Nerf guns have become so popular that people sometimes use the term ‘Nerf’ like ‘Q-tip’ even when they aren’t talking about the brand, but these top five best Nerf handguns are all brand-name.
Anyone can thoughtlessly grab a foam dart blaster, but true fans know you have to stick with the original. Nerf means high-quality and great variety. What is the best Nerf handgun?
The most popular and best Nerf handgun overall is the Nerf N-Strike Disruptor. It has a sleek, simple, battery-free design that has a rotating drum that can fire 1 dart at a time or rapid fire 6 darts in a row. This handgun fires darts up to 90 feet with accuracy.
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Top 5 Best Nerf Handguns
Narrowing down a list of the top five best Nerf handguns isn’t easy for a couple of reasons. First, Nerf has been around for thirty years, and it has produced hundreds of blasters and dozens of handguns. All of them are fun to play with.
Secondly, because there are so many genuinely outstanding Nerf handguns, the best in each category comes down to the finest of details. Fortunately, I am a huge Nerf fan, and I put in the work, so you don’t have to.
I’ve managed to narrow it down to five exceptional handheld models that cover a variety of ‘best’ categories.
1 – Best Nerf Pistol – NERF N-Strike Elite Disruptor
The Nerf N-Strike Elite Disruptor is a modern classic. This is the Nerf handgun that every fan started with and the one you see everywhere.
As one of the most popular Nerf blasters of all time, it’s hard to go wrong with the Elite Disruptor. The six darts rotating drum can rapid-fire at your target.
Plus, the front-loading drum doesn’t jam, and you can’t overfill it like a cartridge.
A sleek, simple, battery-free design makes the Nerf N-Strike Elite Disruptor durable and reliable. The blue and orange colors are instantly recognizable Nerf.
Best of all, the N-Strike Elite Disruptor comes in sustainable and frustration-free packaging so that you can play right away.
2 – Strongest Nerf Pistol – NERF Hyper Rush-40 Pump-Action Blaster
The Nerf Hyper Rush-40 Pump-Action Blaster is the strongest Nerf pistol at a hundred and ten FPS.
Unlike most dart shooting blasters, this model uses the spherical Nerf Hyper rounds that are designed to maximize capacity and speed.
Not that anyone needs more evidence of this Nerf’s power, but it comes with protective eyewear. It pays to be safe when you’re dealing with a blaster this strong.
Unsurprisingly, a Nerf Hyper Rush-40 Pump-Action Blaster lives up to its name by holding a massive forty rounds.
That’s a lot of shots before you need to pause. Plus, the Hyper Rush-40 comes with tactical rails so that you can add reload canisters.
- REVOLUTIONARY NERF HYPER SYSTEM: Featuring Nerf Hyper rounds with an innovative design and material for performance to maximize capacity and speed, Eyewear recommended (not included)
- PUMP-ACTION NERF HYPER RUSH-40 BLASTER: Pump the hopper to prime the blaster and press the trigger to fire at a velocity of up to 110 FPS (hand-powered priming -- no batteries required)
- 30 NERF HYPER ROUNDS AND LARGE HOPPER WITH 40-ROUND CAPACITY: Blaster comes with 30 Nerf Hyper rounds. Large, easy-load hopper can hold up to 40 rounds (additional rounds sold separately)
- TACTICAL RAILS FOR RELOAD CANISTERS: Attach Nerf Hyper round reload canisters to the tactical rails to refill the hopper fast (canisters and additional rounds each sold separately) Eyewear included
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3 – Nerf Handgun With Longest Range – NERF Ultra Two Motorized Blaster
You need the Nerf Ultra Two Motorized Blaster when you’re going for distance.
The six-dart cylinder is open in the back so you can even reload fast, but it’s the Nerf Ultra Darts that really make this blaster the quickest handgun with the longest range. With this handgun, you can fire up to 36 meters or 120 feet.
The Ultra Two Motorized Blaster is the ideal combination of light, sleek, flight-oriented darts, and a powerful motor. Nerf Ultra Darts use Aerofin technology that gives the darts an aerodynamic and unique shape.
Additionally, Ultra Darts are made from lightweight Nerf Ultra Foam to achieve maximum velocity. More speed means greater distance when it comes to foam dart firing.
Best of all, these specialized darts have an innovative flight tip design. Simply hold down the motor switch before firing and between shots to hit those far-off targets.
- THE ULTIMATE IN NERF DART BLASTING: Experience extreme distance, accuracy, and speed with Nerf Ultra blasters that are designed with advanced features to take your Nerf games to the next level
- NERF ULTRA DARTS ARE THE FARTHEST FLYING NERF DARTS EVER: Nerf Ultra darts fly up to 120 feet (36 meters). Distances based on controlled testing. Actual performance varies.
- NERF ULTRA TWO MOTORIZED BLASTER WITH FAST BACK RELOADING: The 6-dart cylinder is open in the back -- facing you as you hold the blaster -- so you can reload quickly. Works only with Nerf Ultra darts
- 6 NERF ULTRA DARTS: Includes 6 ground-breaking Nerf Ultra darts that feature an innovative flight tip, Aerofin technology, and lightweight Nerf Ultra foam. They work only with Nerf Ultra blasters
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4 – Best Nerf Handgun For Adults – NERF Rival Kronos XVIII-500
Whether you’ve been a Nerf fan for a while, or you only recently discovered how much fun grown-ups can have with foam blasters, you’re going to love the Amazon Exclusive Nerf Rival Kronos XVIII-500.
