Need suggestions for rifles for youth camp.

Daisy 853s like Bullseye got would be a good option. Single shot, single pump pneumatic, good accuracy and good sights.

Just don't get the Crossman Nitro Venom. Big disappointment.

What are you shooting at and from what distance? Your replacing a .22 lr with bb/pellet gun. Huge jump. More info is needed..

You know, I recently picked up a Crosman 1077 pellet gun, which is basically a copy of the 10/22. Takes a C02 cartridge, and has a rotary mag type thing, which fits into what resembles a real box mag. I would swear the thing was under $60. A real bargain IMO. I've not really sat down and tested it for accuracy, but I bet even with a cheap scope, a few of those 1077's would be a nice little youth setup.

I guess to be totally economical, you could go pump, but kids are going to get worn out after not very long, whereas I think the 1077 is a bit more accessible to more people, but ymmv.

Agree with @JeffG, that thing's garbage. Shot one at a friend's house, and I felt bad he wasted money at that thing...

GooseGestapo said:

Need recommendations for rifles for camp.
For two decades, we used Stevens .22 single shot .22lr. Due to using new facilities, need to rearm with air rifles.
Need suggestions for either pellet or BB rifles.
Make, model and reasons. Need to consider cast as I'm buying.
Thanks!

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Here's another recommendation for the Daisy 853 series. New, they are closing in on $400 per rifle, however, the CMP sells used reconditioned ones for $114 shipped. I have one and it's sweet. These air rifles are pretty durable, lots of kids have trained on them, and daisy can also send you an excel file on how to take them apart if I recall right (though that might be the 499b I'm thinking of).

I will also recommend the Daisy 499b, the worlds most accurate bb gun. It's a single shot muzzle loading bb gun where the official target distance is 5 meters. You should be able to shoot at that distance most anywhere. Best accuracy is said to be achieved with Daisy Avanti bb's which are $7-8 for just over a thousand. The 499's run about $130 new. Daisy does have an excel file they'll send you on how to service/repair them.

I'm sure there's going to be a bunch more good replies to you. Lots of great airgunning folk here. Good luck!

I think those will work out nicely for you

Oh yes, get an 853! I love this thing. My buddy was with me on Sunday and it was cutting holes in the bullseye.
He liked it so much when we got to my house I had to email the form to him so he could print it out and fax it.
You can't go wrong for the money.
Here's a pdf of the FAX form.

Here's a read for you, it is half about a Gamo Whisper and half about the Daisy 853.
My most recent post #58 will tell you what pellets worked in the Daisy 853 best that I had on hand.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/gamo-whisper-help.815351/

GooseGestapo said:

Strictly paper. Traditionally, we used standard NRA 50' targets. Due to wear on the guns and deterioration of ammo quality, went to larger bullseye target in early '90's. Due to loss of camp with suitable range, rifles were discontinued in 2001.
Likely I'll reduce target distance to 10m (33') with use of air rifles.
Due to expense, not considering CO2.

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Yeah, I suppose after thousands of shots, CO2 would get quite expensive. That 853 seems like a heck of a deal from CMP. For a match-grade rifle like that... I may pick one up myself! And I have no doubt about the quality and durability of a rifle like that.

I wish there was a CMP i could stop in at lol. Good snags!

I am a 4-H Shooting Sports leader, for both Air rifle and .22. When I took over the program, I inherited several Stoeger and Gamo full-sized barrel cocking spring guns, and many older Crosman CO2 guns. The barrel cocking guns were too big for most the kids, and the CO2 guns died out one by one, and Crosman didn't even carry parts. We tried Ruger's Explorer spring barrel guns, they are nice sized for kids,and the barrels were easy to cock (another problem with the full-sized ones, the kids couldn't cock them) but the detent ball in the barrel assembly would come out, we lost 3 of them in 2 years.
Seems when parents buy their kids guns for 4-H, the Daisy 8550 and the Ruger Explorer are the most popular. The Crosman 760 is 3rd.

entropy said:

I am a 4-H Shooting Sports leader, for both Air rifle and .22. When I took over the program, I inherited several Stoeger and Gamo full-sized barrel cocking spring guns, and many older Crosman CO2 guns. The barrel cocking guns were too big for most the kids, and the CO2 guns died out one by one, and Crosman didn't even carry parts. We tried Ruger's Explorer spring barrel guns, they are nice sized for kids,and the barrels were easy to cock (another problem with the full-sized ones, the kids couldn't cock them) but the detent ball in the barrel assembly would come out, we lost 3 of them in 2 years.
Seems when parents buy their kids guns for 4-H, the Daisy 8550 and the Ruger Explorer are the most popular. The Crosman 760 is 3rd.

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Between those three, I'd probably say the Pumpmaster 760 is the best. No issue with storing under pressure (not to the extent of springers) and those multi-pumps are straight-up laser guns in accuracy. Likewise, pumping once is easy for just about anyone. Not hard with a youth springer, but easier with a pump IMO.

I was also going to mention the Air Venturi (Pyramid Air's brand) Bronco, but looks like they discontinued it, and they recommend the Ruger instead.

Daisy/Avanti sells "kits" that include guns, targets, etc, These are aimed at clubs.

From HERE:

The Champion Kit


Includes:
• Four Avanti™ Champion Target BB Air Rifles
• Two bottles of 2,400 BBs
• 400 Official NRA 5-Meter Paper Targets
• 1 set of Instruction Wall Charts
• Two Official NRA 5-Meter Backstops
• One Instructor’s 10-Lesson Curriculum Guide

The Mentor Kit

Includes:
• Four Avanti™ Mentor BB Training Rifles
• Two bottles of 2,400 BBs
• 400 Official NRA 5-Meter Paper Targets
• 1 set of Instruction Wall Charts
• Two Official NRA 5-Meter Backstops
• One Instructor’s 10-Lesson Curriculum Guide

Repair parts might become harder to get. http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=122499.0

cobalt327 said:

Repair parts might become harder to get. http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=122499.0

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If that's true, then that is sucky.... very sucky.

Daisy's parts prices and availability for the current models is and has been outstanding, and has kept them relevant to me as someone who repairs and modifies Daisy airguns. I only hope Gamo leaves things alone but from a purely business/bottom line standpoint, I'll be willing to bet the parts supply will be downsized at the very least- just look on the Gamo site to see the meager parts offerings they list for air guns to see where this may well be heading. And it would not surprise me if Gamo did away w/Daisy parts support altogether.

Will be keeping a close eye on how this pans out.