Quote:
Originally Posted by 302340
I have a question. For people who want to shoot, but never have, would it make sense for them to shoot a CO2 powered pellet handgun first? Would this give them (and everyone else) a comfort factor?
I still remember that shooting accident a number of years back where the instructor was killed by the wayward Uzi shooter, who had never shot a gun before. ...
Lee
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That would be, in my opinion, a fantastic way to start a new shooter. I am a huge fan of air guns as very worthwhile training tools, not just for rank beginners, but for experts as well. Personally, I've been a very active shooter for over 50 years, being so deep into it that at last count I was reloading ammo for over two dozen distinct calibers of handguns and rifles. I probably fire over 10,000 rounds of centerfire ammo in any given year. But what do I spend the most rigger time with? Air guns.
The beauty of air guns are both accessibility and cost. With a proper pellet trap, one can shoot them in the garage, basement, or if pressed, even in the living room. Decent ammo is so cheap we can burn through it without worry about the cost. Which leads to their very best attribute - they breed familiarity and good gun handling habits at a far faster rate than rimfires or centerfires. Good, safe gun handling never changes, good marksmanship habits never change. Air guns teach both just as well as the powder burners, and can do so more quickly for the reasons I outlined above.
So, yes, by all means - start with a CO2 pistol. Or a break barrel spring piston, or a pneumatic pump-up, both of which avoid the cost and inconvenience of sourcing CO2 cartridges. The CO2 guns do enjoy one distinct advantage, however - one can be found that will match just about any "real" gun one could imagine. So, whatever your aspiring shooter has their eye on for a rimfire or centerfire, start him or her off with the CO2 equivalent. You'll be miles ahead when it comes time to buy the "real" gun.