If you had to guess.....

[Danman]

Disagree, young adults are mostly interested in other young adults, and don't have the money resources or time to commit to being an airgunner. They are shooting what their parents will permit, or put up with, cheap MPP's or springers. Most would choose a .22rf if given an option(even I did). I would guess that 90% of the airguns sold at Walmart don't last a year. Impromptu surveys have already been done repeatedly on airgun forums over the last several years and airgunners that actually count this as their hobby are 55+ with disposable income.

Agreed, and this forum proves that I think. I may very well be the youngest guy on HAM (37)?! Canada has similar Air rifle 'demographics'. I know ONE other guy into airguns as much as me, and lots of shooters but they 99% go pb, Lots of airgun "owners" but they'll shoot them once or twice a yr if that, maybe on pests...not counting them! Many of us recieved 495fps springers to cut our teeth on and learn marksmanship. Half toy/half weapon it's was fun but most are rusted & abandoned in a closet somewhere. Pcps are still fairly expensive to get into, springers are somewhat "stale", and co2 is weak, while 22LR is cheap n plentiful. My guess would be 0.20% of the US population (which still ends up being millions of people btw!)

 

[Kragman1]

Well, if we are less than 1%, I'd say that we are the elite!

 

[Grunt64]

Disagree, young adults are mostly interested in other young adults, and don't have the money, resources, or time, to commit to being an airgunner. They are shooting what their parents will permit, or put up with, cheap MPP's or springers. Most would choose a .22rf if given an option(even I did). I would guess that 90% of the airguns sold at Walmart don't last a year. Impromptu surveys have already been done repeatedly on airgun forums over the last several years and airgunners that actually count this as their hobby are 55+ with disposable income. As far as a percentage of the shooting population willing to buy an actual good springer or pcp? If I had to guess, I would guess that it is trending up but still hasn't reached 1%. Depending on who's data you believe, on how many people actually own and use their firearms regularly, that could be a not insignificant number.

You can disagree but, as far as the calculations from the Inernet, Microsoft Copilot. Thats as close to a number you're going to get, I would never pick a.22rf over my pcps not even a magnum!!! Here are only 2 of many sites that shows why the younger people are using air guns NRA Family | Umarex, Student Air Rifle Program & MidwayUSA Foundation: Collaborating for Youth Shooting Sports 3PAR Shooting information - Civilian Marksmanship Program Just in the civilian Marksmanship there are More than 250,000 youth participate in these program, kind of makes 20k look very small,lol

 

[Pumacarl]

You can disagree but, as far as the calculations from the Inernet, Microsoft Copilot. Thats as close to a number you're going to get, I would never pick a.22rf over my pcps

You would never pick a .22rf NOW over one of your pcp's. Me either, NOW, but knowing myself, when I was young, no way. And co-pilot is an AI that doesn't know anything it's not told to spit out. Have you seen some of the wild stuff being generated by that? Here is what I see: in my extended family there are about 30 kids over the last 30 years of family shoots. Once the real guns show up none have wanted to shoot the airguns. Once they are mid-teen and hormones are kicking in, they want to prove something and airguns don't cut it. If you've got a family that does, congratulations, I envy you that.

 

[Grunt64]

Agreed, and this forum proves that I think. I may very well be the youngest guy on HAM (37)?! Canada has similar Air rifle 'demographics'. I know ONE other guy into airguns as much as me, and lots of shooters but they 99% go pb, Lots of airgun "owners" but they'll shoot them once or twice a yr if that, maybe on pests...not counting them! Many of us recieved 495fps springers to cut our teeth on and learn marksmanship. Half toy/half weapon it's was fun but most are rusted & abandoned in a closet somewhere. Pcps are still fairly expensive to get into, springers are somewhat "stale", and co2 is weak, while 22LR is cheap n plentiful. My guess would be 0.20% of the US population (which still ends up being millions of people btw!)

Just because they don't join groups doesn't mean they don't have one or use them. .22 LR maybe plentiful but are also weak at 100-150fpe and they are short range compared to air guns (PCP)

 

[Grunt64]

You would never pick a .22rf NOW over one of your pcp's. Me either, NOW, but knowing myself, when I was young, no way. And co-pilot is an AI that doesn't know anything it's not told to spit out. Have you seen some of the wild stuff being generated by that? Here is what I see: in my extended family there are about 30 kids over the last 30 years of family shoots. Once the real guns show up none have wanted to shoot the airguns. Once they are mid-teen and hormones are kicking in, they want to prove something and airguns don't cut it. If you've got a family that does, congratulations, I envy you that.

They need to shoot a high powerd pcp bet they would drop the 30-30 or 35 marlin ,. You dont need 3000 fps, most kills are less then 100 yards, i have plenty of PB including a 45-70 Marlin guess where it sits.

 

[Pumacarl]

I hope your right. These forums should be getting a lot busier pretty soon. Actually, selfishly, I'd rather see youth get more into firearms and grow up protecting our 2A rights, more beneficial in the long run.

 

[JimT66]

I hope your right. These forums should be getting a lot busier pretty soon. Actually, selfishly, I'd rather see youth get more into firearms and grow up protecting our 2A rights, more beneficial in the long run.

That's the truth. Or we will end up like the Chinese slaves...error. I mean citizens. Not even allowed to own an anemic 300fps bb gun, much less what we have now.

 

[Grunt64]

I hope your right. These forums should be getting a lot busier pretty soon. Actually, selfishly, I'd rather see youth get more into firearms and grow up protecting our 2A rights, more beneficial in the long run.

most that serve this GREAT COUNTRY joined because their DAD did or an uncle etc. We have become weak and taught to take instead of give. If I acted like these kids today, I would have a boot stuck in the crack of my *** to this day,lol

 

[Danman]

Just because they don't join groups doesn't mean they don't have one or use them. .22 LR maybe plentiful but are also weak at 100-150fpe and they are short range compared to air guns (PCP)

For sure, the grey area I suppose is what makes you an airgunner; there are different levels... Myself I was gifted a crosman springer @ 10 and taught proper gun safety by my dad. I immediately realized the thing was wiicckeeddd and cherished it (minus the synthetic stock) and toted it everywhere. Rewind to 12 yrs ago; I got married and moved in with wife to my place. The Slavia came with but I probably shot maybe 50 pellets through it in 10yrs, obviously busy with my new life. I would not consider myself an airgunner in those 10years!
Criteria could be:
-Has at least one airgun.
-Shoots it/ them at least a few times a yr, not just out of necessity
-seeks out fellow airgunners or at least spreads the word to friends/family
-Shoots airguns more or same amount as firearms
-Has been on AG forums (does not need to be a member!) or watched videos on them at one point in their journey.

 

[Chief55]

They need to shoot a high powerd pcp bet they would drop the 30-30 or 35 marlin ,. You dont need 3000 fps, most kills are less then 100 yards, i have plenty of PB including a 45-70 Marlin guess where it sits.

Every deer I have ever shot has been between 3 feet and 30 yards except for one at 300 yards. Because I still hunt, never cared too much for falling out of trees. I have climbed them a few times but back around 83 the bottom of a climbing stand came loose and was hanging 3 feet below my feet and I was not too impressed after that. Not a reason in the world why a big bore PCP could not have done the job.