Sometimes you need to be able to bring the heat in a Nerf war but your budget isn’t quite in line with your aspirations. So where does a would-be Nerf warlord look to find out what blasters they should be packing? Welcome to our breakdown of the Top 5 Nerf Guns Under $50!
We’ve taken a look at all the Nerf guns that can do you proud without breaking the bank and selected only the best of the best. There’s a lot of variety in our list so we’ve included a tutorial to make sure you know exactly what to look for when you want to purchase the perfect Nerf blaster.
The 5 Best Nerf Guns Under $50
1. Nerf N-Strike Elite FireStrike
2. Nerf N-Strike Elite CrossBolt Blaster
3. Nerf Zombie StrikeSledgefire Blaster
4. Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe
5. Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire
Our Top Choice: Elite Stryfe
Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe Blaster
Stryfe blaster is one of the first blasters that users should consider when they are looking for a battery powered Nerf gun.
Quick Look: Our Top Picks
1. Nerf N-Strike Elite FireStrike
Under the barrel of this uncannily accurate and ultra long-range (up to 75 ft!) blaster is a laser sight.
Anyone who has ever played Call of Duty, Battlefield, Counter Strike, or [pick your favorite FPS] can tell you just how useful such a feature can be, not to mention the fear factor involved in suddenly seeing a red dot blossoming on your teammates forehead seconds before they’re taken down!
Because of the price, this blaster is a steal.
- Precision light beam works on targets up to 15 feet away.
- 3 elite darts work with any n-strike elite blaster (each sold separately).
- Use the tactical rails to customize with any tactical rail accessory (each sold separately).
- Up to a 75-foot range.
- Firestrike blaster, 3 elite darts and instructions.
Pros:
- The FireStrike laser will pinpoint a target up to 15 ft. away
- The FireStrike has Tactical Rails on top, so you can add any Tactical Rail accessories that you want!
- This blaster uses the N-Strike Elite dart ammo, so you can load it up with darts from any other Elite blaster
- Comes with three darts, and has storage for another two under the barrel
Cons:
- The FireStrike laser sight needs two AAA batteries to function
- The laser sight doesn’t shine anywhere near the full range that this blaster can fire. What’s up with that?
2. Nerf N-Strike Elite CrossBolt Blaster
The CrossBolt scratches an itch we’ve had for a long time. After all, Nerf has disappointed us time and time again with blasters that only pretend to be crossbows. That’s not to say that blasters like the BowStrike are inherently bad; it’s just that we’ve been waiting for a blaster that actually functions like a crossbow, and thanks to the Crossbolt we finally get to see what that would look like.
Even better, the CrossBolt is an amazing blaster, and not just because it truly functions as a crossbow. This blaster utilizes a string-firing mechanism that can fire Elite darts up to 90 feet, which is in line with all of the top-notch Nerf Elite blasters.
It’s clip fed so it can fire just as quickly as you can prime it (up to 12 shots per magazine - and that’s only with the stock magazine).
All in all, the CrossBolt was a long time in coming, but it was well worth the wait, as well as the price.
- CrossBolt blaster has real crossbow action
- Includes 12 Elite darts
- Fires darts up to 90 feet
- 12-dart clip
- Includes CrossBolt blaster, 12-dart clip, 12 Elite darts, and instructions. Please watch the video for instructions & for technical support please contact Hasbro at 800-255-5516.
Pros:
- Compatible with the Nerf Elite darts that most of your blasters probably already use, as well as their respective clips and magazines
- Because it doesn’t use batteries, this blaster is lightweight enough to run around with all day
- The CrossBolt has plenty of room for customization with two strap points and a bottom-mounted tactical rail
- The topside slide primer is a joy to use and moves smoothly enough for a person of nearly any age to use with ease
Cons:
- The wings don’t really fold up on this one unless you make some modifications, which can make storing a pain
- This blaster is occasionally prone to jamming (although Nerf did include two jam-clearing doors to help fix the problem)
3. Nerf ZombieStrike SledgeFire Blaster
Ah, the SledgeFire. What’s not to love about a Nerf shotgun? The SledgeFire is a break action-type shotgun blaster that pumps out a punishing three darts per shot. It may take a while to load and fire each volley but you’re guaranteed to look pretty amazing doing so.
This is the type of blaster that really shines when used in a support or secondary capacity. If you can manage to outfit it with some sort of strap or find a way to carry it on you, then the Sledgefire can be tactically applied to situations where it’s necessary to bring a little more force to bear.
What all that means is: If you’re surrounded by enemies or have to enter into territory without knowing who might be where, just grab your SledgeFire! One shot is more than enough to clear yourself some breathing room, and the price tag makes this blaster a steal.
- High quality toys for children all ages
- Made using safe materials
- Tested for quality and durability
- Zombie Sledgefire Blaster fires 3 darts at once
- Each reloadable shell holds 3 darts
Pros:
Comes with three shells that hold three darts each; these shells are super easy to store on the blaster’s stock
The loading and priming mechanisms are bound together, so when you’ve loaded up you’re already ready to unleash your next wave of darts
Another blaster that makes use of the superior Elite ammo style
When ejecting a spent shell, the blaster helps out with a spring-loaded ejection mechanism
Cons:
While this blaster technically fires nine darts, you only get to squeeze the trigger three times before you have to reload all of your shells, which feels a little disappointing
Ejecting and loading shells feels a lot slower than blasters with more traditional priming mechanisms
4. Nerf N-Strike Elite Stryfe
The Nerf Stryfe blaster has a lot going for it. With a six-dart quick-reload clip, a motor for rapid-fire action, and the ability to fire the coveted Nerf Elite dart style of ammo, there are few blasters that can compare with it for the price.
