RFI - First BB Gun

[rd62]

My oldest son turns 8 in a few weeks and has requested a BB gun for his birthday. He and his you get brother like to practice along with me while I'm dry firing and I think he's responsible enough now to use.one under supervision. I haven't looked at BB guns in decades though.

Has anyone recently researched and come up with any good recommendations for first timers? Pump or C02? Models to avoid? I don't think he needs anything​ "tactical" looking for his first. Just something reliable and robust that he can learn sight alignment, trigger control, etc with.

Thanks!

[Edster]

"You'll wear appropriate eye protection and suffer no adverse effects whatsoever."

- My Dad

[GyroF-16]

I got my son a Crossman a few years ago. I started on a 760 in the late 70's and looked for something like it.
I found the Torrent SX.

http://www.crosman.com/torrent-sx

It functions just like the 760 I grew up with. Simple and quite reliable.
It comes with a scope and iron sights with a fiber-optic front sight. Told my son that when he learned to shoot with the irons, then he could try the scope. That was 4 years ago. Much backyard can-plinking for him and his younger brother, and they've forgotten all about the scope. Mission accomplished.

[41magfan]

Seriously, get 'em something like a Daisy Red Ryder spring action gun for their first BB gun. It'll last a lifetime and there's a good chance they'll never outgrow it. The thing holds over 500 rounds and the repetitive nature of learning good ole' Kentucky windage and hold-over by quick, repeated attempts just isn't learned any other way IMO.

I learned to shoot ambushing bumble bees and dragonflies with my old Daisy and to be quite honest, I currently have a little kid's model Buck ($19 at Walmart) sitting in the corner near the back door that gets shot everyday.

I've hit birds on the fly and whacking insects is still quite satisfying. Not too long ago, I smoked this little butterfly at about 10 yards as it was floating around on clover blossoms .... took about 8 to10 shots before I connected.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/fiV1VN.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pofiV1VNj)

This Daisy Mod 95 dates back to 1965 and it still shoots pretty strong.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/edTQkF.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pmedTQkFj)

[jc000]

I purchased one of these (http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/DaisyUsedRifles.pdf?ver=20170110) for my oldest boy a few years back. It's a single shot, and very tough for little kids to pump (which is a good thing IMO) but super accurate.

[BJXDS]

Can't go wrong with a Red Ryder I still have fun with it today after my kids have long outgrown it. Please make sure they wear eye pro.

[MistWolf]

I want a Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle

Daisy Red Ryder BB gun is perfect. It's what my father got me when I turned 8 and I put a lot of BBs through it. The only thing better was the Crossman M1 Carbine replica BB gun, but they don't make those anymore