What is a NERF gun? - Everything you need to know about NERF
NERF guns are an excellent option for kids and adults to play fun, interactive games that get the adrenaline pumping! At BargainMax, we have a wide range of NERF blasters, guns, and accessories that are perfect for recreational and friendly competitive play. This guide will answer useful questions about NERF guns so you can learn more before deciding how you want to play.
What is a NERF gun?
The term "NERF" stands for "Non-Expanding Recreational Foam." This is the material that was used to create the original NERF ball. NERF guns are toy blasters made by Hasbro that fire projectiles containing this foam. These projectiles can be darts, balls or even discs, depending on the series of blasters and type of ammunition you're using. They're designed for kids and adults to have fun, active play that allows for shooting mechanics without using harder, potentially painful, ammunition.
When did NERF guns come out?
In 1969, inventor Reyn Guyer created the NERF ball, which he then approached Parker Brothers to produce. The ball was marketed as the "world's first indoor ball" and was used as a jumping-off point to create the NERF guns we know today.
These NERF guns didn't come out until 1989, with the NERF Sharpshooter released in 1992. This was the first NERF dart blaster and was widely regarded as the turning point, as it led to the creation of an array of blasters that caused NERF to grow in popularity.
How do NERF guns work?
Most NERF blasters use one of two main internal mechanisms. Many blasters, such as the N-Strike Elite or Elite 2.0 lines, use a spring. By priming the blaster, you compress a spring that pushes the plunger forward once the trigger is pulled. The plunger forces air through the barrel, which releases the foam dart.
More advanced NERF guns, such as the N-Series blasters, use battery-powered flywheels, which rapidly spin, grip the dart and then fire it out of the barrel at high speed. Many NERF N-Series blasters are only compatible with NERF N-Series N1 darts. If you're unsure, please check the product information or packaging.
Lastly, we can't forget about NERF Super Soakers! They are popular water blasters that use air pressure or pump-action mechanisms to shoot water, either as powerful streams or in bursts. Super soakers that rely on air pressure pump air into a pressurised chamber, compressing and building pressure. When the trigger is pulled, a valve opens and the compressed air forces the water out of the nozzle.
What age are NERF guns for?
NERF blasters are generally recommended for kids aged 8 and up. Younger children may find some of the priming mechanisms tricky to operate, and they may not have the coordination skills or understanding to grasp the importance of not aiming at faces. Whether you're buying water guns or NERF blasters, we always recommend checking the product specifications and instructions to determine if a product is right for your child.
Are NERF guns dangerous?
NERF blasters and guns are designed with the number-one priority of providing safe, outdoor fun. The NERF-brand darts are made from soft foam. However, whilst they have made firing and being hit by these darts as safe as possible, there are still safety considerations you should consider when playing with them.
Eye protection is always recommended when playing, such as wearing safety goggles or NERF-specific goggles. We recommend adult supervision with younger kids and avoiding high-powered blasters (such as automatic blasters) until they're older. We also recommend ensuring that kids and adults use NERF-brand darts, as modified or third-party darts can hit harder and be heavier, leading to potential injury.
What are the best NERF guns?
The best NERF gun depends on what you want to use it for. Our extensive range of NERF guns can provide hours of fun for many different types of players. It partly depends on the look and feel of the NERF gun, its ammo type and capacity, as well as your age and skill level.
We recommend the NERF Elite line or NERF Super Soakers for beginners. For enthusiastic gamers, we also have several Fortnite-themed NERF guns. For more experienced players, N Series or N-Strike blasters offer higher ammo capacity, more customisation and faster firing rates.
Blasters designed for Dart Tag, combined with special vests, can be an excellent addition for specific team games. We offer a variety of options for all blaster enthusiasts.
What is a NERF party?
A NERF party is a fun party where guests bring their blasters (or are provided with one) to participate in NERF battles and action-packed games! One of the great aspects of NERF products is their versatility. Many team games, such as Capture the Flag or Base Defence, and team challenges can all be played with varying gun and blaster types.
How to store NERF guns
There are many ways you can store your collection of NERF guns. You want to keep your collection organised, safe and ready to use. You can store them on a pegboard with hooks or shelves so your NERF blasters can hang on the wall. Large plastic bins or crates and under-bed storage boxes are a convenient option.
Boxes like this are ideal not just for storing the guns but also for extra ammo storage. You may even want a separate storage space for your different types of ammo (to separate your mega darts from your streamlined darts or traditional darts, for instance).
BargainMax offers some of the cheapest blasters available, so check out our range of NERF guns to see what we offer. Show us your NERF products on our Facebook page, TikTok or Instagram page.
