Zapper Light Gun Gray

The Gray NES Zapper is the original North American light gun for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It launched with the NES on October 18, 1985, and its dark gray barrel and grip matched the console's color scheme. Plug it into the controller port and aim at the screen.

About the Gray NES Zapper

Nintendo R&D1 designed the light gun, with Gunpei Yokoi and Satoru Okada. It first came out in Japan in 1984 for the Famicom. Lance Barr, head designer at Nintendo of America, redesigned it for North America.

The Zapper uses an optical sensor. When you pull the trigger, the game turns the whole screen black for one frame. On the next frame, valid targets are drawn in white. The sensor reads that change in light, and the game works out which target you hit from the frame in which it flashed.

In 1989 Nintendo released an orange version after a 1988 law required toy guns to look different from real guns. That makes the gray model the earlier original NES Zapper.

Gray Zapper Light Gun Details

• Works with: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Zapper games
• Maker: Nintendo
• Released: October 18, 1985 (North America)
• What it does: Light gun controller for shooting games
• Color: Dark gray barrel and grip
• What you get: The Zapper shown in the listing photos

Games and TV Setup

Games that need the Zapper include Duck Hunt, To the Earth and Shooting Range. Wild Gunman, Gumshoe, Hogan's Alley, Baby Boomer and Freedom Force also support it. Some games, such as Operation Wolf and Mechanized Attack, work with the Zapper or a standard controller. The Zapper works only on CRT televisions. It does not work on LCD, plasma or other flat-panel screens. Check the listing photos to see the exact gray Zapper light gun you will receive.

Zapper Games and Controllers

Play Duck Hunt or Hogan's Alley with it. Prefer the later color? See the orange Zapper light gun. Browse all NES controllers. Read more about the NES Zapper on Wikipedia.

Gray NES Zapper: FAQs

Will the Gray NES Zapper work on my flat-screen TV?
No. The Zapper works only on CRT televisions, not LCD, plasma or other flat panels.

What is the difference between the gray and orange Zapper?
The gray model is the 1985 original. Nintendo released the orange version in 1989 after a 1988 toy gun law.

Which games use the Zapper?
Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, Wild Gunman, Gumshoe, Freedom Force and others.

Is this item new or used?
Please check the listing photos to see the exact Zapper you will receive.

Shipping and Returns

Orders are dispatched within 2 business days. Standard US shipping is $4.99, and orders over $50 ship free. Read our 30-day return policy for details.