Need a pellet rifle kid friendly

[hammerklavier]

I had a multi pump as a kid and I might go that route, but if I went with a springer or air piston what should I get?

Must be a handy size for kids, low effort to cock, low recoil, smooth firing cycle and .177 pellet rifle.

I'm currently looking at the Air Venturi Bronco Target model.

 

[heavydluxe]

Hatsan makes a good rifle in the same price range as the Air Venturi. Daisy and Crosman both have single and multi-pumps that are good starters, as well. The decision between them, I think would largely depend on hoped-for muzzle velocity.

With the lower-end Daisy/Crosman offerings, a single pump with be relatively easy to pump but have limited speed. The multis allow you to up the pressure, gaining speed, but at the cost of having to crank away on the level. The break-barrels are going to have the highest muzzle velocities, all other things being equal, but are harder to cycle and always are true single-shots.

We had an Air Venturi a couple years ago for my son. It was a step-up from the Daisy 840C that was his first gun. The Venturi was good and he could cock it pretty easily. It was sold when we bought his first .22lr. If we want to shoot pellets now, he either shoots the old Daisy (which has been given to his sister) or I help him cock my RWS.

 

[Chevota]

If you want a no hassle gun I'd suggest a standard power Gamo or Crosman. Normally I'd say Crosman, but Gamo are usually a pound lighter for kids. They're usually ~28lbs to cock, but vary +-2 or so lbs.
What I would do, but it requires a bit of work, is I'd take the same generic gamo (a standard $100 model claiming 1200/1000fps), then take out the spring spacer which reduces velocity ~250-300fps and cuts cocking effort in half or more. My Crosman with this mod cocks at 12lbs! It also tames the gun drastically, smoother, quieter, more accurate etc. You can also adjust the power with a custom length spacer of pipe, or washers to adj power up as he grows. The mod is easy, aside from removing the spacer it needs a little piece of plastic or sheet metal added that you can make. I can explain if interested in doing all that.
Another option is a Crosman/Benjamin Titan with the low power nitro spring. Normal weight gun but probably the easiest to cock. They don't drop power too much, maybe 50-100fps, but cocking effort drops from ~30 to ~22. They're often on sale for $100. The problem is I've only seen them in .22 so if you need a 177 then a barrel is $20 delivered. That's the gun I'd want if I were a kid... It weighs about 7lbs, plus another 12 or so oz for the scope which is required and comes with it, however the replacement barrel can have open sights if you want.
Stoeger makes an X5 and X3 kiddie guns which you might look into, but I've never seen one so I can't say if they're worth having. I'd be very wary tho.

 

[Hawk 3/21]

I believe the pump is the way to go. Being able to adjust the power is an important lesson. It forces them to consider the situation. So teaching them to think about what's behind the target, how far the pellet will travel, how much power will it take, etc, is that much easier.

 

[hammerklavier]

Thanks, good suggestions.

 

[RussB]

The Weihrauch HW25L is a fantastic high quality air gun well suited for kids...


http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/

 

[d2wing]

Careful with the GAMO. No working anti bear trap device. The kid could lose a finger.

 

[Chevota]

d2wing: Was that a poke at me after my anti-bear trap story?

 

[heavydluxe]

FWIW, my bias: I would steer clear of Gamo, generally. I think, for their price, there are better constructed options out there. Moreover, they sell themselves mainly on performance (1,000,000,000FPS!!!!!) that is only attainable with alloy pellets that, to date, I've never seen shoot well out of any of their rifles. Fast, yeah.

YMMV.

 

[d2wing]

No Chevota, I bought a GAMO Bone Collector, first of all it shot terrible, it was loud and inaccurate, one day it snapped shut as I was loading a pellet and nearly took my finger off. I am still really unhappy with GAMO and consider their guns and crappy and dangerous. It has nothing to do with you, but I am interested in your input as you seem like a good guy and knowledgeable. I prefer Chinese guns over GAMO provided they are checked by a reputable tuner. I don't know what you posted but I mean no offense to you and trust that you know what you are talking about.

 

[Chevota]

Don't worry, not offended. I just thought you had read my recent post on how an RWS 52 came within a millisecond of getting my fingers, and those things way worse than a break barrel. It went off without warning and skipped right over the bear trap deal like it wasn't even there. Scary! Break barrels pinch, a fixed barrel is a guillotine! I haven't shot a fixed barrel springer since. Break barrels are much safer imo since they're much slower and they move the breech down and away from your fingers when they go. Well, normal ones do, Gamo's light plastic barrels are much more dangerous. I always take the safety and bear trap things off anyway, they bug me and I don't trust them. And while many will disagree, I think they're safer without those things.

 

[RussB]

Seems most folk want an airgun built down to a pricepoint rather engineered with quality in mind and built for longevity

 

[d2wing]

I suppose because we grew up thinking air rifles were toys, then to see a good one is more expensive than a powder burner with more power takes some adjustment in thinking.

 

[peedeecat]

The Bronco is acclaimed to be perfect for youths, and very accurate. Here is a link to one on the AA:

http://www.airguns.net/classifieds/show_ad.php?adNum=73408&adSort=&StartingAd=0&NumberOfPages=5

peedeecat

 

[pikid89]

CMP Refurb Daisy 853.

Many a JROTC kid shot 10m air rifle with these guns. They are sized for smallish people but also come with stock spacers for adults. Lothar Walther barrel gives amazing accuracy for the $100 price point and is a 1 pump air piston. Comes with micrometer sights. I love mine.

http://thecmp.org/Clubs/Forms/DaisyUsedForm.pdf

The picture shows the traditional stock, but I got the Monte Carlo stock.

 

[d2wing]

I,have a 953 Daisy that is great, but it may be too big for the kid. My grandson liked a kid size gun I got from flying Dragon. It is the same as the Ruger kid size springer I think it is an Industry brand.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

I believe the pump is the way to go. Being able to adjust the power is an important lesson. It forces them to consider the situation. So teaching them to think about what's behind the target, how far the pellet will travel, how much power will it take, etc, is that much easier.

I agree with this. The multi-pump will be more accurate, less frustrating to shoot and less likely to damage someone else's property. Plus, they work well with the cheapest scopes and don't tend to destroy them. Let the kid shoot that awhile; if he takes to it and is responsible, consider a springer.

My choice would be the Crosman 2100B. Normally just under $70; sometimes Crosman sells refurbs for $40. The refurb I purchased over Christmas appeared brand new in every respect.

 

[jmorris]

I am with the pump crowd. My old Benjamin is 13" shorter than my springer.

I only owned one Gamo and the only good thing I can say about that experience is at least you can return air rifles.

 

[hartcreek]

I didnt see him state how much money he wanted to spend. As a Kid I shot the heck out of a Crossman 760. A few years back my dad decided he eeded a air rifle for dealig with pests so he bought a Benjamin Silver Streak. The Benjamin now has a scope and a rectagle light.

I have used it to kill plenty of wood peckers and other pest birds. I usually borrow it every spring to cull the blackbirds as I have idiot neighbors that put out that crap birdfeed instead of sunflower and thistle seeds for the finches and I wind up with bird crap over my vintage Studebakers.