Author Topic: Break Barrel (Read 1504 times)

bforester1982 · « **on:** December 14, 2017, 07:59:56 PM »

Looking at getting my son a gamo for xmas. He's 8. Which one would be best? I'll probably have to cock it for him so I'm Not worried about that. I just want to be sure he can shoulder it and shoot comfortably. Thanks for yals opinions.

Alan · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2017, 04:28:58 AM »

You didn't ask, but...

I have owned two, nitro piston break barrels, and I couldn't get either one to shoot worth beans. They're difficult to cock as you noted, but they're even harder to hold properly. If it were me, I'd buy either a pump gun (Benjamin 397 or 392), or one of the good springers (non nitro piston) preferably with a side or bottom cocking level.

Steelhead · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2017, 07:07:29 AM »

I bought a regular ol' Benjamin Prowler last year and I couldn't be happier with it. Regardless of the price, I found it to be plenty accurate for a backyard plinker. For a starter gun that teaches safety and marksmanship it fits the bill nicely. Of course there are other nicer/more powerful/accurate guns out there but they also cost more as well.

If the young fella is like any of the rest of us, he will love and cherish it just as we did when we kids. I still have a fond place in my heart for my old Daisy 1894 BB gun that wasn't worth a hill of beans. It's because it was MINE and I learned to shoot it as good as it could be shot.

caniborrowsomeammo · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2017, 10:38:41 PM »

1894 Daisy was my first too. Fun, easy to cock, stock fits a kid, I must have killed a million birds in the prune orchard with it.
BB's are cheap and trigger time helps shooting skills. Also, a single shot at that age is kinda boring if you can't keep him occupied shooting. Think attention span. Way more fun to shoot a tin can 10 times by just cocking and shooting vs. loading a pellet at a time.
Don't know what is comparable to the Daisy nowadays.
I got my daughter a 105 Daisy when she was 6 or 7, she's a fine shot with a rife and a pistol at the ripe old age of 27..maybe outshoot me, maybe.

joek · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2018, 11:15:17 PM »

Here is one that he will grow into, and imho about the best deal out right now considering the two free metal targets. and free shipping.
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Diana_240_Classic_Air_Rifle/4163

joek · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2018, 06:33:30 PM »

sorry

caniborrowsomeammo · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2018, 07:09:12 PM »

And what's old, is new again.

You never know, someone may look at your post and find the right AG for them or their little shooter.

mobilemail · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2018, 03:14:33 PM »

I'm a little shooter....

I'm just not a young little shooter...

steveoh · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2018, 08:26:49 AM »

I have my original Diana 27 from 1968 or thereabouts. My Dad bought it for me at the post exchange at SHAPE, Belgium. I started shooting 10 meters indoors at tiny little paper targets. Got fairly good. Moved to South Carolina for a year while Dad was in Vietnam, where I took up hunting and plinking in the woods. That one year was formative to say the least.

I have the Diana apart right now, new piston, spring and seal. One day I'll get it back together.

In the meantime, around 2012, I got back into the airgun world, and bought my second airgun. It is an RWS / Diana 350 Magnum .22 Compact Pro.

That thing is difficult to cock, and difficult to shoot, and it is a violent airgun. If you can learn to shoot that thing you can learn to shoot any airgun.

I've killed the original RWS Scope that came with that gun. I think they are known to fail. But there is still something compelling about a powerful springer. Not for a kid though. My 11 year old can not cock the beast, and I struggle.

At any rate, the Diana 240 is a great choice. I kinda want one.

Nate M · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2018, 08:44:58 AM »

Hey, The clear choice should be the Beeman R7. It may be more than you want to spend ($240-$300) but It's basically a Mini R9 with 1/2 the cocking effort of other spring guns. (17lbs) and it's accurate! Here's the video that sold me on that gun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNU-ZoSROEA Happy shooting! -Nate

P.S. You always need to clean the barrel before you shoot a Gamo or other cheap (or expensive) springer. and not with a metal cleaning rod. If you shoot it with grease in the barrel it will take 1000 shots before it will shoot straight.