Introduction

You’re running as darts zoom and whiz by your head. Out of all the surrounding carnage, all you can hear is your own breath.

Your heart is racing. Each one of your senses is heightened. As the last man standing, you must have your eyes on anything that moves.

No place is safe-only safer. As you duck for cover waiting on your next opponent, you are thinking about your next move.

Your finger is resting on the trigger of your last hope: the best nerf shotgun to win the fiercest battle of all time.

Take a look online and you will see that the market is flooded with tons of recreational guns and blasters that claim to be the best.

Some say that your gun will shoot 200 fps or that your gun will have a rate of accuracy above 90%. These claims are amazing, so you buy the guns only to be disappointed when they jam or lack the punch you are looking for.

Well, when it comes to winning or losing, we think the Best Nerf Shotguns that have made our list will lead you and your team to victory.

Only The best nerf shotguns will cater to any need like abundant ammo, high rate of dispersal, gun size, and design. No matter your tactical style and level of experience, the best nerf shotguns of 2023 have got your six covered.

12 Best Nerf Shotguns in 2023

1- Nerf Zombie Strike SlingFire Blaster

Looking for the perfect weapon against hordes of the undead? The Nerf Zombie Strike SlingFire Blaster might be the right shotgun for you. With a lever-action mechanism, this gun allows its wielder to rapidly execute a single-handed reload in just two quick two steps!

With the ability to efficiently reload, you don’t have to pause and make yourself vulnerable in the midst of a war. The Zombie Strike SlingFire Blaster comes with a 6-dart clip that gives you on-the-spot defense. This gun comes with a detachable blaster, 6 darts along with a clip, and instructions on gun operation.

Pros

● Battle-tested for quality
● Discharged via lever-action
● Highly accurate

Cons

● Tactical rail is sold separately
● Jam door prone to sticking

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2- NERF Zombie Strike Brainsaw Blaster

If the last gun doesn’t quite hit the target, the NERF Zombie Strike Brainsaw Blaster might. This gun is 2.2 lbs. in weight and features a rotating saw blade made out of foam. The gun comes with 8 darts and is semi-automatic.

Pros

● Lightweight
● Virtually jam-proof
● Designed with pull-cord to rev chainsaw
● Not too hard on your wallet

Cons

● Foam blade not functional for defence purposes
● Foam blade may easily break when under stress
● Not ideal for younger children

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3- NERF N-Strike Elite DoubleBreach Blaster

Feeling ready to take on a little more gun? Then you need to try the NERF N-Strike Elit​e DoubleBreach Blaster for size. This blaster is accompanied by a blaster, 6 darts, and a user​ manual.

The NERF N-Strike Elite DoubleBreach Blaster is double-barrelled and pump-action, so you can always have two fresh rounds waiting. This nerf shotgun allows for the user to fire 1 dart at a time from each barrel, but the dart distance is a whopping max of 90 feet!

Pros

● Double barrel allows for twice the blasting
● Gun designed for optimal grip
● Unbeatable distance
● Great price
● Pump-action

Cons

● Gun packing could be more presentable
● Has issues with jamming

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4- Nerf DoomLands The Judge

If you believe the bigger the better, you’ll definitely like the Nerf Doomlands The Judg​e.​ Weighing in at 5.73 lbs., this gun is equipped with a 30-dart revolving drum for all 30 darts that accompany it. With every trigger pull, its wielder fires 3 darts at opponents.

This gun is perfect for those who may lack accuracy but want to ensure that the target is hit. What’s more is that the gun’s design allows its user to see the firing structures work, so you this makes for easy fixes if the gun were to ever need maintenance.

Pros

● Discharges multiple darts at a time
● Requires less accuracy
● High visibility of internal mechanisms

Cons

● Not as powerful as users hoped
● A little heavy
● Not as cost-effective

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5- The Scravenger Ner​f Zombie Strike Toy Blaster

For any zombie apocalypse enthusiasts, this gun is yet another hit. The Scravenger Nerff Zombie Strike Toy Blaster is slightly lighter than our last contender at 4.41 lbs. This gun​ comes with a slam-button that can be toggled on or off for the lever for blasting at your discretion.

Even better, this gun is not only equipped with a standard blaster, but a gun stock, a tactical light for nighttime excursions, a barrel extension to hold extra ammo, and a scope for heightened accuracy. In total, there are 26 darts with two clips that hold a total of 12 darts each. AAA batteries are required for its operation and the gun comes with a guide.

