Thank you, Everyone!

I wanted to take a minute as we close out 2012 to reflect and thank all of you for your comments, input, support, and ideas that have made this blog so fun to run!  We started things off with ToyFair 2012 and all the goodies that came along with it.  The unveiling of N-Strike Elite, the Lazer Tag Augmented Reality system, and the Pyragon news that was first revealed RIGHT HERE on Tactical Tag!  I really feel like that post propelled this blog forward both statistically and on the Nerf blogging stage.  In March, I started working with Nerf Mods & Reviews and made some great friends along the way.  That spring I was blessed with the Combo Mount #4 from CTDYNE for my LTX and started planning our biggest season of Laser Tag yet for the MLTA.  Soon after, the LTAR was released over the summer and I got a few early to review and share with the world!  During the summer months, I built the LTX EF5 and helped others with projects at Mod Nights.  August saw the highly anticipated release of N-Strike Elite that continues to gain attention from all kinds of Nerf fans.  We had lots of great games, both Nerf and Laser Tag held over the summer and fall that I covered here to show you what it's like on my side of the blaster.  Another Halloween was spent making my costume: Captain America's "Avengers" costume, which was fun to make and play a few games of Laser Tag in!  With the winter, we got more new N-Strike Elite blasters and I've finished out the year strong with a gift from Xplorer!  To top it all off, Tactical Tag has recorded it's highest monthly pageviews record: 41,913 for December!!

Thank you to EVERYONE for making 2012 so much fun for this blog.  I keep posting because of the great support I get from YOU, and for that I am very grateful.  Thanks for the great memories in 2012!  Have a safe and fun New Year, everyone!

Xplorer Reviews on Tactical Tag

Time to unveil Tactical Tag's next adventure:  Product review for Xplorer Dart Blaster Developments!  Thanks to the awesome team at Xplorer, I'll be reviewing many of their products here on this blog and my YouTube Channel.  Starting in January of 2013, the first 3 reviews will start getting published so you can check out the excellent products that Xplorer makes!

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Gonna take the next few days off from Blogger so I can get that last-minute shopping in, wrap a few more presents, and spend some time with family and friends.  I'll be back in action sometime after Wednesday, December 26th.

I've got an exciting review coming up courtesy of some friends overseas that I think you'll enjoy.  I'm also sending out a few presents to hobbyists near and far including finally getting around to the November Giveaway.  Speaking of which, don't forget there's an N-Strike Elite Stryfe up for grabs as December's giveaway item!  I'm also slowly working on getting the "Reviews, Writeups, and Guides" link completed, so bear with me as I dig through over 500 posts to find all those helpful links!

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season, everyone!  Thanks for all your support and encouragement as I continue this crazy blog!

In the meantime, I'll be doing a few Facebook updates since it's easier/faster for me to load up little pictures and short videos through that.  Got a present that some of you might take a liking to ;)

No Immortality on Doomsday

While OMW is busy tossing their customers metal triggers (which I honestly could care less about), they're once again missing the mark.  Wasn't there something about a Longshot kit on 12-4-12?  Since it's been over a year for the initial preorder, I've been burnt out long enough on this kit.  Earlier in the fall I even decided to cancel the order, but even had problems with trying to do that... so I don't know if it actually got cancelled or not.  Now there's this fiasco about getting "Address Confirmation E-mails", of which I have not received.  At first, I took this as a sign that my order did actually get cancelled, but upon reading their fans responses, many others haven't gotten confirmation e-mails yet either.

Some folks have been defensive of Orange Mod Works in my recent rants about my opinion of how they've handled the Longshot Immortal kit, but a quick look back at the yearlong ordeal of this kit should make things pretty clear.  Every single time OMW has set an ETA or put a date on this kit, it's been blown past with delay after delay.  Additionally, they chug on acting as if nothing is wrong, offer up some other deals and freebies before actually answering the question of "what happened to the kit THIS time?"

Free Metal Triggers, coupons, and all that jazz doesn't do a thing for me.  Even if it turns out my order WAS indeed cancelled, I'm frustrated for the fans that are still waiting for OMW to get their act together and deliver when they say they will on this kit.  At this point, I don't care if the kit is any good or not.  All this "The wait will be worth it" is just a cheap ploy to dodge the bullets of the coma-inducing wait the Longshot Immortal kit has put their fans through.

