Learning to shoot, soft air?

[stevenf]

Joe, The soft air guns are percieved by many to be a safe alternative to bb/pellet guns, be aware they are just not as accurate but still the muzzle velocity is plenty enough to do severe damage. My first experience with them was at a neighbors sons birthday party the kids were all going to go into the woods and play army with their softair guns, my neighbor being a couple of apples short of a bushel allowed as how he didn't know if that would be OK with his wife so he said let me see that thing boy and proceeded to put it square in the middle of his palm and pulled the trigger it did penetrate and this big ole guy had a little tear rolling down as he told his son no it wasn't OK.
They sell a 22LR at Academy and Walmart called a Chipmunk that is a youth size 22 it is well made for the price and will fit your daughter nicely if you opt for a pellet/bb gun get a single cock break barrel design they are just as powerful (or darn near) as any pump and require only one cock per shot. If you go to a gun show they sell a chinese version that is only about $39. and is something over 1000 FPS its the same weight as a chinese military weapon and was or is used in their military for practice drills.
I found a picture and price for the chipmunk on the web its only around $120 so thats a good option also.

ROG 00000 CHIPMUNK 22LR STD SYN
$116.77
Sorry the picture didn't work but do a google search you'll get lots of hits.
Steve

 

[cp1969]

.22 rimfire is the best way to go. There is no doubt in anybody's mind that it is a "real" gun. Real guns instill more fear, and therefore more cautious handling than anything that is considered an air rifle, even though the air rifle can be, in some instances, as powerful.

I think something like a Winchester high wall is the ideal trainer. Single shot, exposed hammer. No doubt about as to when it's ready for action. Use CB shorts and the noise is not much more than the air rifle. Winchester high walls are not exactly common any more, so a bolt, pump, or lever action (not automatic!) would have to do. Just don't use the magazine tube for a while. I have a 1906 Winchester pump that would work well--a small gun with exposed hammer, easy to single load.

FWIW, I understand that air rifles destroy regular scopes because they recoil in the opposite direction. Is that true?

 

[CDsdad]

Check out the youth size Crickett .22s at Wal-Mart. They were just the right size for my 8 year old daughter, even though she suckered Santa into a 4-wheeler instead. And I don't know if your daughter is as prissy as mine, but they come in pink.

 

[Iowachild]

To learn to shoot, and especially for kids, I highly recomend a bolt action .22 that can handle .22 shorts. There is vertually no recoil and with the bolt action, you don't have any brass flying around.

I first learned to shoot in the Boy Scouts with this type of rifle. It was very exiteing to all of us, but also a solid foundation to marksmanship.

Eddie

I also learned in the Boy Scouts, mostly at summer camp. It was a NRA program where you could earn medals and certificates, the rifles were single shotand safety was a large part of the program.

I bought the Marlin bolt action 22 rifles for my kids. Not sure of the model but it has a 6 or 7 shot clip and is very reasonable. You can add a scope down the road after they learn to use the sights. My kids could shoot up a brick of 22 shells on a week-end!

 

[HGM]

I totally agree with the other guys who said to go with a real gun. The http://http://www.roguerifle.com/ (chipmunk) is a great little gun. Bolt action and simple. My son was shooting one at 4yrs old. They are tiny, but an adult can shoot one if he wanted. They have scope mounts available for them as well.

Recently, and reluctantly, I bought a few airsofts for my son. The reasoning behind my reluctance was simple. I have know of many kids to be killed or shot because they pointed a "toy" gun at the wrong people. They are toys, but more of an adult toy than a childs toy. You must have the firearm respect before you are handed one of these in my opinion. With that being said, we have shot eachother with them, its hard not to, they are fun to play with but thats the problem. If you dont respect real firearms first, these will set a bad example.. They are like paintball guns in that regard.. Just my opinion, but if you must, Dick's sporting goods had Ar-15(M-4's) on sale a few weeks ago for $50 with a colapsable stock..

 

[jimg]

Not a hi-jack but I think its interesting how many learned shooting in the scouts. I learned there also and out in my backyard w/ my dad's enormously heavy Savage .22RF.

 

[jimg]

Not a hi-jack but I think its interesting how many learned shooting in the scouts. I learned there also and out in my backyard w/ my dad's enormously heavy Savage .22RF. Its surprising how many were scouts!

 

[woodlot]

I do know that pellet guns require special scopes because they will distroy a standard scope. The recoil is pretty intense.

To learn to shoot, and especially for kids, I highly recomend a bolt action .22 that can handle .22 shorts. There is vertually no recoil and with the bolt action, you don't have any brass flying around.

The recoil on a pellet gun is not intense. However, a spring driven pellet gun can destroy a scope. The reason is because the recoil goes in two directions, back then forward. A real gun "kicks" backward only. Most all scopes are made for backward only recoil. A special scope is needed to handle the forward motion.

I do agree that a single shot .22 in chipmunk size is the best choice. Softair is a toy. IMO to try to teach real skills with a toy is sending the wrong message. Whats real is real, whats a toy is a toy. If the youngster is not ready to be taught real skills with a real wepon, then it is not yet time to teach gun safety.

 

[alan40]

I have to agree on the 22 idea but we ordered a air pellet rifle anyways. Mostly due to my curosity about them. My son (10) is into bird hunting and his first firearm will be my old single shot 20 gauge. That's what I learned on and still enjoy shooting it more then any of my other shotguns today. Must be the memories!! He hunts with me now but with no firearms. Just learning and he takes his NRA course this fall. We're now researching bird dogs just to see whats out there. Vermont is not a big bird hunting state but we really enjoy a lightly browned Ruffed Grouse breast hot out of the fry pan.

 

[stevenf]

Alan, The NRA course that you mentioned your son getting ready to take this fall is that a state certified hunters education course? In Texas I think the age at which the kids can take the course is 12 and have it count as their lifetime hunters education course requirement. They can take it as young as they want and as many times as they want but have to be 12 for it to count, we are involved in boy scouts and before our September shooting sports campout every year all the kids go thru the course but many times the younger ones have to do it again the following year or two to count as their state required course. It could be completely different in Vermont or you may be doing it just for his fun/education but figured you might like to know if your thoughts were to get it out of the way early and find out when you send in the certificate that the state kicks it back on account of his age if Vermont goes by the 12 year old ruling.
Steve