Air Rifle .177 Pellet/BB, suggestions

[Daps]

Thinking about buying a .177 pellet/bb gun for my kids from walmart.
I see they have a few ranging from $30-$100. I don't want to spend $100 though. I saw a few that had scopes on them. Can any one recommend a good air rifle? (One that a walmart would carry)

Just want to shoot cans and targets with the kids
They mentioned they wanted one and I remember wanting a bb gun when I was a kid and having a cossman 760 and the M16 one(wasnt as powerful as the 1st)although I was a few years older my kids are now, oldest is 9 I think they a mature enough to handle it, besides I'll be with them.
Thanks for the suggestions

Dwyane

 

[WhiteKnight]

For the money, a Crosman Pumpmaster 760 is an excellent deal.

For more power, and slightly more adult dimensions, try a Crosman 2100.

 

[DougCxx]

Well... I'm going to say to spend more than that, because that's what everybody says. But I will offer an explanation: the plastic guns aren't really build for the long haul anymore--if it breaks and you return it to the factory for repairs, they may very well just send a totally different "rebuilt" gun back, instead of fixing and returning "your kid's" gun. So if you want something for the longer-haul, then the Benjamin-Sheridan guns are the way to go. Except that they cost up around $120-$150, and Wal-Mart doesn't sell them anymore (at least, around where I live). And your kids may not want one of that kind anyway, they may want another, and they are only young once.

So basically--the plastic guns are not built well. If you insist on buying US-made, then spend for the Benjamin/Sheridans, because all the spring-piston guns that Wal-Mart sells now are Spanish (Gamo, rebranded) or Chinese-made. Clear as mud, right? Good.
~

 

[Third_Rail]

I'm going to have to disagree on the durability of the 760 pump. I've had one for almost a year, and I've put more than 1,500 pellets and about 10,000 BBs through it now. The only problem I have with it having plastic is that it gets slippery when you're pumping the forearm if you're sweating.

Other than that, it's a great deal at $30.

 

[sm]

I was born with a .22 revolver by my crib.
I was in my thirties before I had MY first BB gun. I bought myself a Daisey Red Ryder of course

I have used the RWS and Benjamin- Sheridans. Great , well made guns and will last.

Though my Red Ryder is "blue and wood" I bwoke it. I send it to the mfg and told the folks this thirtysomthing year old kid bwoke his lever ...actually the dog did, really he did, had he not wanted to play fribee I would not have knocked the BB gun off the pegs on the back patio where I had placed it.

They gave me a new Red Ryder, with a new saddle ring and leather and even included some BBs. I paid for shipping going in, but there was N/C on what they did. I had it back in 10 days. Still works, and I haven't bwoken it anymore.

 

[Daps]

I'm not paying $100 + for an air rifle. If they show interest then maybe but I'll have to see after the novelity wears off. I'm leaning torwards the 760 though. I had one when I was a kid and many birds hit dirt in those days, well until i shot one out of a tree from inside the house through an open patio door, that freakin bird flew down out of the tree and smashed into the door as i shut it, never shot a bird again but that was then this is now

 

[Third_Rail]

Yup. I just shot my 760 out back and it's still great.

Took out a pine sapling at the base with a wadcutter and 10 pumps.... at 40 feet.

Gardening the manly way!

 

[boing]

I looked at the 760, but the box listed it as a smoothbore, so I went with the Daisy 880/scope package for ten dollars more. It's still a 10-pump, BB and pellet capable plinker, but the barrel is rifled. Plus, I had one as a kid and we had a special relationship.

Despite the plastic receiver and pump handle, it shoots pretty well for what it is (a cheap plinker). I've used four kinds of pellets, all flat-nose, all from WalMart:

Crosman Copperhead bulk pack
Crosman "Hyper Velocity Super Match"
Daisy "Precision Max"
Beeman "Special Coating"

At 9 yards (distance from my computer chair to my rear bedroom) and two pumps on the rifle, the Crosman bulk pack is lousy, throwing flyers 4-5 inches off POA. The other Crosman is a little better, the Daisy much better, and the Beeman is by far the best: three-quarter inch groups of 5 shots. The Beeman is the most expensive, of course, but the Daisy is a fair alternative for cheaper plinking without losing too much accuracy.

