Howdy from North Texas

[blackholegun]

I don’t know anything about Airgun. My kid shot with a borrowed gun in his first 4h competition last week as a spur of the moment decision (in addition to rimfire). My dude (10 year old), won the junior class with 2 out of 20 silhouettes.

What can I say a win is a win but he wants to shoot more and now I’m on the hunt for something for him to shoot. So I figured I’d better learn about air guns. Thanks in advance for all the knowledge here. I’ve been lurking for a few days and have already learned a bunch. Now i just have to figure out what he can shoot and how to afford it .

 

[Ezana4CE]

I don’t know anything about Airgun. My kid shot with a borrowed gun in his first 4h competition last week as a spur of the moment decision (in addition to rimfire). My dude (10 year old), won the junior class with 2 out of 20 silhouettes.

What can I say a win is a win but he wants to shoot more and now I’m on the hunt for something for him to shoot. So I figured I’d better learn about air guns. Thanks in advance for all the knowledge here. I’ve been lurking for a few days and have already learned a bunch. Now i just have to figure out what he can shoot and how to afford it .

@Blacholegun Hey there. Nothing like a win to pique one’s interest. Can you answer a few questions so that we have a better idea of what your son shot in his competition? Do you know if he shot a spring powered or pre-charged pneumatic rifle? Did the competitors have to cock the gun and hand load a pellet after each shot? From what distance(s) were the children shooting? Were they seated, kneeling, or standing? Did their guns have scopes mounted or were they shooting with iron sights?

 

[blackholegun]

Yes sir/maam. It was a standing completion. He shot 1/10 silhouettes. 10 pigs @ 20 yards and 10 rams @30

We borrowed another clubs gun. I think the coach said it was an Avanti. After researching it looks to me like it was Cz or air arms s200 or t200. I’m not sure of the difference. But I think Daisy sold this as a rebadge as well.

It was pre charged pneumatic and he had to cock and load after each shot. The rifle had a Williams peep on the rear and what I’m sure was a Williams globe sight on the front.

The silhouette class is pretty open gun wise. The sporter air class is much more prohibitive. But so far we aren’t shooting that class. He really liked shooting steel.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Yes sir/maam. It was a standing completion. He shot 1/10 silhouettes. 10 pigs @ 20 yards and 10 rams @30

We borrowed another clubs gun. I think the coach said it was an Avanti. After researching it looks to me like it was Cz or air arms s200 or t200. I’m not sure of the difference. But I think Daisy sold this as a rebadge as well.

It was pre charged pneumatic and he had to cock and load after each shot. The rifle had a Williams peep on the rear and what I’m sure was a Williams globe sight on the front.

The silhouette class is pretty open gun wise. The sporter air class is much more prohibitive. But so far we aren’t shooting that class. He really liked shooting steel.

@blackholegun I‘m a man. How much are you looking to spend on the gun? The air supply? Any particular caliber (.177 or. .22)?

 

[blackholegun]

@blackholegun I‘m a man. How much are you looking to spend on the gun? The air supply? Any particular caliber (.177 or. .22)?

Bro I don’t even know where to start. Can I afford a $650 gun? Yes do I want to? . I’d like to be around $450. But not sure if that’s do able. I’d like to see how my kid gets along before I spend too much. He is a small dude I don’t think he could shoot a break barrel or side cocker. I think I’m going to need something pre charged. I’m not going to buy a 3k dollar air gun for him. If my little dude wants to keep going we can cross that bridge then.

Not sure on the air supply.

.177 caliber is what he is supposed to shoot. He can shoot .22 in the pistol class. But I would like to keep it the same if he gets a pistol.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@blackholegun Understood. Let’s start at square one. There are a few guns that come to mind in the under $500 range. Since you are set on purchasing him a PCP, you will need an air supply, something to charge the airgun. You can purchase an electric high pressure air (HPA) compressor, a hand pump, or a carbon fiber SCBA tank (self contained breathing apparatus). A hand pump is laborious to use, but the most affordable option. Expect to spend almost as much as you spend on the gun on a decent HPA compressor. Carbon fiber SCBA tanks cost hundreds of dollars when purchasing new. Here are some videos explaining these fill sources.

