I love air guns, have had one since I was 6yrs old, 30 years later I am still plinking in the back yard. Both my kids have one each, trusty daisy red riders, a pink one for my daughter and pine/walnut colored for my son, and they have never failed either one of my kids from the abuse they have received. I built them a target box that they can hang empty soda cans in, and if they miss the can, I hung a rubber floor mat and a piece of outdoor carpet in so no ricochets, the bb drops and gets collected in a old bread pan in the bottom of the box. After they have shot for a while they just collect the bb's from the pan, reload and ready to go again. Was simple, cheap, and a lot of fun to build. Best thing is they are great with the guns, understand shooting in a safe direction, how to properly care for there guns, and they have fun doing it. Thats a win win in my book. As for me, I spend enough money on my sporting guns and other hobbies that I wont spend alot on a air rifle, I like them, just not enough to drop more then say $150 on one. My air rifle of choice is the crossman phantom, spring gun, break action, and scoped with a 3x9x40 scope. It shoots 1200 fps and is deadly accurate. I have shot squirrels, rabbits, etc. from 40yds with one shot-one kill, no problem. I have done a couple mods to it (thanks youtube) and it is one heck of a tack driver. Cheap air rifles that have provided priceless memories for my kids and I, what more could a Dad ask for?