Well, there isn’t much to clean on an air rifle. Olympic champions never clean their rifles — or if they do they only clean them out of season.

I have many air rifles that I never clean. Airguns just don’t get dirty like firearms.

But we do have a couple of cleaning videos about to go live, so keep watching.

Tom

I am confused as to exactly what we are discussing at this point. Perhaps you could come over to the blog and discuss it there, where there are hundreds of active shooters ready to comment.

http://airgun-academy.pyramydair.com/blog/

Tom

It may be that and it may be a hundred other things. Why is the .219 Donaldson Wasp so much more accurate and powerful than the 5.56 mm that the M16 uses? better design. You cannot boil that down to just one or two things. Everything has to be taken into account.

Tom

Or its more accurate round.

B.B.

Yes, that is exactly what that means. And 800 meters is close! Many WW I rifles have sights graduated out to over 2,000 meters. The tactics of the day dictated shooting rifles like artillery pieces, over “No-Man’s Land” and plunging into the trenches of the enemy.

Tom

You level the top of the front sight with the top of the rear sight by elevating the barrel until the front sight comes level with the rear.

This isn’t something that’s done with a screwdriver. It’s done by changing the angle at which the rifle is held.

Tom

I’m glad you got something out of it.

Tom

I have done several blogs on getting started in competition. Read these reports:

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/08/10-meter-pistol-shooting-part-7.html (7 parts)

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/03/10-meter-rifles-part-4-used-10-meter.html (4 parts)

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2006/08/teach-person-to-shoot-part-5.html (5 parts)

These are but a few of the intro to competition shooting I have covered. To get videos of this I would either have to be the host or I’d have to get another 10-meter competitor, because this is too specific to handle with a general talent. IU wouldn’t mind doing a series on 10-meter pistol competition but the logistics would have to be sorted out.

Tom

I got the idea that this series really was meant for people like Cathy and me. It is directed right square at our skill level.

There is one other comment from Mike, I think, who surely has a much higher level of knowledge with the result that he was disappointed. To me that indicates two things … the labeling may be a little off and it might stress more of a Beginner or Introduction program, but, there already is an indication that you will find an audience when you finish with the basics and tackle the more advanced stuff. Can you tell that I think this is an absolutely wonderful idea and it seems to be working.

One area where I am lacking information now is with the notion of competition. I could use an Introduction to Competition 101. How to score targets, classes, equipment, sanction bodies and then where to go to find some near the place where you live. That would be the next step for me.

So, thanks again. I look forward to the next installment of the Airgun Academy like I used to look forward to Boy’s Life!

John

What a pleasure it is to read that this series is actually helping someone! We know the subject matter is dirt-simple, but often the fundamental things get overlooked in a rush to do the big thing, and in so doing, we lose the best portion of the experience. So we will keep right on producing these videos for folks like you and Cathy.

Tom Gaylord

Wow! Thanks for your wonderful feedback. I’m sure Tom will comment when he returns from the range.

Pyramyd Air has created a CD with the first 10 episodes. You can find it here:

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/a/Pyramyd_Air_Airgun_Academy_DVD_Instructional_Airgun_Videos_Episodes_1_10/3480

Regards,
Edith

I have been meaning to write for some time and say how much I enjoy your Airgun Academy series. It is truly unique. I am trying to image a motorcycle dealer or tennis pro shop who would go to the expense, work, and careful consideration of material to come up with these wonderful programs. They actually are excellent for what they seem to be intended to do. I say this with the experience of having been a trainer in industry myself, and, for a while, employed by a motorcycle manufacturer. The process of attracting and holding the attention of an “entheusiast customer” is a whole different way of going about one’s business. The Airgun Academy, and its overall tone, is spot on, in my opinion.

