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How Did You Get Into Airguns ?
- Thread starter PasadenaMike
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 44
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Can't remember. I was born into a shooting family. Literally grew up shooting; fingergun, stick, squirtgun, cap gun, rubberbands, slingshots, peashooters and blowguns (thanks for the idea National Geographic), finally bb-guns, home-made crossbows and bows, and then mpp Crosmans, m-80's and blackpowder cannons, pb's of all types. We were always shooting something off, but mostly our mouths. Good times! I read a lot about every kind of weapon as a kid too. Jim Carmicheal's Jonesboro Pidgeon Shoot article introduced me to the FWB124D, and the first thing I did when I went to Germany, in the Army, was buy one. Still shoots fine, forty something years later.
mobilemail
HAM Specialist
Beeman catalogs and a MSP Crosman set the stage for me as a kid in the '70s. Fast forward to my early 40s, I ordered a chinese copy of a Diana 48. Gun was rough to shoot, didn't like it, traded it on an RC truck. Jump forward a couple more years to around the time of the great rimfire shortage around 2010 or so. I ordered a Diana 350, and felt like I was finally getting to see a high quality airgun. It was a .177, but I had much better shooting accuracy and satisfaction with it than the Chinese tank. I wanted to squirrel hunt with it, but I was slow to get an accurate shot with it so I kept looking.
I found airgun forums and started learning about PCPs. My first was a Crosman Challenger 2009 that I was able to buy new at the time for under $400 (try that now!!) Then i bought a used SCUBA tank and was off to the races.
While I had the Marauder I determined that the SCUBA tank was going to take too many 140-mile trips to get refilled, so I ponied up and bought the big air tank from Joe Brancato. That's when I found out that now I have enough air to shoot several guns! Oh my!
Everyone here is familiar with the rabbit hole this opens up. I don't think I can even list all the airguns I have bought and sold. But I learned a few things about myself:
1. I want to shoot a springer, not work on one.
2. I really prefer springers under about 12fpe
3. I prefer to buy guns that work out of the box, without a bunch of work to improve efficiency, accuracy, shot count, etc. On the other hand, it's really hard for me to justify over $1K to purchase an airgun.
4. As a southpaw, I want a gun with a left hand action.
5. Not interested in a semi-auto, auto, slugs or over .25 caliber
6. Not interested in a specialty benchrest gun.
7. Used high quality airguns are a wonderful value, almost all of my airguns were purchased used.
So here I am!
I found airgun forums and started learning about PCPs. My first was a Crosman Challenger 2009 that I was able to buy new at the time for under $400 (try that now!!) Then i bought a used SCUBA tank and was off to the races.
While I had the Marauder I determined that the SCUBA tank was going to take too many 140-mile trips to get refilled, so I ponied up and bought the big air tank from Joe Brancato. That's when I found out that now I have enough air to shoot several guns! Oh my!
Everyone here is familiar with the rabbit hole this opens up. I don't think I can even list all the airguns I have bought and sold. But I learned a few things about myself:
1. I want to shoot a springer, not work on one.
2. I really prefer springers under about 12fpe
3. I prefer to buy guns that work out of the box, without a bunch of work to improve efficiency, accuracy, shot count, etc. On the other hand, it's really hard for me to justify over $1K to purchase an airgun.
4. As a southpaw, I want a gun with a left hand action.
5. Not interested in a semi-auto, auto, slugs or over .25 caliber
6. Not interested in a specialty benchrest gun.
7. Used high quality airguns are a wonderful value, almost all of my airguns were purchased used.
So here I am!
Danman
Grand HAMster
A fellow lefty! Oof the 350 is an insanely powerful spring gun in .177 for sure and not easy to shoot accurately! My family has 2 of them and one has eaten a scope, tossed some rings, and is now getting a vortex kit to hopefully calm it down. Other one just rattles itself loose with open sights. Also need barrel cleaning often to keep em accurately shooting. Not very pleasant to shoot either and insane recoil in the world of springers. To much gun for .177 IMHO. As far as tanks/compressors we are blessed with so many compressor options now!
mobilemail
HAM Specialist
Agreed! I bought an as-new Shoebox F10 about three years ago and no longer have to make the long trip to the dive shop. Even now I only have less than 30 hours total run time on it.
Doc Holiday
HAM Sniper
Last edited:
I got a hand me down Daisy Pal when I was a kid. I then got a Red Ryder in 1976 for Christmas (which I still have and shoot). Then my Uncle gave us a Daisy 200 C02 Pistol (I loved that thing). Then at about 11-12 I got my first pumper, a new Crosman 760 (all metal and brass bolt). Was good times
Doc Holiday
HAM Sniper
What 12fpe guns do you own or have owned that were good? Are/were they better than the Diana 350? Wanting to know as I’ve only owned one break barrel. Was a Daisy made in Spain. It did shoot accurately but was very hold sensitive. Took too much concentration. Shooting went from fun to work lol.
mobilemail
HAM Specialist
I have owned several springers that are easier to shoot well than the 350. The only springer I own right now is a Beeman R7, which is a really easy "shoot all day" kind of rifle that keeps a smile on your face...but I wouldn't hunt much over a HOSP with it.
