Discussion
I had several air rifles growing up - I loved them.
Never shot at animals but just plinked away at paper targets and tin cans.
So to answer your question, is it a good idea, from my experience a resounding "Yes"....the only caveat being safety and awareness that owning any gun is a responsibility - but I'm sure you know that anyway - my father gave me a few irate lectures over the years.
As for make - I had a couple of Weirauch guns, they were really well put together accurate and reliable.Not sure of the state of the industry today but from a quick glance Weirauch are still on the go.
Never shot at animals but just plinked away at paper targets and tin cans.
So to answer your question, is it a good idea, from my experience a resounding "Yes"....the only caveat being safety and awareness that owning any gun is a responsibility - but I'm sure you know that anyway - my father gave me a few irate lectures over the years.
As for make - I had a couple of Weirauch guns, they were really well put together accurate and reliable.Not sure of the state of the industry today but from a quick glance Weirauch are still on the go.
Edited by Breeks on Monday 18th January 11:06
Have a look at this for some guidance
https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/air-rifle/airgun...
Your son can only use it under your direct supervision - no walking around the estate on his own hunting poachers.
There are a lot of great air rifles out there - pcp most accurate but gas rams are very good as well and less expensive- certainly better than the webleys I used as a boy.
BSA Lightning GRT is a good inexpensive rifle
https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/air-rifle/airgun...
Your son can only use it under your direct supervision - no walking around the estate on his own hunting poachers.
There are a lot of great air rifles out there - pcp most accurate but gas rams are very good as well and less expensive- certainly better than the webleys I used as a boy.
BSA Lightning GRT is a good inexpensive rifle
Going back a few decades here!
If you've got a bit of land to use then it's fun. If you're target shooting stick to .177 for a flatter trajectory, if you're shooting vermin go for .22. I preferred iron sights for rabbits (quicker to aim) but optical sights are better for target shooting. We used Weihrauch rifles a lot (break barrel and underlever), BSA a bit and also Diana, all spring piston.
If you've got a bit of land to use then it's fun. If you're target shooting stick to .177 for a flatter trajectory, if you're shooting vermin go for .22. I preferred iron sights for rabbits (quicker to aim) but optical sights are better for target shooting. We used Weihrauch rifles a lot (break barrel and underlever), BSA a bit and also Diana, all spring piston.
If you are, be sure to respond to the Home Office firearms consultation, particularly the question about under 18s unsupervised on private land, otherwise they soon may not be allowed to do so
As for recommendations, go for break barrel rather than CO2 or pre-charged. Slightly less accurate but cheaper and not reliant on expensive disposable canisters or dive bottles.
Home Office Consultation said:
6. To what extent do you agree that the Government should remove the exception that permits unsupervised possession of air weapons by under 18s on private land?
Strongly disagree.
Link to the survey hereStrongly disagree.
As for recommendations, go for break barrel rather than CO2 or pre-charged. Slightly less accurate but cheaper and not reliant on expensive disposable canisters or dive bottles.
Thanks guys.
Still not sure which one.
I'm looking at this site https://www.justairguns.co.uk/air-rifles/
I will be with him .. something we can enjoy together.
Just target practice rather than living things.
Still not sure which one.
I'm looking at this site https://www.justairguns.co.uk/air-rifles/
I will be with him .. something we can enjoy together.
Just target practice rather than living things.
I have a few.
For a tester I'd recommend he gets a springer as opposed to the PCP rifles.
I bought a Stoeger 40 for ~£220 which is good fun to shoot.
Whenever I go to the shooting range near me (Furnace Mill), it's full of people sat there silently plinking away with their PCP guns and it just seems a little sterile.
For a tester I'd recommend he gets a springer as opposed to the PCP rifles.
I bought a Stoeger 40 for ~£220 which is good fun to shoot.
Whenever I go to the shooting range near me (Furnace Mill), it's full of people sat there silently plinking away with their PCP guns and it just seems a little sterile.
As LimaDelta said, a break barrel is a good starting point until your son gets a good feel for it all and wants to progress.
A springer rifle, maybe a second hand HWxxx could be a good option or a BSA Lightening if you want the twangy experience. Teamed with a budget 3-12x40 scope and you’ve got an effective garden plinker or something he can take to a local club when they’re back open and shooting again.
