BB gun questions

[Chipperman]

I plan on getting my twin sons BB guns in another year or two. They are 3 1/2 now, so they're not quite ready. (I know, I'm planning early).

First, let me say that I know very little about BB or air guns in general.
OK, don't laugh.....
I've never actually owned a BB gun. When I was young and I asked my Dad for a BB gun he'd say, "You've got .22's, what do you want a BB gun for?" So I never got one.

First, what should I get for them? I'm assuming that it HAS to be a Daisy, and HAS to be a lever gun (just because). Should I get the Red Ryder, or another model? Is a pump better than a lever?

How about care for them? You don't clean the bore do you? Do you just rub down the metal with some oil every now and then?

Now a really stupid question.... Are there any air guns that are actually loud enough to warrant ear protection?

We have just enough room in our back yard that I think I can build a little trap to put spinners on and collect the BB's.

Any other info I need to know?

 

[Third_Rail]

BBs ricochet, though I think you're aware of that. Due to age I'd say stay away from true airguns that use lead pellets.

A Red Ryder is the traditional choice, though limited in power. It's a good starter BB gun, I have one. They'll most likely need help cocking it or any other BB gun I can think of, though. A "pump" is actually a lever action as well, just a multi-action. You pump the forearm up to 10 times for power close to that of a Super Colibri (30 ft-lbs IIRC) but it's definately not for younger people.

The only thing I've done to any of my BB guns, NOT pellet guns, is keep the outside from rusting. Apart from that, read the manual. Sometimes the spring needs oil, and there's a port for that.

Some airguns, such as the really powerful 36cal+ precharged pneumatic ones and other PCPs, require hearing protection. Other than that, they're quiet enough.


Other info - have fun.

 

[mikeb3185]

when i was a bit younger(i am only 21 now) my brother had a daisy red ryder and i had a daisy (cant think of its name but it looked like a very small shot gun) i liked mine he hated his. i will and get more info for. my only recomendation is stay away from co2, to powerful to learn on and most are semi-auto.
d

 

[DougCxx]

BB guns for very-small kids (the guns such as the lever-actions and "shotgun"-pump types) aren't loud at all, their only noise is mechanical. Their barrels have a slot in the bottom, and a metal finger reaches up through the slot and pushes the BB down the barrel to "fire" it. Air pressure doesn't have anything to do with it.
----
These guns don't need cleaning at all, normally. A bit of 3-in-1 oil on the cocking pivots and down the bore, that's it.
----
It's only when you get into CO2 or precharged-air that you get into noise issues. Even the cheap single-pump pneumatic rifles don't make much noise.
The problem of BB-ricochet is very real, however. If you want to use hard targets like spinners, then you need to get a gun that can use pellets.
Alternately,
you -could- try to find some lead-BB's which will not ricochet--but these are signifacantly heavier than steel BB's, and don't work well in many lower-powered guns. Beeman Perfect Rounds is the first ones that come to mind, but there are others.
~

 

[MilsurpShooter]

I have currently 5 BB hand guns and 4 BB Rifles. There are two basic types of rifle, with another 2 subcategories. First of all being manually operated. You have to cock the lever back to get the air pressure up. For younger kids this might not be a viable option seeing as some of the manually operated BB guns can be quite a challenge to cock. The other is the Co2 option. These are usually a little more pricey, however they do away with the manual option. Instead by putting a small Co2 charge in the handle all you have to do is load the gun and fire away.

A further two categories can be set up, Pellet or BB. Pellets can be considered a pre-tutorial for the kid you want to one day grow up to use real ammunition. Pellets only go in one way, you have to load them and the such. Generally more accurate and are available in different types, from hunting to target shooting. BB's on the other hand ar emore of load and forget, doesn't matter how they go in, but are less accurate

Co2 guns
Higher rate of fire, no need to constantly pump
Cost of Co2's can get up there if your an avid shooter
Depending on brand can be quite a bit more powerful then a manual gun

Hand operated
Less expense, no Co2's to have to worry about.
Constant power, no degradation depending on the charge of the Co2 cartridge
Requires a strong arm to operate

Feel free to e-mail me if you need to, I'v been using the dang things since I was 12, i'm 20 now lol

 

[whm1974]

Keep in mind that Air/BB/Pellet guns require the same respect as firearms. The same rules apply.

-Bill

 

[nbkky71]

Ahhh...visions of Ralphie on Christmas morning are flooding through my head

You'll shoot your eye out!

sorry...couldn't resist

 

[Lonestar.45]

Man, every kid ought to have a Red Ryder. I shot thousands and thousands of BB's out of mine when I was a kid, I could hit anything with it. Got to where both Dad and I could shoot it from the hip, and actually hit what we were shooting at, if it wasn't something terribly small. It's a great way to learn to shoot with open sights. Pump and co2 guns are good too, but the Red Ryder ought to be the first step in my opinion. Low power, cheap, no scope, and what kid doesn't like a lever action?

 

[Chipperman]

Thanks for the replies.
I guess I go with the Red Ryders. Difficulty with the lever will not be an issue b/c they will never be shooting unsupervised until they are Much older anyway.

It seems that ricochets are a big issue with BB's. If spinners will be unsafe, maybe I'll try to make a target that will react some when hit, but is angled forward to deflect the BB's down into a collection area instead of back at us or into the neighbor's yard. Eye protection will obviously be required regardless.

One other thing-- It's ok to reuse the BB's as long as they are not dented, right?

 

[Lonestar.45]

Sure, you can re-use the BB's. I used to dig them out of the fence, or wherever else they'd been shot into, and reuse them all the time. It won't hurt the Red Ryder. The slow speed at which they are shot at isn't enough to deform them.

 

[Third_Rail]

Chipperman, I just noticed you're in MA. WATCH OUT!! Most policemen regard BB guns as firearms, and if you're seen, even on your own land, with them you can get your CHL taken away.


It's happened before.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Best thing to do regarding the possibility of a Richochet will be to get a foam core archery target. Have one in my basement and have been shooting at it reliably for the past 3 years, think there is more lead in it then forma now

 

[Houndawg]

I think I'm about ready to get my son a Daisy Buck, Model 105, for his 6th birthday. It's a lever action like the Red Ryder, but has a shorter stock, no forearm, and a fiber optic front sight. My son is pretty small and the Red Ryder won't fit him.