Other great airguns that I have had in no particular order, in the 13-15fpe area: Diana 34, Weihrauch HW97. I had both in .177.
It seems like I'm forgetting something too, I've had "a few" over the years....
Other great airguns that I have had in no particular order, in the 13-15fpe area: Diana 34, Weihrauch HW97. I had both in .177.
It seems like I'm forgetting something too, I've had "a few" over the years....
PasadenaMike
Grand HAMster
- Original poster
- #30
That R7 is a sweet shooter I sold mine I wasn’t shooting it much
Mike Brown
HAM Marksman
My Beeman C1 is and was a joy to shoot. It was my first break barrel and the best I've had since the others I've acquired were simply bargains I couldn't pass up. Had to replace the original spring because of an early mistake made in ignorance but the Maccari spring I got to repair it has been great for many years. When one of the PCP's isn't available for one reason or another, the C1 is always ready to go.
By the time the Cabelas catalog made it to my house it was 1987 and I was 15 and saving up for a car. I really wanted an RWS, but wanted a car even more. Years later, after getting out of the Navy, I bought a Beeman R-1 .20cal carbine and loved. I've had way to many to count ever since.
Once you get the airgun bug there's no going back!
Scriv
Master HAMster
I guess it was bb guns back about '69 or '70. Some years later I went to multi pump guns, then single stroke pneumatics, and springers in the nineties. Mostly PCP now. Nice being to be able to shoot out the back door.
Peskådot671
HAM Sharp Shooter
I started off as a kid in the 80's with Benjamin 392 and 397 multi-pumpers. As a teen, my parents bought my older brother and I a Sheridan Silver Streak in .20cal to share. My father used to raise game fowl for cockfighting. We always had problems with other feral chickens invading our property and fighting with my dad's birds that were tied up.
Chickens were our main pest and still are till this day. I always wanted the ultimate airgun to take them out. In the mid 90's, I bought my first airgun with my own money. I was intrigued with the speed hype of 1100 fps and purchased a RWS Diana M48 in .177cal mail ordered from Gander Mountain. I still have it. If I knew what I knew now, I would've got one in .22cal.
Years later, I picked up a Diana M48 in .22 but it was still lacking the accuracy I was looking for. After stumbling on Ted's Holdover youtube videos, my interest in PCPs was piqued. Around 2015, I purchased my first PCP. A Brocock Contour S6 Elite in .22cal. It was all downhill from there and have been on a PCP binge since then.
Chickens were our main pest and still are till this day. I always wanted the ultimate airgun to take them out. In the mid 90's, I bought my first airgun with my own money. I was intrigued with the speed hype of 1100 fps and purchased a RWS Diana M48 in .177cal mail ordered from Gander Mountain. I still have it. If I knew what I knew now, I would've got one in .22cal.
Years later, I picked up a Diana M48 in .22 but it was still lacking the accuracy I was looking for. After stumbling on Ted's Holdover youtube videos, my interest in PCPs was piqued. Around 2015, I purchased my first PCP. A Brocock Contour S6 Elite in .22cal. It was all downhill from there and have been on a PCP binge since then.
Back in the early 1980s, I got a copy of a Beeman catalog and was really impressed with the products in it. As a result, I bought a Beeman R-8 with every accessory available. It was as good as Dr. Beeman's catalog said it was. About 5 years ago, I sold it to a good friend of mine who is an avid airgun collector where it collects dust in his safe. Since then, I've bought and sold many different high end PCP and spring piston guns because my 401k needed some exercise. It's really been an enjoyable hobby.
Bethjohnson
New member
Your journey into the world of airguns is truly touching and highlights the deep personal connection you have with them, rooted in cherished memories with your uncle. It’s inspiring to hear how he introduced you to break-barrel airguns and shared experiences of hunting together, which undoubtedly laid the foundation for your lifelong passion. Teaching kids to shoot at the YMCA camp not only showcases your commitment to passing on this knowledge but also emphasizes the importance of safety and skill in shooting sports.
The resurgence of your interest during the pandemic, especially with multi-pump airguns and PCPs, reflects how hobbies can evolve and adapt over time, bringing joy and fulfillment in different phases of life. Your story is a beautiful testament to the way airguns can create lasting memories and foster community, and it’s clear that your uncle’s influence will always be a part of your airgun journey.
The resurgence of your interest during the pandemic, especially with multi-pump airguns and PCPs, reflects how hobbies can evolve and adapt over time, bringing joy and fulfillment in different phases of life. Your story is a beautiful testament to the way airguns can create lasting memories and foster community, and it’s clear that your uncle’s influence will always be a part of your airgun journey.
Very nice comment and welcome to the HAM Forum! Enjoy your stay here.
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