I use the Beeman for "social work". There are some wandering neighborhood dogs that come up to my dog lot and drive my dogs crazy (well, crazier...) With two pumps and flat-nosed pellets, I get reasonable "minute of dog butt" accuracy, without any risk of injury to the critters. I know, cuz I shot myslef in the leg to make sure. Twice. Accuracy seemed better at 3-5 pumps, but I haven't shot serious groups at that power level yet.

The trigger pull is crappy, but for a cheap gun, there ya go. It does smooth out noticeably with use. After several hundred thousand rounds, my old gun is butter smooth.

I only used the included 4x scope for a little bit (prefer irons), but it works as well as can be expected. I wouldn't trust zero after dropping it. The irons needed a good bit of drift to get on target, but they've stayed put, even after the cat "tested" them off my computer desk onto the wood floor. I don't think the fiber optic front sight is very useful, as it tends to distract from getting a nice sight picture, but again, it works as it should.

It's not the same as my old childhood friend, but I'm more than pleased with the 880. Lots of cheap fun.

PS- shooting yourself with anything, even a BB gun, is a dumbass way to prove a point. Do not attempt.

 

[lee n. field]

Gamo Delta. Small kid sized plastic stock break barrel rifle. Daisy also markets the same (or did a few years back) under it's own name. ~$70.

 

[Billll]

I have a Daisy basic lever action, which works fine, and better since I put a spacer under the spring. MV was 150, now 200fps. I have a Crosman 760, which works better with 3-5 pumps than 2-3, 4-500fps@10 pumps, and one of these:

http://www.cumminstools.com/browse.cfm/2,117.html

Which has a heavy wood stock, rifled barrel, adjustable rear sights, and NO identifying marks anywhere (it just screams Chinese!) one cock, 650-750 fps, and it's still coughing out cosmolene every time I shoot it. $20.
It mounts the rear sight on dovetails, so I put a Tasco red dot on mine.
They claim 7-900 fps, but at my altitude, 800 would be quite reasonable to expect.
I like it.

Puzzler: I put a drop of starting ether into the air chamber, and when I fire the gun, I get a loud bang, but no noticible increase in MV. The bang is from the ether dieseling, but shouldn't I see some increase in MV? Theories?

 

[SteelyDan]

I know little about BB/pellet guns, and can only offer my limited experience. Got a Crosman 2100B about two years ago for maybe $58 and it's performed better than expected with no problems. The ugly plastic stock is a turn-off, but I didn't buy it for its looks.

 

[Daps]

Well I went with the 760. Just like what I had when I was a kid except for the optical sights. Hope they enjoy it. Going to surprise them this weekend with it.

 

[Third_Rail]

Always remember to cock the rifle first, then pump at least twice.

If you don't cock it first it can become rather... what's the word? Broken.

It'll only happen after repeated cycles of 10 pumps then cocking and firing, but it happens.

The seal seems to let go as you cock it if you've already pumped it up, and when it lets go it's rather dramatic, so watch out.



If you remember to do that, it'll be a lot of fun for years to come.

 

[JohnKSa]

Billll,

The breech in my Chinese gun is very loose. The pellet practically falls into the barrel. That means that the pellet is probably gone out the barrel before the pressure rises high enough to diesel.

It's pretty accurate but has a tendency to shed parts. If you want to go this route, buy two. Also be very careful with these guns. I've seen one fail in such a way that it fired when the cocking lever was returned to the latched position. That means you need to watch the muzzle while cocking, and more importantly, keep your fingers out of the loading port unless you are holding the cocking handle firmly. If something gives out with your fingers in the port, there's enough spring pressure to mash them good and flat.

BTW, intentionally causing dieseling can be dangerous besides generally resulting in very poor accuracy and heavy wear or damage to the gun.

