Last updated: December 2026
🔥 BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ENDING SOON! 🔥
Youth air rifles up to 25% off! Crosman 760 now under $40. Check prices below!
Dear Santa,
My nephew is turning 12 next month, and his parents finally said he’s ready for an air rifle. I want to be the cool uncle who gets him something real—not a toy—but I’m working with about a hundred bucks.
What can I get him that’s actually good? I don’t want to buy junk that breaks in a month or something so weak it’s boring. But I also don’t want to accidentally buy him a cannon.
Help a uncle out?
— Cool Uncle Mike
Mike, my friend. You’re in luck.
A hundred dollars is the sweet spot for air rifle gifts. You’re past the cheap junk that frustrates new shooters, but you’re not overspending on features a beginner won’t appreciate. This is where the classics live—guns that have introduced millions of people to the shooting sports.
Let me show you the best air rifle gifts under $100 for 2026. Every rifle on this list is something I’d happily give to my own nephew.
Quick Picks
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Best Overall: Daisy Red Ryder ($40-50)
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Best for Growth: Crosman 760 Pumpmaster ($35-45)
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Most Fun: Crosman 1077 ($70-90)
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Best Power: Daisy Powerline 880 ($45-55)
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Best Break Barrel: Ruger Explorer ($90-100)
Daisy Red Ryder - $40-50
Ralphie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Full Ralphie!)
Let’s start with the legend.
The Daisy Red Ryder isn’t just a BB gun—it’s an American institution. This is the rifle from A Christmas Story. The rifle that’s been under Christmas trees since 1938. The rifle that taught your grandfather, maybe your father, and now can teach the next generation.
Is it the most powerful? No. Most accurate? Nope. Most feature-packed? Definitely not.
But here’s what the Red Ryder is: it’s the perfect first gun. The lever action is simple and satisfying. The 350 FPS velocity is enough to be fun without being dangerous. The 650-BB capacity means extended shooting sessions without constant reloading. And that solid wood stock? That’s not plastic pretending to be wood—that’s real.
When you give a kid a Red Ryder, you’re not just giving them a BB gun. You’re giving them a connection to generations of shooters. You’re giving them the same experience Ralphie dreamed about. That means something.
Specs
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Velocity: 350 FPS
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Caliber: .177 BB
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Capacity: 650 BBs
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Power: Lever action (spring)
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Weight: 2.2 lbs
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Best For: Ages 10+, supervised beginners, nostalgia
Pros & Cons
Pros: Legendary status, simple operation, real wood stock, teaches fundamentals, affordable
Cons: BBs only (less accurate than pellets), low power limits range, iron sights only
Check Red Ryder Price on Amazon
Crosman 760 Pumpmaster - $35-45
Ralphie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Crosman 760 Pumpmaster is the best-selling airgun in America, and there’s a reason it’s held that title for decades.
What makes the 760 special is its variable pump design. Pump it 2-3 times for low power (great for absolute beginners). Pump it 10 times for maximum velocity (up to 625 FPS with pellets). This one rifle can grow with a young shooter for years—start gentle, increase power as skills and responsibility develop.
Even better: it shoots both BBs and pellets. BBs are cheap and fun for plinking. Pellets are more accurate for target work. Your nephew gets both options in one affordable package.
The 760 teaches something the Red Ryder doesn’t: effort equals results. More pumps = more power. It’s a lesson that transfers to life.
Specs
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Velocity: Up to 625 FPS (pellets), 645 FPS (BBs)
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Caliber: .177 (shoots both pellets and BBs)
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Capacity: Single-shot pellet / 18 BBs
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Power: Multi-pump pneumatic (2-10 pumps)
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Weight: 2.75 lbs
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Best For: Ages 10+, growing shooters, versatility
Pros & Cons
Pros: Variable power, shoots BBs and pellets, affordable, teaches pump mechanics
Cons: Requires pumping between shots (slower), synthetic stock
Check 760 Pumpmaster Price on Amazon
Crosman 1077 - $70-90
Ralphie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Want to see a kid’s face light up? Give them a semi-automatic air rifle.
The Crosman 1077 fires as fast as you can pull the trigger—up to 12 shots from the rotary magazine before reloading. For a young shooter used to single-shot guns, this is magical. Ping-ping-ping-ping on the spinner target? That’s the sound of Christmas morning joy.
Powered by 12-gram CO2 cartridges (cheap and widely available), the 1077 requires zero pumping or cocking between shots. Just load, aim, fire, repeat. At 625 FPS, it’s got enough velocity for satisfying target work while staying quiet enough for backyard use.
