Air Rifle Suggestions?

**Razor** · 02-06-2004, 21:54

For as much wide open space as Colorado's front range provides, there are damned few decent ranges to frequent to teach my oldest son how to shoot a .22 rifle. So, I'm thinking my best bet is to buy a good air rifle and take advantage of our 2 acre backyard to teach him the fundamentals. When its not being used as a teaching tool, I may pick it up now and then to take care of a growing cottontail problem on my front yard, something the neighbors would really look down upon were I to use a .22. While I started out with a single pump 'lever action' Daisy as a kid, I'd like to pick up something a bit higher quality, especially with some basic but solid sights. I'm not looking to enter competitions, so a high-end target rifle isn't necessary. I'd like it to have enough 'umph' to take care of a hipity-hopity without causing undue suffering, but still be a good kid-teaching gun, if possible. Any suggestions?

**The Reaper** · 02-06-2004, 22:11

Feinwerkbau, RWS, etc. for airguns, just do an internet search. Chinese make some cheap clones.

Have you considered a youth .22LR, like Chipmunk, with sub-load ammo, like the CB Caps, CB Longs, Aguila, etc.?

Bullet over the primer, no powder, several hundred fps for small game, but can be caught in small bullet traps and is almost silent from a rifle barrel.

I like mine!

TR

SwedeGlocker · 02-07-2004, 04:07

I prefer BSA or Webley. In UK most use 22 caliber for small game. When 177 is used its a headshot only for rabbits. A BSA Meteor in 177 or 22 is a great beginner rifle. German made air rifles is not recommended because most are not as userfriendly as UKs.

Air.177 · 02-07-2004, 12:51

I would try to stay away from any Break-Barrel type rifles. They seem to be fairly popular, but in my experience, the barrel and therefore the sights do not always line up the same . This is just my experience, and many people seem to like them very much. You have one of the few precision airgun shops in the nation there in COS. It is called Neil Johnson's and they have pretty well the upper end of the spectrum if you just want to see how far out you could go. Also, here at Cheaper Than Dirt, we have the Aguila Super Colibri 22 ammo. I shoot it in my apartment all the time. It makes so little noise out of a rifle that you can here the hammer on my BL22 fall. It flies about 500 FPS and a brick is $15.00.

longrange1947 · 02-07-2004, 13:03

Air.177, good info.

Razor, becareful in the backyard witht he air rifles, the wind can become discouraging. I taught my daughter on a RWS in my garage. 10m is all you need and that is for comp. Start sloser and get them confidence. Once they have hit a few times it is hard to get them to stop.

Oh yes, DO NOT set the pellet trap in front of the washer unless you are ready for the wraith of mom! My daughter missed on her first shot and hit the washer that I had just bought.

Have fun and teach well.

02-07-2004, 19:01

Razor, I am no expert but if you don't want to spend allot of money, pick up a Crosman. LR1947 has a great point shoot indoors at first. I damaged my right eye and now I am trying to switch left. I started shooting in my backyard and got shitty results and frustrated, moved it in doors with less variables and it has helped.

By the way Thank You LR you gave me some advice on another board it has helped a great deal.

Crosman

**Razor** · 02-07-2004, 22:26

Thanks all for the ideas; I'll be googling for a while.

TR, I saw some of those Chipmunks at a local gun show last weekend. Pretty neat, even the one with a bright pink stock (and integral action lock). I'll have to research the Colibri ammo more.

Air.177, if not a barrel break/pump, would you recommend CO2, lever pump, or something else. Again, this is for a beginner rifle, not high end competition. What kind of trap do you use for shooting in the apartment?

LR, I didn't even consider the wind, which is pretty significant here. Thanks for the heads up. Oh, the washer/dryer is upstairs, so I should be safe.

NousDefionsDoc · 02-07-2004, 23:24

Get the pump, that way he can build his upper body while learning.

SwedeGlocker · 02-08-2004, 01:30

I havent had any problems with break aktion rifles. On most European airrifles sights is placed on the barrel. I havent seen any problems with this on any UK airrifles. I wouldnt recomend a pump since most young people lose intrest when they have to pump several strokes before they can shot.

Air.177 · 02-08-2004, 14:06

Razor-I like the side lever single-stroke type rifles, though they usually tend to be a little more expensive than break barrel types. That said, I grew up with a Sheridan silver streak in 5mm. The fact that you have to work that hard for a shot makes you think a lot more and choose your targets wisely. Do a search for Neal Johnson's guns and see what they have to offer. When I was there a few weeks ago, theyhad just bought some Crosman compressed air rifles from some ROTC group and I think they were pretty reasonably priced. For the bullet trap ,we use last month's phone book in front of a piece of sheet metal (that looks suspicously like a stop sign

) and we haven't had any overpenetration issues with the .22s, my .177 pistol or .38 plastic practice rounds. Although at my parent's house I have a "proper" 10 meter range with some sort of over-engineered British Trap.