Airguns you shot as a kid

[Longbob]

My childhood air rifles were:

Daisy Red Rider
Crosman V350
Crosman 140

I also was given a broken CO2 pistol by an uncle, a Crosman, short barrel, pull knob on the back. I fixed it and it was awfully fun to shoot. When we moved from our beautiful home in the country to the city (my dad took a new job) I gifted my childhood buddy with the pistol because he had been so jealous of it that I felt he should own it. I also had firearms so I was not without the ability to throw lead. I still have the Crosman V350 and the 140.

A friend of mine had the Crosman V350. I was always envious of how the high compression spring in that bb gun had more power than my Daisy lever action Quick Kill rifle.

OTOH, he was always envious of my ability to kill small critters without using sights.

[BackStop]

My childhood air rifles were:

Daisy Red Rider
Crosman V350
Crosman 140

I also was given a broken CO2 pistol by an uncle, a Crosman, short barrel, pull knob on the back. I fixed it and it was awfully fun to shoot. When we moved from our beautiful home in the country to the city (my dad took a new job) I gifted my childhood buddy with the pistol because he had been so jealous of it that I felt he should own it. I also had firearms so I was not without the ability to throw lead. I still have the Crosman V350 and the 140.

A friend of mine had the Crosman V350. I was always envious of how the high compression spring in that bb gun had more power than my Daisy lever action Quick Kill rifle.

OTOH, he was always envious of my ability to kill small critters without using sights.

My first air rifle was a v350.   I remember vividly being able to see the bb for the entire trajectory.   It made second shots dead on, when a second shot was possible! 

Boy, does that bring back some really old memories...

[3crows]

Not a good picture, sorry. My Crosman V350 and my Crosman 140. I have owned them my entire life. The Daisy Red Rider is new and I purchased it and another for my nephews.



James

[BackStop]

Not a good picture, sorry. My Crosman V350 and my Crosman 140. I have owned them my entire life. The Daisy Red Rider is new and I purchased it and another for my nephews.



James

I would probably still have my v350, but my older brother did something with his that made my father mad and he took an axe to both mine and his...  (heavy sigh)

I think this was in the late 1960's.

[3crows]

I would probably still have my v350, but my older brother did something with his that made my father mad and he took an axe to both mine and his...  (heavy sigh)

I think this was in the late 1960's.

An axe? Wow, well, I am sure I made my parents angry but they never axed my BB gun!

[BackStop]

I would probably still have my v350, but my older brother did something with his that made my father mad and he took an axe to both mine and his...  (heavy sigh)

I think this was in the late 1960's.

An axe? Wow, well, I am sure I made my parents angry but they never axed my BB gun!

If I remember correctly, and I am not really sure as it was a long time ago, I think he (my older brother) shot a bird and a neighbor saw him do it and called our parents.

My father was a really good man, but he had a limit and my older brother crossed it.   Of course, I never thought it was fair that he destroyed MY v350 because of what my brother did.

Oh well, I still miss my dad and my older brother (and recently my next to youngest brother).   The v350, not nearly as much. 

[Longbob]

I would probably still have my v350, but my older brother did something with his that made my father mad and he took an axe to both mine and his...  (heavy sigh)

I think this was in the late 1960's.

An axe? Wow, well, I am sure I made my parents angry but they never axed my BB gun!

Mine took my Daisy Quick Kill rifle away for awhile after I used a neighbors plate glass, sliding patio door for a target.

Heh.

I was something of a juvenile delinquent when I was a kid.

[Longbob]

I would probably still have my v350, but my older brother did something with his that made my father mad and he took an axe to both mine and his...  (heavy sigh)

I think this was in the late 1960's.

An axe? Wow, well, I am sure I made my parents angry but they never axed my BB gun!

If I remember correctly, and I am not really sure as it was a long time ago, I think he (my older brother) shot a bird and a neighbor saw him do it and called our parents.

My father was a really good man, but he had a limit and my older brother crossed it.   Of course, I never thought it was fair that he destroyed MY v350 because of what my brother did.

Oh well, I still miss my dad and my older brother (and recently my next to youngest brother).   The v350, not nearly as much.

Day-Um ... that's what kids do w/ their bb guns. I couldn't tell you how many birds and other critters I shot when i was younger. It was like it was my personal mission to depopulate the Earth of its avian species.

[3crows]

I grew up rural in Louisiana. We lived on acreage that backed to a lake and across the dam what is now a large wildlife refuge. Woods, lakes, swamps and bayous and lots of animals. I never shot native birds, I was taught the difference. I did have a KOS for starlings and house sparrows and pigeons on local family farms. There was also a bounty on nutria off and on. So, there were plenty of opportunities and I took advantage of them. I also popped those nasty disease carrying 'dillas at every opportunity. I know today it would cause a stir but kids carried BB guns, pellet rifles and .410 shotguns and .22 rifles routinely and there were gun racks in the rear window of every truck. I usually carried my Crosman 140 but I also had a .410 single shot (still do) and a Marlin 60 .22 and a Remington SS Target Master .22 (and still do). Air rifles are just a little light for nutria and Hoover Hogs. But mostly it was the Crosman 140 either in my pirogue or atop my English Racer (3 speed bicycle).  Me and my border collie Smokey and in this case a .410 SS on the porch of my parent house about to head out.

[Longbob]

Daisy Air Rifles: Keeping Kids Off Your Lawn Since 1886.

[Longbob]

I grew up rural in Louisiana. I also had a .410 single shot (still do) and a Marlin 60 .22 and a Remington SS Target Master .22 (and still do). Air rifles are just a little light for nutria and Hoover Hogs. But mostly it was the Crosman 140 either in my pirogue or atop my English Racer (3 speed bicycle). 