This wicked breech-load blaster holds up to 5 rounds. More importantly, it fires at 27 meters or 90 feet per second. This is not your kids’ blaster.
The spring action Nerf Rival Kronos XVIII-500 comes with a ready indicator and a tactical rail, so you can add accessories and customize them more easily. Plus, this model has a trigger lock.
- Experience the intensity of Nerf rival battles with this spring-action blaster
- Fires rounds at a velocity of 90 feet per second (27 meters per second)
- This breech-load blaster holds up to 5 rounds
- Comes 5 high-impact rounds
- Has a trigger lock, tactical rail, and ready indicator
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5 – Best Nerf Handgun For Kids – NERF N-Strike Barricade RV-10
The Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10 is rated for anyone age six and older, so it makes a great Nerf handgun for kids.
A motorized semi-automatic blaster is easier for young children who struggle with pump-action and other priming actions.
Plus, a ten-dart revolving barrel is easy to load and offers them more shots than the smaller six-shot options.
At just one pound, most kids can handle this blaster easily. A tactical rail and stock attachment offer the option of future customizations so that the N-Strike Barricade RV-10 can grow with your kids.
More importantly, this durable Nerf handgun can stand up to roughhousing.
- Motorized, semi-auto blaster features a 10-dart revolving barrel for action-packed blasting excitement
- Blaster features a tactical rail and stock attachment
- Blaster comes with 10 Whistler darts and instructions
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Nerf Handgun Buyers Guide
Finding the best Nerf handgun in a sea of foam blasters isn’t easy, but I’ve put together a quick guide for buyers.
If you know what to look for going in, it will be easier and faster to narrow down your search and get the perfect Nerf handgun.
Whether it’s a gift for someone else or a new addition to your collection, there are a few things you should consider.
The easiest part of hunting for Nerf handguns is eliminating all the other styles. Although handheld foam blasters are oversized because they are fantasy toys that fire foam darts, they aren’t motorized Tommy-gun style beasts or sniper-rifle lookalikes.
A good Nerf pistol or handgun should be less than fifteen inches long, and it shouldn’t require a second hand to fire or cock.
Always check out the five qualities I’ve listed below before you select your Nerf handgun, and feel free to bookmark this page for easy reference.
1 – Weight
Real handguns can be quite heavy, but toy blasters shouldn’t weigh you down. A Nerf handgun should never feel like carrying a brick.
Look for models that are a pound or less. If you’re buying for children, you’ll want the lightest possible option, or they will need a second hand to stabilize their shots.
On Amazon, you can find the item weight listed under product information when you scroll down the page.
It is often listed in the description for other sites, but don’t hesitate to reach out to the seller if the information you need is missing.
You’ll find out whether they have good customer service and learn what you need to know about your blaster’s weight.
2 – Dimensions
Nerf handguns are often exaggerated for fantasy play like the rest of Nerf’s products. As a result, it’s vital to check the actual size before ordering.
Firing foam darts means you need a larger piece of equipment than you would for a tiny real bullet. It’s easy to forget these toys run big.
Look for a length less than fifteen inches or smaller for kids whenever possible. However, don’t forget about the height and width as well. Small hands can have trouble reaching around toy blasters.
3 – Age Rating
Nerf knows that not every toy they make will work for little kids. Fortunately, you don’t have to do a lot of extra footwork to determine if the handgun you’re looking for is generally meant for the age group you’re looking for because they have age categories.
Nerf blasters are typically marked 6 and up, 8 and up, or 14 and up. The high-powered, battery-operated, larger blasters are usually reserved for teens and adults.
Often the fourteen and up blasters are not handgun styles, but any Nerf that weighs too much or has too many small moving parts is probably not rated for your first grader.
4 – Style
Style matters in two ways. The first and most obvious aspect of style is only surface deep.
Everyone has their own unique taste, and some people will love a shark-themed blaster while others only want the zombie hunting series, and others don’t care at all as long as it pops darts at their friends.
Always consider the person who will be carrying the Nerf handgun. After all, a toy that never gets played with is just a fancy doorstop.
Second, the style of dart expulsion. Some Nerf guns are front-loaded and fire one or two darts, while others have clips to lock in and reload.
Little kids can have trouble with some cocking mechanisms, so always try to match the loading, cocking, and firing style to the player’s relative skill level.
5 – Reliability
Nerf is a reliable brand overall, but some models are bound to be more prone to jamming than others.
Check the reviews, like this one, and customer feedback to see if the blaster you want has any obvious flaws to be concerned about. It would be best to look for information on the durability, battery life, and other relevant features.
Always match the toughness of the Nerf handgun to the person who is going to use it. Save the bells, whistles, and small parts for older Nerf lovers and get the little kids models that can handle being lost in the sandbox when it rains.
Having the best Nerf handgun isn’t about a single feature but a holistic approach to each player’s needs and ability level.