Dogs:

I think this is the year my daughter gets an air rifle for xmas (she's 8). Since I'm sure nearly everyone here has significant experience/memories of childhood and BB guns, I thought I'd tap the yard for a recommendation. I think my requirements are as follows:

1) pump action to allow 400 - 800 fps (single [censored] is too hard for young folk, and more than 800 fps is way too much power for a starter gun)

2) rifled barrel seems to offer better accuracy

3) decent open sights (i would prefer her to learn with open sights than a scope)

4) decent quality (good price/performance with limited "plasticiness")

5) BBs or pellets (BBs are much easier to load when first learning)

I had a Crosman 2100 when I was young, but todays versions seem incredibly 'cheep' in the hand - more plastic & less robust. I'm strongly leaning toward the 760XLS 'hardwood deluxe' based on specs, but have never seen one in person.

Any and all ideas appreciated!

I started out on the daisy red rider. I think it's a great starter gun. Can't go wrong with a classic. I actually still have it. The seals are shot but I'm thinking of maybe giving it a light sanding and re-varnishing and then mounting it on a display for my son's room.

I had a cheapie when I was a kid. My dad got my brother a Benjamin Silver Streak type. It's a bit nicer than a kid probably needs but it would probably last more than 1 kid. I plan on trying to get my 8 year old one this coming year. I will probably go over board a bit and get something a bit nicer than he needs. Kind of like Scrap Yard knives you know?

My 7 year old daughter already has two real guns....we skipped the BB and pellet guns altogether.

Remember....training is everything.

I prefer one that does both, bb's tend to richotchez more then pellets. Another good thing about pumps is that young kids usually can't pump them up that high.
personally I would start her off on one that maxes out around 500 fps

My Parents were adamantly against pelletguns and chemistry sets.

Look how that turned out <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, that settles it. I pulled the trigger (so to speak) on the 760XLS. I think it'll be a good proxy for the Winchester 62A rifle I have waiting for her.

Based on Unsub's example, I also ordered a chemistry set. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks to all for the feedback. I'll post a picture and a thought post xmas after I give (er, I mean she gives) it a workout!

i remember my first bb gun. I had participated in a bike a thon for st. judes hosptial and raised the most money from my school and won a gift certificate for a local sporting goods store.

I had my heart set on one of those handheld sports games (remember when they were popular) I had just about decided on the one I wanted when my father said those amazing words "well if you wanted, you could get a bb gun"

game? what game? i don't need no stinking game"

I was twelve and my father had purchased my first firearm. It was a replica of the M1 Carbine, a BB gun. I have never been more proud of a possession in my entire life. We lived on a six acre plot of land with a two acre pond in an area called Irish Hills, located in Southern Michigan. I had a very large world to explore and a never-ending supply of things to shoot at. My father was a great shot and I wanted to be just like him.
I shot everything. Even things I should not have shot. All boys do.
One time my friend Matt came over to stay the weekend and he brought his BB gun. The two of us shot everything we laid eyes upon. It was war!
There was a small bird sitting on the kitchen window sill of my house. Standing with Matt out by an old pump house, I took aim and hit it with the very first shot.
Matt was impressed. So was I.
Adrenaline and testosterone can surely make you do some pretty stupid things. Within moments I would pay for my sin.
Unbeknownst to me my mother cherished the little bird. It would sit by her kitchen window and sing for hours.
She was in the kitchen when I made my spectacular shot and saw everything!
My mother promptly stormed onto the front porch and demanded I hand over my BB gun. I slowly walked towards her and handed over my treasure. I thought sadly that it would be months before I would see it again, if ever. My sadness was rudely interrupted by my mother cocking the BB gun and telling me - run.
She had a look in her eyes that told me I had better not second guess or try to negotiate. I took off running as fast as I could.
The first shot hit me square in the buttocks. I screamed like a little girl. I did not know what was more painful: being hit in my rear by a BB or having it done in front of my friend. Turning around and thinking my torment might be over I saw that she was actually cocking the BB gun again. I ran like hell, this time zigzagging across the yard hoping this would throw off her aim.
She fired several more times. She didn't hit me again. She walked into the house and the BB gun went away from me for months.
I learned several things that day:
• My mother really liked birds;
• She was a little off her rocker once angered;
• She did not really have a high regard for firearm safety;
• My father was not the only good shot in the family and my odds of being one as well just went up exponentially;
• Me getting shot in the [censored] was entertaining to friends.
After reading my story you may ask yourself why I would ever want to handle an M1 Carbine again? Because my mother lives on one coast while I live on the other.
Safety can be inspirational.....

You’ll shoot your eye out! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Sorry, someone had to say it in this thread.


No way! I have that one! It was one of my firsts too! I still have it. I guess they’re collectable. I’ve only seen one other one in my life, and it was on auctionarms and sold for like $100. My Dad got it and a couple Crossman rifles for me at a yard sale when I was about 6 or so, paid like $3 each I think it was. He didn’t give me BBs for several years though.

I got my first “good” BB gun when I was 12 or so. I still have it, it’s less than arms reach away right now as I type. It’s a…hmm…lemme reach and see…Daisy Eagle Power Line 856. It’s black, plastic stock, and scoped. Rifled barrel, and shoots BBs or pellets.

A related fact for those that don’t know, air rifles have existed for hundreds of years. Lewis and Clark brought some on their expedition and used them to hunt deer, as well as impress the Indians with their “silent” rifle.

The Lewis and Clarke air rifle was more of a machine gun if I remember correctly?
It saved their butts from indians a couple of times.

There is a guy who sells some really first rate air guns here in saskatchewan to pay for his Olympic sharpshooting training and I have been considering getting a beautiful CZ air gun from him. It costs as much as a nice .22 though. It would probably be worth it to help my technique and because it is much less hassle to use an air gun than a rimfire here in Canada. It is quite capable of harvesting small game like gophers(evil little monsters) partridge(delicious) and even racoons. The Olympics guy would make one hell of a sniper if he wanted.

I just bought a Walther Nighthawk pellet pistol from a friend today. I can't wait until I get a CO2 canister. It has all sorts of tacky tavctical gear like red dot scope and flashligght and even a compensator that actually makes it louder.
It is like the Simpsons when Homer bought a gun with a silencer and a
loudener <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I can't wait to try it out. I never would have bought one new but for 50$ it is an OK deal.