Author Topic: 22 caliber for me, .177 for my 9 year old (Read 939 times)

gt2003 · « **on:** October 20, 2005, 01:13:16 PM »

Ok, I know it might be hard for you hardcore airgunners to do this, but, bear with me. My 9 year old just picked up an interest in hunting this year and I am wanting to purchase him a bb/pellet gun so that he can shoot with it and it won't hit me in the pocketbook too hard. I had a daisy 880 as a kid and loved it. Good velocity and accuracy wasn't too bad either. I'm thinking of the new daisy 901 for him. He has had a hunter education course and would never have the gun without me being present (thank God for gunsafes). I'm not looking for a tournament grade rifle, but something around 50-75 bucks that would serve him well. Please provide suggestions.

Also, after my daisy 880 days, I'm looking at something, right around the 100 dollar range in a 22 caliber air rifle. I guess its the testosterone kicking in but I'd like something thats fairly stout. I hate little wimpy air rifles. Probably in the $90-$150 range would be acceptable.

I plan on putting a scope on both rifles so thats not anything to worry about right now. Please give me your thougths on what is best. I've got walmarts all around me and I've got a bass pro shop within 45 minutes. Thanks in advance, Greg

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2005, 02:27:57 PM »

gt2003,

This may sound funny but my Mother wanted a pellet rifle to keep gophers out of her lawn and garden areas. She wanted to stay as far under $100.00 as possible. She bought a Crosman 664 and I mounted a Weaver K4 scope on it that I had laying around. Accuracy of this pump up is excellent. Five shot groups that you can cover with a dime at 20 yards are common. I would advise against shooting BB's in it as doing so has been known to ruin the rifling in the barrel.

Now for a pellet rifle for you. With your stated budget of $90 - $150 check out the Model 97 and 99M at Compasseco, Inc. Go to http://www.compasseco.com/shop/products.html?maingroup=Tech%20Force%20Air%20Guns&secondgroup=Air%20Rifles to view the entire Tech Force line. While I won't recommend all of the Tech Force line the 97 and 99M are excellent buys. These are two accurate and powerful air rifles. In the 97 I would pay the added difference and have them install a MacCari spring. You wonÂ’t be sorry. Lawdog

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gt2003 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2005, 03:52:46 PM »

Lawdog, I've never owned a spring piston type airgun, only the old daisy 880 and crosman 760 pumps. Is there anything special I need to know before purchasing? I really like the looks of the 97 and 99. Are most of the single pump airguns the spring piston type? Sorry for the ignorance, pump guns are pretty much all I know except for the single pump daisy guns that resemble a 30/30 and make the "doing" sound when shot. Thanks for the advice already and I look forward to you enlightening me a little more. Thanks, Greg

victorcharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2005, 02:58:20 AM »

My tech force 99 is an 8+ lb full size gun that's hard for the wife to shoot with out a rest..........the physical size of the gun might be big for your 9 year old.....

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2005, 08:41:34 AM »

At www.southsummit.com they have some good Chinese air rifles and i had one and like it a lot could get good 30 yard shots a birds. Some people said chinese air guns are no good but their like a lot of thing some a bad some are good. if you don't like chinese than a 880 or something like that well work. if your getting a gun for you get the chinese guns a look i have gotten guns that cost more and did less.

Lawdog · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2005, 01:09:07 PM »

Quote from: gt2003

Lawdog, I've never owned a spring piston type airgun, only the old daisy 880 and crosman 760 pumps. Is there anything special I need to know before purchasing? I really like the looks of the 97 and 99. Are most of the single pump airguns the spring piston type? Sorry for the ignorance, pump guns are pretty much all I know except for the single pump daisy guns that resemble a 30/30 and make the "doing" sound when shot. Thanks for the advice already and I look forward to you enlightening me a little more. Thanks, Greg

I hope you realized I meant the Tech Force 97 and 99M were for you not your daughter? :?: Both are too heavy for your daughter although the cocking effort isn't all that bad. My 6 year old granddaughter can cock my 99M. She has to rest it on a table or something like that to shoot it. Both the 97 and 99M are what is called spring piston powered. A single stroke of the cocking lever under the barrel is all it takes. I prefer the under lever rifles as they are noted for their accuracy. I have taken three nice tom turkeys with my 99M(.22 caliber as in California an air rifle must be of .20 caliber to be legal for the taking of game animals/birds). Let me give you one piece of advice, stay as far away from Gamo air rifles as you can. They do not honor their warrantees and their rifles have to many plastic parts that break way too easily. Lawdog

gt2003 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2005, 02:39:35 PM »

Lawdog. I understood perfectly. I like the idea of a gun similar to a daisy 880 for my son. They don't weigh much, have sufficient power and should allow him to shoot to his hearts content without breaking MY bank. I can purchase a semi inexpensive scope and he'll be set for a long time to come. I'm 36 now and think I've had my 880 since I was 10 or 12 years old. Its finally about had it. Thanks for the info. about shooting bb's through it. This is something I hadn't heard before.

