Kids enjoying Airguns

Every so often I invite the youth at my church over to my place for an airgun shoot. Some of them bring their own air guns, and others use what I have on hand. At this shoot we used several of the CO2 guns that are on the market, as well as a pump-up pneumatic, all of which are available from Compasseco.

Here are some of the air guns we used at this shoot:

Walther Nighthawk

TF-78

Colt 1911 A1

Desert Eagle

Beeman P3

Some of the best targets to use when shooting with young people are the reactive kind, and the most enjoyable ones for the kids this day were the small cans of carbonated drinks, well-shaken, which exploded quite nicely when hit.



Strict adherence to the rules are explained before hand, and I make sure that each kid understands how the gun they choose to shoot is loaded and how to safely handle it. Reminders about keeping the guns pointed down range were spoken every few minutes, and instructions of placing all the guns down and not touching them while new targets are being set up were constantly being mentioned by yours truly.

The kids enjoyed shooting from standing, sitting, and prone positions during our event, and even newcomers to the fun of shooting were able to connect with their target. Not a kid went away without exploding at least one soda can, and comments of "cool", "awesome", and "alright" were heard quite a few times. And that is how it should be.....the shooting sports are among some of the friendliest in the world, and introducing young people to the sport is the way to ensure a future for the things we enjoy.









So if you want to give back to your community, social group, church or civic group, with a fun, enjoyable event that everyone can enjoy, consider air gun events that allow everyone to succeed and learn gun safety at the same time. And check out the selections at Compasseco for all your airgun needs, from pistols and rifles, to the pellets they shoot.

Beeman R-7: Air Gun Quality in a Small Package

The Beeman R-7 is perhaps the ideal gun for those who dream about an easy-to-cock, extremely accurate, loads-of-fun air gun. It's size lends itself to the smaller shooter, such as most women and teenagers, and the cocking effort addresses the smaller shooter as well. It is around 5" shorter than the behemoth R-1, but still sends the a .177 pellet down range at 700 fps at the muzzle. Available in .177 and .20 caliber, this little gem of a pellet gun will satisfy most shooters in the accuracy department as it comes with the famous Rekord trigger that lends itself to being adjusted to the shooter's preference, enhancing accuracy.

I picked up my R-7 a few weeks ago and began a side-by-side comparison with its larger sibling, the Beeman R-9. The R-7 is easier to cock, smaller is size, and shoots about 200 fps slower than the R-9. The result is that I can stay on target while looking through the scope and watch the pellet go down range with the R-7, while the R-9 tends to make me lose the sight picture with the sharper recoil it generates. And it shoots a variety of pellets quite well, though each kind has a different impact point. Set the gun up for the pellet of your choice, and you'll be able to put the pellet on target with ease in a very short time.

The R-9 deluxe I own enjoys a better finish and comes with some nice checkering on the forearm and grip, compared to the plainer R-7 that has checkering only on the grip area, but if I want a truly nice stock, I can always go custom. I bought the R-7 for the "fun factor", as well as a small pest and small game airgun. The accuracy of both guns is all I could ask for in a sporter air gun, and I seriously doubt I'll find two more accurate guns without going to a match-type rifle at 10 meters. And my smaller children will enjoy shooting with Dad in the backyard with this scaled-down springer which is closer to their needs in size and cocking effort.



To get the most out of this quality, German-engineered and built Beeman air gun, a good scope is called for. At 20 yards, I can spin the small chicken on my metal spinner target most of the time, and that target is about the size of the end of my thumb. Larger targets such as a metallic ram, or a soft drink can have no chance at all against the accuracy that is delivered by the R-7. I like a 3-9x40 scope, or something of similar size, mounted on secure rings. The recoil is less than the R-9 as mentioned above, but it is still possible to have the scope mounts shift if you don't use the scope stop thoughtfully built into the top of the receiver. But if you prefer open sights, a nice globe-type front sight is provided, as well as a fully adjustable rear sight.

Though the R-7 is less powerful than the R-9, it still does a great job controlling pests. Sparrows and starlings fall easily to its accuracy, and I plan on doing some closer-range squirrel hunting and rabbit control later in the year when the season opens up.



Currently retailing for $325.95, the Beeman R-7 will fit nicely into your airgun collection, filling that niche of an easy-to-cock, short-but-accurate sporter airgun that we all find a use for when plinking or ridding the property of small pests.