So, why did you get into "airgunning"?

[mailman]

Got my Red Ryder from Santa in 1955 and didn't put my eye out.  Fast forward to the early 90's and I bought a 5 acre plot and put up a gorgeous off-the-grid cabin to go play at.  I decided that air guns would be far more neighbor friendly when other people were around at the other camps on our private road.  I found an add for Compasseco and their SAG air guns, where if you bought 5 you got a nice discount.  I asked 4 buddies if they'd like a pellet gun for $35 (I think they were costing me ~$32+change).  When they arrived we mustered at my buddy's car shop and started plinking with our new B3-3's.   Well, back then I was still actively "the Mailman", and next thing I knew I had guys stopping me on my route and wondering why I never asked them If they'd wanted one.  Next thing I knew, I ordered 10 more, then 10 more and within the next year or so I had bought and sold over 100.  The girls at Compasseco knew me by first name when I called!!!

In the meantime I spent my HUGE profits on a Gamo R77 and a Gamo 880 Hunter.  Sold the camp a few years back and relegated the ag's to squirrel control (67 over two winters out of my neighbor's black walnut trees by way of my wife's birdfeeders).  I moved 4+ yrs ago to a sweet little ranch where I set up a 10m range in my Man Cave.  This past fall I did some cleaning, re-arranging, and built a shooting bench and of course  snagged a couple new ag's to play with.

Then I started snooping around here (GTA), and the rest, as they say, is history!!!  Sometimes very expensive history!!  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!!........................the Nailman

[Frank in Fairfield]

I started when I was about 7, with a Daisy Model 25.
Growing up, I bought all kinds of airguns.
First, from Air Rifle Headquarters, then from Beemans's Precision
Airguns.
I never got into firearms too much.
I have two firearms that I've never even shot either of
them one time.

Just like Tom I started in the Baltimore area with a Model 25. We carried them everywhere (Yes to school).
The teacher lined them behind her desk. I still have the Model 25 although the gold leaf is long gone. I will be 69 next year, hunt everything that walks and flies. I first encountered adult air rifles in Berlin while stationed there 1974-79. At that time Berlin was still an occupied, post war environment so the German citizens could not own fixed ammunition firearms except shotguns (They could not keep shotgun ammo at home, though). Air rifles were their only option. Too, all game animals in Germany belong to the government so, why own PB guns? When Dr. Beeman bought out Air Rifle Headquarters and set up shop nearby in San Rafael, I became one of his best customers (I still am). I fire between 3000-4000 rounds of centerfire ammunition every year (Prairie rats, mostly). I shoot 10-12,000 pellets a year. I also still shoot the longbow and recurve a little each month. Retired, I have little else required of me.

[Oldgringo]

I reckon it was the novelty of it as much as it was the anti-gun hysteria and resultant absence of .22 LR ammo.  Although I'd had BB guns as a kid, I'd never had a pellet gun.  Something prompted me to order a used Daisy Avanti 853 from the CMP about a year ago.  WOW, five shots one hole at 10 M.  That was four rifles and three pistols ago.   

Being long of tooth and of finite resources, I'm gonna' hold off on new guns for awhile and concentrate on making the ones I have better in this New Year....in my backyard.   

[Booger]

I reckon it was the novelty of it as much as it was the anti-gun hysteria and resultant absence of .22 LR ammo.  Although I'd had BB guns as a kid, I'd never had a pellet gun.  Something prompted me to order a used Daisy Avanti 853 from the CMP about a year ago.  WOW, five shots one hole at 10 M.  That was four rifles and three pistols ago.   

Being long of tooth and of finite resources, I'm gonna' hold off on new guns for awhile and concentrate on making the ones I have better in this New Year....in my backyard.   

My new Talon pistol has ruined me for life. Now all I can think of is AirForce guns. I live on 3.5 acres with a 130 yard back yard. I love just hitting targets, pigeons, and those large black birds. I wish I had squirrels so I could make squirrel gravy and toast.

[lizzie]

I originally got into it for starling and house sparrow control. I had tried trapping, but it wasn't as effective as needed for keeping them out of my purple martin and bluebird houses. I came to this site, looking for suggestions as to which airguns I should look at buying. After I started shooting, I found that I love target shooting, and was pretty much hooked. Then came the collecting.................

[egillman]

I grew up on 10 acres on the edge of a small town in Iowa.  I loved to hunt squirrels and rabbits, but my .22 was too loud.  Instead I got a Crosman 760, and later a 622.  They are still my favorites, but they have been joined in my gun cabinet with a Crosman 99, 761XL, 600, 400, and 2250B.  I have killed a LOT of cans in my garage with this arsenal!

[Airgun.Sniper]

 I got into air gun as a kid. Got my first gun when I was six. Won it at a Wild Game Dinner, and have been shooting since. I like to hunt and shoot long distance with my ar 10 and other long range guns. Got back into them and started shooting long range. It helped better with my powder burner groups.

 Jay

[Minuteman]

I never owned a pellet or bb gun until I was 72 but lots of powder burners.  I wanted to have more shooting time without going to the gun club (40 minutes away).  A small Venturi Bronco was the start and now several Weihrauch's later I enjoy this sport very much.  How did you get started?

It was insanity. Yes, I plead insanity.

