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natewat · New Member

My son is 13 and very interested in shooting. I'd like to get him an air rifle that he can use for target shooting...maybe competitively...and shooting small game. This would mean that in PA it would have to be .22 cal. Since this would be his first air rifle, I would like to keep the budget to $150-$300 for a ready to shoot package.

Since you all have the experience, can you please suggest what types of guns I should be looking into for him?

I have read several threads and see that the RWS 34 is pretty popular, but I am concerned that it may be a bit much for his age.

Thanks in advance for any adivce!

SMP · Silver Status Member

Your going to get lots of ideas from this question.

For myself as a 13yr old I would have been really proud to own the benjamin classic 22
Beautiful lines and shoots very well. As do all the nitro piston versions of the same gun. And very well priced $200ish
But...Its a little heavy. You would have to judge if it was the right fit for him. A strapping 13yr old could handle it easily

bobtodrick · Member

How important is the competitive shooting aspect of you equation?
All competitive shooting (except field target, which I don't think is what your interested in) is done in .177.
No matches that I have competed in allow .22
In your price range an excellent target rifle/plinker is the Daisy Avanti series.

If his main interest (and remember this should be his decision, not what you'd like to see him do Smile

) is hunting, than by all means go with .22

natewat · New Member

After reading the replies this far, I took a closer look at the PA ammunition limitations for small game, and it states that ammunitions should be .23 and smaller. So, .177 cal is OK!

Thanks for the replies this far, I have been doing some furious research. I want to build a list of rifles for my son to choose from based on what he wants to use the gun to do.

Thanks Again!

natewat · New Member

old joe krantz · Member

I have not owned a lot of guns and am fairly new to this myself, so take that into consideration. I bought a Diana 34 for my first gun, it's a very well constructed and accurate rifle but I agree with your thoughts that it would be a bit much for a 13 year old. It's really an adults gun both in size and weight (I know 13 year olds can vary alot)
It's powerful and while I could certainly cock it, it takes some effort, more than I liked for repetitive target shooting. RWS does make a nice lower powered smaller gun that I think would be a better choice as does Weihrauch. These are both high quality German brands. Weihrauch models to look at would be the HW25 and 30. RWS model would be Diana Schutze.

Daisy Avanti has been mentioned and comes in a few models including one that is quite reasonably priced, the 953 I think.

Air Venturi Bronco is another lower cost option. It is not as nicely finished or as solid feeling as the other guns but works well and is quiet. Good luck.

Slavia · Moderator

The Avanti 853 is used frequently by youth in organized competition. The Daisy 953 (same action with a cheaper barrel) is still plenty accurate. On the down side, they aren't very powerful, so hunting is a problem.

The Bronco is sized for a smaller shooter, but it's only slightly more powerful than the Daisy/Avanti guns.

Try to involve the kid in the selection process. Both objective factors (like proper fit) and subjective factors ("coolness") will be important to maintain his interest.

Consider enrolling your son in the PA hunter safety course:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=590352&mode=2

packrat · Senior Member

Crosman AS2250XT..comes with a scope too..all for about $145.00(US) is short, very light weight, and a blast to shoot!!! VERY accurate and very dependable......operates on very economical CO2, which can be purchased at WallyWorld, so no hassling with cocking, OR TRYING to learn that confounded "artillery hold"..Son can focus all his attention to safety, and shooting , not how to safely cock it and how to hold it just right for it to be accurate.......do yourself (and son) a favor, and check one out..you'll probably end up getting one for yourself as well-they really ARE fun Mr. Green

natewat · New Member

natewat · New Member

fritz · Silver Status Member

I'm pretty sure you can't use an airgun for anything in PA.

The Diana 34 is an excellent choice.

GrizzlyMan · Member

B12 break barrel bestairguns

http://bestairgun.stores.yahoo.net/xixsairri3.html

I bought it when it was 55.00 on sale. Its a super sweet rifle, very nice wood finish, safety mechanism and does not look at all as a 55 dollar rifle.

It does shoot 500 fps (.22) as I clocked it with the F1 chrony without any tune out of the box. It does not look cheap at all, in fact it is bigger than a B3-1 or a B3-3 by a slight bit but much lighter.

It comes with fiber open sights, also has a rimfire scope rails. Wink