Could use some advice on a springer for a kid…
Since I don’t have a whole bunch of experience with springers, I thought I’d ask some of you what you might think a decent choice would be for a 13 year old just getting started. His birthday is coming. I’ve looked breifly at the Walmart Crosmans and such, maybe a Gamo… which all seem to be under 100 bucks, some with a scope which would be nice. The number one concern would be a model that is known to have decent accuracy. Any suggestions without breaking the bank? thx
All Replies
Yep.
I think a nice FX or Air Arms gun would make a great trainer for a kid. 😉
Lama quote: “Plus you would have an excuse to get a nice air rifle.”
Steve, Lama, you guys and me kind of think alike… 😛
+1 to that. Great idea.
Plus you would have an excuse to get a nice air rifle. 🙂
Plan B; take the kid shooting. Buy an “extra” air rifle for yourself and be the role model that dad isn’t by teaching the respect, and discipline, that the shooting sports require. Lessons that spill over into other aspects of life. Just my .02. 😀
It maybe one of those NO win situations. Remember your buying the gun not him 😡
Sad news, my girlfreind has asked her son’s dad about him having a pellet gun… he doesn’t like the idea at all. 😡 Something idiotic about “There’s to much much violence today, he doesn’t need to go there.” type attitude. Of course, the dad doesn’t seem to have a problem with the violent video games, no problems shooting at real people at the paintball arcade, but a pellet gun shooting at paper targets? Can’t have that! Dear God.
Neither me or my girlfreind thought this would be such a issue with pops, quess I should have waited for his response before even posting this thread.
Wow, great suggestions guys thanks so much. This gun is for my girlfriends son, and guess what, he got himself in a bit of trouble yesterday, and now my girlfreind is having second thoughts about getting a gun for him! We’ll see how it goes. His birthday is in just a couple days, so getting something online and waiting a week or more may not work if he does get one. But I’ll let you know what kind of gun he gets, if he gets one at all lol. It’s up to his mom at this point. Thx again.
I begun my quest for more power with a Gamo CFX in .22 caliber. PA had it advertised as 900 fps. It was more like 600. For some reason it deformed the pellet skirt as the pellet was inserted into the breech. BUT, it was a beautiful rifle that was not hold sensative and it was reasonably accurate. People who own .177 caliber CFX’s like them.
My buddy bought a Hamerli 850 Air Magnum in .22 for his boys and they love it.
Good luck!
I have been down this road. My son has a Gamo Recon and it was my neighbor’s kid’s gun and I bought it back for my son. After about 3000 rounds the spring broke and I sent it off to Rich from Mich. for the works. It has a RWS 54 spring that was cut to fit with guides and a new piston seal. The gun shoots at 540fps in .177 and inside 25yards it’s a tack driver. The gun is very quite and it’s a great pesting gun for small backyards. My oldest son like’s shoot the Recon more than his Gamo Shadow Sport. Kids around 9 to 16 do not like hard recoiling guns and the less the better is what I have seen having son’s. One spring gun to look at is the new Crosman Raven in .177 that’s listed at around 650fps and yes it can be scoped (checks out the pic’s and you will see). Low powered guns are IMO fun to shoot as like the high power one’s and you have to think about when boys start thinking about girls and not airguns. In most cases the girls will win and the gun will not. So how much you spend should be looked at in this game we call LIFE.
It’s setup with a Leapers 3-9×32 AO (the scope that comes with it is a POS). The trigger pull is at 11.3oz with a long pull for kids. total weight for this rig is 6.45lbs with all you see and I added weight to it.
Old trigger blade that Rich installed. This is not stock.
I’ve gotta agree with Lama on this one, although I was a couple of years older than he was when I got mine :-). I think it’s probably the least hold sensitive springer I owned, and I owned quite a few before I got into PCP’s. Mine was even less sensitive than the Beeman HW 77 I had, and I bought that because of it’s rep for NOT being hold sensitive. It’s also very accurate, and it’s one of the few fixed barrel guns that can NOT chop off fingers if something fails. At 13, attention spans can be short, and a touchy, inaccurate gun isn’t going to help that, or encourage him to stick with the shooting sports. The only down side is the trigger, and that’s an easy fix, get a GRT III from CDT. In fact, that trigger is a worth while upgrade for lots of the less expensive springers, check out his web site for a list of what it fits. If you can’t find any of this info, let me know and I’ll get you some links. One other suggestion, DON’T get a combo. They usually tack on a pretty good chunk for the scope and rings, and then stick you with a POS. I’d get my own, just make sure it’s rated for springers. Maybe do the rifle for his birthday and a nice scope for Christmas. Later.
Dave
When I was 13 or 14 I got a gamo cf-x. It’s more expensive than the ones you guys are talking about, but it’s a great gun. Good accuracy, and pretty easy to cock. I still like to shoot it.
The perfect springer for a 12 to 16 year old ( and 51 also) is the Crossman Storm XT. It is very light, Hits hard, easy to cock and very accurate, shoots 177cal pellets and is $120 at your local Walmart. Includes a scope, two stage trigger, very good wood, and fiber optics open sights. I just bought one and recommended it to a friend of mine for his son. I predict that its’ one of those guns that you’ll remember all the way into late adult life.
Save the box, receipt and some memories.
Later
Hi Saugus, I have tried to buy airguns and other firearms related stuff from the sportsman’s guide but they won’t ship anything to California. So, I stopped buying anything from them. Don’t take my word for it, give them a call and see if they have changed their policy.
Umarex is a great company to deal with. Try calling 479-646-4210…ext 27, or 17, (Ryan or Glenn). These guys are OK. Remember that Harry’s buddy popped that fox with a model 34 and Harry himself has numerous ground hogs that he bagged with a model 36. Looks like good accuracy to me.
You might want to ask Rob3dr…he has a knowledge of springers.
God luck and good work helping a kid get into the shooting sports.
I have a Baikal 512 and quite like it. Easy cocking, decent power (12 fpe) enough for hunting and seems pretty accurate and the stock is small enough for a child, but fine for adults too (I’m 6’1″ and it fits me fine).
For $117 you can call Umarex and get a refurbished RWS 34 Panther – It will have an R stamped into the receiver and the stock, but that’s an excellent gun that you son would be able to keep for his kids.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Nah, just get ’em straight into the Barne’s rifles. If they’re gonna screw it up it might as well be worth it. 😛