Nerf guns provide a thrill for kids and adults alike. Getting locked into battle with your enemy could be fatal (well…not fatal, it’s only foam). The problem is, these miniature wars come at a price and if you’re providing the whole artillery, the costs can “shoot” up.
You’ll be happy to know, you can armor your soldiers up with the latest Nerf guns without getting a loan from Tony Stark. We’ve put this list of the 8 best Nerf guns under $50 in 2020 by finding out which guns real people are raving about, and blasting away any that are plagued with fake reviews. We wanted to keep the list diverse by taking into consideration the different ranges at different budgets, so you can find the perfect gift for all your little Schwarzeneggers.
1. Nerf N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster (Best Budget Option)
The N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster is one of the 8 best Nerf guns under $50 made in a compact, stealth-like design. It’s perhaps the ideal size to take on-the-go to be battle-ready at all times. Available with two elite darts, this is a single-shooter gun as you load in a dart, cock the handle, and fire.
What we love:
- Easy to carry around
- Shoots with great accuracy
We don’t like this as much:
- Might be best for users with smaller hands
2. Nerf MicroShots Zombie Strike Hammershot (Best Quality Option)
The MicroShots Zombie Strike Hammershot comes with two darts and it fires a single one at a time. It’s one of the best Nerf guns under $50 available from the MicroShots series. In a contained size, users can prepare to defend against the incoming zombie hoard.
What we love:
- Fast to reload
- Comfortable and easy to aim
We don’t like this as much:
- The hammer doesn’t pull back
3. Nerf N-Strike Elite Mega CycloneShock Blaster
The Nerf N-Strike Elite Mega CycloneShock Blaster has a 6-dart capacity and comes with enough Mega Whistler Darts to fill up the drum. As this features a rotating drum, there’s no need to reload it as all six darts can be fired. Hear the darts “scream” as they race up to 90ft through the air.
What we love:
- Construction is solid and long-lasting
- Fires a good distance away
We don’t like this as much:
- Can take some time to load the gun once it’s empty
4. Nerf N-Strike Elite Quadrant
Designed for long-distance shooting in a compact size, the N-Strike Elite Quadrant comes with four Elite darts. It has a rotating drum and can fire a single dart at a time. All that’s needed is to load up the drum, pull back the handle to prime it, fire, and then rinse and repeat until the target is neutralized.
What we love:
- Packs a lot of power in a small size
- Easily able to shoot straight
We don’t like this as much:
- The darts may not hold up long if frequently played with
5. Nerf Glowshot Gun
The Nerf Glowshot Gun is a fun way to light up the battlefield. By simply pressing and holding the button on the grip, the gun illuminates. As a single-shot gun, it comes with three darts. The size is ideal for stealth battles since it is small enough to conceal and whip out when the opponent least expects it.
What we love:
- Cool and bright illumination feature
- Easy and fast to reload the darts
We don’t like this as much:
- Trigger may feel stiff at times
6. Strongarm Nerf N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster
The Strongarm Nerf N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster is a quick-draw blaster that fires six darts in a row up to 90ft away. All of the darts load into the rotating barrel, and since it’s all hand-powered, there’s no need to deal with batteries.
What we love:
- Simple to use the slam fire feature for faster firing
- Can hold up to rough use
We don’t like this as much:
- Could have better accuracy
7. Nerf Rampage N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster
The Rampage N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster is one of the 8 best Nerf guns under $50 with a high-capacity drum as it can hold up to 25 darts at a time. This gun comes with 25 Elite foam darts, and it offers two ways to fire: steady stream or rapid-fire with the slamfire function. The darts can fire up to 75ft away.
What we love:
- Great long-range accuracy
- Able to carry around plenty of ammo thanks to the large drum
We don’t like this as much:
- Potential for the darts to jam up depending on what mode it’s firing in
8. Nerf Rival Finisher XX-700 Blaster
The Nerf Rival Finisher XX-700 Blaster comes with seven official Nerf rounds that fit in the 7-load capacity magazine. This magazine is also a quick-load one thanks to the slide-open door that gives users instant access to load up numerous rounds and jump back into the action. It fires a single round at a time, and it features a trigger lock to ward off accidental firing.
What we love:
- Easy to maintain accurate shots
- Fires with a good amount of power
We don’t like this as much:
- Cocking mechanism is sensitive
Best Nerf Guns Under 50
We created a list of some of the coolest Nerf guns available for under $50. These affordable toy blasters range from compact and easy to hide away, to larger and ready for epic Nerf battles. Some have rapid-fire functions while others focus on single, steady shots. Take a look to see which Nerf blasters made it to our top 8 list.
