It finally happened!!!!

[cfxlongshot]

Yesterday I was watching the olympics and out of the blue my son walks up to me and says "Can I get a pump air rifle".  I was stunned and excited at the same time.  He never was interested in airguns before but he told me he has his eye on this flock of Grackels that invade my house everytime I leave (I guess they recognize my truck and dont come around when its at the house).  My breakbarrels are to hard for him to use and he wants something that he can drag in the dirt and just play around.  I can't wait I get to go and by a new airgun the only problem now is picking the right one. Oh what a wonderful problem to have!!!!!!!

[RainDog]

 Airguns are great gifts for boys. You always know, even if his initial interest subsides and he puts it into a closet, that he will one day pick it up again. Might be a year, might be ten, but one day he'll be glad again that you got it for him.

 Over the past couple of years my son's interest has come and gone, and come again a few times. How many other gift ideas have such staying power?

 Have fun!
 Parks

[TexasShooter72]

I have to agree with Parks...   someone handed me a daisy bb gun when I was just a kid and all these years later I am re-living my childhood dream!  My parents couldn't rationalize me having one but my uncle used to let me shoot his whenever I came over to visit.  Well, at least when my parents weren't around!  We'd keep our lips locked when they were around.

It's a fun hobby!  One that the kids should embrace...   just teach em' proper safety and shooting etiquette!

Matt

[RainDog]

Oh, another thing! Make him proud of himself by awarding a USA Shooting Team patch. Download a target at http://www.nssf.org/JRUSA/PDF/08RifleTarget.pdf

 Fill out the short order form and receive a free patch in the mail. Took 2 or 3 weeks when I did it. http://www.nssf.org/JRUSA/

 Have him shoot the target, and award him the patch! Kids love that stuff.

 
 Now, if you want to continue, you can order more patches, medals, and certificates as he improves and meets the requirements. Requirements, order forms and such can be accessed from NRA page: http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/marksmanship/index.asp

 Play it right and you'll soon be concerned that he'll out-shoot you. My son keeps his patches and stuff next to his swimming trophies.

 It really works as a motivational tool!

 Have fun!
 Parks

[KShep]

Congratulations!  Nice to know he's looking out for the homestead.

[derekmcminn]

Daisy Powerline 22SG

The pumping effort is the same from the first to the 10th pump. I have dispatched plenty of pigeons with mine, just make sure he has a good scope like a Leapers. If he can't hit anything he will be frustrated and give up the sport.

This 22 cal is available at most Walmarts. Cost about 60 bucks.

[tjk]

That's great news Rocky!! But let's not leave out daughters though. Mae's already asking for something better for a next rifle. The Diasy bucks losing ground to them pretty pink 760's!!!! Still it's nice when parents and their children can enjoy such activities together. Parks, did you ever get any batteries?!?!?!? Thomas

[cfxlongshot]

I was looking at that 22SG and man what a good looking rifle.  I had one like that when I was a kid and I used to shoot dragonflies out of the air with it.  I remember those days sitting outside in the summer air sneaking up on grackels and rabbits, no care in the world, I'm not that old (34) but I miss those days already..

[RainDog]

 Heya, tjk.

 Yeah, I got 'em. I'm not sure where they are, but they're here somewhere...

 I might know where the camera is, though. Maybe...

 Just kidding, you'll see before and after photos reasonably soon. Didn't get around to stripping or anything this past weekend. Picked up some bedliner too, so that may end up on it. I play life by ear, mostly. I'll know what I'm gonna do as soon as I do it.

 Have a good one!
 Parks

[tjk]

Better ask permission from the 'little lady' Parks!!!! Remember she said she liked the wood grain finnish. Mine has a dark patina from age, but if I were to strip, restain, and refinnish, I'd probably try a western red cedar tint. But do as you please,...just hurry the hell up and get some pix on-line!!! That goes for you too Wesley!!!!! LOL's   Rocky,  I'll check out that gun you were speaking of, might be a good fit for my little one too! tjk :emoticon:

[davee1]

Now thats the way it should be. You just walk up to your dad and ask if you can have an airgun, and the answer is yes. When I was a boy, the answer was no...even though it was for 5 bucks which I had. I had to buy it on the sly from the nieghbor for 5 bucks. My dad was really *_*_*_*_*_*ed until he saw how much I really really wanted that airgun. Then he made a target box for me which consisted of a double shoeboxed size box with cottage cheese tops suspended by fishing line. Then he saw how I could shoot, which was really good. Those targets posed no challenge for me. Then he left instructions for me never to shoot any birds and especially not a mockingbird. He did his best to take me into the hills where I could shoot, but it wasn't enough...once a year? I went to my friends houses where we could shoot indoors at, of all things, Captain Kangaroo books!!!

Its great to see parents that cultivate shooting skills. I really didn't get to shoot until a few years ago when I got back into the pellet guns. I'm 50 now, and I missed so much. I cant tell you how much I wanted to shoot, but never could.

All this from parents who did not allow me to watch the three stooges, and rock n roll bands were all communists. Yikes!!!

[Jaymo]

I have the Daisy 22SG and it's a much better shooter than it has a right to be. It's also easy to pump. Don't know if it's too heavy for your son yet. My 9 yr old likes the weight of his Crosman 760. I bought him a used crosman 73 last year at the pawn shop for 10 bucks. He loves it. The Crosman 760 was a freebie. A buddy of mine gave it to me because it didn't work. Safety button was missing, and the bolt handle was broken. A couple of dollars worth of parts later, I had a perfectly good 760. It's a good little shooter. I figured I'd give it to him one day. We were shooting the 22SG a few weeks ago, and He was getting tired of the weight of it. So I brought out the 760. He instantly fell in love with it and asked me if he could have it. I thought he'd never ask. My eyes tear up as I type this. It was a very happy moment for both of us.

I still have my first air gun. It's a Crosman 2100 Classic that I bought in 1985. I was not yet 15 and I just knew I was going to eat squirrels that fall. I did.  I lost interest in air guns from 1999 to 2005, with little shooting sessions in between. Now I'm back in a big way. In fact, I just got through shooting my B30 for the first time since I lube-tuned it this weekend. All I can say is wow! I stoned the trigger parts and now it has a sweet hunting trigger. The McCari spring/guide/tophat/seals are great. It sounds like it hits at least as hard as before and it's MUCH smoother.
Sorry, this is about you and that wonderful moment when your son decided to share your hobby. Feels good when they do that, doesn't it?

[VINNY]

Have fun quality time together and teach him well.

[WesCombs]

Rick Eutsler used to have a website dedicated to reviewing air rifles and I loved going there..but I think he shut it down recently. Even so, he still puts videos on youtube every once in awhile..here is his video review for the 22sg. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO82J0Qxgrk

[cfxlongshot]

Man that gun is sweet, but now with that review I'm worried it doesn't have the power to go after those tough Grackels.  I'll think Im going to have to get him something with a little more power.  Grackels can be real tough and he might not hit them exactly in the head so whatever I get needs to be tough enough to kill with the occasional body shot. I really hate Grackels but I want to be as humane as possible.