How to fill a PCP Airgun

The 3 most common ways to fill a PCP airgun are: From a hand pump From a SCBA or Carbon Fiber tank (that has been filled at either a: Scuba shop, Air Pro shop, Fire Dept, or from a personal HPA compressor) Directly from a HPA compressor Here are few popular videos that you may find beneficial...

www.airgunnation.com

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

4h rules and others likely require certain things. IF a CMP member or club do try them :https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/sporter-air-rifles/
If there are some idea for nice airguns. Airgun Reisions has a pretty good price on the Crosman Challenger. And the sight ( and groupings) are actually very nice. You need air but hey the youngster can use a $50.00 handpump, or a scuba tank for as many shots per fill as you get not too much of an issue (untill you need a .25 RAW or something).
You should be able to do a forum search for the crosman. If not rules a QB78 or 79HPA would likely work just fine.

Keep us posted.

John

 

[SpindleB]

A couple lighter but relatively low cost are
Air Venturi Avenger
Airforce Talon (probably have to buy used) with a 19 or 24 inch barrel. Get lucky maybe the Condor

Airforce is a single shot but is the simplest platform to maintain. Less than 10 screws and the whole gun is in pieces. Lots of videos on how to maintain them.

 

[Ezana4CE]

4h rules and others likely require certain things. IF a CMP member or club do try them :https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/sporter-air-rifles/
If there are some idea for nice airguns. Airgun Reisions has a pretty good price on the Crosman Challenger. And the sight ( and groupings) are actually very nice. You need air but hey the youngster can use a $50.00 handpump, or a scuba tank for as many shots per fill as you get not too much of an issue (untill you need a .25 RAW or something).
You should be able to do a forum search for the crosman. If not rules a QB78 or 79HPA would likely work just fine.

Keep us posted.

John

@blackholegun Airgun Revisions is a great suggestion. As he was posting his reply I was reviewing guns on their site. Here’s a link https://www.airgunrevisions.com/product-category/pcp-airguns/page/2/

You can contact Rich at @Airgun-Revisions to ask questions and tell him what you want. Be sure to communicate that you want something with pero sights like the gun your son used in the competition. I think calling is best. He also responds to emails. Here’s the contact info https://www.airgunrevisions.com/contact-airgun-revisions/

I’ve purchased a PCP rifle from them and sent one (that I buggered up) in for repairs. They are professional and affordable. They are also an Airgun Nation Sponsor in good standing.

 

[markhooper]

I don't know about the scba tank or scuba tank, seems anything that is certified so you can get refills at a dive shop or paintball place is pretty expensive.
I've read a lot of good stuff on the GX compressor line.. and some are less money than tanks.
I don't have a GX compressor but I have a Omega trail charger, some say it's a rebrand of the GX compressor.. it's been trouble free for 8 years..
curious what you think about the suggestions so far on guns..
I have a Condor SS 22 caliber and they are very powerful and like was said there's very little to go wrong with them.. you can even change barrel to a different caliber in 5 minutes.. 177&20&22&25..
I'm not sure about the competitions.. I've never been involved in that.. but he might also like a magazine fed gun..I don't know what is allowed for competition and the members that already replied probably know more about that but I've seen people like the air venturi avenger line and pyramid air sells those.. I've got a rifle similar to it a American tactical liberty Nova 22 caliber and it's a very good gun..
hopefully you can get some solid good recommendations for your guy..
congratulations to you and him.. sounds like your teaching him good.
Mark

 

[c_m_shooter]

If you don't want to commit to PCP, look up a Weirach HW30/ Beemen R7. It is a breakbarrel that is easy to cock and short enough for youths to handle. Will be around $300. Has globe front sight from factory with V notch rear. A daisy rear aperture can be mounted on the scope dovetail, that is the way mine was set up.