Using the Elite style of Nerf dart is only one of the factors contributing to this blaster’s amazing versatility. It’s able to fire at a rate of up to two darts per second, as well as being able to achieve impressive ranges all thanks to being a part of Nerf’s Elite lineup. All this, plus the Stryfe’s decent price tag, make it easy to see why this blaster is a favorite of seasoned Nerf pros and noobs alike.
- Motorized Stryfe blaster's Acceleration Trigger powers up the motor for blasting
- Tactical Rail is compatible with most N-Strike accessories (each sold separately)
- Quick Reload clip holds 6 Elite darts and works with any Clip System blaster (sold separately)
Pros:
Can reach up to 75 feet on a fresh set of batteries
Small enough to be useable by Nerf warriors of any age
Compatible with loads of other clips, magazines, and drums - again, thanks to being a part of the Nerf Elite line
Cons:
Requires four AAA batteries to operate
The standard clip that it comes with is somewhat small
5. Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire
The Elite HyperFire is a high-speed, high-capacity monster. Add in a body that combines good ergonomics (it’s ideal for anyone who likes to keep moving while they battle) with an imposing design (drum clip!) and you’ve got a blaster that will do you proud in any battle.
Thankfully, the HyperFire isn’t about good looks alone. It boasts a fantastic range that does the Elite ammo style justice, as well as a firing rate that we would be happy to see on every other machine gun type model. Overall, though the HyperFire is the most expensive blaster on our list, there are few other choices in the same range that can stand up to it.
- Fires up to 5 darts per second with fresh batteries
- 25-dart drum
- Fires darts up to 90 ft (27 m) and comes with 25 Elite darts
Pros:
- On a fresh set of batteries, the HyperFire can fire darts at a rate of five per second. That means you can blow through the entire 25-missile drum in about five seconds at peak performance!
- Fires darts at a range of up to 90 feet, which means this blaster has plenty of power to back up its speed
- Capable of using a variety of Nerf Elite clips and drums, which makes reloading a cinch with this blaster
Cons:
- The jam clearing door’s lock occasionally comes open when firing - and if this door or it’s locking mechanism are not totally sealed then the gun disables itself
The Decision
This list was so packed with amazing Nerf guns that we decided to name two winners in two separate categories: The Best Overall, and The Best Deal.
The Best Overall
We have to give it to the Nerf Elite Stryfe as being the best Nerf gun you can purchase. Its range, size, and accuracy make it an absolute beast - so much so that the fact that the Stryfe needs batteries hardly even fazes us.
The Best Deal
Without a doubt the Nerf CrossBolt is the best bang-for-your-buck Nerf blaster on this list. Not only does it boast a crazy awesome design, it also has an almost unbelievable firing rate for a non-motorized Nerf gun.
This is a Nerf gun that we would be proud to be seen carrying onto any Nerf battlefield.
Things to Consider:
Standardize to Save Cost
We intentionally chose blasters for this list that only use the Nerf Elite style of dart.
That’s because Elite darts are the most commonly fired darts on the market today. Nerf Elite darts have superior range and accuracy and fit into a variety of different clips, magazines, and drums that are (for the most part) all interchangeable.
But that’s not the only reason that Elite darts reign supreme on this list.
If all of your Nerf blasters use the same type of ammo, you’ll be able to save a lot of money that would normally go to buying ammo refills and additional clips and mags. Instead of spending, just share out your already existing supply of ammo between whatever blasters you choose to take into battle!
In fact, some pro Nerf clubs provide ammo (and blasters!) and you can bet that they usually bring a whole lot of Nerf Elite darts.
Why You Need to Think About Batteries
Ammunition isn’t the only thing to think about when trying to be a cost-effective Nerf buyer. Plenty of Nerf guns today rely on batteries to either shoot or activate a secondary ability (like the FireStrike) and the cost of replacement batteries can add up quickly.
We tried to keep the battery requirements low for this list because some Nerf guns can be voracious (for example, the Nerf Rival Zeus take six C batteries).
Of course you can offset the cost of batteries by investing in rechargeables, but that’s not something that everyone is comfortable with or capable of. That’s not to say that you simply shouldn’t buy Nerf guns that need batteries.
Motorized Nerf blasters often boast superior firing rates and dart distances than their purely mechanical counterparts. Still, if saving money is the thing that you’ve got your eye on, whether or not a Nerf blaster takes batteries should be a high priority on your list.
Now that we’ve covered some of the most important things to keep in mind when purchasing a new Nerf blaster, we can finally move on to our list of the Top 5 Best Nerf Guns Under $50!
Closing Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a small sidearm to round out your Nerf arsenal or a main blaster to bring into the fray, there are plenty of amazing choices all under $50.
But don’t take our word for it; try out any of the Nerf guns that we featured today and see for yourself why they made it onto our Top 5 Nerf Under $50 list!
Related Links:
The Best Nerf Guns – Ultimate Guide To Every Type Of Nerf Blaster
The Best Nerf Guns Under $30 – Top Budget-Friendly Starter Guns
Are Nerf Guns Safe? Tips For Being Safe With Nerf Guns
The Best Nerf Assault Rifles – Comparisons & Reviews
The Best Nerf Elite Guns – Comparisons & Reviews
The post Best Nerf Guns Under $50 – Winning Nerf Wars On A Budget appeared first on Dart Dudes.
