Why I like Air Guns

[Privateer]

Like most? I started as a young kid with an AG that I don't even recall the brand or name of.
Back in the late 60's early 70's our Dad's gave many of us BB guns or Pellet guns of low power.
Mostly beaten up and from what I know now? Abused in a way that We'd all go nuts over today!
If you were lucky? You'd get a tube of BB's with it. Not many of us got that lucky at first.
Some that did get lucky lost that tube after they shot one of us!
 

We'd play 'Army' with them. Mostly with no BB's or Pellets as We'd lost that privilege pretty quickly after a few stinging shots to each other.
 

I can recall the day one of the kids showed us how putting some oil of some kind down the barrel would get us a big 'BANG' and a flame!
We call that detonation now and know it's not good but it was a wonderful thing when playing 'Army' back then.
 

I can remember the many hours of playing 'Army' down at the local river, in the neighborhood, and pretty much the whole town I grew up in.
You could carry those things around and no one freaked and called the Law.
If a local Cop did stop you? He'd just make sure you had a 'fake gun' and send you on your way with a "Be Careful" and that knowing scowl.
I always assumed he knew there'd be a call sooner or later about us running around screaming "I got you!!" "No you didn't! You can't shoot through glass!" or the fake death throws we'd go through. Not to mention the "BANG" from dumping explosive solvents down the barrels!
 

I can recall the 1st pumper I had that put a .177 through a 1/2" of plywood at 50 paces!
I can also recall that I had to work a whole summer to pay for the River Level Gauge that was BEHIND that plywood!
 

I recall when we went to ammo for our 'Army' Games. Those BB's HURT! But you couldn't say "You missed!"
They call it Air Soft now.
 

Somewhere We grew up and went to PBs. I'd say we learned enuff to be trusted by the Parents to not kill each other.
Which We never did. Then We hunted, target shot, and learned even more about being responsible WEAPONS owners.

The years flew by and many of us enlisted as the draft was gone and We had always dreamed of being Soldiers.
Our fathers, grandfathers, or another relative had done so and as kids? That was our mark to be an adult like those We loved and respected.
I'd studied all the Military History of the U.S.A. and knew it was not a walk in the park.
Talking to my Grandfather who was on the Pacific Islands dureing WWII? He asked me not to sign up.
He told me it would change everything I thought I knew.
I did it anyway and joined the 82nd AirBorne.

I'll skip that time in my life to get to last year.
I'd not fired anything once I left the service. Haveing lived, slept, showered, cared for and dang neared married my WEAPON?
I didn't want one near me. But I always had that urge to put a round down range that I was always so good at.

Last year. I started looking at Air Guns thinking I'd get a cheap one. I only had one goal. It had to shoot out to the range I have. 90+ yards.
It had to have impact power at that range. And it had to be cool looking to me.

Enter the Hatsan 125 .25 and GTA.
 

So that's my story. So far.

[Bicycleman]

Jeff, it is real simple:  The landowner requested that I NOT use .22 LR while hunting squirrels on the land.  So I have come full circle and I am hunting with the Pellet Rifle again.  Very rewarding and satisfying.

[palonej]

What a great read Jeff!!!! Thanks for sharing!!
I have been hooked since I was 5 when my grandfather taught me to shoot with a Daisy 25!!
Every time I shoot now those memories flood my mind.
He also taught me how to play pool at the same age while standing on a milk crate.
Both hobbies have stuck in a big way!!

[avator]

Great reading guys, I've shared my story before so I'm not going to again here but, I just had to reply. Hey Jeff, thanks for your service.

[ericnel]

Won an Audubon poster contest at age 8. Caption -  "A bird in the bush is worth 2 in the hand." Won $8 prize which just happened to be the price of a Daisy lever action. 'Fraid I was the terror of the neighborhood sparrows after that. I don't remember what happened to the Daisy, but wish I still had it.

[Booger]

I really enjoyed last week when I went to get my tank filled. The guy will fill my rifle for free, when he saw my new Sam Yang his eyes got bigger than my wife's eyes got when she was told our daughter was going to be 12# 6 oz. (which was actually 6# 12 oz because the tech transposed the numbers).