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Fun shooting with interesting training possibilities for minimal cost Daisy’s adult Red Ryder BB gun shown with a $6 supply of ammunition – 2400 shots! The aluminum beverage can was nearly cut in half after two casual shooting sessions (range was around 15 yards). Fun, yes, but not a toy.
Daisy’s adult Red Ryder BB gun is truly an adult air rifle that is cheap, cheap to shoot, and really fun to use. Here is my review.
Until several weeks ago, the thought of covering a basic BB gun wouldve never crossed my mind let alone one designed eighty-plus years ago. But sometimes life provides unexpected twists. In this case, a bubble-blowing gadget, squirt gun and four-year-old grandson were the magic mix that sparked an incongruous reintroduction to some long-lost BB gun fun with a legitimate pinch of training thrown in. Classify this under fun guns worth buying. Sale Daisy Adult Red Ryder BB Rifle .177 air Rifle caliber: 0.177velocity: 350.00 ft/sec $54.99 Buy on Amazon
Late last spring, the weather finally granted our visiting grandson an opportunity to break out a few prized possessions. His trusty squirt guns top the list but, for obvious reasons, theyre restricted to outdoor use. A deck is an authorized location so, as the suns rays cut through the morning mist, he loaded up for some action.
After liquidating a few plastic dinosaurs, a hunt for new targets commenced. By happenstance, thats when his grandmother appeared with a new bubble-blowing kit. Before long, large bubbles floating on gentle breezes became targets of opportunity. Not bad shooting from the little guy, but a fair share survived to travel surprisingly long distances. This prompted thoughts of a more effective bubble-busting system one perhaps suitable for the coach. Low-budget aerial target system. Dip the wand in a vial and give it a wave. A torrent of bubbles will follow. – inviting targets!
An airgun made the short list but those on hand the latest, greatest scoped versions – were entirely unsuitable for the job. The better choice appeared be a simple iron-sighted gun, stocked to place the shooters eye as close to the barrel as possible a concept similar to a close-quarter dangerous game rifle set up for fast reactive shooting but without the attendant power and noise.
Here, the objective was just the opposite. The airborne targets called for limited range. Ideally, the flight of the projectile would be visible, too.
A few CO-2 powered .177 pellet repeaters received brief consideration, but the Daisy BB gun belonging to my deadeye toddlers older sister seemed like a better pick. However, it was just too small for an average-sized adult. However, a check of the Internet showed Daisy catalogs a similar gun as an adult-sized version that should be familiar to many long-time shooters. Looking serious! The ammunition is affordable – and safe – but its range is lacking. Time for a more effective system? Perhaps one suitable for an aged juvenile…
Table of Contents Toggle Daisy’s Red Ryder SeriesDaisys Adult-Size Red RyderFeatures & SpecificationsIssues & FixesLoading & OperationAccuracy & VelocityBB Gun Training 2.0Speed ShootingBusting Bubbles (moving targets)The BB/Wingshooting ConnectionSmoother StyleSafety & Parting Shots Daisy’s Red Ryder Series
Long an iconic airgun brand, Daisy has been manufacturing inexpensive BB guns since the late 1800s. The subject of this post typifies the line and, in case youre wondering, yup, the Red Ryder is pretty much the same gun young Ralphie obsessed over in the classic, 1980 A Christmas Story movie.
Set in 1940, Ralphies object of desire was a genuine Red Ryder BB gun, introduced by Daisy during that era. And, amazingly, its still in production! Ralphie would note a few differences, but its basic lines are still preserved. The box states: The Family Sporting Tradition Since 1940. Interestingly, the brand remains a trademark of Red Ryder Enterprises, Inc., licensed for use by Daisy (possibly the oldest such deal still going). And Daisy is still headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas.
But unlike Ralphies gun, nowadays, the Red Ryders are Made in China. In other words, some plastic parts are inevitable. But the barrel/receiver assembly is still steel, and the stock is still wood. Daisys Adult-Size Red Ryder
No doubt capitalizing on the value of nostalgia, Daisy produces Red Ryders for grownups. Because airguns are non-firearms (per federal regs) I considered ordering one online, but by chance, I stumbled on to the same model at a local general store. New in the box, the gun set me back $50. A container of Daisy Premium BBs (2400) cost $6, plenty of potential entertainment for less than sixty bucks! Sale Daisy Ammunition and CO2 60 6000 ct BB Bottle PrecisionMax premium .177 cal. BB6000 count in handy plastic bottle $11.38 Buy on Amazon Daisy’s Adult-size Red Ryder, for “age 10 and older with adult supervision”. New in the box, total cost for this low-tech shooting system was $60 – including the container of 2400 BBs. Features & Specifications
According to the Red Ryders box, the gun is a lever-cocking spring-air design. One manageable stroke of its lever cocks a spring-powered piston assembly. Upon its release by the trigger, the BB is expelled by an initial piston-generated shove and a larger blast of air; the propellant that shoots the steel sphere. Read this for a deeper look into the function of it.
