The 5 Best Blowguns – [Top Reviews & Rankings]

A blowgun (also known as blowpipe or blow tube) is a short-range weapon that consists of a long narrow tube for shooting light projectiles such as darts.

It operates by having the projectile placed inside the pipe and using the force created by one’s exhalation to pneumatically propel the projectile. Projectiles include seeds, clay pellets, and darts.

While blowguns are used mostly for entertainment purposes in Europe and North America, many indigenous people in South and Central America use these weapons for hunting small game.

If you prefer shooting darts faster and for longer distances, consider buying pistol crossbows instead. In this review, we will be reviewing the five best blowguns in detail.

What Are Blowguns Used For?

Blowguns are mainly used for hunting purposes and to pierce prey.  These projectiles are used to hunt small animals like squirrels and birds.

How Powerful Is A Blowgun?

If you have a strong set of lungs and a long blowgun barrel, your blowdart gun is capable of launching a dart at a great velocity of 350 feet per second.

How Do Blowguns Work?

A blowgun works by having the projectile placed inside the pipe and blowing the projectile out. This is done by a person’s ability to use forced exhalation (Source).

Comparing The Best Blowguns

1. 36″ Avenger 40c Blowgun – Best Blowgun Overall

Our top pick is a 36-inch high-velocity blowgun made of top-grade aluminum. This is a .40 caliber blowgun equipped with a tactical peep sight.

Seamless Technology

This model is made of lightweight aircraft-quality seamless tubing. It is fitted with a foam grip, a mouth and a muzzle guard and boasts a high-quality finish. Also, the Avenger 40c Blowgun’s .40 caliber high-velocity blowgun comes with dart quivers with twelve darts and eight super stun darts, though the cone color may vary.

Lightweight & Sturdy

Truly, no one can legitimately complain about the quality of this product. We recommend that you buy this with confidence, as you have very little to lose and a very cool thing to gain. It boasts a lightweight, sturdy construction and it is also astonishingly accurate.

Needle-Sharp Darts

Our top choice comes with needle-sharp darts, and it can be an extremely powerful weapon, depending on the user’s lung capacity. From a distance of 18ft, you will be able to pierce through an old copy of the Guinness Book of World Records through the front all the way to page 235.

Lastly, the darts also are said to be able to penetrate about two inches into the side of a standard sized tin can, and even through a standard steel beer bottle cap.

2. Cold Steel 4 Foot .625 Blowgun – The Best Ranged Blowdart Gun

The Cold Steel 4 Foot .625 Blowgun occupies the second spot on our list, not least because it has an effective range up to 20 yards or more. With this product’s capabilities and of course with practice, a skilled user can hit a two-inch circle at amazing distances, delivering a heavyweight dart.

High Penetrating Power

This payload is easily capable of penetrating a half-inch sheet of plywood. Accuracy and range like this enable an experienced hunter to take down small game like doves, quail, squirrels, and rabbits in complete silence without danger of over penetration or errant darts striking livestock or humans in the distance.

Fun To Shoot

As recognized by this product’s owners/users, using this blowgun is really great fun. It is an activity that can be enjoyed indoors or out, in sunny or rainy weather. With all things considered, skill with a blowgun can lead to many inexpensive hunting adventures and give you a good chance in survival or self-defense situations.

Added Weight For Increased Accuracy

This model comes with a target-style mouthpiece and three-millimeter-thick barrel, which is almost twice as thick and half as heavy as the company’s standard models. This added weight and rigidity dramatically increase accuracy, not to mention durability. And lastly, this blowgun comes complete with a wide variety of darts for different shooting situations. If you prefer extra targeting and superior accuracy, consider buying the best soft tip darts instead.

What’s IN The Package?

• One four-foot blowgun
• One mouthpiece
• One rubber ferrule
• One dart quiver
• One quiver guard
• 36 darts:

1. 12 stun
2. 12 mini broadhead
3. Six broadhead
4. Six bamboo

3. Bunker Buster 36″ .40 Cal. Blowgun – The Most Accurate Blowpipe

Our number three choice is a highly accurate 36-inch 40 caliber blowgun by Bunker Buster. These .40-caliber blowguns fire darts at up to 350 feet per second and are excellent for either target shooting or hunting. Now, imagine the benefits of this amazing product within your grasp.

Anodized Aluminum Barrel

The 36-inch, one-piece anodized aluminum barrel has a foam hand grip for comfortable handling and an anti-inhale safety mouthpiece. The muzzle guard includes a handy sight, and the carry sling makes it easy to throw the blowgun over your shoulder.

Wide Choice Of Darts

It includes 16 sharp wire darts, 10 spear darts, eight spike darts, eight super stun darts, eight stun darts, a dart guard and target. The quivers include two, 8- spike dart/super; one 16-dart; two 10-dart and one 8-stun dart.

100% American Quality

Lastly, this product is made in the USA and is offered in the following colors: Green Camo, Gray Camo, Black Evolution, and Purple Evolution. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.

4. 36″ Terminator .40 Caliber Blowgun – The Most Reliable Toxic Blowpipe

This model Terminator blowgun promises to give you hours of shooting fun. The two-piece .40-caliber, high-power blowgun fires a dart at up to 350 feet-per-second and therefore deserves the number four spot on our list.