In a pirouge, eh? Once upon a time I was reading how a lot of Lousianians keep a scoped .22 magnum and a 20 gauge dogleg shotgun w/ them when they go out in the bayou's in their pirouges.

I'm sure you already know what a dogleg is ... but, for those that don't, it's a single shot 20 gauge w/ a 19 inch barrel. No choke of course.

VERY useful. I have one. They're light and handy. Everyone should have one.

[3crows]

I grew up rural in Louisiana. I also had a .410 single shot (still do) and a Marlin 60 .22 and a Remington SS Target Master .22 (and still do). Air rifles are just a little light for nutria and Hoover Hogs. But mostly it was the Crosman 140 either in my pirogue or atop my English Racer (3 speed bicycle). 

In a pirouge, eh? Once upon a time I was reading how a lot of Lousianians keep a scoped .22 magnum and a 20 gauge dogleg shotgun w/ them when they go out in the bayou's in their pirouges.

I'm sure you already know what a dogleg is ... but, for those that don't, it's a single shot 20 gauge w/ a 19 inch barrel. No choke of course.

VERY useful. I have one. They're light and handy. Everyone should have one.

Alligators were an occasional problem but not as much so as is hyped. Now water moccasins, yeah, they are dangerous, vicious and aggressive and will come in the boat after you. I have been bitten and spent a week in the hospital, not fun. For alligators, below 6 feet, they are just big lizards, above 6 feet better give berth. An air rifle is not sufficient medicine, but a .22 Mag between the eyes will do the trick if one were to become problem, which, again, is rare. An air rifle just bounces off. Mostly leave them alone and enjoy them and they will reciprocate.

[Longbob]

I grew up rural in Louisiana. I also had a .410 single shot (still do) and a Marlin 60 .22 and a Remington SS Target Master .22 (and still do). Air rifles are just a little light for nutria and Hoover Hogs. But mostly it was the Crosman 140 either in my pirogue or atop my English Racer (3 speed bicycle). 

In a pirouge, eh? Once upon a time I was reading how a lot of Lousianians keep a scoped .22 magnum and a 20 gauge dogleg shotgun w/ them when they go out in the bayou's in their pirouges.

I'm sure you already know what a dogleg is ... but, for those that don't, it's a single shot 20 gauge w/ a 19 inch barrel. No choke of course.

VERY useful. I have one. They're light and handy. Everyone should have one.

Alligators were an occasional problem but not as much so as is hyped. Now water moccasins, yeah, they are dangerous, vicious and aggressive and will come in the boat after you. I have been bitten and spent a week in the hospital, not fun. For alligators, below 6 feet, they are just big lizards, above 6 feet better give berth. An air rifle is not sufficient medicine, but a .22 Mag between the eyes will do the trick if one were to become problem, which, again, is rare. An air rifle just bounces off. Mostly leave them alone and enjoy them and they will reciprocate.

My housekeeper and I went fishing yesterday evening at the city pond and an 8 foot long alligator kept us company for a good half an hour hanging out about 10-15 feet from the bank. Only it's head & occasionally part of it's body was visible. Water was probably just a couple of feet deep.

That pond also has some humongous sized cottonmouth's. I keep a modded 1377 in my tackle box handy for them and often supplement that w/ a CO2 bb pistol (Gamo P-23 and/or Daisy 415) and often my .22 Crosman Backpacker as well.

I was thinking about popping the gator yesterday evening w/ the 1377 to drive it away. But, it wasn't hurting anything or anyone ... it was just hanging out.

[Hoosier Daddy]

That is a great Photo James!
 Mom passed down the family photo albums to me recently and I am ashamed to post those kind of pics of my youth.
I was adorned with glasses and braces in the 3rd grade for the next 8 years... 

[overeasy]

Will never forget a co2 BB pistol my older sisters boy friend gave me. It was a Plainsman. Don't know if I'm spelling that properly but that thing was by far the most powerful BB gun I've ever shot. It made a big crack and whatever you were shooting, mostly sparrows at the time, exploded! One of my friends borrowed it and I never saw it again unfortunately. Years later I saw one at a hardware store and I bought it just to return it later that day.  As all things have changed, it was nothing like the one given to me years ago. All plastic and NO HUVEOS!
Also had a 760 Crosman that I spent lots of time with and enjoyed immensely.
 OE

[unionrdr]

I enjoyed my 760 Powermaster so much I took it with me when we went exploring down by the Black River. Huntin', plinkin', snakes, etc. I still have it...and a few more...

[overeasy]

Not too long ago I went looking for one of those guns and was severely disappointed to find they still make a "version" of it but in reality they are nothing like the old 760s. Think mine was from one of the first years they made them. Was it the mid 60s' when Crosman started production? That would have made me some where around 10 or 12.
   Thanks,
  Dave

[unionrdr]

Yup. 1966 to like 1970 for the variant 1 Powermaster. Here's mine, built 6/70 and restomodded;

[WilsonLR]

Daisy Model 99 circa 1960 with peep sights. Still have the red Daisy BB trap in the attic. I loved that thing.

The model 99 is in mint condition after being in storage for 50 years but only shot 5 feet when I took it out recently. Sent to the Baker home for wayward Daisy's for new seals and lube. 

[KevinJBrown]

Started with a Daisy 1894. My dad helped me make a BB trap out of a cardboard box and carpet with a ledge that I could line up things to shoot at. I had a bunch of plastic soldiers that were about 1/2" high that I got from sending in cereal box tops or something. They were a challenge across one of the rooms in the basement. Once gunpowder entered the scene that was the last air rifle I shot until I had children.