Maximum velocity is claimed to be 350 fps, shooting .177 Cal. BBs, and maximum shooting distance is listed as 195 yards.
The sights consist of a blade and ramp front, adjustable rear. A trigger-blocking crossbolt safety is incorporated in the plastic trigger assembly. The lever is some type of synthetic material (resin?). The two-piece stock is stained solid wood.
Overall length is listed as 37.75-inches. Weight, 3.25 pounds. Capacity? Todays high-cap guns may be in, but the Red Ryders magazine is good for 650 dirt-cheap shots! The box proclaims its beefed up bigger stock means this Adult-sized Red Ryder fits like any other full-sized gun and lets you plink the target just like old times. Issues & Fixes
Regarding the stock, as far as Im concerned, full-sized was an understatement; it certainly didnt fit like any other gun in my possession. Length of pull (LOP) was a super-long 15 inches with a pronounced toe-out pitch. Easy fix though: One pass through my bandsaw provided a more manageable 14 LOP.
A hand-grinder and pad sander contoured and smoothed the new butt. An application of stain and Tru-oil finished the job. Total time was less than 45 minutes. Not overly fancy but the fit was greatly improved and its appearance was still presentable. “Full-size” stock before and after: LOP is still a generous 14 1/2″ but, combined with the reduced toe angle, its “fit” is much improved. Any shorter and the logo would’ve been trashed.
Also, this particular Daisy shot right by more than an inch at 10 yards; a problem since the adjustable sights have no provision for windage. After considering practical options, I simply widened the left edge of the rear sights notch with a file. A few trial & error sessions, along with some cold blue, solved that issue. Easy windage fix, performed with a small file Material has been removed from the left surface of the rear sight’s notch. The stepped elevator provides the necessary elevation for various ranges. As show here the Red Ryder is now on the money at around 7-yards.
More aggravating was the trigger, which wouldnt consistently release. The problem turned out to be a slight misalignment with a notch in the sliding safety drum. Because the parts are plastic, by repeatedly exercising both, they eventually wore in. At that point the trigger became borderline okay, scaling a fairly consistent six pounds. The Red Ryder’s trigger assembly: The trigger blocking safety (square lug) is “on-safe”. Initial trigger hang-ups were caused by a slight misalignment with a notch in the safety. Because both parts are plastic, an exercise session wore them in.
Lastly, the leather thong & steel ring on the receiver hung close enough to the trigger to drive me nuts. Initially I untied the thong but, eventually, I removed the dangling metal ring. Loading & Operation
A small loading port near the muzzle is the gateway to a very lengthy shooting session. Just slide its small cover open and pour in a bunch of BBs while trying to avoid spillage (dont forget to close the cover). These guns are gravity fed, requiring elevation of the muzzle between each shot, but you may still encounter the occasional blank discharge.
I stuck with the recommended Daisy Premium BBs in hopes of avoiding a jam a potential problem since the barrels breech end isnt accessible (resist the urge to recycle any recovered BBs). Theyre held in place by a small magnet, so they wont dribble out the muzzle. The steel Premiums are zinc-plated to resist corrosion. BBs are loaded through the small port. The actual magazine is the steel shroud surrounding the barrel (visible in the port). Supposedly, it offers 650 shots – if anyone’s counting. The smaller tubular “magazine” below is an ornamental “lever-action” touch.
Cocking is accomplished by driving the lever downward and all the way forward – seven full clicks! If not, the gun wont fire (as explained in this link):
Due to its anti-bear trap feature (a more recent addition that prevents smashed fingers), uncocking requires shooting the gun. Same for clearing its chamber (a small port provides a view). The BBs in the magazine can be unloaded through the loading port after applying the non-automatic safety. Accuracy & Velocity
Because its designed to shoot spherical projectiles, the barrel is a smoothbore tube. A such, gilt-edge accuracy is highly unlikely. The photos show the results of five-shot groups from 5, 10 and 15 yards. The 5-yard cluster (3/4) illustrates why regulation BB gun competitions are shot at that distance. Representative BB accuracy: The black circles measure 2-inches. Each group (marked in red) consists of 5 shots. All were “fired” of a benchrest using a hand-cradled “artillery hold” (recommended for spring-powered airguns). The loopy trajectory is obvious.
The actual velocity through my chronograph (3 feet ahead of the muzzle) was a slower than advertised, averaging 270 fps, however, the extreme spread for 10 BBs was a surprisingly narrow 10 fps.