Pros

● ïTactical light to see in the dark
● Better accuracy with provision of scope
● ïExtra barrel
● ï2 clips

Cons

● Battery-operated
● Grip needs improvement

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6- NERF N-Strike Elit​e Rough Cut 2X4 Blaster

This next gun is a crowd pleaser when it comes to personalisation. The NERF N-Strike Elite Rough Cut 2X4 Blaster is a lightweight 10.8 oz. The gun comes with just 8 elite darts, but is​ double-barrelled and pump-action, so the user can fire two darts, while priming two more simultaneously. For anyone who values customisation, this gun’s tactical rail is compatible with most of Nerf’s accessories, making this a gun that is a jack-of-all-trades.

Pros

● Double-barrelled
● Pump-action
● High on customisation

Cons

● Darts fall out at times
● Users say it jams on occasion to frequently

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7- NERF N-Strike Mega TwinShock

Want to pack an even bigger punch? The NERF N-Strike Mega TwinShoc​k,​ with a weight of 2.2. lbs, is a lot of gun despite its relatively small size. The gun comes with a total of 10 darts, along with the blaster.
The darts are not your average darts but are called MEGA darts due to their sheer girth and ability to cover more target. The NERF N-Strike Mega TwinShock has the capacity to blast darts 85 feet. You can discharge darts 1 or 2 at a time, or by slam fire. Instructions are included.

Pros

● Ability to toggle firing modes
● Slamfire-action
● Amazing distance of 85 feet

Cons

● May be a little too complicated for younger users

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8- Nerf Rival Atlas XVI-1200 Blaster (Blue)

Team Red or Team Blue? Show your true colours with either the red or blue Nerf Rival Atla​s XVI-1200.​ This gun is a medium-sized blaster that comes with 24 rounds and a 12-round magazine. The gun is spring-action with a tactical rail and trigger lock to prevent misfires.

Not to mention, the gun can fire, not one, but two darts at once adding insult to injury to your opponent’s reputation as the most formidable on the field. Firing at 80 feet per second, this is the​ ​ precision weapon you need on your team.

Pros

● Spring-action
● Double-impact per discharge
● High precision
● High velocity
● Intense user-experience

Cons

● May be too loud for some users

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9- NERF Vagabond Doomlands Toy Blaster

If you ever wanted to feel like some souped up gunslinger in the Old West, this is the gun for you. The NERF Vagabond Doomlands Toy Blaster​is a retro-post-apocalyptic vision. With an intimidating rotating barrel, this 2lb. gun rapidly shoots six rounds via pump-action. Watch how the gun transports your round from the barrel to your opponent with the transparent design made for internal visibility.

Pros

● Rapid fire
● Pump-action
● No batteries needed
● High internal visibility

Cons

● Some users have experienced jammed rotating cylinder

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10- NERF Rival Artemis XVII-3000 Blue

Similarly to the last gun, the NERF Rival Artemis XVII-3000​ h​as a rotating barrel to make reloading and firing a snap. At 3 lbs., this blaster comes with 30 rounds that can all be contained within the gun’s loading chamber.
High-impact and high precision, the rounds release from the barrel at a speed of 100 fps, preventing even the quickest of opponents from outrunning your shot.

Pros

● Slam-fire
● Rotating barrel
● 30 rounds at disposal
● Velocity of 100 fps

Cons

● More time-consuming to reload once 30-round reserve is spent
● Lack of stability due to no shoulder stock

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11- NERF N-Strike Mega Series RotoFury Blaster

With this blaster, get ready for a full-sensory experience as you devastate your opponents with one of the most intense guns yet: NERF N-Strike Mega Series RotoFury Blaster.​ You guessed it: this gun not only has a rotating barrels, but, upon discharge, the darts produce a piercing sound alerting your enemies that their loss is imminent.
Relying on slam-action, you won’t need to reload until all 10 darts are spent. On top of that, this gun is so packed with power that you can be 90 feet away from your opponents at still hit your target.

Pros

● Rotating barrel
● Less time dedicated to reloading
● Slam-action
● 90 feet of reach

Cons

● Might leave welts if person on receiving end is too close
● MEGA darts might cause jamming

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12- Nerf Rampage N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster

Last, but definitely not least, is the Nerf Rampage N-Strike Elite Toy Blaste​r.​ At almost 3 lbs, this blaster is sure to wow its wielder and stop opponents in their tracks. The gun is accompanied by 25 Elite darts that can all be contained in a 25-dart drum.

