Why don't you get a real gun!

[DP004]

During my quest to find someone to maintain my BSA Meteor Mk3, I phoned 6 stores and visited 3 in my area ( Sherbrooke, Qué).
No one could do anything for me but I want to vent a bit about the tone of voice they used to express their total disregard for airguns.
This mornig, during a hopeful visit to one of the largest hunting store close by, I was given that " throw it in the garbage" remark while he was attending a father buying his 14 yrs old son his first .22.
The salesman look at me and showed me the kid's new gun and said :"Why don't you get a real gun?"
He said that without even seeing my BSA that still looks new.
Well, I have many reasons, the main one being that you can learn to shoot extremely well with an airgun, you can do it quite inexpensively and quietly.
Personaly, when I was practicing with a very old Slavia (we could see the pellet flying), I never believed I could kill something with a .177 so I concentrated on target practice. Thousands and thousands of pellets later, I never went hunting with a "real" gun, for fear of killng what I was aiming at.
Of course, I just smiled at his remark, the kid was next to me and was just enjoying his moment.
Still, I see the beautiful and powerful airguns available today and I wonder where this "don't bother me with your toy" attitude comes from.

I feel better now.

[cfraser]

Agree, the attitude seems to be dismissive as soon as you mention airgun at typical gunshops, assuming they even carry any. Attitude is very different in the US, for very good reasons, and it's a growing big buck business. You'd think it would be here too, least for non-PAL stuff, but when something over 500fps is a firearm, I do kinda agree you might as well get a "real" firearm. Stupid laws, and maybe my opinion is stupid, but it's mine...

[CZ-Sniper]

Stupid laws, and maybe my opinion is stupid, but it's mine...

Oh don't worry, I don't think there is ANYONE here who disagrees with you on that!

CZ-Sniper

[IanC]

Not a lot of people shoot airguns around here but the local gun shop for me is or at least was a registered crosman service center.

He doesnt sell much other than a few dianas and some others, but hes got a huge supplyof RWS pellets. Thats all he carries really but they have a large enough line up to find the right pellet for the right gun. I love em myself.
Also at my gun club quite a few others have match pistols.
Theres no league in place but i really think i should start one.

But yeah most folks had an airgun as a toy when they were a kid so i understand the toy factor.

Pellet guns rock. Ive got airguns/firearms....but you cant shoot a firearm in the hallway or nail a starling at 35 yrds so quietly.

Im really into song birds and my benj397 doesnt scare them..

[cfraser]

RWS pellets - do you know how rare some types of those are getting in .22? I'm having a hell of a time finding any except hollow points, wonder if there's something going on with RWS??

Well, I sure don't think airguns are toys, but yeah, we had them as toys when kids, even lots of girls had them (tough neighborhood ). Many people probably haven't been exposed to them since they were kids. I don't know about others, but I'm buying the "toys" I wanted as a kid but wasn't allowed or couldn't afford.

And if you like pistols, sure is a hell of a lot less restrictive with an air one. I remember the days when it was pretty common to shoot handguns in your basement, I knew all sorts of people who did, things sure have changed. I wonder if crime has gone down since then?

[edholton]

RWS pellets - do you know how rare some types of those are getting in .22? I'm having a hell of a time finding any except hollow points, wonder if there's something going on with RWS??

Well, I sure don't think airguns are toys, but yeah, we had them as toys when kids, even lots of girls had them (tough neighborhood ). Many people probably haven't been exposed to them since they were kids. I don't know about others, but I'm buying the "toys" I wanted as a kid but wasn't allowed or couldn't afford.

