One of the best things you can do is give the gift of BB gun fun at Christmas. It’s nearly as good to give this gift to yourself. BB guns have come a long way since the 1980s but in general some things are still very true about them. Number one, they are fun. First hand experience, to anecdotal tales and interactions, to my time as a young man with BB guns and my life at Umarex with BB guns I have discovered there’s hardly a demographic that doesn’t like BB guns. Beyond the fun, there are few things that are worth reminding yourself about and if you will kindly direct your attention to paragraphs below, hopefully I can communicate those things to you in short order.

Eye Pro

BBs bounce! Most people do have a working knowledge of the mechanics of “bounce” but it never hurts to be reminded that little steel balls bounce way better than any rubber or inflated ball. For this reason, put on some safety glasses or wear your own safety rated eye glasses. Even if you are shooting paper and have a good BB trap behind the target, protect those eyes!  If you don’t have any, pick up some as a part of one of our Range Ready Bundles or a la carte! 

Silicone Oil

BB guns in general need very little maintenance. However, one critical item that should not be overlooked, especially on CO2 powered BB guns is silicone oil.  Silicone oil, like RWS Chamber Lube,  protects the puncture seal as well as the internal seals on the CO2 valve.  Just a tiny drop on the tip of each new CO2 cartridge will keep those seals in good condition for the life of the airgun. Another tip related to this is to use caution when tightening the new CO2 cartridge. If you over tighten the puncture screw, this can tear the puncture seal and cause a leak even on a brand new air pistol. 

Speed Loader

Some airguns like our Marlin Lever Action have a decently large loading port that is easy to load a fresh batch of BBs in. Others have a small loading port that is barely bigger than the BB itself.  This can be frustrating for both little fingers as well as big fingers (and old eyes!). The solution is to use a BB speedloader. Yes, this exists. Fill up the large BB reservoir with fresh BBs and actuate the plunger over the loading port and voila! In a few moments you will have a reloaded magazine.  On occasion the speedloader might be a little stiff to operate. If this is the case for you, simply take the loader apart by removing the screws that hold the two halves together. Chances are there is a tiny seam of overmolded plastic that is keeping the BBs from moving smoothly through the plunger port. Trim this out with an Exacto knife or smooth it with a small piece of 400 grit sandpaper and it will work like a charm. 

Bonus! 

Don’t underestimate how much you will enjoy shooting your BB gun.  Since each shot is still in the “few pennies” price range, you can really get carried away with yourself for just a few bucks. That said, it’s easy to run out of CO2 or BBs. Stock up! We’ve recently started carrying CO2 in two additional carton sizes, 30 count and 50 count. Our BBs are still sold in a 1,500 count bottle for a measly $3.99.  With this in mind, just order plenty when you order to make it worth your while and you will be good for thousands and thousands of shots.