Reviews Idea

Hello, everyone!  Just thought of an idea for this blog and thought I could use some feedback from you to see if it's something you'd like to have.  I've been doing a lot of Reviews on new products and even upgrades and modifications.  I was thinking of making a page (like the ones listed above for MLTA, Nerf Armory, Laser Tag Armory, etc) that has a listing of all the reviews I've done for quicker access to them.  Also, I thought it'd be neat to have a section on there for reviews of enhancement products like OMW, Xplorer, and other upgrades I've made to blasters thus far.  I would love some feedback on this idea to see if it's something that'd be a helpful tool for you and other fans.

Hope I can continue to make this blog a great resource for fans, readers, and those new to the hobby!  Thanks!

Firestrike Basic Mod Guide

This is my basic mod guide for the N-Strike Elite Firestrike (click here for my review of the stock blaster).  I'll cover how to replace the spring, tips on spring diameter sizes, and show you how the blaster's AR and Dart peg can be accessed for easy removal.

While the Firestrike is simple to take apart (only 7 screws) it's interior design impresses me.  The use of plastic pegs to secure it's internals without the need for screws is pretty nifty.  Haven't seen something like this from Nerf before.

This is a Tactical Tag Facebook Exclusive, so head on over to this link to see the video!

Elite Firestrike Review

The N-Strike Elite Firestrike was featured on the side of many of the first Retaliator and Rampage boxes and many pointed out that it was the obvious successor to the NiteFinder.  This review not only proves that, but illustrates the key differences that separate the legendary NiteFinder to the new Firestrike.

See my quick review below!

LTAR: Get it NOW!!

Looks like there's quite the special on Amazon.com for the Lazer Tag Augmented Reality system!  Thanks to a tip from AndrewH on the Yahoo! LTTO group, we've got a link to pick up a brand-new LTAR for under $15 USD!  That's over 50% off of it's pricetag.  If you've been curious about getting into Laser Tag, there's not a better price on this great system out there right now.  Not sure how long the sale will last either, so don't wait around if you want to nab it at this price.

Remember, the LTAR can be used with or without the iOS Device, regardless of rumors and poor marketing of this ability.  If you've missed it somehow, here's reviews by Tactical Tag of this blaster.

LTAR Review

Click the link below for the sale price listing!  Limit 3 per customer.

LTAR Sale @ Amazon.com

Elite Triad EX-3 Review

Little blaster with a little review that's a BIG deal!  This is the Triad EX-3 and it's an awesome addition to the N-Strike Elite lineup.  Based on the N-Strike Jolt, this 3-round compact blaster lives up to it's "Elite" branding with it's wonderful out-of-the-box ranges.  It's kind of scary seeing something so small get the ranges of an Elite pistol or rifle!

Check out my quick review below!

Winter Nerf Game #2

Had another great indoor/outdoor match with some friends.  It also meant I got to try out the new Strongarm, Stryfe, and RoughCut 2x4 that I reviewed last week.  The Stryfe was my weapon of choice for our outdoor game while the RoughCut did exceptionally well as a primary for our indoor game.

It was considerably colder for the outdoor games we did, but we still managed to have a good time.  Parked my car nearby to give a few players some cover from the high ground.  We tried several different types of matches and parameters to help even things out, especially with the unbalanced terrain.  One of my favorites was limiting the "High ground" team to 6 dart clips and giving the other team high capacity clips and drums.  It helped even the playing field.

It was another great day for Nerf!  Next week, I've got an outdoor Laser Tag match planned.  With the cold of winter really settling in, we're gonna have to bundle up for this one!

Reviews of the Firestrike and Triad will be up THIS WEEK too!

Solscud: Elite Stryfe Masterkey

Came across this on NerfHaven... and it is inspirationally awesome.   Solscud has integrated a RoughCut 2x4 into a Retaliator barrel that's attached to a Stryfe with a blue-painted Pinpoint Sight with a Raider stock on there to top it off.  It's not only aesthetically pleasing, but could do some serious damage in a game.  Below is a video on his Mini Masterkey that integrates a Strongarm.  There's also a link to the RoughCut integrated one.  I personally prefer the beefy look to the picture above, but I can really appreciate both of these custom blasters.

