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Five of the Best Air Rifles for juniors

Looking for air rifles for juniors and beginners? Choose something lightweight and easy to handle, with gentle recoil, so it’s comfortable for little hands. Safety features like trigger locks and automatic safeties are key. Adjustable sights and stocks help it grow with them, and a durable, beginner-friendly design keeps it fun and safe.

Martin Puddifer
Martin Puddifer August 29, 2025

Looking for air rifles for juniors and beginners? Choose something lightweight and easy to handle, with gentle recoil, so it’s comfortable for little hands. Safety features like trigger locks and automatic safeties are key. Adjustable sights and stocks help it grow with them, and a durable, beginner-friendly design keeps it fun and safe.

Crosman Inferno

Overview

A lightweight break-barrel air rifle with a fibre-optic sight that’s great for plinking and small pests

5.0

Cost

£99.99

Website

range-right.co.uk

In a nutshell

A good budget air rifle for juniors

Lightweight and easy to handle, this junior-friendly air rifle features fibre optic sights and a rugged skeleton stock. Ideal for beginners, it excels at plinking and small pest control in confined areas. Compact, reliable and well-balanced, it’s a great starter option. Scope and mounts sold separately.

Type: Springer
Calibre: .177
Muzzle energy: 7ft/lb
Shot count: Single shot
Action: Break-barrel
Stock: Synthetic
Overall length: 40.5in
Barrel length: 16.5in
Weight: 4.4lbs

BSA Ultra JSR

Overview

A compact, adjustable, quick-fill PCP designed for young shooters

5.0

Cost

£499

Website

bsaguns.co.uk

In a nutshell

Compact, versatile and built to last

Designed for younger shooters, this compact PCP air rifle offers a cold hammer-forged barrel, an onboard pressure gauge and a quick-fill system. It features a fully adjustable two-stage trigger and a junior-sized beech stock option, with the further option to upgrade to a full-size synthetic stock. A 12ft/ lb version is also available.

Type: PCP
Calibre: .177 and .22
Muzzle energy: 6ft/lb
Shot count: 120 (for both .177 and .22)
Action: Bolt-Action
Stock: Synthetic, Ambidextrous
Overall length: 27.1in
Barrel length: 11.8in
Weight: 5lbs

Gamo Junior Hunter

Overview

A lightweight springer designed to develop technique and encourage confidence

5.0

Cost

£124.99

Website

gamoguns.co.uk

In a nutshell

Confidence-building and easy to master

Designed for beginners between eight and 12 years of age, this lightweight, compact rifle helps youngsters develop proper shooting technique with ease. Its manageable size reduces strain, encouraging confidence and control. Standard open sights are perfect for training, with the option to add a scope as skills progress over time.

Type: Springer
Calibre: .177
Muzzle energy: 5.5ft/lb
Shot count: Single shot
Action: Single-action Spring
Stock: Wood
Overall length: 35.4in
Barrel length: 15.3in
Weight: 5.5lbs

Webley VMX Cub Junior

Overview

A break-barrel air rifle with a compact wood stock ideal for target shooting and hunting

5.0

Cost

£142.99

Website

highlandoutdoors.co.uk

In a nutshell

Smooth handling and reliably accurate

This break-barrel air rifle offers smooth cocking with reduced recoil for greater control. Its precision rifled barrel delivers reliable accuracy, even with open sights. A 3/8in dovetail rail allows easy scope mounting, while the compact wooden stock ensures comfortable handling. Ideal for consistent, enjoyable target or field shooting.

Type: Springer
Calibre: .177 and .22
Muzzle energy: 5.5ft/lbs
Shot count: Single shot
Action: Break-barrel
Stock: Wood (with junior length of pull)
Overall length: 37.8in
Barrel length: 16.5in
Weight: 5.3lbs

Weihrauch HW30 Junior

Overview

A 5.1lb springer air rifle with a scaled down beech sporter stock

5.0

Cost

£290

Website

weihrauch.co.uk

In a nutshell

Premium break-barrel ideal for target shooting

This is a premium break-barrel air rifle for juniors, scaled down for easier handling. With refined engineering, a two-stage Rekord trigger and precision fibre optic sights, it delivers excellent performance at lower power. Ideal for accurate target shooting, it maintains Weihrauch’s trademark quality in a compact, beginner-friendly package.

Type: Springer
Calibre: .177
Muzzle energy: 4.6ft/lb
Shot count: Single shot
Action: Break-barrel
Stock: Scaled down junior beech sporter
Overall length: 35.25in
Barrel length: 13.4in
Weight: 5.1lbs

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