Airsoft vs. BB vs. Pellet guns - what should the Easter Bunny bring my son?

[unclebilly]

My son in getting a Savage Lil Rascal in late June for his 8th birthday. I am planning to get him a BB gun (or similar) first to teach him about target shooting and gun safety before he moves up to the 22.

I had a daisy BB gun as a kid and got a pistol pellet gun as well before I got my first real ‘spoon’.

What are the pros / cons of airsoft vs. BB guns?

Can you get biodegradable airsoft ammo? I don’t want my cows eating plastic airsoft BBs.

[cabmandone]

For about $125 you could get him a Gamo break barrel air rifle. The trouble is, you'll have to cock it for him. Even the pump bb guns can be hard for a younger kid.
I never looked into biodegradable airsoft bb's and hated the plastic ones because they'd end up all over the yard and driveway.
As to which is better, I'm assuming he'll only have access to either the bb or airsoft with your supervision or that of a parent? If so I'd go bb gun since you can get a bit better range out of it and much better accuracy which would help train the eye for the longer shooting .22.

[KFC911]

A BB gun will put yer eye out . I was never allowed to have one. But I had a shotgun at eleven, pellet gun, Marlin 30-30, and a few pistols before I was 21.

BBs ricochet off of walls, rocks, etc. ...some truth there imo. Get a nice pellet gun after airsoft imo. A single shot, break bbl...until he's big/strong enough to cock it by himself, he should be supervised. Just my .02...

I have a Diana/RWS air rifle....it's simply an awesome rifle...not cheap (300 or so), but it's a spoon a kid would keep and cherish for a lifetime....would be a fantastic first "real gun" too...

Don't have to spend that much, but a pellet gun...hands down...no ricochets.

[unclebilly]

He will be supervised with it at least for the first while and safety glasses will be a requirement.

[rfuerst911sc]

My 2 cents buy a .177 pellet gun and be done . Like KC911 I too have a Diana it is one sweet air rifle but not sure I'd want a youngster knocking it around due to the price . Having said that I got mine when I was 10 and still have it so as long as he is careful can have it for a lifetime . Good luck .

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

He will be supervised with it at least for the first while and safety glasses will be a requirement.

Excellent...my LEO tennant is currently teaching his 5 yr old with a Daisy Red Ryder....the kid is gonna be a natural....like I am with a rifle. His dad is a former sniper....I'm much better shooting off hand than he is....but I've never displayed my skill to him

[mepstein]

Airsoft is fun since you can each get one, put on eye protection and have at each other. Kids love shooting their fathers-in fun. My son used to go to the local airsoft field and play with his friends. He had a blast.

[Instrument 41]

A basic BB gun is the best, Not enough foce to hurt too bad, but much closer to the 22 than an Airsoft. Air soft tends to allow kids to shoot each other and laugh about it, not something I'd want to teach my boys. All 4of my boys had their 410's by 8.

[cabmandone]

Check this out.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/GAMO-VARMINT/2261963.uts?slotId=0

Smoking deal on something that is accurate and fun to shoot. Since you'll be supervising this is absolutely the route I'd go. Most of the pump style bb guns are like shooting a carnival gun IMO. If you want him to develop good shooting practices, teach him with something that shoots good.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Check this out.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/GAMO-VARMINT/2261963.uts?slotId=0

Smoking deal on something that is accurate and fun to shoot. Since you'll be supervising this is absolutely the route I'd go. Most of the pump style bb guns are like shooting a carnival gun IMO. If you want him to develop good shooting practices, teach him with something that shoots good.

Perfect....and I would remove the scope initially...jmo. Learn the basics first with open sights...YMMV. To me, airsofts and BB guns are toys...nothing wrong with toys, I killed more freinds before ten with toy spoons than I can remember. But when the "real deal" was in my hands...I knew . Started with .22 at seven...

[unclebilly]

Prior to posting this and the subsequent replies, I was leaning towards a Daisy Red Rider.

This is now what I am thinking...

https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/-177-pellet-break-barrell-rifle/A-p8711335e;jsessionid=hKnFC8bCaujvwR+XKz6Cpdlx.pal-prod-com1

We have loads of nerf guns for shooting each other and wouldn’t want to encourage this with an air soft or bigger gun.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Prior to posting this and the subsequent replies, I was leaning towards a Daisy Red Rider.

This is now what I am thinking...

https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/-177-pellet-break-barrell-rifle/A-p8711335e;jsessionid=hKnFC8bCaujvwR+XKz6Cpdlx.pal-prod-com1

We have loads of nerf guns for shooting each other and wouldn’t want to encourage this with an air soft or bigger gun.

Perfect imo...

[Norm K]

.177 Pellet gun. Might as well have him start getting used to single shot long-guns ...
_

[masraum]

I think my first BB gun was a Crosman that would shoot BBs or pellets. The pellets had to be loaded manually. I vote BB gun.

This is what I had, but without the scope.
https://www.crosman.com/airguns/air-rifles/rifle-airmasterr

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think my first BB gun was a Crosman that would shoot BBs or pellets. The pellets had to be loaded manually. I vote BB gun.

This is what I had, but without the scope.
https://www.crosman.com/airguns/air-rifles/rifle-airmasterr

I had a Crosman too...but never allowed to use BBs...only pellets. They truly are safer imo...

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by cabmando

For about $125 you could get him a Gamo break barrel air rifle. The trouble is, you'll have to cock it for him. Even the pump bb guns can be hard for a younger kid.

THis might be a good idea though.

Can't sneak it out unsupervised and by the time he CAN cock it, he'll be older and hopefulyl smarter!

[RedBaron]

Teach proper gun safety first with a BB/Pellet Gun.

After that, he can play with his friends with an airsoft gun. I’d be afraid to give the wrong first impression with an airsoft gun (in that you can shoot other people with one). Plus, airsoft guns are not as accurate (at least as far as i know). Walther makes some cool pellet guns fwiw.

[gr8fl4porsche]

We have several airsofts, pump BB pistols, CO2 pistols, break barrel pellet rifle, full auto CO2 BB pistol and of course the old standby Daisy Red Rider.

Guess which one they like the most? This one.




Why? The reason is simple.

It holds 650 BB’s. So essentially you load it once or twice a year. All the other ones you spend more time loading than you do you shooting. While still a single shot, all you do is cock it.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RedBaron

I’d be afraid to give the wrong first impression with an airsoft gun (in that you can shoot other people with one).

I used to put on a big winter coat with a hood and baggy canvas work pants and have the boys up on the deck shoot at me while running between trees.

Probably not the best lesson to teach..........but to hear the squeals of delight when I got peppered was worth it.

I had the daisy as a kid at eight. I never did anything stupid with it. I heard plenty you could put someone's eye out.

[MRM]

Randy is right. A Red Ryder is the best choice. This is a first gun for an eight year old, not the gun you and I want as adults. I grew up on a farm with 22s, shotguns and all manner of Crossman pump B.B./pellet guns. I had many, many Red Ryders (they wear out after a while) and they were perfect. The kid wonk shoot unless it’s fun and easy. A semi auto CO2 gun is the most fun but it’s notfor an eight year old. He need the lever action repeating fire of the Red Ryder. One cock, one shot. Enough power to be fun but not enough to get into too much trouble. Perfect gun to learn safety. He’ll make mistakes (he is eight years old) but he can make mistakes with a Red Ryder and live to tell the tale. He can drag it all over the farm and terrorize pigeons and small game without much danger to the target or the shooter, but he’ll feel like he’s a big game hunter. No need for much supervision after he learns the basics.