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The Beginnings: Crossman 177 Caliber Pellet BB Combo
My journey into hunting began with my first rifle, a Crossman 177 caliber pellet BB combo. I bought it from my older brother using my birthday money from my tenth birthday. Despite my brother's teasing that it wouldn’t even harm a tweety bird, I was undeterred. Armed with a box of 177 caliber lead pellets, I headed up the hill behind our house, where the woods teemed with gray squirrels.
That day, I managed to stalk and shoot three squirrels with three well-placed shots between the eye and ear, dropping them instantly. As I was skinning the first squirrel, my dad came home and asked where I got them. I proudly told him I shot them with my pellet gun. After examining them and seeing the small hole behind each squirrel's eye, he laughed and praised my precision. My brother, who sold me the gun, was equally impressed when he found out.
The Upgrade: Benjamin Air Rifle .22 Caliber
I must have taken a hundred squirrels with that Crossman 177, transforming from a hiker into a passionate hunter. My friends couldn't keep up with me in the woods, whether in shooting or harvesting game. Seeing my growing passion, I begged my parents for a Benjamin air rifle in .22 caliber. My wish came true on my eleventh Christmas when I found it under the tree. This new rifle had much more power than the Crossman 177.
Proving Myself with the Pellet Gun
I hunted every kind of small game with my Benjamin air rifle. One day, while heading to the woods with some older friends who could legally hunt with .22s and shotguns, they mocked my pellet gun. I bet them I would harvest more game than any of them. Amid laughter and unkind jokes, the bet was on.
At our destination, I let the big guns head to the back forty while I stayed behind. Within minutes, I shot my first gray squirrel. Knowing the others would push more game towards me, I soon bagged another. I moved to a familiar rock pile where squirrels often hid nuts and waited. Before long, I dropped three red squirrels from the same spot.
When we regrouped, my friends proudly showed off their catch: one gray and a red for the shotgun, and two grays and three reds for the .22. Then I emptied my hunting vest, and they gasped at the sight of all my squirrels. It turns out it’s not the most powerful gun in the fight but the skill of the hunter that matters. Those were fun times!
For those starting their own hunting adventures or seeking to upgrade their equipment, here are some recommended products:
Embrace the outdoors and happy hunting!
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