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Slavia · Moderator

On the daughter's Christmas list is a "Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time." That particular configuration didn't exist until the movie "A Christmas Story" was made (for about 1.5 years after the movie, and more recently to celebrate the movie's 30th. anniversary). Until 1983 no Red Ryder had a compass in the stock - the one with the compass was the "Buck Jones" model.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Ryder_BB_Gun
http://www.daisymuseum.com/dream.htm

So I'm Googling Red Ryders, and it hits me - little Ralphie shoots left handed. (Look at the photo under my name.) How many times have I seen the movie and never noticed?

Darth · Member

This is kinda neat ...

I bought one of the "Red Ryder" models for my Daughter/Granddaughter last year. This year she is 8 years old.

She finally understands a sight picture. We were practicing tonight and she "gets it" !!!

I would have her sight in on an object and then I would look down the sights ... and sure enough, she was spot on ! I would sight in on something and ask her what it was ... then she would do the same and I would check her. No matter how we went about it ... she was right.

So now, the only problem is the 30# (or whatever it was) trigger pull. I decided to tear this thing apart and see if I could do anything about it. She is a small girl and sorta weak and I figured the trigger pull would be a real issue.

I was able to get this thing down to about a 2# trigger pull by replacing the trigger return spring and the sear spring. I also had to work on the plastic for about 2 hours because these things are now glued together and you really can't take it apart completely. With the springs removed, the trigger would drag in the housing. So I scraped and sanded until I got most of it out.

I had to make a new brass sleeve and side (thrust) bushings on the lathe to get it all back together ... but it works pretty nice !!! The trigger pull is still sorta long but, I really think she will be able to shoot the darn thing. It's pretty nice !

I did the "bang the butt on the ground" test and it doesn't fire ... so I think I'm good to go.

I can't wait until I see how she shoots !!!