I included the image of the Nerf dart next to the Jolt EX-1 in the above picture so you can see the size of this new gun. It's tiny. It fits in your hand, it's easy to conceal, and you can whip it out quickly and shoot someone in the face with it. I would not suggest doing so in a social situation unless you are much larger than the victim. This is why I chose, once again, to test the gun on my children.

The surprising thing about the gun, which sells for around under $10, is that it's powerful.

The gun is simple to operate, and I always prefer mechanical designs to the battery operated guns. You simply place a dart in the barrel, pull down on the plunger until it clicks, aim, and then pull the trigger. Most Nerf-style guns of this size usually rely on a pump or some mechanism that instantly transforms your action into a shot, but that's not as good as a design where you're able to actually store the mechanical energy, take careful aim, and then pull the trigger. Take a look at this surprise shot I took at my daughter, who may have seen it coming. She's a little bit of a ham when she sees a camera.

The gun shoots far, and it has power behind it. In fact, it did well in comparisons with even my much larger and more expensive Nerf guns. That all the power of that plunger goes straight into the dart works to its favor and, while the darts can wander a bit in windy conditions, you're going to hit anything you shoot at within five to ten feet. At that range, the dart is also going to have a nice sting to it. Basically, this gun allows you to get very close to someone without them realizing you possess the means to deliver a minor injury. Then you shoot them in the face and they say "Ow, stop it!" Your day just became a little better, I guarantee it.

If you take the gun apart, you'll see the spring is more powerful than what we're used to in the larger guns, which is how something so small can enjoy such an impressive reach and accuracy. There are downsides here, including the time it takes to reload and the fact you can only load a single dart at a time. Once you fire your shot and the element of surprise is lost, you can expect a flurry of darts heading your way if your opponents are similarly armed. You'll be at a major disadvantage in most serious Nerf wars or office assaults.

There's not much to fiddle with if you're into modding your guns, due to the simplicity of the design and the lack of moving parts. This is a design that's good for surprise attacks and not much else. Still, the gun can be found at most stores for under $10, although the price seems to be fluctuating online, and it shoots straight and far. For what it is, everything about this gun excels. I couldn't be happier.