Adventure Force Archery Blaster Set Review

Dart Zone produced a few roleplay-oriented sets for Walmart this year. There’s the Pirate Playset, including one of their Buccaneer pistols, and there’s also this Archery set. The kit includes an eight-shot blaster, styled like a bow (naturally), as well as suction cup darts, an target, and a wrist-mounted dart holder. Given the lack of pull and release blasters in the current market, it’s a nice change of pace. And it turns out there’s a ton of air just waiting to be used by those of us who are mechanically inclined.

AND YOU HAVE MY BOW!

The blaster in the set, labeled as the “Osprey” both on the shell and in the Walmart listing’s address, is a long and thing blaster, with folding arm tips and enough real estate to allow a grip. Buttons at the joints allow the folding of the arms. The “string” is a simple elastic cord that is present for show (though it provides some power I’m sure); the real power is stored internally in a long spring.

The blaster comes with eight suction-cup darts (It’s been forever since I saw suction cup darts on store shelves!!), and a wrist-mounted dart holder for holding spares. Other normal (and half length, as it turns out) dart types work just fine with the Osprey, since the cylinder has no dart posts or air restrictor valves to speak of.

The included target is over a foot across, making for a nice target regardless of dart type. Of course, I’d assume it’s meant purely for regular, ages 8+ blasters, and not darts traveling at high speeds. The target has two legs that can swing out for sitting upright, and it also has molded bits for mounting it on a wall, using a screw port or other method.

Performance

At maximum draw, I was averaging 80fps, but results may vary depending on how far back you can pull the handle. Likewise, rate of fire sits at around two darts per second, if you quickly aim and fire.

Internals and Modification Potential

The blaster takes a bit more effort to disassemble than other things. First, the black sleeve must be popped loose with a flathead screwdriver or other tool. There are two opposing tabs, and once they’re popped out, the sleeve can slide off.. Once that is done, the shell itself can be opened simply with a Philips screwdriver.

The plunger has an astonishingly large volume, with ~2.9cm diameter and a total draw of around 22 cm! As a result, a few people have already designed kits meant for firing at higher fps, or to use alternate ammo. As well as other cosmetic setups:

• Adventure Force Osprey Bow Metal Barrel Collet Cylinder

• Adventure Force Osprey M-Bow Archery Kit

• Adventure Force Osprey Archery Bow Barrel Inserts

• Adventure Force Osprey Archery Bow Spring Spacers

I have a vacation to run off to, but I’m looking forward to trying some of these when I get back!

Final Thoughts

Of all the things I thought I’d see from Dart Zone this year, a bow wasn’t among them. It’s a lovely surprise that’s tons of fun to use. Seems I need to get some practice in if I want to try modifying and using this as a single-shot plinker at the next 200fps cap Nerf War I attend!