When you get hit by the Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10, you'll hear it coming. Then you'll hear it coming again. This motorized semi-automatic blaster sets itself apart from other Nerf products by packing a revolving barrel with ten whistle-tipped darts. All that firepower managers to fit in a fairly compact profile as well, making the RV-10 a great sidearm choice.
The text from the back of the box reads:
The RV-10 is roughly 13.5" x 7.5", which may seem a bit bulky for a sidearm. However, with semi-automatic delivery and ten dart capacity, you'll make up in firepower what you trade away in size, so you'll have to weigh this when considering whether this may be the right blaster for you. The RV-10 makes no compromises in speed and range, though.
After getting a feel for the semi-auto chamber rotation, these darts can be unloaded in less than half a second each, meaning the entire clip will be empty in five seconds or less. Reloading is also a factor when rating the speed of this blaster, but there are only positives to report in that area as well. Of the ten darts, six slots are always exposed for easy reloading. These six can be loaded while the gun is on in-between shots, and the other four can be accessed through a manual rotation of the revolving chamber while the gun is either on or off. It's nice to see that you won't have to drain your batteries (three AA) to allow for reloading.
The RV-10's range was measured between 25 and 35 feet. The longer distance shots required some angling and a one or two second pause in between trigger presses to allow the motor to regain speed. This is comparable to what you'll get in the rest of the Nerf line, yet the RV-10 is smaller and cheaper.
There is a jam door included in the blaster's design, allowing for easy access into the firing chamber, but this was never needed. Short of intentionally gripping the rotating chamber and forcing it to jam, one never occurred on its own. Still, it's nice to see that if you wind up holding it improperly during some frantic play, you won't have to disassemble the blaster to clear the jam.
As for the whistling darts, you can barely hear them over the loud hum of this blaster's motor, which is a bit disappointing. I had a feeling that it might be a bit more noticeable for the targets, rather than the shooter, so I was left with only one option. My wife was more than happy to stop what she was doing and pelt me with ten darts from across the room, so I can now confirm that, yes, these darts do have a distinct whistle that you will hear as they come racing towards you.
Overall, the Barricade RV-10 offers a broad range of improvements over Nerf's original attempt at a revolver-style blaster, the Maverick. If you're looking for a blaster that borrows a lot of high-end features without the size and price of a Vulcan or a Longshot, then the Barricade is the right choice for you (and of course, your little ones).
Wired: Speed, Range, Capacity.
__Tired: __Size, Noise.
Disclaimer: A complimentary review sample of this product was received by GeekDad.
