Air rifle recommendation for 11 year old

[wildoliver]

S6PNJ said:

wildoliver said:

S6PNJ said:

wildoliver said:

.... a springer is always handy to have around in a few years time when there's a pesky rat/pigeon without having to find gas.

Rat, yes. Pigeon read up on the rules before you aim at anything alive!

https://merlinenvironmental.co.uk/blog/pests/birds/can-you-shoot-pigeons-in-the-uk/

Your point?

My point being: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wild-bi...

and Condition 1 specifically:

Gov website said:

Condition 1. Alternative lawful methods
For action taken under this licence for carrion crow, feral pigeon, jackdaw, magpie, rook or wood pigeon (species native to the United Kingdom), you must:

a) before using this licence, be satisfied that you, or the person authorising you to act under this licence, have made reasonable endeavours to achieve the purpose in question using alternative, lawful methods not covered by this licence

b) continue to use reasonable endeavours, or be satisfied that reasonable endeavours continue to be made, to achieve the purpose in question using alternative, lawful methods not covered by this licence

You’re not required to use alternative, lawful methods under condition 1(a) and 1(b) where the use of such methods would be impractical, without effect or disproportionate in the circumstances.

We aren't here to debate pigeon shooting, nor do I think there is any chance that the young lad in question is off pigeon shooting any time soon. But the last word I'll say on the subject is that neither the link I provided or the link you provided (same info on both) states it is anything other than legal to shoot pigeons or other pest species. But you are correct there are legal points involved in shooting full stop and especially shooting anything living (not to mention being a decent human being), namely in the case of all animals not causing unnecessary suffering, and in the case of anything covered by a general licence making sure you are covered by it. On this specific point the general licence allows the killing of certain species including various pigeons species under certain circumstances, those being you have either exhausted non lethal means or they are impractical.

[Mabbs9]

Easy to mistake a stock dove with a pigeon. So careful not to shoot one of them!

[Byker28i]

AndyAudi said:

A bit late to the party but just posting up.

Scout website has good info on shooting within the organisation, can see rules/guidance etc

.177 restriction used to be in place but now .22 allowable for outdoors.

Key thing to consider is suitably to individual, did see a poster mention their child couldn’t operate their air rifle on their own & considered that a safety feature, but that kind of thing may lead to frustration.

Take a look at Scouts “Master at Arms” badge, requirement is 6 sessions where you show improvement & learn safety considerations & also take part in a competition . If In your back garden, keep a record of progress (dated used targets should suffice for 1st part to show improvement)

https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-...

They still doing that! I did that over 50 years ago.

I suppose the other thing is to have a lockable cupboard where the gun can go, because you know he'll try to use it when there's not supervision around. I know I did when young

[Byker28i]

Mabbs9 said:

Easy to mistake a stock dove with a pigeon. So careful not to shoot one of them!

Doves around me are all white, although a few have interbred so are mixed colours with grey bits. Our neighbour had about a dozen that all escaped about 10 years ago and seem to be breeding very sucessfully