From what I have read and learned talking to other shooters, most started with a Daisy I did and it was a Daisy Model 100 single shot that was cocked by breaking down in the middle like a single barrel shotgun. A single BB was dropped in the muzzle and you were ready to shot. There was no safety and the rear sights\ consisted of a blade with a “V” notch and front was a blade that was attached near the muzzle. It was the simplest and cheapest BB gun that a seven year old could operate.

Daisy introduced the Red Ryder Model 38 in 1938 and millions of shooters can trace their first shooting experience to that model. The Red Ryder is still available and providing fun and experience to new shooters. The Daisy Model 25 pump has also been a popular model for many years. A very large number of variants and commemorative versions of these models have been produced.

As important as Daisy BB guns have been to young shooters, the Daisy models referred to are firearms. Daisy introduced the Legacy models that included the 2201 single shot, 2202 bolt action with a rotary magazine, and the 2203 semiautomatic that uses a box magazine, in 1988. Those models had polymer stocks and forearms, but the companion models 2202, 2212, and 2213 had wood furniture. An interesting feature of the bolt action models having polymer stocks is that the length of pull can be adjusted. Pushing inward on a large slotted button on the right hand side of the stock allows the butt plate to be pulled out with stops at different lengths of pull. The 2203 autoloader had no charger handle, but rather the bolt was moved backward by means of a rod that projected from the front of the forearm. Daisy got out of the firearm business in a very short time so the rifles are encountered very often.

I once had all of the 2201, 2202, and 2203 models. During a recall of the autoloader, I returned it for the required service and when it came back, the action was inordinately stiff and the trigger pull was about 12 pounds. I ended up trading it for accessories for another firearm. The receiver of the 2201 carries the notation >22 S, L, LR whereas the 2202 is marked .22 LR Only. The rotary magazine of the 2202 is designed to hold and feed only the longer cartridges.

The Daisy rifles have several interesting design features. The barrel is attached to the receiver by mans of a threaded collar that pulls rearward on a flange when the collar is screwed into the front of the receiver. The collar has holes that mate with protrusions on a special wrench so that the barrel can be removed.

Another interesting feature of the Daisy rifles is related to a bright metal button at the rear of the trigger assembly. The button is spring loaded and pressing it inward allows the entire trigger assembly to be remove. A groove on the front of the assembly mates with a cross pin on the bottom of the action and the assembly is retained from movement by the spring loaded pin. With the trigger assembly removed and stored separately, a measure of safety is provided.

Barrels on the Daisy .22s consist of a rifled steel barrel surrounded by a polymer sleeve that has flat surfaces to provide an octagonal outward profile. The front sight consists of a square-topped post on a ramp that constitutes part of the barrel sleeve. The rear sight is mounted

on a portion of the barrel sleeve that constitutes a ramp along which the entire sight can be moved. It is held in place by a lock screw and the blade can be moved laterally to adjust for windage by loosening a second screw. The front and rear sights mate nicely to provide an adequate sight picture.

The receivers of the Daisy rifles are made of an alloy, but the bolt handle locks against a steel insert. This arrangement provides sufficient strength for a .22 rimfire which is commonly used in firearms that do not have a locked breech at all. Grooves are provided on the receiver for attaching clip-on scope mounts. The rifles are very compact and light and actually do not have a robust feel. However, the work.

I have other rimfire rifles so the Daisy 2201 and 2202 are not rifles that I depend on. However, I have attached a four power scope at times and done some testing to see how the bolt action models would perform. With a variety of ammunition, most five-shot groups at 50 yards averaged about 1.5 inches or perhaps slightly larger with an occasional group being in the 1.2-1.3 inch range. This is not going to win matches, but these are simple, inexpensive plinking rifles. For that purpose, the accuracy is adequate.

There is some interesting history regarding the entrance and exit of Daisy in the manufacture of firearms. It was a short-lived venture, but as is the case with many discontinued items that have been made in small numbers, the prices have escalated due to collector interes.

A single shot Daisy 2201

Because a single cartridge is loaded, the 2201 can handle .22 S, L, and LR cartridges.

The rotary magazine used in the 2202 is designed to function with only .22 ammo.

Pressing inward on the large black button allows the butt plate to be extended.

The silver pin behind the trigger guard holds the trigger assembly in place.

With the retaining pin depressed, the entire trigger assembly can be removed.

A special wrench is used to turn the collar that locks the barrel to the eceiver.

Elevation is adjusted by sliding the sight along a ramp and windage is adjusted by moving the slight laterally after loosening the locking screw.