I firmly believe that the things we fear are the things that we don’t understand. Understanding erases fear, and Cathy’s comments are testimony to that fact. For me personally, and taking into consideration that I obtained the Marksmanship merit badge in the BSA with a pellet rifle, and qualified Expert with both a M-1 and a .45 in the service, I still spent most of my adult life dead set against “shooting”. Recently I discovered the challenge and skill development presented to pellet rifle serious target shooters. The FIRST thing I did was to sit down, and, over the course of three evenings, I watched all 26 episodes of the Arigun Academy. I found myself taking notes! What a wonderful basic education I got in very little time. I want to thank you for that, it was very valuable to me. And, as a payoff for you, I have already become your customer. I visit your web site now no less than once per week.

I can’t help but think that, if you keep developing this series, that you might consider collecting all of these episodes and put them on a single DVD and offer it for sale at a minimal price. I am sure that many parents, like Cathy, would be willing to sit down with their children and make some “together time” and study those videos, especially if there were some kind of lesson plan prepared for them to follow. Perhaps the Airgun Academy could become even more than just a virtual place, and become a real voice in preservation of a great sport and preparing more and more people to participate in it. If you ever think that there is any merit to this idea, I would like to be considered for taking part in it.

Keep up the good work. You investment in this series is great, I know, but the benefit will far exceed the cost for sure.

Thanks for your concern.

John M
Southern Indiana

Thanks for the feedback. We don’t get a lot of it and every bit helps us shape these videos for the future.

Thank you also for sharing your change of mind on guns for your boys. As a parent you control the future of the world and we are very pleased that you have decided to educate your boys on gun safety.

I wrote a special six-part blog for moms who have young boys learning to shoot.:

http://airgun-academy.pyramydair.com/blog/2010/10/single-mom-teaches-children-to-shoot-part-6/

I hope you find something in there that’s helpful. And thanks, again, for the feedback.

Tom Gaylord

Keep up the good work you do with these very professional videos.

Regards,

Cathy
P.S. There appears to be a problem with your Spell Check.

I would include the Crosman 2260 in your group of airguns suitable for pest control. It fires a .22 pellet and is capable of 11 to 12 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Of course, the 2260 is a warm-weather airgun–a significant power loss occurs at temperatures below 50 degrees. Nevertheless, it’s an affordable airgun with the power to eliminate most pests with the appropriate shot placement and shooting distance. And, it’s actually manufactured in America.

Thanks, Mike

“They” also called the Pontiac GTO a Gran Tourismo Omligato, but it wasn’t. “They” do things to sell products. I tell my readers what really works and what doesn’t. A .177 is okay for hunting if your shot placement is just right, but a .22 is far more forgiving.

Tom Gaylord.

Sincerely and with the greatest respect,

Ron

No way of downloading the videos at this time, but we’re creating DVDs with sets of videos on them. As more videos are produced, additional DVDs will be created. The first volume should be out in a month.

Edith

Thanks,
AR

Glad to hear it. Let us know if there are any questions we can answer in future videos.

Tom Gaylord

Thanks so much for your good work with video clip
explaining whole things related to the air gun.
Very clear cut and hit to the point .

Cheers,
prasit Rattanapiseth

Edith

You can download these videos off Pyramyd Air’s YouTube site. You can show them to your Scouts. The only thing you can’t do is change anything in the videos.

Click here for episode 7.

Click here for episode 8.

Enjoy!

Edith

I’ve posed your question to Pyramyd Air and will let you know if a download is possible. We’re not set up for downloading at this time, so I’m not sure if we have the manpower to set up something special at this time.

Edith

Yes Shooting is a sport. NRA has a program that allows kids and adults to self pace and earn patches at home. Called Winchestwer Qualification Program.

I do suggest parents to get into an orgainzed group such as 4-H, each state, county, etc has different paths. We have archery, rifle, pistol and shotgun. I would suggest keeping kids out of shotgun until older do not rush into shotgun.

We start kids on BB Gun, then Air pistol and air rifle. Then 22 rifle and pistol.