Now, for me, thanks for the explanation about the spring piston rifles. They're something I'm totally unfamiliar with. I will likely use mine for squirrels, rabbits, birds etc.

Should I go for the .22 caliber? It looks like it would have sufficient power and from what you've said, be very accurate also. I also wouldn't have to worry about the rifling because pellets would be all I would shoot. Any recommendations on pellets are appreciated also. Thanks again, Greg

Lawdog · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2005, 03:04:55 PM »

gt2003,

Quote

Any recommendations on pellets are appreciated also. Thanks again, Greg

Pellet rifles are like powder burning rifles, they all have their likes and dislikes. With pellet rifles I have found that the best accuracy is obtained with medium to heavier weight pellets. also certain designs of pellets give better accuracy than others. For close range wad cutter type pellets usually give the best accuracy. Longer ranges and domed pellets get the nod. But when it comes to killing something I prefer a pellet that opens up and delivers more shock to the system of the critter being shot. For all pest control and small game hunting I use Beeman Crow Magnum pellets, no matter what the caliber(.177, .20, .22 or .25). On large birds, Crow Magnum pellets have shown that they can open up to nearly twice the caliber size. This is the pellet my whole family uses for Turkey hunting. Lawdog

gt2003 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2005, 04:17:37 PM »

Wow, the crow magnum pellets sound incredible. I had trouble with muzzleloading bullets because they didn't release their energy inside the deer. It looks like that wouldn't be the problem with these pellets. Do they come in a higher count tin than the 200 count?

Thanks for the air rifle info. I'll pass it on to the wife and I bet she'll hook me up.

While we're at it, any reasonable scope ideas? Keep in mind, this is not a rifle I will be using a whole lot. Just to plink around when the weather is nice.

Thanks for all the input. Greg

Lawdog · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2005, 02:16:08 PM »

Quote from: gt2003

Wow, the crow magnum pellets sound incredible. I had trouble with muzzleloading bullets because they didn't release their energy inside the deer. It looks like that wouldn't be the problem with these pellets. Do they come in a higher count tin than the 200 count? [buote]

Only in .177 caliber, 500 count per tin. All the other calibers from .20 to .25 are 200 count. Check out the Terminal Pellet Test that was done at http://home.hiwaay.net/~ispellan/PelletTest02.html. It rally shows how pellets perform when hitting objects like game.

Quote
While we're at it, any reasonable scope ideas? Keep in mind, this is not a rifle I will be using a whole lot. Just to plink around when the weather is nice.

Thanks for all the input. Greg

Check out the BSA line of air rifle approved scopes at http://www.bsaoptics.com/productlist.asp?ID=11&Cat_Name=airrifle22.jpg&Cat_Code=AR&Cat_Type=RFAM for a low cost but good quality scope. Remember to get good quality rings when mounting on springer air rifles. If you don't the scope could and likely will move during firing. I recommend BKL 263 double strap rings at http://bkltech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BKL&Product_Code=263&Category_Code=200 because they hold. Lawdog

gt2003 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2005, 06:03:53 PM »

Wow, u all are great. I bought the son a crosman 664 GT that comes with a 4 power scope. It only costed about 50 bucks and should take care of his needs for quite a while. It has a stainless barrel too. What a great option. I'm dying to take it out of the box, mount the scope and sight it in but I'm being "advised" not to do so by my better half. I wish my folks had the love for hunting/shooting that I have and would have purchased hunting/shooting equipment for me. I had to buy everything pretty much for myself.

I also appreciate the link to the BSA scopes. I'm likely going to put the 4x32 mm on my air rifle (assuming I get it for Christmas). It will be nice to know I have a weapon I can shoot squirrels and rabbits with that will not make much noise. I like the fact that it comes with the rings also. I am wanting the tech force 99M. That should take care of my air rifle needs for a long time to come. I'll likely only shoot the beeman crow magnum pellets out of it. With the limited amount that I shoot, price of pellets shouldn't be an option. Thanks again for all your help. I will report back on the results after Christmas. Take care all, Greg

Lawdog · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2005, 10:36:24 AM »

Greg,

Word of advice on that Crosman 664T. Get a low cost 1" scope and rings to replace the one that comes with the Crosman. Those little 3/4" scopes are junk and don't want to hold zero. They have nice low cost stainless scopes on Ebay(some even with rings) that will work just fine on pump rifles. Looking forward to hearing how your son likes his new rifle. Lawdog