It’s not supposed to be out yet, but I found an Alpha Strike Cobra at a Target for $10 last week. As expected, Alpha Strike is Nerf’s answer to the “budget brands” that have taken away its market share in the lower price points. The line still isn’t my favorite for comfort; however, after using the Cobra over the weekend, it’s better than expected. Even if I have other preferences, I expect those brands (at this price point) to have a hard time in the near future.
The single blaster pack comes with 12 darts and four half-bottle plastic targets (which do connect and can be blasted apart).
See my thoughts on the line here.
Minimal Construction
Finally, the trigger is sealed within the shell, rotating on a point, with the “catch” attached to it and supported by ribs in the shell. This is a weak point if you attempt to modify the blaster, for sure. Then again, if you’re modifying the blaster…you’re probably not the target audience of the Alpha Strike series.
Performance
In addition, it’s easy to get off a shot every second, even with the stiff prime. Whether you want to empty the cylinder that quickly, of course, is another matter.
Comfort
This is the major downfall of the Cobra. The handle, while sufficient for gripping the blaster, feels horrible due to the skeleton nature of it. It can be somewhat ignored when the blaster is used in short spurts, but long term use is uncomfortable.
Wrapping with tape at least prevents the blaster from digging into your palm, though.
Last Thoughts
I still prefer the Xshot Reflex 6 (and its Walmart version, the Destroyer), due to the somewhat better performance and the far more comfortable handle for less ($7 or $8, usually). However, the Cobra is good enough to potentially overshadow it, especially on impulse purchases. After all, there’s now an option screaming “#1 Blaster Brand” in bright colors and at a similar price range. We’ll see how things play out come Christmas!