and both the police and military do like them for such purposes. But for a foam dart gun, the only reason to do such a thing is for looks, because in a dart gun, it just means that you're requiring the barrel to be longer, which can only put extra drag on a foam dart -- in short, for foam darts, shorter barrels are better. Also, in these foam dart guns, it means that using a drum-type magazine becomes incredibly awkward, since it's constantly bumping up against your torso and the inside of your arm.However, setting aside my pet peeves about the Rayven's bull-pup configuration, I must say that this is an excellent flywheel-based dart gun in almost every other way -- and a very definite improvement over the original version. The clip insertion and removal is very smooth, with the button used to release a clip being very easy to get to and operate. The jam door on the top (right above the clip) opens wide to reveal a nice wide opening into the casing so that you can really get your fingers on a jammed dart and pull it out quickly and easily. The orange front-most tip of the barrel (where the darts come shooting out) is designed to allow the attachment of various barrel extensions from other Nerf guns, which adds some versatility.In essence, this new version of the Rayven is practically identical to the original all-green version, except for the blue-and-white "elite" series coloring and more powerful motors driving the flywheel-based firing system. Those more powerful motors make a HUGE difference... Unlike the original Rayven, these more powerful motors spin up the flywheel-based firing system to a good operating speed much, much faster than the motors of the original Rayven -- the result being that you can almost immediately begin firing darts after revving up the motors -- so the delay in actually being able to fire darts is much less than in the original all-green Rayven. The only downside is that these more powerful motors are even louder than in the original Rayven -- but then, for some reason, no maker of flywheel-based dart guns ever seems to bother putting in truly quiet motors in any of them. I still say that there are those of us who would be willing to pay considerably more money to get a version of flywheel-based dart gun with motors that are actually quiet -- Nerf could market it as a special "stealth" version or whatever.Also, both this newer version of the Rayven and the older all-green version, have proven to be better than the new Stryfe flywheel-based dart gun. Though the jam door on the Stryfe looks like it provides the same degree of wide-open access as both versions of the Rayven, opening the jam door on the Stryfe reveals a far smaller opening into the casing of the Stryfe that provides very limited access for trying to clear a jam -- it's the smallest jam door opening I've ever seen on a Nerf dart gun. Also, both versions of the Rayven are not nearly as finicky about what darts or clips you use, while the Stryfe behaves like a fickle child that capriciously jams on different clips/drums and versions of streamline darts, no matter what you do -- I've encountered very, very few jams on either version of the Rayven, and neither version of the Rayven includes the annoying feature of occasionally not allowing you to pull the trigger, like the Stryfe. Finally, even though the Stryfe has the same type of front-most tip on its barrel as the Rayven, Nerf seems to have goofed it, because the barrel extensions are not held in place as well on the Stryfe as on both versions of the Rayven.The final verdict is this... Nerf now has four versions of semi-automatic flywheel-based dart guns that use their "clip system" ammo clips and ammo drums -- the original Rayven, this version of the Rayven, the Stryfe and the Hailfire (which is an altogether different physical configuration). Out of these four flywheel-based dart guns, this newer version of the Rayven is the one to get -- and again, I'm saying this even though I don't like the bull-pup configuration.This newer version of the Rayven just plain works, and very nicely.

This is an extremely compact and versatile Nerf blaster, the grip just comfortable for large adult hands - any smaller and it'd be too cramped to get one's hand in above the strengthening bar that connects the grip with the magazine housing. A 4 AA battery run flywheel fires the darts, the trigger is semi-automatic (one pull, one shot), and 18 round magazine holds plenty of darts before you have to refill. There is a bayonet fitting at the front so that any compatible barrel from the Nerf range can be attached, but that seems to spoil the point of such a neat design.The magazine is over 2/3 of the length of the gun itself. It holds 3 AA batteries in a side compartment (cross-point screwdriver required to remove and refit the battery compartment lid), the glow-in-the-dark darts can be used in any magazine-fed Nerf blaster. A spare magazine with 18 darts can currently be bought on Amazon for around $10.29, only 30 cents more than the regular 18 dart magazine. The battery compartment does add a little weight and bulk, but the glow darts are usually more expensive than standard darts, if you can even find them in a store, so overall they're great value. Regular Nerf darts can be fired from the glow magazine too.The Rayven stock is fixed but comfortable enough for a full-sized adult. You can get a line of sight along the top of the gun, or attach an optic to the rail, though all Nerf optics are more for fun than usefulness. This is the only bullpup design in the Nerf range, the magazine behind the grip, making for quick reloading. The magazine release in a recess just behind the magazine, to avoid accidental release.Overall I rate the Rayven very highly in the Nerf range for all-round utility, and because it is so compact if makes a great travel blaster. A camping trip with all the family armed with Rayvens and spare magazines would make for a memorable night time battle.The darts look great shooting in the dark, but may not glow very long after landing if you don't charge them up first. They charge in any light, however, so a search by torchlight for lost darts is easier than finding the regular darts in the daytime.

I like the compact design of it. It's lightweight for a nerf gun. I bought it mainly because I wanted an electric blaster, and people were hailing this as the king of all nerf blasters because of its moddability. It is moddable, and I highly recommend you mod it, because it isn't as great as people made it soundOne major thing I noticed is the hard trigger pull. It can be difficult and tiring to fire shots off rapidly. The stryfe doesn't have this problem. The other thing I noticed is how many damn safeties are on this thing. There are two in the magazine slot, one under the trigger and one on the jam door. All of the magazines I've put into this fit and work, but one of those safeties can make it difficult to remove the magazine. Like I said before, I recommend modding it, and removing some of these safeties would be part of those mods.Let it not be said that this thing is bad though. Do the 9volt mod on it and it shoots crazy far for such a small blaster.

I can only assume I missed it in the description, but this requires seven (7) AA batteries. Regardless, this "blaster" jambs A LOT! My son has a few other Nerf guns, and none of them have this "debilitating" issue.BTW, the Amazon box it came in was immaculate, but the actual Nerf holder looked as if were dragged behind a truck. It was obviously opened (and probably used) previously. So much for ordering a NEW product.