Boy's Toys - or serious fun?

I have an addiction to airguns. While I do own a couple collector's model Daisy Red Ryder guns, I love the adult models. There is a HUGE difference between the Daisys and Crosmans sold at WallyWorld and a RWS model 48 - about $600 or so! Then again, that's more than I want to spend, so I keep on shooting my old Sheridan Blue Streak. It's a 5mm caliber, that's .20 caliber if you like inches. It's in between the two most popular calibers, .177 and .22. I think it is the best of both; twice the weight of a .177 with less frontal area and drag than a .22 caliber. But mainly, I love the rifle because it is a pump pneumatic. That means it runs off air I pumped into the gun before each shot. I can adjust the power of the gun just by pumping more or less. No SCUBA tanks for refills, no CO2 cartridges, and variable power!!

I can easily and safely shoot inside my attic by using 4 or 5 pumps, limiting the pellet speed to around 400 feet per second. All I need for a target/backstop is a paper grocery bag filled with layered newspaper or magazines. That allows me to shoot all year round, regardless of the weather. The cost of a tin of good quality pellets is around $7 for 250-300, or around 2 cents per shot. Imagine how much better you would shoot if you could shoot almost every day!Besides, I don't bother the neighbors at all. This is a bigger issue than you may think! Imagine what would happen if your neighbor called the police to report "a man shooting a gun in the yard next door"... Also, some cities and counties in Virginia (for example) do not allow shooting anything in the city/county limits. Best to not frighten the folks next door. Fortunately, my neighbors all know me well and don't mind my little shooting range in my backyard.

Airguns are perfect for small targets at short ranges. My boys and I like to shoot animal crackers set to stand like real animals. My wife thinks we are just too juvenile with this. Still, hitting a tiny cookie from 10 meters away is a real challenge. If we are shooting well, we will challenge each other to only head shots on the little cookie zebras, elephants or tigers. if you think this is silly, I dare you to try it yourself. It's a lot harder than it looks! Besides, I think once you try it you will be hooked on the challenge and how just plain fun it is!

Above all else, be safe!! Make sure you have a suitable backstop that catches stray shots, not bouncing back at you or someone else! Make sure that everyone has eye protection and is WEARING it! And be sure that everyone handles the airguns as if they were magnum firearms. Muzzle control is vital - keep the muzzle pointed only at a safe backstop, even "empty" guns!! As a gunsmith, I can't count how many "empty"guns I had to unload!!
Have fun and be safe!