Regarding NERF guns, a pistol is often the first choice for beginners. Not only are they easy to handle, but they also make for a great backup weapon in NERF battles. Some people prefer to use two pistols instead of a larger motorized blaster. Despite their small size, pistols pack a punch that can shoot up to 100 feet. From classic single-shot options to the latest models, these are some of our top picks for NERF pistols.
WHAT ARE THE BEST NERF GUNS OR PISTOLS?
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- NERF RIVAL KRONOS XVIII-500 PHANTOM CORPS
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- NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE HAMMERSHOT
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- NERF N-STRIKE TRIAD EX-3
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- NERF N-STRIKE ELITE DISRUPTOR
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- NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE FLIPFURY
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- NERF MEGA CYCLONESHOCK
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- NERF N-STRIKE ELITE JOLT
While the above list is ordered according to our personal preferences, all pistols listed are worth considering based on your specific needs. Each review includes more information on the individual Best NERF pistol, and you can easily click on the yellow box to purchase on Amazon.
NERF RIVAL KRONOS XVIII-500
NERF RIVAL KRONOS XVIII-500
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- Breech-load blaster
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- Includes five high-impact rounds
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- Spring-action mechanism, trigger lock, and tactical rail
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- Fires round at 90 feet per second (27 meters per second)
- Includes red and blue team flags
The Rival Kronos, originally released as a tie-in with the Deadpool movie franchise, is now available in a sleek white and Rival Phantom Corps color scheme.
We are big fans of the Rival line here, but before the Kronos, there wasn’t a great option for a pistol. Motorized blasters like the Nemesis and springers like the Artemis are popular choices, but there wasn’t a suitable pistol. The Apollo was too bulky to use as a secondary, and that was about it, so we had to use an Elite as a backup, which meant also having to carry different types of ammo.
Then came the Kronos, which is small enough to holster, carries 5 NERF Rival high-impact foam rounds internally, and still shoots with Rival accuracy and most of the power. It met all our expectations and more! The Rival Best NERF blasters are designed for 14+ with larger grips and harder firing power. The Kronos is no different, making it not suitable for younger children.
For adults, however, the Kronos has become our top pick for the best NERF blaster, surpassing our long-time favorite, the Hammershot. The only downside is that it cannot be primed with one hand, but its excellent design, firepower, and practicality make it a great choice.
A quick note: The Nerf Rival Heracles is similar to the Kronos with added ammo storage but comes at a higher price point. We think the ammo storage gets in the way when holstering, so we prefer the Kronos.
NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE HAMMERSHOT
NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE HAMMERSHOT
- A mini version of a favorite Nerf blaster
- Part of the collectible MicroShots series
- Fires 1 dart at a time
- Ages 8 and up
- Includes blaster and two darts.
Before the Rival Kronos appeared, the Zombie Strike Hammershot blaster was our go-to pistol, and it remains one of the best options among NERF blasters that fire Elite darts.
It is a revolver-style blaster that holds 5 N-Strike Elite darts, which is less than the Disruptor or Strongarm, but it has one major advantage: it can be primed with one hand! Instead of the priming handle found on most best NERF blasters, it features a hammer similar to a real revolver, allowing you to cock it using your thumb. This is especially useful when you need a spare hand, such as when you run out of ammo in your primary weapon or when holding a flag in a NERF war game.
One downside is that it doesn’t have the slam fire feature, but you can fan the fire and look like a cowboy with practice. It is also easy to reload, as you can push darts in from the front and partially load it quickly. The only downside is that the trigger action is not as smooth as the Disruptor. However, the combination of fun and practicality still makes the Zombie Strike Hammershot blaster an excellent choice for a backup weapon.
Also read: Are Nerf Guns Dangerous? Hints and Tips on Nerf Gun Safety
NERF N-STRIKE ELITE TRIAD EX-3
NERF N-STRIKE ELITE TRIAD EX-3
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- Put some serious blasting power in your pocket with the Triad ex three blasters; Dont let this three-dart blaster micro size fool you; its small but mighty, with a range of up to 90 feet.
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- Its smart technology tells it which barrel is loaded so you can confidently fire it.
The NERF Triad is a compact and budget-friendly option that packs a punch. This tiny blaster holds three N-Strike Elite foam darts and can shoot them up to 100 feet.
Priming the Triad is a breeze; pull the lever back, aim, and fire. Even if you don’t have all three darts loaded, the blaster figures out which to fire, making it easy to use. Reloading is just as simple as you can push darts in from the front.
While its accuracy may not be top-notch, and it doesn’t have slam fire or a large amount of ammo, the Triad is an excellent choice for a small backup weapon or even a backup for your backup weapon.
This blaster is particularly suitable for younger kids as it’s easy to prime, and smooth trigger action. Overall, the NERF Triad is a great little blaster that offers the best value for your money.
NERF N-STRIKE ELITE DISRUPTOR
NERF N-STRIKE ELITE DISRUPTOR
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- 6-dart rotating drum
- Quick-draw blaster
- Slamfire action
- Fires dart up to 90 feet (27 meters)
- Includes blaster, 6 Elite darts, and instructions
The NERF Disruptor is an upgrade to the NERF N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster, although both are still available. Some people viewed the Disruptor as NERF’s attempt to cut costs as it doesn’t have the flip-out revolving chamber in a real revolver. Instead, the Disruptor allows you to load it from the front, which makes it more practical for NERF wars as it can be reloaded faster, giving it an advantage over the Strongarm in terms of practicality.
