Air guns were around long before Ralphie tried to talk his mother, teacher and Santa into helping him get a Red Ryder in the 1983 classic. In fact, Meriwether Lewis carried a Girardoni air rifle on his famous 1804 expedition with William Clark. 

Air rifles have, of course, changed a great deal since the 1800s, going from weapons of war to tin can plinkers and sporting arms. Today, folks can choose from powerful air rifles for hunting to CO2-powered handguns for fast-action fun, along with break-action and pump-action air rifles. Daisy, in fact, still produces the iconic Red Ryder so desired in the “The Christmas Story.”

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Air rifles, pistols, etc., still make great items for teaching firearms safety and marksmanship, and they are a whole lot of fun to shoot. In fact, the only full auto the average citizen can own without filling out tons of paperwork is of the air variety. So, if you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea, and have forgotten the joys of air, consider something off of the GunBroker.com Air Gun Gift Guide. No FFL required. 

GunBroker.com Air Gun Gift Guide

Crossman Pumpmaster 760

Pretty much everyone who grew up shooting had a Crossman Pumpmaster at some point. It has been one of the best, inexpensive air rifles on the market since 1964. Crosman has sold more than 16 million Pumpmaster 760s with little changes other than cosmetic. This lightweight air rifle features a polymer stock with a steel barrel that can send a .177 alloy pellet at up to 700 fps. This is enough power to plink paper, cans and clay targets for a day of fun at the range. What’s best is that shooters can control the power by adjusting the number of pumps. This air rifle also comes with adjustable iron sights and dovetail mounts for a scope. And it does all this for way less than most might realize. 

Daisy Powerline 880 Pump Air Rifle

Not to be left out, the Daisy Powerline 880 air rifle sends .177 BBs and pellets down range at around 800 fps. Designed for a little bit older youngsters, the Powerline weighs almost 5 pounds and measures 37.5-inches long overall. It features a blade and ramp front sight and an adjustable rear, dovetails for mounting a scope, a crossbolt safety and enough power to take down a variety of targets. It is also quite affordable along with its accessories. 

Gamo Wildcat Whisper

Those wanting more power should consider spring-powered air guns, such as the Gamo Wildcat Whisper. This break-action air rifle uses Inert Gas Technology to send pellets downrange at up to 1,300 fps. This is enough power to take out a variety of varmints and small game without the report of an actual gunshot. Gamo also uses dampening technology to reduce sound even further. In fact, Gamo has three levels of dampening — Whisper, Whisper Maxxim and Whisper Fusion — to provide shooters with a choice of quiet levels. Other features include adjustable trigger, fluted steel barrel and 4×32 scope. 

Sig Sauer M17 CO2 Air Pistol

Whether wanting something for plinking or training, the Sig Sauer M17 Air Pistol looks and feels very similar to the real gun. This CO2-powered air gun even comes with a full, blowback metal slide and breaks down just like M17 issued to U.S. military troops. It even comes with a M1913 accessory rail, polymer sights and cuts for attaching the Sig Air Reflex sight. It’s magazine mounted CO2 cartridge sends 20 pellets at 380 fps downrange as fast as one can pull the trigger. This air gun’s only problem is that it doesn’t come with multiple magazines for quick reloads. 

Umarex Gauntlet 30

Air rifles have long been popular for small game, but hunters can also pursue large game, such as deer, with air guns as well. The Umarex Gauntlet 30 can fire a 50.77-grain pellet at just under 1,000 fps and around 100 ft-lbs. at the muzzle from its 28.25-inch barrel. This is plenty of power to bring down larger game out to medium ranges. This 8.97-pound air rifle even shoots slugs designed specifically for bringing down game. When filled to capacity, the included tank holds 4,500 psi of air, providing up to 25 consistent shots. Other features include an adjustable trigger, a pair of seven-shot rotary magazines, adjustable comb, and M-LOK Slots and an Integrated QD Sling Port.  

Air guns are no longer just for kids and beginners. Today’s technology has brought them into the world of hunting and training. In fact, air guns are a great way to improve basic shooting skills, such as aim and trigger control. They are also good for introducing a new level of difficulty to shooting activities. And there are many other options available on GunBroker.com in addition to the AirGun Gift Guide. In fact, the site contains more than 6,000 listings during a search. 

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