I know this probably doesn't belong here but.
How many of us cocked a old model Dasiy red ryder and fired it with the handle out?
I remember I did it with my first one. The thing slamed closed. I thought my fingers were broken.
I squalled so loud my folks thought I was dying. I will never forget that christmas
Ron

I must have been slightly smarter than most-I kept my hand FAR away from it,to see what would happen.When it slammed shut,I made a mental note to not do that anymore,in case I wanted to pick my nose with my right hand from them on.

Brian.

[ 12-22-2002, 03:54: Message edited by: Brian M ]

I doubt that many of us here that are approaching the mid-century mark have not had our fingers smashed from one of those BB guns. You certainly learn fast, even at that tender age not to repeat that particular mistake again. The good old days, you were a man among men and a legend in our own minds when you got your first Daisy. I think we all were on Safari in our dreams. Russ

Interesting. I had one of those lever action Daisy BB guns too, but I don't remember ever ever shooting it with the lever open so that it slammed shut. I remember that the gun cost $3.95,

I also remember that when I got mine -- I must have been 8 or 9 at the time -- I was not strong enough to work the lever from the shooting position. So what I did was hook the butt of the stock behind my left leg, and then use my right hand to work the lever. I also remember that BB's came in cardboard tubes about the size of an empty 12 gauge shotgun shell, and that they cost $0.05 (5 cents), which I frequently did not have.

I fired mine with the lever out to see what would happened. Didn't need to try a second time.

Yep,I did it! 42 years ago and this is the first time I'v told anybody!
Jeff

Ron,

I did it years ago with a break open air rifle. It was before they came up with the safety that will not allow the barrel to shoot up if some idiot pressed the trigger.

I remember it very clearly, as I must have had a few less grains of grey matter between my ears at that time - Walter is muttering something about my head being bigger now!

I had to sit on the ground, put the stock between by knees, and then pull the barrel towards me to cock it. That is the only way I could do it.

I don't know what happened, but I must have touched the trigger, and the bloody barrel whacked me on the chin. My grandad just told me not to do it again.

My first bb/pellet gun was a Sheridan Blue Streek. It shot 22 cal pellets which were expensive when I was a kid. I improvised with tinfoil balls and popcorn seeds when I ran outa ammo. My neighbor taught me how to shoot rifle primers thru it. That was neat to see them pop when they hit something.

I don't think it was Christmas when I got my first BB gun, so I missed out on the holiday wounds. However, anyone who ever shot a BB gun very much eventually got hurt one way or another.
BB's have always had the bad habit of bouncing back off hard objects at twice their normal muzzle velocity. And boys being boys, i.e. stupid, everyone has to eventually shoot someone with them.

Weren't Sheridan's actually 5mm, i.e. .20 caliber?

Still have mine. Still remember the pain after shooting it most of the day. Not from shooting with the lever open or shooting myself by cocking it poorly, but from the whipping I took for shooting it in the house and breaking a window. My dad explained the proper safety procedures "before" I could even load it but 40 years ago I didn't listen (my wife claims that hasn't changed) and had to learn the hard way. Once.

Boy mine was a dandy. Blonde stock and scope mounted.

I fired it over-my-shoulder, behind-my-back, looking in a mirror, with my thumb (I don't remember who I was trying to impress), with the lever open. It slapped the fat part of my palm. I bled like a stuck hog, or at least it seemed like it at the time.

I never had a Red Ryder (had a old pump action daisy) but at about 7 / 8 yr I recieved a Sheridan blue streak. I wasn`t strong enough to pump the thing right. I had to place the gun against my chest and pull with both hands on the lever to pump it, more than once caught the fleshy part of the base of my thumb between the barrel and the pump lever. DAMN THAT SMARTS

Hey there Ron,

Guess your first statement is wrong. This post obviously DOES belong here. Amazing the fond memories we recall, but even more amazing how many of us all learned the same way. Yes, I'm proud to be in such splendid company--smashed fingers and all. That was sure a long time ago. Dad would have grinned knowingly had I ever admitted my lack of good sense. Only today after some 45 years, do I admit how I learned to to make sure the lever is closed.

Hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season and thanks for the memories.

Garry (NM Bassman)

Yep, did it when I was about 8 and that was enough for me. But, I had a friend who thought he was tough and didn't believe that it would hurt so I let him experience it himself He concurred.

We had the original paint ball type war games only we used bb guns. The action took place in orange groves in central Florida area during the holidays when it was cold enough to wear long pants. The only rules were no shooting above the waist and oranges were used as hand grenades. The game usually ended when someone got zapped too close and a fist fight started. A pure miracle that no one lost an eye. The way kids are protected today its a wonder any of us made it to puberty.

Never had a Daisy. I started out with a Benjamim for it stopping power on squirrels & wabbits.

Yeppers - Did the handle-smash routine. ONCE. But would like to share another fond (?) memory -

EVERYBODY has had to have heard from a parent, usually mom, "Be carefull with that thing, you'll put your eye out ! Right?

Well, I ALMOST experienced just that. We lived next to an old, abandoned farm. I had inherited from my older brother his Red Ryder. The thing was really weak as you could watch the BB arc from the barrel to your target (should have chrony'd it ). But - it still sent a projectile forward, and that was enough for a 9-year old boy.

On one of the barns, there was a belled, metal light shade on the light fixture. The bulb was already broken (probably shot by some other youngster) but the base and part of the filament support was hanging there.

So - brilliant me, I get down on one knee (to get an angle past the shade), from about 40 feet, draw a bead on that bulb base and fire. I missed the bulb and saw the BB hit the inside of the shade on JUST the right angle to send it right back at me !

I froze as I watched it arc back to me and it hit me in the face about an inch below my left eye.

It hurt, I bled a little. It more split the skin than penetrated it. After the initial shock wore off, my first thought was: "OH NO ! Mom's going to take my BB gun away because I ALMOST PUT MY EYE OUT !!! "

Well, I lied about how I got hurt by telling Ma that we were going through the woods and a branch poked me. It worked. But - it also taught me a valuable (and my first) shooting lesson: Always know what's BEHIND your target.

Sheesh, the memories we have.

Happy New Years to you all !

Okay...first sucker ain't got a chance! This has nothing to do with Christmas, but Dino's story about the BB gun reminded me of my own experience.

I was a brilliant youngster and I decided to shoot at a tire with my Daisy Powerline 880. You know...the ones that you could pump up 10 times. Well anyway I don't remember how many pumps I gave it but I do remember watching the BB leave my barrel...bounce right off the tire and come back and peg me about 1" high of dead center between the eyes. Talk about a headache!! I quit shooting for the day and resolved to never shoot at things that could bounce back at me.

It really is a wonder that we ever made it through childhood!

[ 01-09-2003, 00:41: Message edited by: Longbob ]

We were at some kids party with the grown ups up stairs and us kids downstairs. Mom would not let us have a BB gun so when we found the one at this other kids house we had to try it. And yes it does smart a bunch when it goes off with the lever down. But you learn fast and never do it again. Wonder why we never got shot in the head or chest when cocking them. Never was big enough to cock it the right way, but the way most have expressed before me. Now you can't ride a bike, or do anything else without head gear and all the rest in padding. Why is that there are so many baby boomers left? We should of all killed ourselves off with the stunts we did back then.
Has anyone set off a whole roll of toy gun caps with a hammer just because it was louder than what the cap gun would do. My dad never quit replacing that one slab of cement at the front of the garage because of all of the hammer blows from three boys acting like kids. No wonder I can't hear now. Great memories.

This has been one of the most enjoyable threads in a long time! I'm also one of those that grew up with a Benjamin pump, so relate to smashing your little fingers at the finish of the pump stroke on ocasion.

I'm going to have to pull that thing out and shoot it, it's been way too long!

I also have a break open springer like Saeed, but fortunately was old enough not to pull off his stunt, though I can imagine it must have been rather painful!