And if you like pistols, sure is a hell of a lot less restrictive with an air one. I remember the days when it was pretty common to shoot handguns in your basement, I knew all sorts of people who did, things sure have changed. I wonder if crime has gone down since then?

marvin can get most in 22 cal....i have all types ...except superdomes...which north silva does not import..yet!....working on it i have an inside man-lol.
i think d&l has stock of all but the super domes in 22?
and i get bugged all the time at work about being an airgun collector(shooter) and they always ask me the airgun questions(even bing).
alot more high end guns might be brought into canada if more guys had there pal............in the u.s they get them all cause you only need money....just look at the prices of the theoban and daystate guns at air guns of airazona!
the only thing as much fun to shoot as airguns is real(firearm) pistols(just my opinion,so don,t go on a fit-LOL)

[thecozz]

Pellets: It is easy for you guy's to get pellets in any kind in Ontario. But here in Quebec , it 's a nother story and when you buy 2 tins of pellets at 10 box each + shipping (10-15) . 30 to 35 box for two tins , it begin to be expensive at the end . And we dont find anything here in QC for airguns .
pascal

[fltsgtbriggs]

when ever i get the comment "why dont you get a "real" gun" froma firearms dealer *espeacially infront of customers* i kindly remind him that if he were to get right down to it, GUNS are on SHIPS rilfes are carried. it makes the sales person look very ignorant

[calculator]

I get a lot of flack about airguns everyday. The main comment is that they are childs toys. When in fact they are the absolute best trainging gun there is. The projectile takes a lot longer to leave the barrel. This makes self-positioning, breathing, trigger pull, and follow through absolutely key. There is not better way to train than with an airgun. Which is why I bring mine to the range and rattle a few shots off before bringing out my powder burning tools.

[Jester]

About a week ago I was shooting my Diana 54 at the gun club along side a couple of power burners. I'd never met these guys before, but they were obviously avid hunters. I was was surprised that they actually seemed interested in my gun. They asked if it was available in .22 (mine's .177) and commented about how they can definately see the advantages of the relatively quiet, and recoiless design for hunting small game. Needless to say, they seemd quite impressed with this airgun.

[NIGHTHAWK]

There is a good side to all of this.... Imagine if you neighbors all thought airguns were toys. You could be outside shooting all day and no one would care!

Here is a afternoon scene;

Salesman's Wife, "Honey, the neighbor is outside with a gun! Should we call the police?"
Salesman,"Nah! Don't worry. It's only a toy he has. He came in the other day looking for something for his toy!" (Salesman starts laughing)
Salesman's Wife,"Well honey, he just shot 2 of your tires! There goes one of the side mirors"
Neighbor Airgun mumbles,"A toy! Eh! I'll show you to call my BSA a toy!"

just joking!

Take care,

NIGHTHAWK

[Gotrice23]

There is a good side to all of this.... Imagine if you neighbors all thought airguns were toys. You could be outside shooting all day and no one would care!

Here is a afternoon scene;

Salesman's Wife, "Honey, the neighbor is outside with a gun! Should we call the police?"
Salesman,"Nah! Don't worry. It's only a toy he has. He came in the other day looking for something for his toy!" (Salesman starts laughing)
Salesman's Wife,"Well honey, he just shot 2 of your tires! There goes one of the side mirors"
Neighbor Airgun mumbles,"A toy! Eh! I'll show you to call my BSA a toy!"

just joking!

Take care,

NIGHTHAWK

I almost spit water all over my keyboard laughing

[cfraser]

I probably shouldn't say this, but the local media is not promoting airguns as "toys", to the contrary. Those in the TO area may have heard somebody in a bar yesterday was shot in the temple by a "high powered airgun".

Now let's assume it was a pistol since it was in a bar and a rifle in your pocket just might be noticed, and let's assume it was not really what we would call a "high powered airgun", since there are so few truly high powered air pistols, and most cost much more than a firearm pistol costs around here on the street and are much harder to get (unless stolen, if you can find one to steal). Bear in mind I don't have any facts. And I first heard this on a sensational yellow journalism type of radio station that believes only cops should have guns and everybody else who has one is a potential or active criminal (don't know what they think of the military having guns, they must think they're renegades since they're not cops...).

I'm just mentioning this because some of the local media is definitely categorising airguns as dangerous weapons and definitely not as "toys". Garbage like this doesn't do us any good, I hope none of the more "reputable" media picks up on this hype, TO cops are a "little" quick to jump on a beneficial bandwagon and get plenty of support from the clueless mayor.