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BB guns have always been fun, but now there’s more options than ever

The post The Best BB Guns of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

                   

For many hunters, the BB gun was a distinct pil*ar of childhood. Generations of us learned basic marksmanship and firearms safety with a BB gun, and there was never a more formidable tool when tin cans or plastic army men were game. I often toted a lever-action or pump-up BB rifle across the handlebars of my ten-speed, and no other tool was as steadfast through my formative years. BB guns are great fun, and they can be great for teaching youngsters or new shooters the basics. They have some distinct advantages over real firearms in that application. They can be safely and legally fired in many areas where real rifles can’t. They can also be mailed straight to your door. Ammo is significantly cheaper too, and I can’t imagine the bills I’d have racked up if the milk-carton-style containers of BB’s—the small cardboard tubes were child’s play—were cases of 5.56 ammo. 

My interest in BB guns has beco*e reinvigorated as my children are growing into them, and I’m finding that the world of BB guns is so much cooler than when I was a kid. Many of the classics are still here, but now we have BB guns that even my fertile imagination couldn’t have fathomed. Here’s a look at some of the best BB guns you can get in 2023.

• Best BB Rifle: Daisy 499B Champion





• Best BB Handgun: ASG Dan Wesson 715 6-inch





• Best Value: Umarex Legends P08 Luger





• Best for Kids: Daisy Red Ryder





• Best for Adults: Barra Schofield 7-inch





• Best for Squirrels: Crosman 760 Pumpmaster 





• Best Full Auto: Umarex Legends M3 Grease Gun

Other Rifles

• Umarex Legends Cowboy Rifle





• Daisy Model 25 





• Barra 1866 Cowboy Series Lever Action





• Daisy Powerline 880





• Daisy Buck

Other Handguns

• ASG CZ Shadow 2





• Umarex Colt Peacemaker





• Sig Sauer 1911 Emperor Scorpion





• Umarex Glock G17





• Sig Sauer P365





• ASG Ingram M11

How We Tested the Best BB Guns

At Outdoor Life, we pride ourselves on striving to thoroughly test gear and equipment—sometimes to a fault. We hold our rifle and handgun testing to a high standard, so I wanted to apply some of that same rigor to the best BB guns. My son and I spent a lot of time shooting each of these BB guns, and after test sessions, I had to drink a lot of, err, soda to keep up the supply of aluminum cans. We set up a range in the backyard, with cans hanging from strings to eliminate reset time. We shot them from a variety of positions and distances for weeks. 

Minute-of-can is one thing, but I wanted to determine how accurate these BB guns actually were. For accuracy testing, I used the classic Copperhead bulk 5.3-grain copper-plated steel BB’s that I’d shoot as a kid. There’s an art to BB gun accuracy, and serious individuals will sort BB’s by weight and roll them on glass to check for imperfections. I simply wanted to see a representative sample of what the average person might use. For the BB guns that take CO2, I used Crosman brand CO2 cartridges. I fired a single 20-shot group with each BB gun to test accuracy. I shot the rifles at a distance of 15 yards, and the handguns at 7 yards. I used shooting bags on a bench for the rifles, and a bagged tripod to support the handguns. I also recorded 10-shot velocity samples to calculate averages and standard deviation.

I did some additional testing with the pneumatic pump BB guns which can be pumped up to 10 times. I checked velocity at 1 pump, 10 pumps, and did my accuracy testing at 5 pumps. These rifles also use pellets. Although it’s a BB gun test, I tested the accuracy of the rifles with pellets too, using Crosman Premier Wadcutter Pellets. 

Selecting category winners was a mix of hard data, shooting experience, and some personal preference. Specifically in the handgun category, personal preference will weigh heavily in your consideration—many of them are awesome replicas, but none offer fantastic performance. They’re BB guns, and the fun factor is important to consider.

Best BB Guns: Reviews and Reco*mendations

Like co*bustion-powered hunting rifles, the best BB guns for you will depend on a number of factors. Most are intended for casual plinking, though many can offer somewhat realistic training and practice. Whether you’re looking for one of the classics, a detailed replica, or a BB gun that’s just pure fun, there’s something here for you.

Best BB Rifle: Daisy 499B Champion

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