Virtual training with airguns adds up to serious profits

Shooting Industry, Sept, 1998 by Lisa Parsons

Firearms can be intimidating to women who have never been around them. Most of their gun knowledge is gained through what they see in movies and television, and we all know that's a pretty unrealistic picture. Mass media tends to paint a picture of firearms as more dangerous than a rabid dog and as uncontrollable. As dealers and shooting sports enthusiasts interested in the continuation of the shooting sports, it's our mission to teach women the truth about firearms. A tool that could prove quite useful in this endeavor is the airgun.

Airguns have traditionally been regarded as toys for children, but with the increase in airguns with the look and feel of "real" guns, airguns are gaining prestige as serious training tools. One of the greatest benefits for firearms dealers who want to give women a small taste of firing a gun is that an airgun range can be set up just about anywhere. Dealers are not constrained by laws regarding lead and noise when holding a seminar with airguns. The amount of space required is minimal - a long unused corridor or fenced in area could be utilized as long as the appropriate safety measures are taken.

The other benefits to a firearms introduction via airguns are the lack of noise and recoil. Gun people quickly become immune to the noise of firing a gun, but some women may find the noise very unsettling. Recoil can also be a shock - new shooters often feel as though the gun is jumping out of their hands, reinforcing the idea that guns are uncontrollable. No matter how well you explain recoil or emphasize proper shooting stance, that first shot is a surprise. If it wasn't, no one would ever have to battle a flinch.

Airguns allow women to get used to wearing ear and eye protection, and the "feel" of a firearm as well. They also give women a chance to practice lining up the sights, performing smooth trigger control and achieving successful hits on a target without the distractions of noise and recoil. What a great introduction! Throw in that it's downright fun to shoot airguns and you've got a budding shooting enthusiast.

Because there are so many airgun manufacturers making replicas of popular handguns, the transition from airguns to regular guns should not be too difficult for most shooters. Crossman offers a variety of replica guns that look and "feel" like popular firearms. Crossman's C[O.sub.2] powered Model 1008 series is a twin to the S&W 10mm. This accurate little airgun shoots eight .177-inch pellets in rapid succession. Crossman's 3574 and 3576 are perfect for revolver fans. The double-action C[O.sub.2] revolvers have a black finish, gold trigger and closely resemble the Colt Python.

Daisy is another American manufacturer with a wide range of replica handguns. Daisy has gone for the ultimate in realistic airguns by creating a C[O.sub.2] powered model that shoots BBs semi-auto style and features a reciprocating slide that recocks the hammer during each shot. This ultra-realistic airgun is a dead ringer for the Desert Eagle autoloader and is called the Model 400. Another Daisy, the Model 1700, is a 60-shot BB repeater that closely resembles Glock's Model 17L long barrel.

An additional remarkable Daisy replica is the Model 693, a double-action BB version of the S&W Model 693. The Model 45 has a rifled barrel for superior accuracy and will appeal to Colt Government Model fans. There is also a replica of the Beretta 92F called the Model 500. The only wheelgun Daisy offers is the Model 65, a double-action revolver with the heft and style of the S&W Model 29.

There are also several foreign manufacturers who offer replica airguns such as Walther, Gamo and Webley. Basically, any style of firearm you can imagine has a close cousin in the airgun field.

Targets can also make shooting airguns a lot of fun. There are interactive targets that spin and twist, and Daisy even has a line of Terrified Targets that look like a nervous apple, petrified wood and sweating tin cans. For serious training, however, shooters will want to use more realistic, traditional targets.

Of course, beginning with airguns isn't for everyone and there are many women who will choose to skip this introductory step. There's a good chance, however, that when they become proficient with their firearm of choice, they will return to airguns for training. Airguns can be had for one-half to one-third the cost of standard firearms. The price of pellets and C[O.sub.2] cartridges are also much less than regular ammunition, making airguns an ideal training tool for serious shooters. The low cost of airgun shooting means that women who want some inexpensive practice don't have to bust their budgets on training and will be able to shoot more, and buy more products from you.

Remember, there is no waiting period required or complicated paperwork for airguns. In states with waiting periods for regular handguns, you may be able to make an airgun sale simply based on the fact that your customer can take an airgun home today and begin practicing while she waits to pick up her cartridge-firing gun.