Shockingly, no motor is present, and no batteries are needed to blast the darts 90 feet away. With slam-action capacity, you can barrage your enemies with darts, so they won’t even know what hit them.

Pros

● Slam-action
● Rapid fire
● No batteries needed
● 90 feet of ground covered
● Great for all ages

Cons

● May be prone to jamming
● A little pricey

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12 Best Nerf Shotgun Buying Tips

Gun Size

When people think Nerf, what may first come to mind are one-handed blasters that are easily welded. However, when it comes to Nerf Shotguns, size and weight are all the more important when considering which blaster is right for you.

Typically, Nerf Shotguns will range anywhere from just under a pound to almost 6 pounds. Do you want to feel the weight of the gun for a more realistic feel? Or, perhaps 6 pounds might slow you down in the heat of a blaster battle in which the stakes are too high to miss? This is all depending on what you are comfortable with holding over time.

Some Nerf battles are relatively quick, while others, because of campers and people who might be a little gun-shy, may take a longer period, meaning that your arm may give out when you need to hold up your blaster to shoot accurately during a crucial moment. Don’t feel pressured to automatically go with the notion that bigger is better; just know what works for yourself and buy what you see yourself using for a long time.

Accuracy

There are several factors that affect accuracy. These factors include gun size, quality of the barrel, dart and round aerodynamics, force generated to discharge a dart or round.

For gun size, this all depends on the wielder. If you are strong enough and have a good enough grip, a bigger gun may be suitable for you. If you feel that your arm would tire easier or that your grip is uncomfortable with a bigger gun, go smaller.

Barrel design greatly matters in the distance a projectile travels. Try to find a blaster with a longer barrel, as this will translate to a longer path, which means for time for velocity to increase before the target is reached.

This is Physics 101-there’s for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. If the projectile has a longer period to build up potential energy within the barrel, that built-up energy will convert to kinetic energy in the form of impressive speeds, rapidly tagging your enemy.

Dart and round aerodynamics are dependent upon the quality of the projectiles themselves. Some darts are much bigger than others and others are made with hollow points. Bigger darts mean more area used to hit an opponent, but their clunky design is not always the best for precision. For hollow-point darts, these are actually more of a selling ploy.

Regarding real bullets, hollow-points are used to cause the most damage to take down a target immediately because they “bloom” upon impact. Nerf hollow-points don’t do this, so there’s no real benefit to the buyer.

But, make it a point to search for higher-quality projectiles so their journey through the barrel is not impeded due to any defects after being discharged so many times. Try to see if there are any darts or rounds made of sturdier material.

As for force generated to discharge the dart or round, the blasters are not designed to shoot projectiles at head-spinning speeds, similar to those of real firearms. Therefore, this is something that affects accuracy, but is an aspect that simply comes with the territory of recreational firearms.

Quick tip: a little bit of target practice never hurts. This is a no-brainer, but accuracy is also affected by the person who is behind the blaster!

Ammo Room

Depending on your particular style and needs, Nerf shotguns can accommodate those who would like to carry a lot more ammo in their blasters at a time. This is conducive to less time spent on reloading during battle. However, once your ammo reserve is completely spent, it is important to realize that reloading can be a pain if you don’t collect any of your darts until then.

Also, some people may prefer to forgo high-capacity Nerf Shotguns since these guns are designed more for capacity than accuracy. At the same time, the high-capacity may actually make up for their lack of accuracy because the amount of ammo will practically saturate your opponents with Nerf darts, or rounds. With the help of this list and if you do some other research, there is most likely a gun out there that combines the need for accuracy and capacity.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, being a sharp-shooter is going to heavily depend on your command over whichever blaster you decide to choose. Honing in on your accuracy is foundational to your control over your gun and value on your team. In the meantime, be thorough in your quest for the gun that is right for you and your teammates.

You’ll want to be sure that the money you put towards your gun is going to pay you in great dividends when warring with enemy teams. Practice and improve your accuracy and find the gun that is made for you. Whether it’s your goal to be MVP or be the best team player, take this information with you on your search and use it wisely. See you on the battlefield!