Well Guys, I pulled the trigger on mine to see what would happen with the lever open. After the blood stopped I swore to never try it again. When my younger brother got his Red Ryder a few years later I was being Big Brother and tried to show him what happens when this is attempted. I was sure I could pull it off without getting hurt, but I was wrong!! A few weeks later little brother come screaming in the house with his fingers bleeding, he couldn't pull it off either.
Years later after warning my oldest son about this particular stunt and my brother also telling his story, he came into the house bleeding and crying. He just had to try it! Good to hear from you guys, I thought it was a family thing!
W.B.

[ 01-01-2003, 02:59: Message edited by: Woolybooger ]

My Dad was never a believer in BB-guns as, in his opinion, it blurred the line between toy guns and real ones so I got a 22lr fairly early in life.

I did, however, receive an injury the day before Christmas this year. I was waiting for my wife at the local Mall when an amazing looking young woman with note-worthy protuberances hipped on past where I was sitting. I was so busy memorizing what I saw I didn't see my wife walking about 15 feet behind her. I'll be seeing from both eyes soon.

Hey Saeed, I did the very same thing with a break open airgun. It was a really nice Euro model, I didn't hurt myself, but it bent the hell out of the barrel and ruined a nice gun. I still regret my stupidity! I think any of us who had pump up guns pinched a finger at least once! I know my Daisy 880 got me on several occasions.

Jeez, wait till we start confessing the really stupid stuff we've done with "real" guns!

Man you guys are killing me. I thought I was the only stupid kid on earth. I have been laughing so had reading this I can't stand it.
Mike338, I with you man. I used my dads claw hammer to set off a roll of caps a few times.
Ron

Did any of you guys ever use a squirt gun filled with dish soap and water to shoot water skippers?
I did this before I was able to shoot a BB gun. Ranks right up there with salting slugs!
what other kind of no good did YOU guys do?
Ron

Mine wasn't a Red Ryder but another Daisy model,and yes it does HURT.

Ump -any of you all ever get so good that you had to try to hit a primer on a live shotgun shell?
BY ALL MEANS DON"T and I haven't and won't.

But since some of you have told some good ones on yourself,I thought I would share this one from my Uncle.

Seems he was this good and somebody dared him to try this.He did and the shell went off and came back towards both him and boy who dared him.Hit the darer right in the UMP-ER Privates.

I was going to ask if anyone had tried to hit the primer on a shotgun shell. This is a blast and we did it a LOT as young teens. We just took a sharp knife and cut around the top about 1/4" down and dumped the shot out. Then we put the shells on a fence post and went at it. Probably stupid, ok for sure stupid, but a lot of fun and no one even got close to getting hurt and it's a kick to see something go boom when you hit it. Oh for the good ol' days when our balls were bigger than our brains. Great thread, brings the old memories flooding back. Cheers.......

Paul H. NAILED it. This IS one of the most enjoyable threads in a long time !!

It's good to hear others recount their stories. Makes one feel less dumb !

At the risk of destroying any credibility I may have on this board, I'll ask one more question . . .

Anybody ever hold a "D" size Estes rocket engine in a pair of slip-joint pliers and ignite it?

DON'T !!

I concur with Bret. It's a wonder any of us DID make it out of our childhood !!

Man! This is a hoot. I did most of this and on the roll of caps,did anyone else ever get hit in the forehead by the hammer when it rebounded?

Seems like I did...can't remember that far back..or could be the pain from the first time I got to pull the trigger on my dad's old humpback 12ga. semi. auto Rem. has blotted out the memory....He was kneeling down for me holding the gun with me between his legs and I took good aim with that old shotgun...had my eyeball looking right down the barrel and nose right up against the hump.

I've got DUMB beat all to heck. I went way beyond DUMB when I was growing up.

A friend and I were shooting sparrows when one of us shot close to the other. Fire was returned and the war was on. It ended when I shot through some brush as my friend moved in on me. I hit him in the eye. He started screaming. I dropped the gun and ran over to him. He had both hands over his eye, and I could see a little blood. I wanted to throw up, I was so scared. We had never done anything so stupid before. His first words were, "I'll never get in to the Air Force Academy now".

When we finally got the nerve he pulled his hands away. The BB had hit him right in the inside corner of the eye. The white part was already bloodshot, and spreading.

