I have started my kids gun safety training and we are trying to figure out what the best air rifle/pistol would be to get for them. We do not what anything that needs extra cost like CO2 so I am looking for some advice on good pump or spring action to look at. Our kids are 8(girl) and 10(boy). Anyone have some sound advice for us we would appreciate it. Thanks All.
I had a Daisy Powerline. I am not sure of the model number. They have an 880 on their website that looks the same, but the 880 is a .177 cal and the one I had was a .22. What I liked about it is that it is a pump powered pellet rifle, so no CO2. You could adjust the power with the number of pumps, depending if it was being used outdoors or in the basement. It had a bolt on the right side which you pull back about an inch to load. This is similar to the bolt action .22 that would be the first real training firearm. This bolt also allows teaching the bolt open, firearm clear philosophy when you go down range to check targets, etc. It also had a cross bolt safety with the red fire and black safe. Different mechanics than the safety on my Savage .22, but the red fire, black safe is the same. It seems many cheaper air rifles don't have any safety.
The rifle was reliable and quite accurate at reasonable ranges. Probably never used it beyond 35 - 40m. Unfortunately, I lent it to someone and it never made its way home. I am sure Daisy and Crossman have a few rifles with similar features.
Great that your teaching your kids to survive. Now the questions is, what will you be doing with the air guns? Target practice or possibly hunting. For target practice a cheap gun will do. Get the kids trained in the handling and respect of pistols first, then move on to a rifle. For hunting get the best gun you can. Scan the internet and videos of hunters that use airguns for hunting. The guns aren't cheap but you get what you pay for. Now for self protection, get the most powerful FPS you can. That's my suggestion. Hope this helps!
Are you looking for any formal training at all? Burlington Rifle and Revolver has a very cheap airgun program for youths Saturdays. Something like $20 per year. Expert training and safety.
http://www.rangeburlington.ca/forums/showthread.php?118-What-to-expect-on-a-Saturday-Morning-An-Introduction
I would recommend gas blow back airsoft guns. Many military and law enforcement agencies use them for training purposes due to their realistic weight, feel, action and accuracy. There are many Canadian outlets for you to purchase airsoft guns from, but remember that these type of airsoft guns can not be bought at Walmart or Canadian Tire. These type of guns use the little green propane cylinders you can buy at Canadian Tire to refill the magazines. The cylinders last a very long time as the guns use little gas so the cost is very very low to operate the guns. I am use them myself and am still on the same propane cylinder I purchased last March. If you would like more information about them please feel free to PM me.
Cheers.
Cheers,
BOA.
Just remember.... the Boy Scouts have been saying it for years.... Be Prepared!
Cheers,
BOA.
Just remember.... the Boy Scouts have been saying it for years.... Be Prepared!
Ruger youth rifle from tsc.m. .177 break barrel and very accurate and light. I have a daisy pistol as well, the pump is a lever on the side I don't know the model number
Want to see the future, past or the unknown? Learn to be psychic. Ask me how!
A good time to invest in spf3000 if you live on the NK penninsula.
Oh November 17, how I fear thee...
Ruger youth rifle from tsc.m. .177 break barrel and very accurate and light. I have a daisy pistol as well, the pump is a lever on the side I don't know the model number
I like this one as well.
Most of mine are for dual-purpose plinking and hunting. What you want to do with it affects what you get. The downside to a pump or break-action (most of mine are break action) is that it can take a lot of effort to cock them or pump them to the full potential. A young kid isn't going to cock my Backout Fury or Fury II, or a lot of my other rifles to the point where they could be responsibly hunted with. The other downside to the break actions and the pumps that sling forward or sideways is that it pulls somebody out of their shooting position. If they're just learning, that can be annoying. On the other hand, a lot of CO2 air guns don't have the omph for much more than soft-sided pests at very close range, but they do make models that are faster and can hold a ton of BBs or multiple pellets.
I like...
the Browning 800 Express Air Pistol (single cock, 480-550 fps experienced, .22).
the newer Benjamin Trail NP Pistol (half the price, single cock with barrel extension for lower cocking effort, 500-560 fps experienced, .177).
I also really like the Benjamin 392 rifle (.22, multi-pump, 500-600 experienced) although it's ugly as all get-out and you have to buy a special kind of conversion if you want to scope it, because it doesn't have rails. It's nice because it can be a step-up, with a couple pumps now but then enough oomph for small game when able to max the pumps. However, I tend to like the single-cock rifles for small game, because it's one and done and onward.
If you're willing to go to the dark side, I really like the Crossman 357W as a trainer pistol. It holds ten pellets and replicates the feel and action of a large revolver very well, while being inexpensive enough that I can have one with iron sights and one with a scope.
I'm digging the nitro piston air guns at this point in my life because you can leave them cocked for hours on end instead of discharging every so often to release the spring. (Could be an old-time wives' tail, but I never wanted to test it out and have to fix a gun.)
If you're looking at scoping the rifle or pistol, remember that most come with 11mm rails. You need a conversion ($10-20 USD) to put a Pic/Weaver on top. Usually you're high enough at that point to rule out cowitnessing sights.
Good luck! Hope you have fun shooting with the ankle biters!
I like the Crosman 1322 or 1377 depending on what caliber you would like to have them start at. They are both pumpers and can be modded to the nines. Accurate and powerful right out of the box. Any review I have seen has been positive.
Pump action air rifle is good for backyard shooting. Make a range if you can, post a set of safety rules, and stick to them. Don't let the rules slide.
Age 14 is good to begin practicing with a bolt action .22.
Airsoft are expensive, breakage-prone, and are not a good investment, IMO. Most people aren't going to be practicing small unit tactics. Marksmanship and respect for life are the two most important lessons of firearms training.
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fail, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.
-Edmund Burke, 1729 - 1797
My advice is not to get too hung up on pump action for kids 8 and 10 years old. My 9 year old boy is big for his age and still can't operate the pump. It takes too much muscle power. Once that happens, it's not fun for them anymore and they loose interest real fast. Get something they'll enjoy operating and they'll keep at it longer.
Once they're older and want to continue, then there are options like re-fillable air cylinders that you re-pressurize yourself with a hand pump.
My 2-cents anyway.
My daughter has used her older cousin's .22 on occasion. You can get scaled down versions of them that are built for smaller framed people.
I actually have gotten both of my girls interested in Archery. They love it, and I get the piece of mind of knowing that they can confidently go bow-hunting one day, if the need arises. An added bonus from a Prepper perspective? Bow hunting is virtually silent, and involves a lot of stealth and camouflage. Depending on the situation, these skills could come in handy.