Takeaways: The gun is relatively easy to cock, offers plenty of inexpensive shots, and produces minimal noise. Egg-size groups are a reasonable expectation at 10 yards, and a beverage can is in peril at twice that distance.
Still, this performance warrants careful considerations regarding a safe shooting location! From 15 yards, many of the lightweight Daisy BBs (5.5 grains) completely penetrated an aluminum can. BB Gun Training 2.0
Daisy is heavily invested in training (and accessories) but what follows takes a different tack. Its geared toward fast gun mounts and reactive shooting. Speed Shooting
I mentioned being able to see the projectile, a trick that ties in with fast so-called instinctive shooting. To that end, I hung an aluminum beverage can off a tree branch in the back yard, donned a set of shooting glasses, and backed up around 15 yards. I then shot BBs at it while staring through the sights with my primary attention focused on the can the antithesis of proper iron sight doctrine.
Before long -as Id discovered as a kid -I could mount and shoot instantaneously while watching BBs arch into the can. The resounding impacts and the quivering target provided instant feedback. It was addictive to the point where, within a couple sessions, the can was dangling by just a sliver. At that point I felt tuned up for some aerial action. Busting Bubbles (moving targets)
Popping bubbles with the Red Ryder turned out to be a real hoot! Theyre entirely doable in the right conditions with the above technique. The greater challenge is scoring a light but consistent breeze so the targets will float in safe directions. The logistical requirements consist of glasses, a designated bubble blower and safe area! Obviously, a housing development wont do.
Im rural enough that immediate neighbors are a non-concern, however, our vehicles and windows certainly are! Bystanders, too! Maintain a safe mindset and avoid the pitfalls of target fixation. BBs can ricochet off hard surfaces in the background to include trees. Bubble-busting in progress with the Red Ryder. The “downrange” area is bystander-safe, but the tree poses a possible ricochet hazard. Safety glasses should be considered essential gear. The BB/Wingshooting Connection
Years ago, when the father of our squirt gun pistolero (a son) hit his early teens, his interest turned to wingshooting. He was already a competent rifle shooter but, instead of starting him out with a shotgun, his training began with a BB gun. After removing its rear sight, we used a version of the hanging-can drill.
Within several days he could reliably smack a small aluminum pie plate from 12 yards, as soon as the gun contacted his shoulder and face. From there we advanced to a properly fitted 20 Gauge and a period of gun-mount practice, followed by some dry-firing at airborne claybirds. Once that was down pat, he loaded a shell, dusted his first target and never looked back. Smoother Style
More recently, his older brother showed up during a BB bubble-fest and decided to give it a try. Hed never expressed any real interest in wingshooting but is deadly with a rifle. Still, the drifting bubbles gave him fits, the product of a somewhat mechanical style. It took at least twenty attempts before he could let go and catch the flight of a BB. At that point his shooting smoothed out and he transitioned to a true bubble-busting machine. Cost in ammunition? Maybe 25 cents.
A partner with a good pitching arm offers further possibilities. Tossed targets (suitable types) are challenging but doable if thrown consistently.
Bottom line: With a BB gun, the skys the limit but dont dismiss the safety aspects. Safety & Parting Shots
The Daisy literature focuses heavily on safety for good reasons! Some people consider BB guns toys. Theyre not; the gun is even stamped for use by age 10 and older with adult supervision (our toddler may start sooner but hes not close to being ready).
The firearms safety rules apply with an additional concern: Steel BBs have no give. Reactive metal targets are absolutely out and as noted above, their low velocities can produce ricochets off harder surfaces. Eye protection is essential although hearing protection can be skipped. Sale Daisy Adult Red Ryder BB Rifle .177 air Rifle caliber: 0.177velocity: 350.00 ft/sec $54.99 Buy on Amazon
On a positive note, the Daisy is as simple as all get-out. The main requirements are some BBs, glasses, and motoroil; a couple drops of 20-W in the oil here port every 1000 rounds or so. If you encounter a problem, search Daisy Red Ryder problems. A practical solution may be just one click away.
This stands in contrast to my high-end pre-charged pneumatic guns that require external air sources, HPA couplings, special lubes and specialist-servicing. I detail some of this in my article on whether PCP air rifles are worth the money.
My British-built PCP rifles are as accurate at 50 yards as the Red Ryder is at 5-yards. But for entertainment on the fly (sometimes literally) the much simpler Daisy often has them beat. The theme here is KISS. You could spend a few bucks for a metal lever and fiber-optic front sight or just enjoy it as is.
Finally, for more about the fascinating world of airguns to include a number of much techier picks, heres a link to Air Rifles: A buyers and Shooters Guide: Air Rifles: A Buyer’s and Shooter’s Guide (Survival Guns) Markwith, Steve (Author)English (Publication Language) $14.48 Buy on Amazon