Check out Solscud's YouTube video below for more information.  In the meantime, I'm seriously considering making one of these!

N-Strike Elite Strongarm Review

It's official.  The tried and true Maverick REV-6 has a worthy successor: the N-Strike Elite Strongarm!  This s a fantastic improvement over the Maverick.  While it retains it's 6-shooter stance, there are major improvements with this blaster.  Better range, a tactical rail you can actually USE, a reliable firing system, Slamfire, and that Elite Range from it's direct plunger system slinging those darts up to 50 feet flat and 75 feet angled.

Also, there's only one air restrictor in this blaster located inside the main plunger tube instead of being mounted in each of the dart chambers in the revolving turret.  It's a wonderful blaster and they could not have replaced the Maverick with a better design.

See my quick review after the jump!

N-Strike Elite RoughCut 2x4 Review

While initially it wasn't at the top of my "to get" list, the RoughCut 2x4 has really surprised me.  Great ranges, neat features, and it's smaller than I originally had anticipated.  It would be an excellent secondary on a sling in games or even as a primary if you're the run-and-gun type.  It's able to dish out all 8 of it's Elite Darts in less than 2 seconds, which is pretty brutal to go toe-to-toe with.

My short video review of it is after the jump!

N-Strike Elite Stryfe Review

I think the main reason it has taken me over a week to get the review done on the Stryfe is that I jumped right in and started having fun with it.  It's a versatile blaster, with accessory mounts all over the place, and yet it's still a great performer too.

I also made an Internal Walkthrough of this blaster that shows how it works.  Below is a link of the short video review I made for this blaster that quickly outlines it's features and abilities.  Less time watching a review means more time for you to do something else... like enjoying your blaster!

Video is after the jump!

Ultrafire Sale

If you've ever wanted to upgrade the voltage in your Barricade, Rayven, Stryfe, or any battery-driven foam blaster, now might be a great time to cash in!  Amazon.com has a sale on UltraFire 14500 1200mah 3.6V Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries.  These fellas are excellent for voltage modifications.  With this set, you get 2 Ultrafire Batteries and a charger for them.  They're usually 16 bucks, but there's a sale on 'em for $13.98 from Amazon.com. While these might seem too expensive for some, because they're rechargeable, these batteries can be used over and over again.  They also hold a charge for quite a long time.

Still out of your budget?  Try picking up Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries at any major retailer.  They're still a little more expensive than normal batteries, but they last longer and have a slightly higher voltage than normal AA batteries.  You'll still get a bit of a power boost out of your blaster... just not as extreme of a difference that you would get from Ultrafires.

Firefly for All!

Looks like my friends at Urban Taggers have found not only Firefly Tech Clip System darts and magazines, but there's also one for Vortex Disks too!  This further continues my speculation about a recolored Lumitron in the same colors that the Pyragon and Diatron feature.

I'm also having an AWFUL time trying to picture this Firefly Tech mag for Vortex looking good in ANY of their blasters.  Just imagine... WHITE with this Green?  Ugh... no.  How's about the traditional Vortex colors with this?  Still no.  Or whaddabout an ALL Green blaster thanks to this being paired with the Lumitron?  Yeah... I don't see how the Vortex lineup wins with this one.

Feel free to weigh in on your opinions on this.

When I was looking for the Firestike...

...I found these two fellas.  Guess it'll have to do.  That's right, the RoughCut 2x4 and the Strongarm have become the latest additions to my N-Strike Elite Family!  Pictures and a little bit of an initial review are in this post, but I'll eventually have full video reviews of both.  Until then, enjoy these photos on my Facebook Page!

Sadly, there's not a whole lot of justice that "Pic Spam" can do for either of these.  There's only a few gadgets that look decent on these two blasters, so I tried 'em out.  I would have to say that the best accessory for the RoughCut has to be the Barrel Break's ammo clip (it's perfect because it fits 8 darts).  For the Strongarm, I suppose the neatest thing I could think of was using it as a shield with the Super Soaker accessory while using something Semi-automatic with your dominant hand.  Kind of a "Sword and Shield" type of thing.

