Is the Daisy Red Ryder a Good First BB Gun for Kids?
With my kids starting to get older, we're spending more time at our property, which means I'm getting more opportunities to do some shooting.
Now that my oldest has turned nine, I figured it was the right time to start teaching him firearm safety and the basics of shooting.
Before buying anything, I looked at a few options.
I considered a Crosman so he could begin with BBs and eventually move on to pellets. In the end, I decided to go with the classic Daisy Red Ryder.
The Red Ryder shoots BBs at approximately 350 fps, making it a good beginner option. It also has a long history of reliability, an affordable price, and with three more kids, I know this little BB gun will get years of use.
A Rainy Day at the Property
With no Saturday plans, we decided to head to the property, despite it raining steadily all day.
I was heading out anyway to drop off my new tow-behind flail mower and sight in my CZ 457, so I asked if any of the kids wanted to come along.
My oldest didn't hesitate.
He wanted to try out the new Daisy Red Ryder.
After spending nearly an hour wrestling a 500-pound mower off the trailer, it was finally his turn to put some rounds on paper.
First Shots
Before loading the Red Ryder, we once again went over the basic firearm safety rules and talked about why every gun deserves to be treated seriously, even a BB gun.
For a shooting rest, I kept things simple.
A folded blanket and an old pillow made a good enough setup.
I stapled six paper targets to a pallet about 15 yards away.
His first few shots missed the intended bullseye and landed on another paper target.
He didn't mind.
Seeing those first BB holes appear in the paper was enough to put a smile on his face.
With each new target, his aim kept improving.
He slowly worked his way toward the center until his fourth target produced a perfect shot through the bullseye.
After that, he didn't want to stop.
He put another hundred BBs through the remaining targets before we finally packed everything up.
First Impressions of the Daisy Red Ryder
After our first afternoon with it, the Daisy Red Ryder is great for a first BB gun.
The lever action is a little stiff for a nine-year-old, but with some effort he was able to work it himself.
Its lower velocity makes it well suited for beginners while still being accurate enough within 15 yards.
Most importantly, it gave us an opportunity to get soaked all afternoon together while introducing firearm safety and responsible shooting. A great way to spend a Saturday.
With three younger kids waiting for their turn, I have a feeling this little BB gun will see plenty more shooting over the years.