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navajas · New Member

Hello!

Please excuse me if this is a tiresome question. I believe this is the correct forum, but again, forgive me if not and move it to something more appropriate if not.

My son is turning five in a couple of weeks and very much wants a BB Gun. I never had one as a child and know next to nothing about them. Many years ago I looked into some big boy versions offered on a website dedicated to tuning and modification of my AT-85 paint guns. I was going to start there for info, but can not remember the URL.

Regardless, I don't want some Eastern European hotrod anyway, I just want a basic entry level long gun to plink targets and continue safety education. We are pretty rural out here, but we do have a couple sporting goods stores, a Wal*Mart (which I'd like to avoid if possible) and a Big 5.

Does anyone have any advice on a quality (if not superior) entry level gun easily available at common retail locations, usable by someone about 3' 6"? I'd like to keep it well under $100 if possible. Being able to shoot pellets and BBs would be a plus I imagine, but don't really know. Is expandability something to look for, or a waste at this low end?

Basically, I don't even really know enough to ask the right questions.

Help?

Thanks a bunch in advance for you time.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

His age and strength? Definitely a daisy Buck. THey are only about 20 dollars and they are good enough for plinking pop cans at about 10 yards. My 9 y old son has one and he is strong enough to cock his, but I doubt your 5yo would be able to cock it himself. It is a very small rifle and with a saber saw and some sandpaper you can make it even shorter, but I don't think that would be a good idea. It does have a safety so you can cock it and safely hand it to your son. Not only that, you can load it once and shoot dang near all day with it. lol they hold like 300 bbs. I hope this helps!

Slavia · Moderator

Assuming you assess your son's maturity to be adequate to the task of absorbing safety concepts, the next issue would be size. Not many options for someone of his stature - but the Buck does fit the bill.

BB gun or not, all the regular firearm safety rules apply. You might also consider safety glasses, since BB's bounce.

navajas · New Member

My son is a very "mature" almost five year old. I'm a stay at home / home school Dad and this has had a very positive impact. Combined with his very tall frame he is often mistaken for a child many years older.

Oh, dang, I just measured him, I was wrong, he's 3' 9".

He's done well with my old bow, and the blow gun I bought him. He's a smart kid and is extremely interested in firearms. (Along with butterflies, campfires, flowers, painting, explosions, lightsabers, etc...!) I have a 10/22, old Sears .22 bolt, and a Marlin waiting in the wings for him a couple of years down the road, but thought this would be a good place to start.

Is "Buck" a brand or model? I'm a little shy of something that inexpensive to be honest. Is it reliable? Well made?

EDIT: Oh, I see. Buck is a Daisy brand model.

fritz · Silver Status Member

Why the Buck over the classical Red Ryder?

Welcome to AGH.

deadrats · Member

I couldn't recommend the daisy model 25 highly enough for a youth starter rifle. This was my first gun of any type and i gotta tell you, for what it is you're not going to find better. It holds a lot of BB's and is surprisingly accurate and has good power for a gun in it's category. It's reliable too. I had a couple more later on in life and they were all great. It is also good enough to followe him into his teens w/o becoming a toy to him. He may want bigger and better, but he will still respect and enjoy it years later. I believe big 5 has a sale on them right now at $49. Check it out...

http://www.daisy.com/shopping/customer/product.php?productid=16339&cat=249&page=1

navajas · New Member

The Model 10 and the 105 Buck are far and away the smallest of the Daisy line correct? I looked at the 25 on their website because it seems that a pump might be easier to work for little arms than a lever, but it's more than half a foot longer.

I guess I'm struggling now with figuring out what will fit him better.

fritz · Silver Status Member

I would get him a Red Ryder... there is no other logical choice. Everyone had one, and most of them still work. I know mine took a beating (and it wasn't its first), it still shoots great.

But of course... the new ones are a POS. It just doesn't feel like the old RR, doesn't shoot as accurately, nor as fast.

navajas · New Member

fritz · Silver Status Member

The new ones don't hold a BB to the elders. All I know about mine was that it was made before 2000 when I got it, and it was beat up when I got it.

Still shoots better than the newer ones purchased for younger cousins. The new ones are also hold sensitive... I have no clue why this is more pronounced, nor why they are much less accurate. Not really a POS overall, but in comparison, the difference in build is enormous.

I'd still get him the Red Ryder. It's still made in the US (AFAIK only Daisy, Crosman, and AirForce are made in US).

Best of luck with whatever you end up purchasing.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

THe red ryder and buck both basically have the same innards, but the buck is considerably smaller and lighter. I still have my red ryder from when I was a kid, but my 9yo son isn't framed big enough yet to use it, that's why I bought him a buck to start out with.

fritz · Silver Status Member

Wow, my 9 year old cousin uses the Diana 34. He can use the Super Streak if we have a bench setup.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I like the buck for my son. He can get around better with it. He can shoot my 2250 too, but it's so awkward for him to try to hold it up and see thru the scope. He can also shoot the red ryder too, but it's just a hair too long for him, and he can manuver the buck around better. You get what you want though. Take him to the store on his birthday and hand him both and see what fits then buy it for him. If you want the Red Ryder, cut the stock down a bit. if the buck fits then buy him. Either way you get him a BB gun. One's 20bucks and damn near indestructible, ones 40, has a little more wood on it and is also damn near indestructible. BB guns are BB guns till about 12 when you get into 4h and start competition. Get him a good pair of safety goggles and you wear a pair too. MAKE HIM WEAR THEM!!!!! It should be a go nogo situations. And that's my 2 cents worth.

kanyon · Silver Status Member

My boys 8 & has a crosman 1088 Co2 & gamo P800 brake barrel..
The thing is the grips are really to big for small hands The 1088 is the worst...Get a brake barrel...give him a tin of pellets thats it...don't need to buy Co2 powerlets...And a kid can sure go though them...

Pete