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Best Nerf Guns

Updated January 2024
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K
Nerf
Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K
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High Capacity
Bottom Line

Long-range, rapid-fire action with a 100-round capacity for fast-paced fun.

Pros

The 100-round hopper is easy to refill and empties in under 45 seconds. The rounds travel up to 100 feet per second to hit targets at range.

Cons

The batteries may not last too long. Nerf rechargeable battery pack is compatible and will last much longer.

Best Bang for the Buck
Nerf Rival Fate XXII-100 Blaster
Nerf
Rival Fate XXII-100 Blaster
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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

An excellent choice with a surprising number of features.

Pros

This Nerf pistol has an adjustable sight, an optimized barrel, and Nerf Rival Accu-Rounds for increased precision. It fires a ball at 90 feet per second and has a breech load system and trigger lock.

Cons

There are some reports of reloading failures from time to time.

Nerf N-Strike Modulus Blaster
Nerf
N-Strike Modulus Blaster
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Modular Mayhem
Bottom Line

A flexible modular blaster, the N-Strike is the perfect fit for any situation.

Pros

This powered blaster features more than 30 configurations. Includes scope, drop grip, dual-rail barrel, storage stock, banana clip, and 10 darts. Launches darts up to 90 feet.

Cons

Batteries not included.

Nerf Longstrike Modulus Blaster
Nerf
Longstrike Modulus Blaster
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Most Precise
Bottom Line

Professional Nerf warriors will appreciate the modular design and precision of this bolt-action rifle.

Pros

Utilizes a modular bi-pod, scope, and barrel extension, which enhance accuracy but can be removed to make the blaster lighter and more portable. Includes 18 Modulus Elite Darts, and 3 6-dart clips.

Cons

Expensive. Bi-pod is a bit wobbly.

Nerf Fortnite SR Blaster
Nerf
Fortnite SR Blaster
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For Fortnite Fans
Bottom Line

The best blaster for Fortnite fans, the SR pistol recreates gameplay from the acclaimed video game in a safe and fun way.

Pros

The blaster has a look inspired by weapons from the video game and offers 4-dart hammer-blasting action. It comes with 8 official Nerf darts and a removable scope.

Cons

It loses accuracy as it shoots more bullets.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
175
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best Nerf guns

The Nerf gun is an enduring toy that engages the mind and body in imaginative, active play. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, if you've got a Nerf gun in your hand, you've also got a smile on your face. However, if it's been a while since you've purchased one, you're going to need help choosing the best one for you.

Do you prefer fast-paced, automated fire or load-and-shoot precision? That choice is yours, but you'll need a gun that's not too big or too heavy to handle, if you want to stay nimble. You can shoot several styles of (safe) darts, but what really matters is range and reloading speed.

For tips and trade secrets that will make you a master of all things Nerf, keep reading. However, if you just want to be armed with one of the best Nerf guns on the market, consider one of the models we've highlighted.

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Manual vs. automatic

When you’re choosing a Nerf gun, you should examine the make as if it’s a real gun — to a degree, anyway. Much like real guns, there are different benefits and drawbacks to each product. First and foremost, you must decide whether you want a manual loader or an automatic.

A manual Nerf gun requires you to load each bullet individually. The Zombie Strike on our shortlist is an example of this type of gun; the ammo is stored in the butt end, and you must pop each piece in.

An automatic Nerf gun, by contrast, has small cartridges into which you load the ammo ahead of time. As you engage in battle, rapid fire mechanics take care of the rest. If you’re interested in an automatic, consider a product like the N-Strike Elite.

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Did you know?
Automatic guns usually implement large clips of ammo — some as an attached case (you load your ammo into the side where it’s stored) and others as an attachment (you pre-load your ammo into a cartridge and attach it to the gun after).
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Manual advantages

  • Better firing capacity without clogging the chamber
  • Faster ammo reload time

Manual disadvantages

  • Single shot
  • Takes longer to load from the start

Automatic advantages

  • Quick load from the start
  • Rapid fire
  • Faster response

Automatic disadvantages

  • Longer reload time for ammo
  • Uses up ammo quickly


 

Gun size

This is one of the few instances where the size of your weapon needs to be taken into account. Weight matters when you’re in the heat of battle. No matter what kind of gun you choose, they’re all made of plastic, and they all gain weight as you add more parts.

If you’re looking for something lightweight that doesn’t require much muscle, the Zombie Strike is your best bet. The design is that of a shotgun rather than an assault rifle or cannon, and it’s self-contained with not a lot of ammo to carry around. Another product to consider is the Modulus Tri-Strike. This gun can be taken apart and rearranged in different configurations, which means you can create a lighter weapon from its parts if you’re so inclined.

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Did you know?
The ammo you use adds weight to the gun, even if you’re just using foam darts.
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Ammo size

The type of ammo you use depends on the kind of gun you purchase, but for the most part you’ll only be dealing with three specific types. Here are the most common choices.

  • Suction Dart: This is a foam dart with a suction cup on the end. The velocity is usually enough to make it stick to anything.
  • Standard Dart: These come with just about every gun Nerf currently makes. Color varies, but most have an orange or yellow tip.
  • Foam Torpedo: These have a wider radius than darts and include more foam. They also create more of a “thud” when the target is hit.

Most of your ammo will be roughly four to five inches in length with a one-inch diameter. This makes the ammo easy to fire but also easy to lose. It’s not uncommon to find a random dusty dart wedged behind a piece of furniture months after it was “lost in battle.”

