Airgun Brand · Daisy
Daisy: brand guide (Red Ryder and beyond)
Researched by James · Updated September 26, 2026 · Editorial policy
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Founding date and ownership history come from Wikipedia's sourced Daisy timeline, cross-checked against SGB Media's 2016 acquisition report and Compass Diversified's own 2024 press release on the Crosman sale. Current models, prices and warranty terms come from Daisy's own site and Airgun Depot's catalog. Full methodology & editorial policy →
Quick facts
| Founded | 1882, as Plymouth Iron Windmill Company; became Daisy Manufacturing Company in 1895 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Rogers, Arkansas |
| Where made | Varies by product; not a single publicly stated country of origin across the whole current catalog |
| Parent company / owner | Daisy Manufacturing Company, owned since 2016 by BRS & Co., which also owns Gamo and, since 2024, Crosman/Benjamin |
| Known for | The Red Ryder BB gun and youth/training airguns, including the competition-grade Avanti 499B |
| Typical price range | About $40-$190 across current models |
| Warranty | 1 year on BB guns and air rifles; 90 days on mounted sights |
What does Daisy make?
Daisy is a BB-gun and youth-training specialist, not a hunting-airgun brand — its whole catalog sits below the energy level covered in my airgun FPE chart for small-game hunting. That's a very different lane from Benjamin or Gamo, both of which now sit alongside Daisy in the same ownership group but build hunting-capable pellet rifles. Daisy's value is teaching fundamentals safely: sight picture, trigger control, and the four safety rules, on a gun with mild recoil and low power.
Current lineup
| Model | Type | Caliber | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Ryder 1938 / Adult Red Ryder | Lever-action, spring-piston BB gun | BB (.177 steel) | About $40-$60 | The classic first BB gun for supervised youth or adult plinking |
| PowerLine 880 | Multi-pump pneumatic | BB or .177 pellet | About $66-$90 (kit) | Adjustable power up to 800 fps for backyard targets |
| PowerLine 901 | Multi-pump pneumatic | BB or .177 pellet | About $100 | A step up in features from the 880 |
| Buck Model 105 | Youth training BB gun | BB | Under $50 typically | A smaller, lighter first gun for younger shooters |
| Avanti Champion 499B | Single-shot, spring-piston, muzzle-loading BB gun | BB, 240 fps | About $190 | Formal 5-meter marksmanship training and competition |
Best Daisy picks (training and youth)
- Adult Red Ryder — the sentimental and practical default first gun, simple enough to teach safety rules on immediately.
- Avanti Champion 499B — the pick once accuracy training matters more than nostalgia; it's the gun most school and 4-H marksmanship programs standardize on.
Whichever model you start with, run the same safety rules you'd use on a hunting rifle: eye protection, a known backstop, and one supervising adult per new shooter. My guide to teaching someone to shoot an air rifle walks through a first session that works, based on teaching my own girlfriend on a PCP.
Pros and cons
Good fit
- A first BB gun for a supervised youth shooter
- Formal marksmanship training (Avanti 499B)
- Low-cost, low-recoil backyard target practice
Look elsewhere
- Any actual hunting use — Daisy's power levels aren't built for it
- Buyers who assumed Daisy was still an independent company rather than part of the Gamo/Crosman/Benjamin ownership group
- Anyone wanting a single stated country of manufacture across the whole catalog
How Daisy compares
Against its own corporate sibling Crosman, the split is by category, not competition — Crosman's 2240 and 1377 are adult CO2/multi-pump plinkers with more power than Daisy's BB guns, while Daisy owns the youth and formal-training space. Against Gamo, also under the same BRS & Co. ownership, Daisy stays in low-power BB guns while Gamo builds hunting-capable spring-piston pellet rifles. If what you actually need is a hunting rifle rather than a training gun, start with best break-barrel air rifles or best PCP air rifles by budget instead of a Daisy product.
Verdict
Daisy remains the right first stop for teaching someone — especially a young shooter — the fundamentals of safe, accurate shooting, and the Avanti 499B is a genuinely excellent tool for that specific job. It is not a hunting brand, and its recent ownership ties it directly to Gamo and Crosman/Benjamin, which are the brands to look at once a shooter is ready to hunt.
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FAQ
Is Daisy a good brand?
Yes, for exactly what it's built for: youth and beginner BB guns. The Red Ryder is the most recognized BB gun in American history, and Daisy's Avanti 499B is regarded as the most accurate BB gun made, used in shooting-education programs nationwide. It's not a hunting-rifle brand — Daisy's guns are BB guns, not pellet rifles capable of the energy a hunt requires.
Who owns Daisy?
Daisy Manufacturing Company is owned by BRS & Co. (Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co.), a New York private equity firm, since 2016 — the same year BRS combined Daisy with its existing Gamo business. In 2024, Daisy Manufacturing bought Crosman (parent of Benjamin) from Compass Diversified, so Daisy, Gamo, Crosman and Benjamin are now all one ownership group.
Is Daisy the same company as Gamo?
They share an owner (BRS & Co.) but operate as separate brands with separate factories — Daisy in Rogers, Arkansas, Gamo in Barcelona, Spain. Since 2024, that same ownership group also includes Crosman and Benjamin.
Where are Daisy BB guns made?
Daisy is headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas, where the company relocated in the 1950s-60s era; some current products are manufactured overseas rather than entirely in Arkansas, and Daisy doesn't publish a single consistent country-of-origin claim across its whole catalog, so check the specific product listing.
Is a Daisy BB gun good for teaching a kid to shoot?
Yes, with supervision — that's exactly what Daisy's lineup is designed for. The Red Ryder and youth models like the Buck Model 105 are sized and powered for a first shooting experience, and the Avanti 499B is used in formal youth marksmanship programs. See my guide on teaching someone to shoot an air rifle for the safety rules to cover before the first shot.
What is the best Daisy model for a beginner?
The Adult Red Ryder for a classic lever-action feel at about $60, or the PowerLine 880 (a multi-pump that shoots BBs or .177 pellets at up to 800 fps) if you want more adjustable power. For competitive accuracy training, the Avanti 499B, at about $190, is the standard.
What is Daisy's warranty?
A 1-year warranty from the date of purchase on BB guns and air rifles; mounted sights carry a shorter 90-day warranty. Out-of-warranty repairs are available for a fee through Daisy's customer service.
Can you hunt with a Daisy BB gun?
No, not ethically or usually legally for game animals — Daisy's guns are BB guns built for target practice and training, with energy far below what a humane small-game hunt requires. For an actual hunting-capable air rifle, see my best air rifles for rabbit hunting guide, and my BB gun vs. pellet gun vs. airsoft guide for why the distinction matters.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Daisy Outdoor Products (founding, ownership history)
- SGB Media — Gamo Outdoor Acquires Maker Of Daisy Air Guns (2016)
- GlobeNewswire — Compass Diversified Announces Sale of Crosman Air Gun Business to Daisy (April 30, 2024)
- Daisy — FAQs (warranty terms)
- Airgun Depot — Daisy Avanti Champion 499B specifications and price
