The 10 Best Jerky Guns
Updated by · How we research
Ten jerky guns compared by barrel, meat per load, tips and cleanup, from metal cannons to starter kits. The LEM Jerky Cannon leads for build and support. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A jerky gun only shapes meat; it doesn't dry it. You pack seasoned lean ground meat into the tube, squeeze, and it lays even strips or sticks on a tray, so every piece dries at the same rate. It suits hunters with ground venison and anyone tired of slicing. Food-safety experts still want the meat heated to 160 degrees.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The LEM Jerky Cannon stays on top. Its aluminum barrel, steel handle and a maker that sells spare parts still make it the safest buy for anyone who turns a deer into jerky every season, and the plastic LEM Jerky Gun 555 remains the small-batch version.
Three old picks, the Eastman Outdoors Professional, the Sportsman MJG15 and the Delta Prime, can't be bought anymore, and the Nesco Snackmaster Express was a dehydrator kit rather than a jerky gun, so all four are gone. The Sigval Beefy is now sold as the Sigval Frontier. New picks include the WILDDIGIT WD-JK-150 and the MogaMax Jerky Gun, stainless kits with many tips, the Weston Original Jerky Gun with its loading funnel, and Nesco's Jerky Works Jumbo Kit for a cheap first batch. We dropped the Cabela's Electronic Jerky Blaster, which is no longer sold, and we couldn't find a true electric jerky gun to replace it.
No one runs lab tests on jerky guns, so we relied on LEM's spec and care pages, a jerky maker's buying guide, the drying rules from the National Center for Home Food Preservation and long-run owner feedback. A dozen look-alike stainless guns sell under different names; we kept two and skipped the rest.
December 07, 2020:
We bid goodbye to the Weston original, which was having fulfillment issues, but are glad to welcome some fun and effective new jerky guns to the list. The Presto 08632 is a solid beginner’s version for kid cooks or for those who want to try making their first jerky. The Delta Prime is a large, sturdy contraption that’s a nice upgrade for those looking to graduate to a more sophisticated system, and it has some great extras to help with cooking and cleaning up afterwards. For dedicated jerky-makers, the Eastman Outdoors Professional is solid with a big capacity, and comes with a metal cooking rack.
Of course, if you run out of homemade and want a quick fix, you can always check out options for ready-made beef jerkies, and don’t leave out your vegetarian and vegan friends and family. There’s a whole new world of vegan jerky for them, too.
October 16, 2019:
Unfortunately, The Judge from JerkySpot is no longer available, so we've removed it, along with the Weston Aluminum. For most, the Weston Original represents the best value among the company's offerings, so it's really the one to consider. As for top choices, we have kept the Cannon and the 555, both from LEM Products, a popular manufacturer in this space. Considering their durability, they are priced well, and they come packaged with seasoning for your convenience. The 555 is the smaller of the two; you'll want this one for modest batches and occasional use. Finally, we've opted to keep the Nesco Snackmaster Express. While it's true that its jerky gun can't match some of the more robust (and expensive) choices, the fact that it comes with a handy dehydrator makes it a good bargain, especially for those who want to make not just meat snacks but also fruit leather, dried herbs, and more.
Metal Or Plastic, And How Much Meat Per Load
A bigger barrel means fewer refills, but a longer, heavier gun to hold and store.
A jerky gun is a caulking-gun-style tube for seasoned ground meat. You fill the barrel, fit a tip and squeeze, and it lays even strips or snack sticks on a dehydrator tray or oven rack. It only shapes the meat. Drying is a separate step, and it doesn't work with sliced whole-muscle jerky.
Capacity runs from about three-quarters of a pound to more than two pounds per load. LEM's two guns show the spread: the plastic Jerky Gun takes 3/4 pound in a 13-inch tool, and the aluminum Jerky Cannon takes 1.5 pounds in a gun about 22 inches long. A bigger barrel means fewer refills, but a longer, heavier gun to hold and store. If you make a pound or two at a time, a small gun is fine. If you grind a whole deer, the big ones save a lot of reloading.
Barrels come in clear or white plastic, anodized aluminum or stainless steel. Plastic lets you see how much meat is left and costs less, but it's lighter duty. Metal barrels and metal threads hold up better to a season of heavy batches. Tips matter too: a flat tip makes classic strips, a double tip makes two at once, and a round tip makes snack sticks.
Getting Meat Through The Gun
Use lean ground meat. Fat keeps jerky from drying well and makes strips crumble, and a jerky maker's buying guide also notes that very cold meat is stiff and hard to push. Let it sit a few minutes, but don't leave raw meat out for long: the National Center for Home Food Preservation says to keep it at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and to use ground beef within two days.
Mix the seasoning in well, then roll the meat into a log a little narrower than the barrel, so it slides in without air pockets. Air gaps make the gun sputter and leave short, ragged strips. Hold the tip just above the tray and pull back at a steady speed as you squeeze, leaving a little space between strips so air can move.
Clean the gun right after use, before the meat dries on. LEM says both of its guns should be washed by hand, and aluminum barrels in particular should stay out of the dishwasher. A long, narrow bottle brush reaches the far end of the barrel. Dry every metal part fully, since threads and handles can rust.
Drying It Safely And Storing It
Ground-meat jerky needs real heat, not just drying. The National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends heating the meat to an internal 160 degrees Fahrenheit to kill bacteria such as E. coli. Preheat a dehydrator to at least 140 degrees. If the dehydrator can't get the meat hot enough, finish strips a quarter-inch thick or less in a 275-degree oven for about 10 minutes.
For pork or wild game, the center advises freezing the meat first, at 0 degrees for 30 days for pieces 6 inches thick or less, to guard against trichinella parasites.
Well-dried jerky bends and cracks but doesn't snap. Sealed in a jar or bag, it keeps about two weeks at room temperature. For longer, refrigerate or freeze it; a vacuum sealer helps keep freezer burn away.
How we researched this
We compared 18 jerky guns, read LEM's spec and care pages for both of its guns, a jerky maker's buying guide and the National Center for Home Food Preservation's guidance on drying ground-meat jerky, looked at long-term owner feedback, and checked LEM, Weston, Sigval, Smokehouse, Chard, Presto and Nesco for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best jerky gun?
The LEM Jerky Cannon is our pick for most people. Its aluminum barrel holds about 1.5 pounds of meat, and LEM sells spare parts and covers it for a year. For a cheaper start, the Chard JG-9 and the Nesco Jerky Works Jumbo Kit cost far less.
What meat can I use in a jerky gun?
Lean ground meat: beef, venison, elk or other game. Fat makes jerky crumble and spoil sooner. Freeze pork and wild game before use, and heat the finished jerky to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as the National Center for Home Food Preservation advises.
Can I put sliced meat in a jerky gun?
No. A jerky gun only works with ground meat. For whole-muscle jerky, slice the meat thin against the grain and dry the strips on racks instead.
Is there an electric jerky gun?
We didn't find one sold today. The Cabela's Electronic Jerky Blaster is gone, and the electric guns that turn up in searches are cordless caulking or sausage tools. Hand-squeezed guns are the norm.
Can a jerky gun go in the dishwasher?
It depends on the maker. LEM says to wash its guns by hand, and aluminum barrels shouldn't go in a dishwasher. Presto says its 08632 is dishwasher safe. When in doubt, wash by hand and dry the metal parts right away.
