12 replies to this topic

[Toast]

I wish thread title didn't sounds so much like a "X vs. Y, which is betterz?" post. Because it isn't really.

I have an opportunity to purchase a stock Recon pretty cheap, or a Retaliator for not quite as cheap (I'd prefer not to get into the financial details why this matters). Neither comes with shoulder stock or barrel. I know the Retal has a direct plunger system which seems to be better than the reverse on the Recon. But I was curious how significant of a difference exists between either blaster. Regarding stock performance, but more importantly in basic mod-ability.

I'm asking because if I can't get the Retal, I'm going to get something else, and the Recon is a great deal, but I'm wondering if I should skip the Recon all together because it's "non-Elite", and I should limit my arsenal to only the "modern" blasters. I'm not sure how significant that is. Is it like, "Damn man, all the N-Strikes are totally deprecated because of the Elites, never buy that crap!" ??

I plan to create my own slug stefans, so you can ignore Elite darts in this equation. I also plan to mod any blaster I own, though I'm still a novice

Thanks!

[Bchamp22795]

Retaliators make recons obsolete. Retaliators are better in every way. The only reason I'd get the cheaper recon is for mod experience or to make a clipped BBB or replace the internals with an airgun where only the shell is used.

Edited by Bchamp22795, 10 July 2013 - 04:10 PM.

[HasreadCoC]

The only reason I'd get the cheaper recon is [to] replace the internals ... where only the shell is used.

Pretty much this for me. The shell is great though for homemade building, so if it's like $5-$8ish cheap then sure, go for it and see what you can make.

[Daniel Beaver]

The Retaliator is an exceedingly superior blaster. Even with no modifications other than peg removals, It will outperform a heavily modded Recon. With a spring replacement, it becomes a somewhat competitive outdoor blaster.

Edited by Daniel Beaver, 10 July 2013 - 08:16 PM.

[Zorns Lemma]

I have an opportunity to purchase a stock Recon pretty cheap, or a Retaliator for not quite as cheap (I'd prefer not to get into the financial details why this matters). Neither comes with shoulder stock or barrel. I know the Retal has a direct plunger system which seems to be better than the reverse on the Recon. But I was curious how significant of a difference exists between either blaster. Regarding stock performance, but more importantly in basic mod-ability.

The recon has basically the worst [effectiveness increase] to [effort/money required] ratios of any blaster I've experienced modding. Even if you can get it cheaper you won't be able to make anything of it.

[Toast]

Thanks for all the tips everyone, this is a great help!

I'd heard conflicting opinions between some of the N-Strike and Elites in the past, but I wasn't aware of such a gap between the Recon and Retal. I was able to get my hands on the Retal after all, so now I feel even better about it.

If this strays to far off-topic, then never mind: Are there any non-Elites that are considered better than their Elite counterparts?

[shmmee]

Are there any non-Elites that are considered better than their Elite counterparts?

There might be a small argument made for jolts over triads - but only if you prefer range over ROF. You can't remove the AR's from a triad and expect it to continue to function. A firestrike is pretty much a re-shell of the NF (as far as I am aware) With those exceptions Elites are in every way superior to their N-strike counter parts.

[Mully]

Well, I'll pick up recons...too chop em up for other projects.
Retaliators are much better than recons in basically every way, as Zorn said, a heavily modded recon won't be able to out-perform a slightly modded Retaliator. Here's a good range test/example of what a slightly modded Retaliator can do.

Edited by Mully, 11 July 2013 - 01:39 PM.

[Stilgar]

Hi thought i would add my 2 cents as well. Yes the N-strike line is obsolete unfortunately. But the silver lining is that kids are dumping their n-strike stuff by the boat load to charity and thrift shops.

As a new modder, I would take advantage of this if you can. I just picked up a Longstrike for 1.99 and a Longshot for 3.99 at a local salvation army ( i get a blaster a week out of this same place most the time). That's an excellent price for practice blasters to mod.

Also i have a young niece with young friends into Nerf. Since all the younger children are upgrading they don't care much about old blaster and most the time they just give them to me or will sell them for little or nothing (they also like to trade which I do with some simpler modded stuff I have that I don't want anymore)

Hopefully this will help you get some raw material to mess with to get you some experience with Nerf modding.

[BritNerfMogul]

Personally, I'd take the Stampede over the Rapidstrike anyday.

[MAV13]

Personally, I'd take the Stampede over the Rapidstrike anyday.

Completely agree. The sound of a stampede is just the best. They are also hard to mod, so a working one always feels like a triumph.

[Stilgar]

Stampedes aesthetic is top of the line for sure. it and the Longshot are my favorite looking blasters.

But lets be honest the stampede is not a great blaster by any stretch. They are inaccurate relatively slow firing compared to a rapid strike and have a habit of falling apart fairly Quickly.

Not to mention like Mav said suuuuper hard to mod in anyway that will hold up over time.

it a great gun though in my opinion if you find one super cheap to strip down and reassemble to practice blaster assemble besides the new centurion its the biggest beast to reassemble in my opinion.

Edited by Stilgar, 23 August 2013 - 12:50 PM.

[Jimu RetroGuru]

Actually, the Nitefinder has a larger plunger tube and draw than the Firestrike.