I've already modified my Strongarm by removing the AR.  There's only one AR in it instead of the 6 that were in the Maverick or the 5 in the Spectre.  It's internal layout is unlike any other pistol I've seen.  I was seriously impressed with it.  The RoughCut 2x4 has remained unmodified, mainly because I've been told that if you remove the ARs in this blaster, you ruin it's "Dart Sensors" that are honestly one of the more impressive parts of this blaster.

Again, I'll have full reviews on each of these blasters in the coming days. I'll also have a full review on the Stryfe, as I realized that I only did a brief internals overview of it.  My Elite collection just keeps expanding and I can't wait to see what's next from Nerf!

Dart Sensors for Elite

If there's one feature that's really been prominent in Nerf's newest blasters for the N-Strike Elite line, it's been "Dart Sensors".  The Elite Triad, Rough Cut 2x4 and Stryfe all utilize systems that detect whether a dart is present in the chamber or not.  The systems utilized on the Triad and Rough Cut are designed in such a way that regardless of whether the blaster has a full load of darts or whether it's only partially loaded, it will still fire.  For instance, if someone only loaded the top left barrel and the bottom right barrel of the Rough Cut's 8 dart front-loaded capacity, the blaster would still fire both of those darts when primed.  It's a nice reliable system that gives the user the comfort that regardless of where the darts are loaded in the blaster, it'll still fire.

The Stryfe is a little different.  Since it can only fire one dart at a time, it's Dart Sensor detects whether there is a dart in the clip or not.  If there isn't a dart detected, the trigger won't pull.  This system, while helpful, has a few flaws that have been noted by the community.  Certain darts (depending on their condition) and certain clips will not work very well with this blaster since it sometimes does not release the Dart Sensor safety all the way.  If the back end of a dart is bent or if a clip that does not lift up the dart as far as it should be, the Dart Sensor will remain locked and the blaster will not fire.  I've actually removed the Dart Sensor on my Stryfe due to it's unreliable nature.

Knowing the safety mechanisms and features of your blaster can make a big difference for effective use in games.  I hope that understanding these systems more will help players utilize them to give them a tactical edge when being used!

Holiday Brawl

If you're like me, this Holiday season stresses you out a little bit.  And if you're like me, you've got hobbies and activities to keep you sane.  That's where my plan-a-saurus rex abilities come in handy. In the next couple of weeks I'll be planning up an Indoor Nerf game and an Outdoor Laser Tag game, ALL before Christmas hits!

I'll have details on both games as they happen.  The first is a Nerf game scheduled for the 16th.  Then we've got a Laser Tag game set on the 23rd.

And with that white precipitation upon us, I thought "Hey, I've done a lot of Winter stuff!"  Here's a few links to previous winter-inspired posts I've made.


Whiteout Series Spectre
Whiteout Conditions
Shedding Light on my Enemies
Life after Humans
Winter Laser Tag Game

Singled Titan Adapter

A few of you who follow our Facebook Page have seen it already, but I thought I'd explain this project. This is my Blue Titan, (Part of the Blue Unity Power System I assembled) I am modifying a spare rocket nozzle to be used for firing single darts through a cosmetically-appealing barrel.  Utilizing one of my spare Retaliator barrels as the frame also means that it'll have the ability to use tactical rails for accessories.

I know a lot of folks have done singled Titans before, and it's a really simple mod if all you want is range... but I just wanted mine to look pretty.  The adapter is removable so the Blue Titan can still be equipped to fire rockets, too.  I was thinking of doing something similar to my Red Titan and a Red Strike series Recon barrel, but I have obvious reservations about messing with a rare piece of N-Strike History when it comes to the Red Strike series.

Winter Nerf Game #1

So a few friends got together on an unusually nice December morning to play an indoor-outdoor game of Nerf.  We were allowed to use the entire home, inside and out, for 3 hours and boy did we take full advantage of it!  It was not only a great set of games, but also allowed me to combat test the N-Strike Elite Stryfe for myself!