We are lucky we have 6 coaches for rifle and pistol, all are 4-H trained and many have other training. Contact you local extension office to see what they have to offer in your area.

Look for the Round Balls

I think you may be talking about steel BBs. They’re very inexpensive, but most BB guns aren’t very accurate. Pellet rifles and pistols are more accurate than BB guns.

Edith

Thanks for that feedback. Yes, it’s often easier to show a concept than to explain it, but personal coaching is still the most important part of a shooter’s overall education.

I know what you mean about the strike of the shots in the video being confusing. They confused me, too. I will be more sensitive to things like this in future videos.

Tom Gaylord

One suggestion, you might stress more about the concept that once you have the front and rear sights aligned, THEN you move where they are pointing to the center of the target you want to hit. My son was a bit confused by the video’s wording and graphic about “hitting the top center of where the sights are aimed”. I also had to talk through that you were purposely not shooting at the center of the target to illustrate some concepts…and reinforced that when he is shooting at the target that the front sight, rear sight and target must all be in alignment in his sight picture.

That would not be appropriate in a video about a sidelever spring-piston action.

Are you referring to the VZ 35 and VZ 48, plus the various Schmeisser-pattern guns? They are so specialized that they don’t belong in this level of education.

Tom Gaylord

You need to read my daily blog! Everything you have asked for is already covered there.

http://airgun-academy.pyramydair.com/blog/

I am 63 and I still use open sights, though I use scopes a lot more often. Come to my blog and post a comment and I will help you locate everything you need.

Tom Gaylord

I’m going to address your situation in the blog next week. What I say won’t be everything you need to hear, but I bet our readers’ comments will fill in the blanks. Anything that we leave out, you go ahead and ask questions, and we’ll just refine a program just for you.

B.B. Pelletier

Thanks for your input,too,Bob,Kevin and HK. I’ll be checking the videos frequently for more of Tony and any comments that might pertain to my situation. I suspect that I will be learning alot,too, once my boys get into this!

Thanks again,
Cathy

I concur with Bob Todrick. Many of us started out with small B.B. guns. The Red Ryder is a classic. I would second the “strict supervision”. If only one rule is broken the gun is taken away for a ? week?

Whatever you choice of airgun, and especially a B.B. gun, safety glasses must be worn at all times while shooting. B.B.’s richochet all over the place and will find an eye.

kevin

Thanks for your question! The video host is Tony Canon. Your idea about a video to get children started in the shooting sports and which guns are appropriate for which ages is a good one. Let me see what I can do. However, the blog has had a large number of postings and comments about starting new shooters. If you post your query on the blog, you’ll get a LOT of answers and comments from people who have taught children (younger than your boys) to shoot airguns. Also, the blog that’s posted on this site is relatively new, and the historical archives (which go back to 2005) are on another site. Searching the other site, I’ve come up with the following postings that are pertinent to your situation:

Shooting BB guns: a message for parents and teachers

Teach a person to shoot – Part 1

Teach a person to shoot – Part 2

There are others, but these will get you started. Specific ideas for guns for you boys (I don’t know if they’re average size or small for their age):

Ruger Explorer

Air Venturi Bronco. This gun will be quite accurate (an important point), but it might be too long. Your boys might have to tuck the stock under their arms instead of putting it against their shoulders.

Daisy Red Ryder. This gun shoots steel BBs, which have a much greater tendency to ricochet. The other guns listed shoot lead pellets.

Pyramyd Air has a listing of youth rifles, but I believe most will be too long for your boys. To determine the length of a gun, look at the specifications of each one.

Again, I encourage you to post your question on the current day’s blog. It’ll be the top-most one posted on this page. Scroll down just a bit til you see the first link for “COMMENTS.” Click on that link & post your question. The blog readers are very helpful and are sure to give you a ton of good advice.

Edith

Thanks for the heads up. We’re working on getting the correct video in place.

Edith