The 1077 has been in production since 1994 because it works. It’s accurate enough for informal competition, fun enough for hours of plinking, and reliable enough that Crosman still sells it thirty years later. At just 4.1 pounds, it’s also a top pick in our air rifle gifts for women guide because lighter weight means less fatigue during extended shooting sessions.
Specs
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Velocity: 625 FPS
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Caliber: .177 pellet
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Capacity: 12-shot rotary magazine
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Power: CO2 (12-gram cartridges)
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Weight: 3.5 lbs
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Best For: Ages 12+, plinking, anyone who wants semi-auto fun
Pros & Cons
Pros: Semi-automatic, 12-shot capacity, no pumping, accurate, fun factor is HIGH
Cons: Requires CO2 cartridges (ongoing cost), not as powerful as pumpers at max
Check Crosman 1077 Price on Amazon
Daisy Powerline 880 - $45-55
Ralphie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Daisy Powerline 880 is what happens when you want more power without spending more money.
At up to 800 FPS with pellets (with max pumps), the 880 is significantly more capable than the Red Ryder or basic 760. This is enough velocity for pest control at reasonable distances—if your nephew has a squirrel problem or wants to graduate to real target shooting, the 880 delivers.
Like the 760, it’s a multi-pump pneumatic that shoots both BBs and pellets. The variable pump system (3-10 pumps) gives control over power output. And the price? Remarkably affordable for what you get.
The 880 hits a sweet spot: powerful enough to feel like a “real” air rifle, affordable enough for a Christmas gift, versatile enough to grow with the shooter.
Specs
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Velocity: Up to 800 FPS (pellets), 750 FPS (BBs)
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Caliber: .177 (shoots both pellets and BBs)
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Capacity: Single-shot pellet / 50 BBs
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Power: Multi-pump pneumatic (3-10 pumps)
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Weight: 3.1 lbs
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Best For: Ages 12+, pest control, more serious target work
Pros & Cons
Pros: Higher velocity, versatile, affordable, includes basic scope
Cons: Requires pumping, synthetic stock, basic scope should be upgraded
Check Powerline 880 Price on Amazon
Ruger Explorer - $90-100
Ralphie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ruger Explorer introduces young shooters to break barrel operation—the classic spring-piston design that powers millions of adult air rifles worldwide.
At just under $100, this is as close to an “adult” air rifle as you’ll get in this price range. The break barrel action teaches the cock-load-shoot rhythm that transfers directly to more powerful springers later. The 495 FPS velocity is modest but appropriate for the target audience.
What I like about the Explorer: it’s sized for youth but doesn’t feel like a toy. The Ruger name carries weight, the construction is solid, and it gives young shooters a taste of what more powerful break barrels offer without overwhelming them.
This is an excellent choice for the 12-14 year old who’s ready to graduate from BB guns but isn’t quite ready for magnum springers.
Specs
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Velocity: 495 FPS
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Caliber: .177 pellet
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Capacity: Single shot
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Power: Spring piston (break barrel)
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Weight: 4.0 lbs
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Best For: Ages 12+, transition to adult rifles, learning break barrel operation
Pros & Cons
Pros: Teaches break barrel basics, Ruger quality, youth-appropriate size/power, includes scope
Cons: Single shot, lower velocity than pumpers at max, some assembly required
Check Ruger Explorer Price on Amazon
Which One Should You Buy?
Here’s my decision guide, Mike:
| If They… | Get Them… | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Are 10-12 and brand new to shooting | Daisy Red Ryder | $40-50 |
| Want something that grows with them | Crosman 760 Pumpmaster | $35-45 |
| Want maximum fun factor | Crosman 1077 | $70-90 |
| Want more power on a budget | Daisy Powerline 880 | $45-55 |
| Are ready for “real” rifle experience | Ruger Explorer | $90-100 |
For your 12-year-old nephew specifically? I’d lean toward the Crosman 1077. The semi-auto action will make his eyes light up, it’s accurate enough to build real skills, and at $70-90, you’ll have money left over for pellets and a spinner target.
But honestly, Mike? You can’t go wrong with any of these. They’re all proven, they’re all appropriate, and they’re all going to create memories.
That’s what being the cool uncle is all about.
— Uncle Barrel
⚠️ Safety Reminder: All air rifles require adult supervision for young shooters. Include safety glasses with your gift, and make sure the parents are on board before Christmas morning. The best gift is one that gets used safely.
Want to spend more? Check out our complete Air Rifle Christmas Gift Guide for mid-range and premium options. Looking for accessories? See our Stocking Stuffers Guide.
Last updated: December 2026