 

[PaladinX13]

I'd buy a ~$30 Chinese springer in that price range. They're very rough, but mine have been built like tanks and were easily tweaked (and at $30, you don't really mind if you screw up or if it breaks). However, because they use all wood and steel, they're a lot heavier than plastic Crossman guns, so it depends if your kid can handle the weight.

 

[PMATULEW]

AIR GUNS

Since your planning on buying Chinese stuff from Walmart anyway...

Order one of these instead---> http://www.cumminstools.com/browse.cfm/4,196.html

Real wood. Real stamped steel pieces. Steel barrel. Feels like a real gun.

Adjustable sights. Quite accurate when you find a pellet that it likes. Price is right. Heck, buy two!

Bang holes in soup cans all day or knock starlings off the bird feeders, your choice.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I have a cheap Chinese B3-1 springer air rifle, .177 cal. It seems rugged, and is pretty accurate. It cocks using a lever under the barrel. It's got enough power to dispatch squirrels, I shot one from about 20 feet, inside the house - one shot, one dead squirrel.

The trigger is heavy, not something I'd recommend for competition, but good enough to hone skills.

I think it cost me $35 at a show.

Regards.

 

[TooTech]

Get a CZ 631, from the folks who make the CZ75 pistol.

Excellent construction, wood stock, adjustable trigger, GREAT accuracy. And while it's not a screamer for pellet velocity, it will take out a rabbit with a well-placed shot - just proved it last Friday as a matter of fact!



http://pdmall.com/CZC/airrif~1.htm

 

[JohnKSa]

It's true that the Chinese airguns are made with wood and metal, but the wood is usually pretty rough with somewhat ugly finishes, and the steel tends to be butter soft. Also, the Chinese seem to have some difficulty making a decent spring.

Honestly, I'd recommend a Wal-Mart airgun over a Chinese airgun, having had more than one example of both.

The CZ airguns are in another class entirely--they're pretty slick little guns by all accounts.

 

[Third_Rail]

Does that website actually sell 631 CZs for $80???

That's a STEAL compared to everywhere else I've seen.

Did you buy from them?

 

[nvrquit]

I had the predecessor of the Crossman 2100(same rifle, different model number), which purchased at the age of 18. I used it to pot squirrels(an uncle's private land, SGC) and untold birds and other pests. I used a cheapie 4x15 3/4" tube scope on it and the thing held up for over 18 years before it started showing signs of pressure drop-off. It finally died three years ago(7 years after the first signs of seal wear).

The new 2100 has a worse trigger, is much more finicky in what type of pellet it likes and not quite as accurate as the first, but it is still okay for the money. On the accuracy part, only 7 out of 10 consistently in 1" at 30 yds., compared to 10 out of 10 with the original; still not too bad.

Nice thing about the 760 or the 2100 is that you can vary the power to the required target. Crows are definitely 10 pumps and try to keep it to head shots .

 

[TooTech]

Third_rail:

That's where I bought my CZ 631, although it was about 18 months ago. Hopefully the web site is current and note a "graveyard" site.

 

[Third_Rail]

Hopefully. I'm going to give them a call.

 

[Piney]

We’ve had a Crossman .22 magnum for at least 20 years. I bought it for my son to learn gun safety. It has downed many squirrels, snakes and other assorted stuff from the back of my place. It’s quite accurate and about the power of a .22 short. I can’t tell you the model number because my brother in law borrowed it to get rid of some squirrels that are driving his bird dogs nuts.
Someone mentioned the seals going bad. All you have to do is squirt a little 10w40 on the fabric seal and everything will be fine. They dry out, but don’t go bad and that makes it as good as new.

 

[albanian]

South Summit has the legendary Norinco Fast Deer for $25! I have had three and they all had enough power to kill rabbits with a head shot. I can get .25" groups at 10m with any of them. For the price, there is simply no better deal out there.

Crossman and Daisy are making pure junk now. They are cheap plastic and zinc garbage. Most of the Daisy and Crossman guns cost more than a Fast Deer and you get a whole lot less gun.