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Cube Warfare: Nerf Barrel Break IX-2

The Nerf Stampede doesn't come out for a few more weeks, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few new foam-firing contraptions from Hasbro. August has seen the release of three store-exclusive Nerf guns: the Alpha Trooper at Target, the Spectre at Wal-Mart, and the  Barrel Break at Toys R Us.

The Alpha Trooper is a $20 pistol version of the Nerf Raider; it comes with an 18-shot drum magazine and you can "slamfire" by holding the trigger down and pumping the handle. If you don't want to drop $40 on a Raider, it's a nice answer to your rapid fire needs. The Spectre is a 5-shot revolver, similar to the Maverick but with one less chamber and more opportunities for customization. It comes with a barrel extension and a folding stock, meaning you can set it up just like the Recon.

And then there's the Barrel Break. It's a sawed-off, double-barreled, breech-loading Nerf shotgun. Basically, it's the least combat-useful of the three guns, but the most completely awesome.

Back in June, we looked at the Buzz Bee Double Shot, a similar breech-loading, double-barreled shotgun that used plastic shells for a cool shell-ejection gimmick after firing. The Barrel Break doesn't use plastic shells, but it adds a lot more detailing and generally superior Hasbro manufacturing. The Double Shot is a smooth, bland gun that doesn't offer much besides its gimmicky mechanism. Worse yet, the gun uses a nylon cord to pull back the spring when cocking. The Barrel Break is sturdier, and uses a much wider plastic arm to pull back its spring.

Instead of a little tab that keeps the two halves of the gun together, the Barrel Break actually requires the barrels to slide into the stock before it can fire. The mechanism is slightly more complicated and much more satisfying than the Double Shot's. To release the barrels, a thumb lever on either side of the stock pops it free so you can cock and reload. Then just flick your wrist up to put the barrel back in place, push it into the stock again, and you're ready to start shooting. A two-step trigger lets you choose between a double-barreled blast or firing one dart, then the other.

Since it's a breech-loader, it takes longer to reload than nearly any other Nerf gun. Still, without the plastic shells, it's much easier to just grab two darts, pop them into the breech, and start shooting. Like nearly every other Nerf gun, the Barrel Breach includes an N-Strike accessory rail and a clip-on accessory. In this case, it comes with a little set of clips that can hold 8 darts on the top of the gun for quick reloading. It's not like popping in a fresh magazine, but it's still handy.

At $20, the Barrel Break is a fun gun. It's Toys R Us exclusive, so you'll have to either hit up a TRU or order the gun online if you want one. It isn't as efficient as the Alpha Trooper or Spectre, but it's so much more badass and fun.

This isn't the last you'll see of the Barrel Break. Professor William is working on a special project that'll be ready very soon!