With this blowgun, you will be able to penetrate 1/4″ into the bark of an old tree with the little spikes, and about 1/16″ with the longer wire darts.

Safe To Use

This super-powerful blowgun is also very safe to use because it is fitted with an anti-inhale safety mouthpiece. It also has a muzzle guard, a sturdy anodized aluminum barrel and a foam hand grip for shooting and handling comfort.

Packaging

At 36″ in length, this blowgun comes with 12 sharp-wire darts and a 16-dart quiver. Each includes a safety decal on the barrel and a target. It also comes with a lifetime warranty and is made in the USA.

5. Predator Blowguns 36in – Two Piece .40 Caliber Blowgun

Predator Blowguns’ 36in. two piece .40 caliber blowgun deserves the fifth place on our list for its unrivalled safety, well complemented by a pocket-friendly retail price.

Package Contents

Each Two-piece .40 caliber blowgun comes with 1 mouthpiece, 2 quivers, foam grip, muzzle guard, and 12 standard blowgun darts. This is the most fun and easiest to use blowgun you have ever seen! It doesn’t take a lot of investment on your part either.

Super-Sharp Darts

The Two-Piece .40 Caliber blowgun is a deluxe, super safe model. It comes with the two most popular dart types, the target, and stun dart. You get twelve target darts, which are sharpened 4-inch needles with a precision cone for ultimate accuracy and performance. These are used for target practice, shooting small game, and for dartboard games. Of course, you can practice in any way you want using the top clay pigeon throwers available on the market.

2 Types Of Quivers

Lastly, included in the package and also ready for your use on the blowgun are also two types of quivers to hold all your darts for quick access. This is an ultra-safe model with the safety mouthpiece, to keep you from inhaling the dart, an extra foam grip for extra secure hold to get the most accurate shot, and the dart guard to keep your hand protected.

Factors To Consider When Buying A Blowgun

If you are planning to buy a blowgun for small game hunting or entertainment, you should consider the following important factors:

Safety First

Blowguns are not toys! They can cause injury if not used maturely and with the necessary precautions. It should always be kept in mind that adolescents must use a blowgun only under the supervision of an adult. Please, read the safety instructions before using your blowgun for the first time.

Legal Restrictions

The possession of a blowgun is restricted by law in states such as California. Before proceeding with your purchase, please consult your local police department if you can legally possess and use products such as those reviewed above.

Materials Used

When choosing the best blowgun for your needs, consider the materials it is made of. All models discussed above are made of top-quality materials and are designed with safety and comfort in mind. In general, look for a blowgun that is 100% made in the USA.

Size & Color

Initially, before ordering a blow gun, you should first decide what size and color you want it in. Most manufacturers offer seven different sizes to choose from in different colors, but some colors only have certain sizes, each with a different price. There often are six colors to choose from: black, red, blue, purple, green camo, and urban camo.

Price

Really, price is one of the most important factors that you have to take in mind before purchasing one of the bad boys reviewed above. While this should be a relatively inexpensive purchase, the retail price of some of the more upscale models may reach $70.

Although some models are offered for under ten dollars, we recommend that you stay clear of these.  The average retail price of a good, reliable, and safe blowgun is just above twenty dollars.

Two Common Applications

Ultimately, blowguns may be used for shooting targets and/or hunting.  A .40 caliber blowgun is a fun blowgun to shoot. Your 36-inch blowgun can be perfect to shoot targets with, but when it comes to living creatures, it can’t take down anything larger than a rat. For small game hunting in the wild, we advise you to get the best compact binoculars to see your prey up close.

If you are going to be target-shooting and hunting, we would recommend nothing smaller than a four-foot .625 caliber model that is often offered with a two-foot extension. If you decide to shoot at tournaments, you are maxed out at 48 inches.

On the other hand, if you want to hunt, you will have a blowgun that has the power to kill and you can add the two-foot section for some extra velocity and better accuracy.

Choose Your Darts

Firstly, the Cold Steel Broad Head dart is usually made of poly-resin. You are most likely to receive these blowgun darts bent from the rubber band holding them. They do not bend back straight easily and the ball just behind the broadhead stops penetration at about 3/4 inch. Also, the head is not sharpened upon arrival.

Secondly, if you want a dart that is going to skewer an animal, the Bamboo Dart is what you need. This type of dart is longer than all the other darts by several inches. It is also lighter and flies faster. This is not the most powerful dart to choose, but it does a good job.

Take the time to use different types of darts and see which one works best for you. Get to know how they all shoot. Some fly smooth, fast, and true, while others are a little heavier but will do more damage and kill faster.

Lastly, one of the blowgun’s irreparable shortcomings when it comes to hunting is that you can only hunt a small game with it unless you dip the tips of your darts in curare.

Ready To Buy The Best Blowgun?

Because of their simplicity and effectiveness, blowdart guns have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. If you find yourself succumbing to their charm, this review should certainly help you choose the most appropriate toxic blowpipe for the adventure you have planned or about to.

Ultimately, it is very important to remember that all the models reviewed above should be used safely and responsibly. A blowgun must never be aimed at individuals or pets because any misuse is a criminal offense!

Last but not least, if you have decided to buy one of the more powerful models that are suitable for small game hunting, we advise you to check with your local wildlife agency if you need any special permit to hunt with a blowgun.