[pmc]

Another early Daisy Red Rider user.  Got my first in 79 for my 10th birthday and had a 717 and also a pump 760 as a kid at the cabin.  Took a few years off from air guns in my late teens through my 30s but owned a number of powder long guns and handguns.  Not too long back my best friend wanted to get one to take care of a pigeon issue he was having and thought I should get one too.
Needless to say it all came back and I'm totally hooked.  I actually sold him the Crosman Optimus I first bought and replaced it with some German and British hardware along with a Mike M tuned B26.  Best part is I can not only shoot in the backyard but also indoors now that winter is here.  I shoot more now than I ever have and love every minute of it.

Happy New Years everyone!

[bbv13]

When I was a kid I had a few air rifles but started shooting a .22 rimfire and shotguns at about 11 years old and really didn't even think much about air guns for years. I did have a friend that had a Benjamin 342 and I was impressed with the power it had but never considered owning one. The reason I got into them as a adult is that I had a really bad rat problem that I couldn't take care of with traps and poison. My Hatsan 135 along with the extreme wet weather over the past year has pretty much wiped them out. In the process I found this site and bought a bunch of air guns. Air guns are definitely addictive.

Bryan

[Mr Sasquatch]

I started USPSA pistol shooting three years ago and needed something to enhance my dry fire practice so I got a couple of Airsoft pistols and a  BB CO2 blowback pistol ( or two  ) After that I tried a cheap Crosman CO2 pellet rifle to shoot in my basement just for fun. Very quickly I realized the the accuracy was just not there, hence  Diana34 to the rescue. And soon after that I discovered this forum and of course could not resist the Siren call of the TX200. 
So, here I am with several airsoft and BB pistols, three pellet rifles, the basement range  with a bench and a big, and growing,pile of empty pellet tins. And the best thing about it is that naw I can shoot any time I'm in the mood, several times a day, I don't have to drive to the range, and the ammo shortages do not concern me at all.

[Frank in Fairfield]

I started USPSA pistol shooting three years ago and needed something to enhance my dry fire practice so I got a couple of Airsoft pistols and a  BB CO2 blowback pistol ( or two  ) After that I tried a cheap Crosman CO2 pellet rifle to shoot in my basement just for fun. Very quickly I realized the the accuracy was just not there, hence  Diana34 to the rescue. And soon after that I discovered this forum and of course could not resist the Siren call of the TX200. 
So, here I am with several airsoft and BB pistols, three pellet rifles, the basement range  with a bench and a big, and growing,pile of empty pellet tins. And the best thing about it is that naw I can shoot any time I'm in the mood, several times a day, I don't have to drive to the range, and the ammo shortages do not concern me at all.

DITTO

[renval]

When I was 8 I shot my neighbor's Daisy, love at first sight!!! Since then I got hooked into airguns, besides at that age was the only thing legal I could own!!! 

[Booger]

When I was 8 I shot my neighbor's Daisy, love at first sight!!! Since then I got hooked into airguns, besides at that age was the only thing legal I could own!!! 

I wish I were 8 again, and what would be even more cool if I had a dad like me. I know I would have an AA510S.

[zzfive29]

Enjoy shooting as a kid. Cheaper then powder burner main reason!!!!!!!!!

[cryptoad]

Pest control!  Primarily squirrels.  I will eradicate them from:

1.  My house

2.  My neighborhood

3.  All the rest of the places...

[avator]

When I was about 8 or 9 we lived in rural northern Ohio. The neighbor kid seemed to have anything he ever wanted including a Daisy BB gun. I don't even remember what model. I begged and begged for one and finally, probably to shut me up, I got one. It lasted one day. I made the mistake of showing up at home with a robin nest full of eggs. they didn't beleive my story of how the mother abandoned them and I was going to hatch and raise them. The bb gun made it's way into the next family yard sale. About 6 months ago Betty Lou and I were in Walmart and a Daisy 880s caught my attention. I told Betty Lou the story from my childhood and it melted her heart (bless her (evil grin)). She told me that I should have a pellet gun. That was 20 airguns ago. So, I totally blame my addiction on Betty Lou and GTA. And I thank you for it. I have been successfully enabled and I promise to do my part to pay that forward. Now, who needs an airgun? I know a few places to buy them.

[Booger]

When I was about 8 or 9 we lived in rural northern Ohio. The neighbor kid seemed to have anything he ever wanted including a Daisy BB gun. I don't even remember what model. I begged and begged for one and finally, probably to shut me up, I got one. It lasted one day. I made the mistake of showing up at home with a robin nest full of eggs. they didn't beleive my story of how the mother abandoned them and I was going to hatch and raise them. The bb gun made it's way into the next family yard sale. About 6 months ago Betty Lou and I were in Walmart and a Daisy 880s caught my attention. I told Betty Lou the story from my childhood and it melted her heart (bless her (evil grin)). She told me that I should have a pellet gun. That was 20 airguns ago. So, I totally blame my addiction on Betty Lou and GTA. And I thank you for it. I have been successfully enabled and I promise to do my part to pay that forward. Now, who needs an airgun? I know a few places to buy them.

Betty Lou seems like such a nice lady. How were you lucky enough to catch her? I wouldn't let her go.

[Carl]

To save money due to rising ammo cost, boy was I wrong. But I would do it again in a heart beat.

[jrhunter]

for the quietness at first, then I bought my Hatsan Striker and now for hunting.