Air Rifle / Air Soft / BB Gun For Kids

[KTMsm]

I would like to buy a small air rifle for my 10yr old daughter to use for plinking in the garden

A mate offered me an ancient Slavia 622 which would be perfect but it's worn out, is there a modern equivalent or should I be looking at BB / Airsoft guns ? I know nothing about them but a quick look seems to show they are mostly for losers to pretend they have a real gun

I just want a small, lightweight rifle that will hit tin cans at 10m, I think a rifle is safer to learn with than a pistol

[Boobonman]

I don't know what the current regs are but I would have thought an air rifle would be a bit overpowered.

Mine is an old BSA spring powered thing but would penetrate quite deeply into a wooden shed door, I'd say a BB would be better but don't know if they come in rifle form.

[Kaelic]

I would say for garden plinking and a 10year old I would go for an airsoft gun. Much safer and less power than an air weapon

No real risk of causing chaos with your neighbours and only really need decent safety glasses for protection.

Just buy a two tone rifle of your choice over the web (you wont get a realistic coloured one without a valid defence eg UKARA) and some decent BB's and you are set to go.

Always, if you are overlooked by your neighbours let them know so they are aware, and dont panic (it has happened) when they see you doing commando rolls with a bright orange M4 and make sure you dont let any BB's escape your garden

[Bill]

I got one of these for the kids and am very happy with it: https://www.solware.co.uk/victory-cp2-co2-camo-pis...

[MiseryStreak]

You want a bb air rifle for plinking. Don’t bother with airsoft as they are designed for shooting at each other and therefore require a license despite being plastic rather than metal and being lower energy.

Loads on here:

https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-rifles/co2-p...

They had crazy waiting times during the first lockdown, don’t know what they are like now. Great company though.

The Umarex Glocks are great fun. I got the 19X with blowback and it fires a steel bb straight through a water filled beer can from 20 metres away. They’re very realistic replicas too.

https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-pistols/co2-...

Rifles are probably a bit safer than pistols for kids, as it’s not as easy for them to wave them around in excitement after hitting the target, as I discovered anyway.

[The Dictator]

I bought a Weihrauch HW99s last year and my two use it (fully supervised at all times) in the garden; they are 6 and 8. I did buy it more for my purposes though and in my usual style, have spent as much again on tuning and modifying the gun.

I have two local friends with air rifles, so we shoot together in one of the gardens when we can.

[Donbot]

I'd go for a pellet gun (rifle), as BBs tend to ricochet about the place.

[dai1983]

Bb assault rifle so you can practice room clearance drills on the rest of your family

[Psycho Warren]

MiseryStreak said:

You want a bb air rifle for plinking. Don’t bother with airsoft as they are designed for shooting at each other and therefore require a license despite being plastic rather than metal and being lower energy.

Loads on here:

https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-rifles/co2-p...

Some nice historic replicas on there!

Could be an excuse to get an M1 or similar which "daddy can shoot too" then find she finds it too heavy and you have to take it on as your own and buy her something light.

Purely by accident of course.

I have the AK47 version. This is the exact model, even got it from them too.


Replaced loads of the parts with russian AK parts rather than the chinese Type 56 that the airgun uses parts from.

[bobtail4x4]

Have a look at the law on a under 18 yr old being in possession of an air rifle


https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q325.htm

[Psycho Warren]

dai1983 said:

Bb assault rifle so you can practice room clearance drills on the rest of your family

With flashbangs for added realism. Put up pop out printed targets like the old school hollywood ones with a man and gun around the house and then shout at them when they accidentally shoot the unarmed kid or woman. Tie up and gag the wife and use her as the "hostage" to be rescued.

[Psycho Warren]

bobtail4x4 said:

Have a look at the law on a under 18 yr old being in possession of an air rifle


https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q325.htm

They are going to be under supervision and the parent owns the gun in reality so no issues whatsoever.

[pidsy]

Psycho Warren said:

With flashbangs for added realism. Put up pop out printed targets like the old school hollywood ones with a man and gun around the house and then shout at them when they accidentally shoot the unarmed kid or woman. Tie up and gag the wife and use her as the "hostage" to be rescued.

Double tap to granny whilst she’s watching the chase.

[anonymous-user]

Psycho Warren said:

With flashbangs

There's only one of me!

[bobtail4x4]

Psycho Warren said:

bobtail4x4 said:

Have a look at the law on a under 18 yr old being in possession of an air rifle


https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q325.htm

They are going to be under supervision and the parent owns the gun in reality so no issues whatsoever.

yes but one nosy neighbour ringing the cops etc etc

[Psycho Warren]

bobtail4x4 said:

yes but one nosy neighbour ringing the cops etc etc

Thats why any sensible person shooting at home informs the neighbours that you do it so they have no legitimate reason to call the cops, Wont stop a nasty one doing it because they hate guns but if youve informed them (i put a letter through each door and spoke in person) they cant claim they didnt realise so if the 5-0 do turn up they will quickly realise they have had time wasted.

I think in the USA they call it "swatting" or similar.

[Plymo]

If it is just for plinking with cans then an air rifle is overkill, and although you don't need a licence (except in Scotland) it counts as a firearm.
Airsoft BB is much safer at about 1/10 of the power of an air rifle (but wear safety glasses).

Generally Airsoft guns are cheaper, although they will have to be 50% blue, orange or clear. You can get them sent in the normal post too.
Good ones are surprisingly accurate, very cheap ones are not!

It might be worth getting a cheap Airsoft gun and seeing how they get on, and teach them safe handling - then consider air rifles if it goes well

[Kaelic]

MiseryStreak said:

You want a bb air rifle for plinking. Don’t bother with airsoft as they are designed for shooting at each other and therefore require a license despite being plastic rather than metal and being lower energy.

Loads on here:

https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-rifles/co2-p...

They had crazy waiting times during the first lockdown, don’t know what they are like now. Great company though.

The Umarex Glocks are great fun. I got the 19X with blowback and it fires a steel bb straight through a water filled beer can from 20 metres away. They’re very realistic replicas too.

https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-pistols/co2-...

Rifles are probably a bit safer than pistols for kids, as it’s not as easy for them to wave them around in excitement after hitting the target, as I discovered anyway.

There is no licence for airsoft and anyone can buy a two tone (over 18)

Suggesting a 5 Joule weapon for backyard plinking as opposed to a 1 Joule airsoft gun is stupid!

a 10 year old isnt going to need a 5 joule metal pelet firing assault rifle ffs.

Much safer to all for a lower power airsoft weapon, which is much cheaper, and safer.

[anonymous-user]

Plymo said:

an air rifle is overkill, and although you don't need a licence (except in Scotland) it counts as a firearm.

Depends on how far they want to shoot and an air rifle isn't a firearm unless it produces power over 12lbs to satisfy as a section 1 firearm.

[oddman]

Break barrel air rifle

Means they can only load one pellet at a time. For a 12lb rifle they might not be able to cock it (which is a good thing IMO)

Weirauch HW 25 is only about 6lb and you'll get your money back. You need to be 100% sure a pellet will not leave your boundary. Neighbours will likely be able to hear even if the rifle has a moderator and you have a very soft backstop

I used air rifle with my kids to get safety drilled into them before moving on to shot guns.