We had to walk a mile getting home. All the way we developed our story about how he got hit in the eye with a tree limb. We were best friends, and that was what best friends did back then.

He never was upset with me. The eye healed fine. We did a lot of other stupid things later, but never pointed BB guns at each other again.

Dumb Thing #2 was showing a young visiting cousin from Indiana how to use my Lee Loader. He was impressed and wanted me to give him a live .308 Win round I'd made. I told him I couldn't because it wouldn't be safe, but I'd give him an empty case after I detonated the primer.

I placed the case mouth-down on the concrete floor, wrapped my left hand around it tight, and hit the primer with a hammer. I thought I'd blown my hand off. The concussion made my whole hand sting like Hell. I handed him the hull with tears in my eyes.

I'm amazed I ever grew up.

Its a wonder any of us have both eyes and all our fingers. I am guilty of all these things plus some that were dumber.When ever we could get our hands on 22 rounds we would stick them in a 22 cal sized piece of pipe,place thes against the end of old bb gun.worked very well.Had to hold pipe tight against end of gun or you would get sprayed with brass and hot gas.Accuracy was not that good.After a few shots you learn to concentrate on holding pipe firmly rather than tring to point pipe.Usually we shot large objects ,barn ,shed corncrib.My last shot was at the old weathered hard pine corncrib.22 long rifle made dent 3/8 in. deep in crib( I checked later)then came right back middle of forehead. My world went dim,out cold.Came to a little wiser (not much thought)I looked like a 8 year old unicorn ,I had such a knot on my forehead.That corncrib caused me a lot of other problems over the years.Hope no kid reads this .I can write a book about things not to do with gunpowder,dynamite,guns,cars neighbors daughter........

Dumb shots...brings back a memory of long time ago squirrel hunt with my grand daddy's ole dog Rex.
I was about 10 yrs old or so and had moved up to shot gunning and me and Rex were down past the cornfield in the branch when he treed a big red colored fox squirrel in the top of a tall Ga. pine. I had the old sawed off single shot 12ga. since it was the only one I could find a few shells for...I had run out of 16ga for my model 12 pump....anyway I knew from past experience shooting straight up into that pine was not going to be a whole lot of fun with the 12ga. and it was going to kill my shoulder. After circling around the tree and contemplating the problem a while I came across the idea of what was known back then as shooting from the hip...I just held the shotgun out away from my body and pointed it straight up the pine tree and let her rip. I almost broke my hip when the butt came back and hit me right on the hip bone. But the squirrel came tumbling down..ole Rex not being born with any retriever in him...and not one to share much..grabbed the squirrel and hauled ass with it...

Have any of you guys ever made your own gunpowder or rocket fuel? Used to do that until the local druggist wouldn't sell me any more ingredients. Its best to cook up your rocket fuel when mom is gone for a while in case you have to repaint the kitchen. Wonder why I'm still alive.

Made a pistol out of copper tubing one time and when it wouldn't go off put it in a vise and put the torch to it. Found it 30 years later when I cleaned out the basement for Dad.

Used to pull the lead from 22 shells and dump the powder out and stick a lit match in the end to here them go off. Got a match in the hand one time, boy does that smart.

Like one of the other guys said, wonder why there are so many babyboomers left.

An Estes "D" rocket motor wrapped tight in Duct Tape will sure blow a large chunk of cement out of the driveway curb.

I don't think my parents ever bought the "struck by lightning" excuse.

I got a Red Ryder for Christmas in 1956 but never tried the open lever trick but I have put 3in1 oil in the barrel to make it shoot harder. The worst spankin I can remember is when my older cousin dared me to shoot my aunts favorite rooster with it telling me it was not powerful enough to hurt the chicken. Well it was and it did, shot that Rooster in the head and killed it deader than road kill. Well you know the story my aunt gives me a spankin then tells my dad and dad introduced me to mr belt. This postbrings back allot of good memories, and I still have that Red Ryder.

[ 02-20-2003, 01:19: Message edited by: Handloader ]

This post is a ball of laughs

Count me in with rest. I shot mine once with lever cocked and that was enough. NEVER EVER again.

[ 02-20-2003, 06:01: Message edited by: mark65x55 ]