In your opinion, should a boy's first be something simple and cheap, like a Daisy Red Rider, or more expensive like a 800-1000 fps air gun that can eventually be used for small game?

Make and model suggestions as well?

Thanks!

While I'm at it, I have another decision to make, but I would appreciate input...
I have two sons, 9 and 6 years old. I'm talking about the 9 year old in this post, but whenever the older one gets something, the younger one's sibling rivalry kicks in STRONG. Sometimes, we treat the boys equally, and sometimes, because of age, the younger one has to deal with disappointment. He still might get something cool out of this deal, but should it be a BB'pellet gun at this age? Muy ut says no, but again, I'll take input.

maybe buy yourself this air rifle, let the boys use it..
maybe a cheap-o and a nice one..
.let them practice with the bb gun... if they do good then let em shoot the bigger one...
also, i aint sure if ya can shoot a center-fire where you are at, your house?, but those good air rifles should have the same handling sequence as a center-fire rifle.
those high power air rifles are just as capable for home defense. so dont think, or let the kids think this is a toy!!

I'm in a suburban subdivision. Shooting about 20 yards within the fenced packyard is feasible, with a good back stop, I think.

Definitely not a toy, I know. I remember being a teenager -- pre paint ball era -- shooting each other with cheap bb guns. Old spring guns and one-pump air guns that leaked, etc. But my boys will know none of this

Whatever we get will be treated as a fire arm, locked in the gun safe, used only with my supervision, etc.

This was my first bb/pellet gun I shot many a critter with it.... http://www.crosman.com/airguns/760B You can adjust the power of the gun by how many times you pump it. When I first got the gun I was only allowed to pump it five times, but as I showed my parents I was responsible I was able to pump it more and more times. This is a bb\pellet gun I have right now, It is a good gun as well.... http://www.crosman.com/airguns/664SB The scopes on these guns are worthless I would take the scope off and just use the guns sites. Hope I was of help.

Gen

I think you inadvertantly linked the same gun twice, but the post helps. Thanks. I am thinking about that Crosman right now. Can be had for $30.

Ya sorry I fixed it.

Ya crosman is a good quality gun for the price, I have been very impressed with mine.

for a cheap first, id go with a crossman pump and shoot lead pellets, not BB's from it...

if you want to get a nice one you can get one of the more expensive pellet rifles aka "adult air rifles" that are 100-300+..


reason i recommend shooting pellets is accuracy...yes they cost a little bit more...but pellets are pretty dang accurate even from the cheap crossman pump guns...that way, you can teach the fundamentals of shooting and know that the gun actually shoots pretty well opposed to BBs which have a terrible flight path and can be erratic...

i second this post. pellets are much less likely to ricochet so they are generaly safer. the use of pellets will also get your kids in the habbit of hand washing after handling ammo/pellets. and like the above post said pellets are better for teaching fundamentals of shooting and marksmenship.

i started out with a daisy lever gun which was really only minute of clay pigeon at 15 yards and i never really picked up on shooting till later on when i got my hands on a bsa meteor. the daisy 22sg is also a good gun but its a .22 cal. the other previously mentioned airguns are good to. imo pump pneumatic guns (pump up guns that dont use spring compression) make better started guns because they dont require the artillery or floated weaver shooting style to print the smallest groups. id also stay away from pcp or co2 guns because the fun ends when they are out of gas.