Daisy Red Ryder - Old verus New ?

[Pointshoot]

Hello everyone - the last Red Ryder I bought was maybe about 10 years ago, but I'm not exactly sure. It was made in Rogers, Arkansas USA. I noticed that the ones I saw recently in a store are made in China. Has anyone had a chance to compare the old Red Ryders to the new ones ? I've heard the new ones have lighter springs and don't produce the same velocity as the old ones. Is that true ? How does quality compare ? Thanks

 

[MedWheeler]

Pretty sure you can still shoot your eye out with 'em.

There are probably some folks over at www.airguns.net that know more.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

My father in-law bought one so when friends of the family come over with their children they have something to plink with. I dug out 2 of them that I had from when I was younger (close to 30 years ago). There is a noticeable difference in power. My 30 year old Red Ryders have more power than the new one. The new one still shoots fine but there is definitely a difference.

 

[Bobson]

The only Red Ryder I've only shot was about 14 years ago. Idk if it was new or old, as it belonged to a friend. I do remember that it was absurdly weak and inaccurate - easily the weakest, most inaccurate BB gun I've ever had the displeasure of using. I imagine that like most products, they're only getting worse these days.

 

[Riomouse911]

I bought my son a new RR. It has a "safety" and is really cheapo feeling. I don;t remember of the originals had bolts/nuts holding the stock on or not, but the new ones do.

I had to make a smaller stock for it, the kiddo is small for his age and couldn't operate it very well. The exposed nuts/bolts made removal easy. A bit of pine board and some time with a jig saw and sander and it fits him a lot better.

 

[rcmodel]

Daisy's have progressively gone to lower & lower power over the years.

I remember when the Model 25 Pump back in the day, would put a BB through one side of a real tin bean can and dent the other side.
And took two men and a boy to pump it.

The Red Rider was a distant second place, but still pretty powerful.

I got a chance to play with a new Chinese Model 25 a couple years ago, and the best it would do is put dents in one side of tin can.

I have a 30+ year old Red Ryder hanging in the garage that the two kids probably put 20,000+ BB's through 30-35 years ago.

And it still has more power then a new one a friend bought a few years ago.

It's not Chinese manufacture that caused it either.

It was probably lawsuits from people shooting their eye out in modern times with the old 'full-power' Daisy BB guns they made 40-50+ years ago.

BTW: If you want a hard shooting Daisy BB gun, I think the Model 25 Pump is still the best bet.

And it has 100% positive feed due to a actual spring loaded 50-shot BB magazine you have to take out to load.

See this about that:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_Model_25

rc

 

[Grayrock]

And it has 100% positive feed

I have one that would not feed due to the fact that SO many BB's went thru it in the 60's & 70's they created a little burr where they transitioned from the magazine to the "chamber" of the barrel. Just last year I was able to get a little Dremel tip in there and smooth it out and once more it works like a charm. Still pretty accurate and hardhitting (for a BB gun). I also have my Dad's Red Ryder from probably sometime in the 40's or 50's. It needs a little work.

 

[gopguy]

I bought my kids Red Ryders in the late 90s. Recently a friend of my Dad's died of cancer and I bought some guns from the widow including a late 30s vintage single shot model 100 and a 1947-1952 vintage Red Ryder. Rusty and ancient they are both much more powerful than my kids Red Ryders from the 90s.

 

[hAkron]

I bought a Red Ryder a couple of years ago (2011...maybe 2012...when they started putting metal cocking leavers back on them). Mine is very accurate, and will tear through soda cans like nobody's business.

 

[Pointshoot]

Thanks everyone for your comments & thanks to gopguy for the photo of your vintage BB guns.
It doesnt surpise me to hear that the older guns shoot at higher velocity than the new ones.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

The old ones would kill rabbits and rats.