I started that way and progressed through competitions to shoot for my county with small calibre rifles. Also take some big ones to Wales to shoot up to a mile now - not a bad journey through the sport and doesn’t have to be too expensive.
Just get a decent pellet trap and ensure your backstops are sufficient to stop the pellet leaving your boundary as this is when you can run into legal problems. Keep your neighbours sweet, keep the sound down (Argos catalogues and old phone books can help with absorbing any wayward pellets near your intended target).
It’s great fun, hope you both enjoy.
A springer rifle, maybe a second hand HWxxx could be a good option or a BSA Lightening if you want the twangy experience. Teamed with a budget 3-12x40 scope and you’ve got an effective garden plinker or something he can take to a local club when they’re back open and shooting again.
I started that way and progressed through competitions to shoot for my county with small calibre rifles. Also take some big ones to Wales to shoot up to a mile now - not a bad journey through the sport and doesn’t have to be too expensive.
Just get a decent pellet trap and ensure your backstops are sufficient to stop the pellet leaving your boundary as this is when you can run into legal problems. Keep your neighbours sweet, keep the sound down (Argos catalogues and old phone books can help with absorbing any wayward pellets near your intended target).
It’s great fun, hope you both enjoy.
I picked up a Remington Tyrant Tactical .177 and a Gamo P900 .177 Pellet Break Barrel Air Pistol last summer to keep the kids entertained. They were about £250 altogether.
The rifle came with a reasonable scope, pellets and bag. Both are obviously budget guns but having zeroed the scope on the rifle it is good enough for plinking and shooting targets.
What surprised me the most is that my kids are more interested in virtual guns than the real thing.
https://www.surplusstore.co.uk/air-weapons/airrifl...
The rifle came with a reasonable scope, pellets and bag. Both are obviously budget guns but having zeroed the scope on the rifle it is good enough for plinking and shooting targets.
What surprised me the most is that my kids are more interested in virtual guns than the real thing.
https://www.surplusstore.co.uk/air-weapons/airrifl...
Recently bought myself an Air Arms TX200HC underlever with Hawk 3-12/40 scope. Bought s/h, less than 2 years old, including carrying bag & tin of pellets for £375. Very impressed with its design & accuracy.
A friend has a HW77 underlever. Very similar to my TX200.
Underlevers have a fixed barrel to aid accuracy.
A friend has a HW77 underlever. Very similar to my TX200.
Underlevers have a fixed barrel to aid accuracy.
Weihrauch of any model will be a brilliant gun if looked after, use good pellets. I’d go for .177 for a beginner as the heavier projectile of a .22 can make different ranges harder if you aren’t familiar with these things. I’d recommend getting a reasonable scope aswell, doesn’t have to magnify x32 or anything, a fixed 4x32 will be fine for starting off, a crisp view and decent reticle is more important IMO.
Same question we faced 12 months ago.
We went for the following -
https://www.ronniesunshines.com/weihrauch-hw110-pr...
Like all Dads, I went over budget but a superb gun and we have enjoyed every minute - the rats certainly don't like it( we have chickens which attract rats) and have certainly enjoyed a few pheasant casseroles as a result. All the advice is go for .177 for accuracy but my son can pot a pheasant first shot at 35m with the .22.
A bit like deciding specification on an Alfaholics GTR or singer Porsche!
arguti said:
Same question we faced 12 months ago.
We went for the following -
https://www.ronniesunshines.com/weihrauch-hw110-pr...
Like all Dads, I went over budget but a superb gun and we have enjoyed every minute - the rats certainly don't like it( we have chickens which attract rats) and have certainly enjoyed a few pheasant casseroles as a result. All the advice is go for .177 for accuracy but my son can pot a pheasant first shot at 35m with the .22.
A bit like deciding specification on an Alfaholics GTR or singer Porsche!
We have lots of pheasants in the garden and land. Mainly because my partner feeds them and would be very upset if I started shooting them. She has also befriended the local deer so thats out too. Target practice only for us! We went for the following -
https://www.ronniesunshines.com/weihrauch-hw110-pr...
Like all Dads, I went over budget but a superb gun and we have enjoyed every minute - the rats certainly don't like it( we have chickens which attract rats) and have certainly enjoyed a few pheasant casseroles as a result. All the advice is go for .177 for accuracy but my son can pot a pheasant first shot at 35m with the .22.
A bit like deciding specification on an Alfaholics GTR or singer Porsche!
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