"Torpedoes and missiles can add even more weight than bullets to your Nerf gun."
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Single clip capacity

If your goal is to go in and wallop everyone in a single spray, you have two options: standing still and blasting everything in sight, or running around so you get plenty of shots.

If you choose to stand still, you can’t go wrong with the Elite Rhino-Fire Blaster. It has a double-barrel blaster with two drums that hold 25 darts each, and it’s an automatic. The barrels alternate so as not to jam up, but for the most part, you’re staying stationary.

If you want to move and have plenty of shots, the Elite Rampage Blaster is the way to go. It’s only a single drum, but that’s to give you mobility so you can run in and nail your target quickly and efficiently.

"There’s a fundamental psychology behind Nerf games: they’re meant to be “close combat” situations where you engage with each other as you play. There’s no real fun shooting people from great distances only to run and gather your ammo and try again."
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Range

When you’re in a Nerf fight, range means everything! Whether you’re on a playground, in a backyard, or out in the woods, range gives you a tactical advantage to where you can hit your opponents from afar before you go charging in.

Many Nerf guns can produce enough of an air blast to catapult a dart 75 feet. That’s a lot of space. But that kind of range is more attainable in an automatic gun, whereas a manual gun will requires a little more aim and luck, since you’re doing one dart at a time without rapid succession.

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Did you know?
Nerf’s foam darts range in size, but the standard is one inch. This is done so that savvy parents can buy multiple guns that use the same ammo.
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Reloading

The ultimate problem that everyone eventually encounters is reload time. It’s usually customary to call a time-out while everyone gathers up darts and reloads. But if you’re in the middle of a game and there’s a time crunch, consider your other reloading options.

Both of the guns with drums on our shortlist (the Rhino-Fire Blaster and the Rampage Blaster) may be awesome, but the drums themselves are a pain to reload, not to mention hooking up properly to fire again. Same thing with the clip attachment that you have to reload first before adding it to the barrel. If you need something quick and easy, best bet is the Zombie Strike, which is configured like a shotgun. The Modulus Tri-Strike is also great in a pinch, depending on how you’ve configured it.

"The Modulus Tri-Strike is a great multi-use weapon that kids will get a kick out of using and adults will have fun changing up."
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Configuration

Speaking of configuration, many of the guns we’ve discussed are self-contained. Only one gun in our product list allows for customization: the Modulus Tri-Strike.

You can disassemble this gun and make it into whatever primary weapon you need. For example, you could:

  • Remove the butt of the gut and make it a one-handed weapon.
  • Remove the missile section to make it lighter.
  • You can even whittle the gun down to a single barrel blaster that feels like a standard-size gun.
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Did you know?
Some guns can be configured into a mounted weapon. This is a fun option to have if you know the gun is going to be used in more imaginative ways.
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Damage to property

If you’re a parent, one of your big concerns right now might be the potential for damage to your (or someone else’s) property. Fortunately, a Nerf gun isn’t likely to put holes in walls or break giant windows or dent anything. Have you ever heard someone use the term “Nerfed” when talking about something being made effective? This is where that term came from.

However, that doesn’t mean a Nerf gun couldn’t aid in damaging property. A flying dart could knock over a picture frame or an object on a shelf. If you’re going to buy a Nerf gun, you must surrender to the possibility that someone may miss their target and hit something you don’t want them to hit.

Price

One of the perks of Nerf products is that everything is relatively cheap. Even if you got for the top of the line (which, in this case, is the Elite Rhino-Fire Blaster), the most you’ll likely pay is around $70.

Everything else falls in the $25-50 range, depending on what kind of functionality you want. The best Nerf gun for your money at the moment is the Zombie Strike, with the Modulus Tri-Strike as a close second because of its changeability. But that’s all based on price. Ultimately, the best Nerf gun for you is the one that best suits your needs.

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Caution
Some secondary websites sell Nerf guns that have been “modified.” In other words, the seller has cracked open the case and added a few extra toys to make the darts fly faster and hit harder. We don’t recommend purchasing these items for children.
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Tips

Before you rush off to buy a gun, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

  • Know your gun type. There’s a fine difference between a pistol, a rifle, a shotgun, and a cannon. Know ahead of time what kind of Nerf gun you’re looking for.
  • Review the ammo requirements. Most of the guns features here have standard foam ammo, but there are other types including Sonic ammo. Sonic ammo has small cuts in the foam which cause it to make noise as it whizzes by.
  • Look into accessories. Nerf has a bunch of cool add-ons, like a tactical vest to store ammo. There are also third-party manufacturers who make cool items like belts and targets for kids to enjoy.
Even in play, keep safety paramount. Make sure the nerf guns are being handled by only those who are old enough to play with them.

FAQ

Q. Is there any possibility of injury?

A. The darts themselves do pose a potential choking hazard, especially for little kids. If aimed close enough, you could give someone a black eye. But we’ve never heard of anyone being cut or badly harmed by these darts.

Q. How long will the ammo last?

A. Everything made of foam degrades with time and use. In the case of Nerf, it depends how often they’re used and what conditions they’re put through. If they’re left in the rain or crushed under something, there’s a greater chance they will fall apart. Just be sure to take care of them.

Q. Does Nerf ever discontinue their products?

A. Yes. Eventually, your gun will be discontinued for a new product. However, there is one silver lining to this. The darts that were manufactured for guns going back to the mid-80s still work in guns designed today, because the technical design of the darts hasn’t changed. So while the gun may go away, there’s no reason you won’t be able to use it years later with the next round of Nerf products.

"If you’ll be carrying the gun around as you play, keep in mind that you’ll be toting your ammo, too."
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