Both pistols hold six darts, and while they don’t offer the same rate of fire as some battery-powered blasters, they both feature slam fire. Slam fire allows you to rapidly fire foam darts by pumping the priming handle while holding down the trigger. They also have an excellent trigger action and the power to fire a foam dart over 25 meters.
The Strongarm is still a great blaster; if you want to look cool, the loading mechanism is a great feature to show off. But if you want the best backup blaster with slam fire, the NERF N-Strike Elite Disruptor is the way to go.
NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE FLIPFURY
NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE FLIPFURY
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- Zombie Strike FlipFury blaster fires up to 12 darts without reloading
- 2 flipping dart drums hold six darts a piece
- When one drum is empty, flip to the other one
- Includes FlipFury blaster, two 6-dart drums, 12 Zombie Strike darts, and instructions
The NERF Flipfury makes it to this list because it is so much fun! Practically speaking, it is too large to holster, and reloading the two ammo drums can be slow. It may not be the best option for NERF wars, but it is great for showing off to friends, and the flipping action between the two cylinders never fails to make me smile.
The Flipfury has a cutaway at the bottom, which allows you to load the bottom cylinder. Once loaded, you pull the second trigger, and it flips to replace the top cylinder, allowing you to reload it. The darts are only fired from the top cylinder. The flip action is smooth and reliable, which is impressive given its name.
Unlike some other best NERF blasters, the Flipfury is not motorized and does not require batteries, which is even more amazing. It also features slam fire and has a good trigger action, so the mechanics are top-notch. The unique design of the Flipfury makes it the best option for those looking for fun.
NERF MEGA CYCLONESHOCK
NERF MEGA CYCLONESHOCK
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- High-quality toys for children of all ages
- Made using safe materials
- Tested for quality and durability
- Cyclone Shock blaster fires Mega Darts farther than ever
- Mega Whistler Darts fly 90 feet and scream as they fly
- 6-dart capacity
The NERF N-Strike Mega Cyclone Shock is part of the Mega range, and, like the Rival Kronos, it doesn’t fire the usual N-Strike Elite darts. Instead, it uses the larger Mega darts, hence the name. The larger darts mean this blaster is quite large, which is great for adults but may be too big for younger kids.
In terms of functionality, it’s similar to the NERF Disruptor, although it looks similar to the Strongarm. You load it from the front, the cylinder does not snap out, and the priming handle is mounted on the top. It also features slam fire which can be quite a sight with the huge Mega darts flying around!
Although there are not many options for backup blasters in the Mega range, this is the best secondary blaster in the range. It is not rated higher because you can get the same features with the Disruptor, and using the N-Strike Elite darts is much cheaper. However, if you want a Mega Blaster for variations of NERF Wars, this is the best pick.
NERF N-STRIKE ELITE JOLT
NERF N-STRIKE ELITE JOLT
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- Super stealth power
- Compact size
- Single-shot blaster
- It comes with 2 Elite darts
- Includes blaster and 2 Elite darts
The NERF N-Strike Mega Cyclone Shock is part of the Mega range, and, like the Rival Kronos, it doesn’t fire the usual N-Strike Elite darts. Instead, it uses the larger Mega darts, hence the name. The larger darts mean this blaster is quite large, which is great for adults but may be too big for younger kids.
In terms of functionality, it’s similar to the NERF Disruptor, although it looks similar to the Strongarm. You load it from the front, the cylinder does not snap out, and the priming handle is mounted on the top. It also features slam fire which can be quite a sight with the huge Mega darts flying around!
Although there are not many options for backup blasters in the Mega range, this is the best secondary blaster in the range. It is not rated higher because you can get the same features with the Disruptor, and using the N-Strike Elite darts is much cheaper. However, if you want a Mega Blaster for variations of NERF Wars, this is the best pick.
MY VERDICT
There are some fantastic secondary blasters in the NERF world, with many being battery-free, compact, and still powerful.
If you’re using the Rival range, the NERF Rival Kronos is the best option available. It is accurate, powerful, and works well, making it our top pick for the best overall secondary blaster in the Rival range.
In the Mega range, the Cycloneshock stands out as the best option. It is similar to the Mega-Disruptor and is the best choice for using Mega darts.
The Hammershot is our pick for the best secondary blaster for the N-Strike Elite range due to its ability to fire one-handed, making it useful as a backup. However, if that’s unimportant to you, the Disruptor, with its additional dart capacity and slamfire capability, might be a better option.
The Triad and Jolt are also great options, as they pack a lot into a small package. Both of these can easily be tucked into a pocket as a backup to your secondary. The Triad takes the prize for the best small backup blaster due to its 3-dart capacity.
Finally, the Flipfury is not practical for NERF wars, but it takes the prize for the best fun. Fan firing a Hammershot is also satisfying, but the Flipfury is hard to beat in terms of pure enjoyment.
Overall, many great NERF pistols are available, and we hope you enjoyed our overview of some of the best options currently on the market.
