Discussion
simonrockman said:
My 13 year old son is learning to shoot. He shoots air rifles at scouts. He has asked for a BB Gun. Is it too much of a toy to be useful?
Simon
I had a BB gun at that age and it has no other use other than as a toy. They're pretty inaccurate, but great fun. I had loads of crap £5-£10 ones, they will last about a month. I saved up for ages and bought a £30 one, it still works now after about 8 years.Simon
Only risk I would highlight is the need for someone to be present when he uses it - firstly to stop him firing it someone's eyes, and secondly to prevent him taking it out of the house to show his mates, and finding himself surrounded by armed police!
Edited by Mad Dave on Tuesday 19th May 18:57
For the price of a decent bb gun that wont break within a month you can get a decent air rifle. Most of the major manafacturers do 'junior' models for young shooters. Not full power so kids can cock them, and smaller so they can shoulder them......something like this:
http://www.scottcountry.co.uk/products_detail.asp?...
http://www.scottcountry.co.uk/products_detail.asp?...
I started shooting aged 7 with a crossman pump up BB gun.
It's a great place to start. Low noise, mostly low power, no recoil, ammo cab be reused if you shoot onto a boxful of paper.
I still have my first one, it's nearly 40 years old and I still wouldn't part with it for the world.
Oh, they are reasonably accurate too over a shortish distance and mostly use open sights so you actually learn to shoot, not just look through a scope
It's a great place to start. Low noise, mostly low power, no recoil, ammo cab be reused if you shoot onto a boxful of paper.
I still have my first one, it's nearly 40 years old and I still wouldn't part with it for the world.
Oh, they are reasonably accurate too over a shortish distance and mostly use open sights so you actually learn to shoot, not just look through a scope
Yup, any 12ft/lb springer will be grand - you don't even need to buy new. At that age he'll be able to cock a non-fac air rifle ok and if he can't it'll help build his muscles until he can!
An air rifle will teach him much more about shooting than a bb gun ever will. I wouldn't get a scope to start with either - learn on iron sights (probably what he does at cadets anyway.)
An air rifle will teach him much more about shooting than a bb gun ever will. I wouldn't get a scope to start with either - learn on iron sights (probably what he does at cadets anyway.)
An airsoft rifle is useless for taget one, i have a gas powered one that will easily crack 800ft/s but because it's spherical with backspin, it drifts.
Get him a Crosman RepeatAir 1077 (mine broke after 6 years, i sent it back to them for repair and got a new one free of charge in replacement) it's a .177 and should only set you back £50 or so.
Get him a Crosman RepeatAir 1077 (mine broke after 6 years, i sent it back to them for repair and got a new one free of charge in replacement) it's a .177 and should only set you back £50 or so.
t for £5... 10 minutes later I went back for one 
I was impressed with the quality for the price!Mad Dave said:
Only risk I would highlight is the need for someone to be present when he uses it - firstly to stop him firing it someone's eyes, and secondly to prevent him taking it out of the house to show his mates, and finding himself surrounded by armed police!
I'd like to +1 to the eye thing. Me and some mates were messing about with a BB gun when I was thirteen. Edited by Mad Dave on Tuesday 19th May 18:57
I'm now supposed to see an eye specialist once a year to ensure that my retina isn't going to detach.
I agree with those suggesting a proper air rifle. Its much more fun when a consistent and correct technique is allowing you to knock over matchboxes 20 yards away.
I'd suggest that at 13 the whole self-control respect for the gun stuff comes easier with a proper piece of kit.
My Dad let me use his old .22 Webley Falcon and I learned how to shoot properly, whilst oiling and cleaning and polishing the thing to a lustrous shine. When I showed I could be trusted he bought me a BSA Mercury which was a brilliant little gun. Its still going strong 25 years later on the same spring!
I'd suggest that at 13 the whole self-control respect for the gun stuff comes easier with a proper piece of kit.
My Dad let me use his old .22 Webley Falcon and I learned how to shoot properly, whilst oiling and cleaning and polishing the thing to a lustrous shine. When I showed I could be trusted he bought me a BSA Mercury which was a brilliant little gun. Its still going strong 25 years later on the same spring!
At age 12 I had a shotgun (single barrel 4 10) and an air rifle. My dad however would not let me have a BB gun. It may seem strange but as a kid you need to know impecable gun discipline the corner stone of which is not to point a gun at anyone. My dad was worried that if I was messing around with a BB gun and shooting that at people I might momentarily forget what I was doing with an air rifle or shotgun.
There is very little point in a BB gun the police will confiscate them if they see people with them.
There is very little point in a BB gun the police will confiscate them if they see people with them.
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