 

[jkingrph]

If you don't want to commit to PCP, look up a Weirach HW30/ Beemen R7. It is a breakbarrel that is easy to cock and short enough for youths to handle. Will be around $300. Has globe front sight from factory with V notch rear. A daisy rear aperture can be mounted on the scope dovetail, that is the way mine was set up.

Sounds like a good set up for a beginning shooter. I would install a rear aperture, and it might be best to remove the factory rear leaf sight to clean up the sight picture.

 

[blackholegun]

4h rules and others likely require certain things. IF a CMP member or club do try them :https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/sporter-air-rifles/
If there are some idea for nice airAirgun Reisions has a pretty good price on the Crosman Challenger. And the sight ( and groupings) are actually very nice. You need air but hey the youngster can use a $50.00 handpump, or a scuba tank for as many shots per fill as you get not too much of an issue (untill you need a .25 RAW or something).
You should be able to do a forum search for the crosman. If not rules a QB78 or 79HPA would likely work just fine.

Keep us posted.

John

Unfortunately in the match we just we just went to the kids could only use the Crosman Challenger 2021 in one of the matches. The 2000 and 2009 were ok to use. I’m trying to post pictures of the rules as the crosman challenger 2021 was explicitly prohibited.

 

[blackholegun]

The first two pics are out of the Texas 4-H shooting rules. The last was from his competition.

 

[blackholegun]

A couple lighter but relatively low cost are
Air Venturi Avenger
Airforce Talon (probably have to buy used) with a 19 or 24 inch barrel. Get lucky maybe the Condor

Airforce is a single shot but is the simplest platform to maintain. Less than 10 screws and the whole gun is in pieces. Lots of videos on how to maintain them.

They don’t allow the Air Force talon due to the chassis style. But I’ll look at the avenger. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[blackholegun]

Sounds like a good set up for a beginning shooter. I would install a rear aperture, and it might be best to remove the factory rear leaf sight to clean up the sight picture.

Thanks for the heads up I’ll check this option out.

 

[blackholegun]

If you don't want to commit to PCP, look up a Weirach HW30/ Beemen R7. It is a breakbarrel that is easy to cock and short enough for youths to handle. Will be around $300. Has globe front sight from factory with V notch rear. A daisy rear aperture can be mounted on the scope dovetail, that is the way mine was set up.

Thanks for the input. I’m looking it up now.

 

[blackholegun]

@blackholegun Airgun Revisions is a great suggestion. As he was posting his reply I was reviewing guns on their site. Here’s a link https://www.airgunrevisions.com/product-category/pcp-airguns/page/2/

You can contact Rich at @Airgun-Revisions to ask questions and tell him what you want. Be sure to communicate that you want something with pero sights like the gun your son used in the competition. I think calling is best. He also responds to emails. Here’s the contact info https://www.airgunrevisions.com/contact-airgun-revisions/

I’ve purchased a PCP rifle from them and sent one (that I buggered up) in for repairs. They are professional and affordable. They are also an Airgun Nation Sponsor in good standing.

I will hit them up. I’ve been over these rules like 40 times. Hopefully I can find something for the little man to shoot with.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I will hit them up. I’ve been over these rules like 40 times. Hopefully I can find something for the little man to shoot with.

@blackholegun The good thing about Airgun Revisions is that it’s an authorized Crosman/Benjamin service center. At least it was last I checked. Let us know what you decide upon.

 

[blackholegun]

@blackholegun The good thing about Airgun Revisions is that it’s an authorized Crosman/Benjamin service center. At least it was last I checked. Let us know what you decide upon.

I just realized the CMP has other rifles for sale besides the Crosman. I may just buy one of the cheap 853 or 753s and let him plink around the house. Then go to another match with a gun borrowed from our club. Then we can see what everyone else is shooting. The CMP also have the Daisy 599s as well so if he really wants a pcp at least I know that one is explicitly called out as ok to use.

Im going to reach out to Airgun revisions tomorrow too see what they say. Thanks again.