Daisy bb guns are a staple of American childhood but are also useful and sporting for adults, come in a variety of sizes and with a variety of types of ammunition available for different uses. While some may think of these guns as a simple toy because they are fun for shooting and target practice, as well as easily useable by kids, BB guns are capable of inflicting wounds, or killing birds and small animals, so should be handled with care. BB guns are a type of air gun which fires small pellets for rounds, often made of metal and are reminiscent of bird shot. There are a wide variety of BB gun types to choose from, ranging from pistols to rifles. There are many accessories available for BB guns as well including scopes and stands, and many brands available as well with a wide range of prices. Bird and small game hunting is a common use for BB guns, and they also make a good first gun for someone just learning to shoot. While not really useful for self – defense, they do pack a sting and can inflict injury if someone is shot in a place like the temple or eye. Another common use for BB guns is for killing pests like small rodents infesting the home or such as moles in the yard. BB guns work on pneumatic or air pumping in order to increase the velocity of the shot, with magnets which hold the BB’s in the barrel, which are ordinarily metal but occasionally plastic in more game focused models. The guns are capable of shooting a good distance which varies depending on the caliber of your gun. Many people recommend using at least a .22 caliber gun if it will be used to shoot small game. Simple technology and use make the BB gun a practical choice. Pellet gun history “The constitution of the United States asserts that all power is inherent in the people, that they may exercise it by themselves, that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed!” -Thomas Jefferson Pellet gun history Without a doubt the most famous BB gun is the Red Ryder by Daisy. The Red Rider is so popular even today partially because it is modeled after the infamous western Winchester rifle. Daisy first produced the Red Rider back in 1938, and became an American household toy. I still have two myself today! The first what we would call “air guns” were actually lung-powered blowguns. Western blowguns date back to at least 425 AD, and probably much earlier than that. Today we have CO2 guns, or Pneumatic air guns, that use compressed air as the source of energy to propel the metal projectile, or BB. Ammunition In addition to the traditional steel or lead BBs, there are a number of types of specialty ammunition that can be used. Air gun pellets of the correct diameter, .177 caliber, (4.5 mm), can be loaded into many BB guns.