My Nerf Strongarm Review

By: Jeremy Alden

The N-Strike Elite series sets the foundation for a great blasting experience. Although this line may not be as varied as some of the other series you will encounter throughout the Nerf universe or have a storyline, it’s safe to say that Nerf N-Strike Elite blasters are some of the best blasters that you can own.

The most common blaster that you see in the hands of new Nerf enthusiasts is the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster. This handgun is an excellent foundational weapon for the original line. I include my unboxing video below. 

My Nerf Strongarm Review:

If you anticipate purchasing this Nerf gun for yourself or for a fellow Nerf enthusiast, let’s walk through each aspect of this blaster to find out if its the best fit for you.

Nerf Elite Strongarm Review  - Style and Design

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster displays the proud colors of the Nerf N-Strike Elite series in a stylish way, with the white popping out of the body to attract attention.

The blue seamlessly blending in throughout the body, the orange taking the helm at the rotating barrel and the front of the gun, and black and grey working their way into the minor elements of the body, such as the handle and the priming mechanism at the top of the gun.

The simplicity of this Nerf gun is what makes it so stylish and versatile. If you need a reliable side weapon to carry into battle (or you have a younger Nerf enthusiast who needs a small primary weapon), the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster is a sleek and secure option to select for your needs.

Ammo Capacity

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm features a rotating barrel that is capable of holding up to six Nerf darts at a time.

While this is a relatively small number, the ease-of-use and functionality of this blaster make sure that your darts are put to good use and prevents you from having to reload a lot of darts when you find yourself out of ammunition.

Firing Style and Range

The Strongarm features a priming mechanism on the back of the blaster that you simply pull back to prepare the weapon to fire.

This weapon does feature slam fire blasting, which means that if you find yourself in a bind, you can quickly pull back and fire your weapon to get all of the darts out as fast as possible.

Once your darts fire, you can expect them to reach an impressive distance of 90 feet!

Extra Features

One of the things that we always talk about in our manual weapon reviews is the accessibility that weapons with rotating barrels provide.

In some cases, the front pieces of the weapon effectively block you from easily feeding your darts into the weapon. If you take a look at the Nerf Strongarm, this may be your first assumption.

What few expect, however, is that there is a button on the side of the weapon that releases the barrel.

The barrel then slides out of its slot to give you full access to the dart slots. When you’ve finished reloading, all you have to do is slide the barrel back into place and begin firing!

What I Like

• Slam Fire Priming Mechanism - The priming mechanism on this Nerf gun is easy to use, making it a perfect option for larger Nerf players as well as smaller ones who may be looking to use their first Nerf gun.
  
  We also love the fact that this weapon comes with slam fire capabilities, which makes a big difference if you find yourself up against someone who has a gun that can shoot out darts faster than you would without slam fire action.

• Rotating Barrel Slides Out for Easy Access - A lot of manual Nerf weapons block off their darts slots, which makes it difficult for you to load your weapon. Why is this important? Imagine that you are in the middle of a Nerf battle and you run out of ammo.
  
  You have a weapon that you have to turn around and struggle to shove darts into. In this period of time that you are trying to reload your weapon, you are vulnerable to enemy fire, making weapons that have a lack of access undesirable weapons to have.
  
  The Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster, on the other hand, allows the barrel to slide out for quick reloading, which makes a world of difference in a Nerf war.
  
  
• Strongarm is Light and Easy to Use - Although it may be a little heavy for very young Nerf users, the Strongarm is very light and very easy to use. If you need a primary weapon that you can easily carry across the battlefield and use without ever having to struggle, this blaster is an excellent option.
  

• Massive Range for Such a Small Weapon - The N-Strike series is known for its range. However, the fact that this blaster can reach opponents up to 90-feet away is still impressive considering its size.
  
  For those who want a smaller blaster but don’t want to have to compromise on quality, you have found your weapon of choice.

What I Don’t Like

Even more impressive, we can’t find anything that we don’t like about this Nerf blaster. It’s simple and effective, with no problems in manufacturing or during use that we can point out now or in the future.

Overall, the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster is one of the best basic Nerf weapons available to-date.

How good is the Nerf Strongarm?

This lightweight, easy-to-carry blaster is perfect for children 8 years and up. The Strongarm is one of the top three selling blasters by Hasbro based on its affordable price and ease of use. This entry-level blasters is also one of the highest-reviewed Nerf blasters available.

Nerf Strongarm vs Disruptor

Hasbro recognized the popularity of the Nerf Strongarm and produced the Nerf Disruptor as a newer version. The Nerf Strongarm is one of the top three selling blasters by Nerf. Aside from small cosmetic changes, the biggest difference is the ability to load the blaster. The Nerf Disruptor is significantly faster to load than the Strongarm. 

My Verdict

There are very few Nerf blasters out there that would receive a place at the top of the universe, but we have to say that the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster is one of those Nerf guns.

Despite the fact that this is just a large handgun, it features all of the components necessary for a great blasting experience and outperforms a lot of Nerf blasters nearly twice its size.

If you are looking for a weapon with the body of a secondary blaster and the functionality of a top tier weapon, you are definitely going to love the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm blaster.

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