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In this table top review, we’re taking a close look at the Air Venturi Annie Oakley Lil’ Sure Shot Spring BB Rifle. While this is technically a “table top” review, lever-action rifles like this are always a bit easier to show off in-hand due to their length and proportions.

This model fits into a long lineage of classic lever-action BB rifles, alongside well-known options like the Daisy Red Ryder and the Marlin variants from Crosman and Umarex. These rifles all share a similar concept, simple, spring-powered, lever-action BB guns designed for training, plinking, and beginner shooters, but each brings its own subtle differences in materials, styling, and features.

Key Specifications

• Model: Air Venturi Annie Oakley Lil’ Sure Shot

• Type: Lever Action Spring Piston BB Rifle

• Caliber: 4.5mm Steel BB

• Power Source: Spring (No CO2 Required)

• Velocity: Up to 350 FPS

• Magazine Capacity: 550 Round Internal Reservoir (Gravity Fed)

• Action: Lever Action

• Safety: Cross Bolt Safety

• Barrel: Smoothbore

• Stock: Stained Solid Wood

• Construction: Primarily Metal with Some Plastic Components

• Weight: Approx. 3.3 lbs

• Overall Length: ~36.25 inches

• Optics Rail: Removable Weaver/Picatinny Style Mount

First Impressions & Build Quality

The Annie Oakley Lil’ Sure Shot stands out with its classic Western styling, enhanced by engraved Annie Oakley branding on the wood stock. It’s a step above many entry-level BB rifles thanks to its real wood stock and metal lever, giving it a more authentic and durable feel compared to fully plastic alternatives.

Most of the rifle is metal and wood, though there are a few plastic components:

• Trigger

• Front sight (on the newer version)

• Adjustable portion of the rear sight

• Removable scope rail

Overall, it feels solid in the hands, lightweight, and well-balanced, especially for younger shooters or anyone new to lever-action rifles.

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How It Works

This is a spring-piston, lever-action BB rifle, meaning:

• No CO2 or gas is required

• Each shot is powered by cocking the lever

• BBs are stored in a large internal reservoir

• You must tilt the rifle upward to gravity-feed BBs into position

With a 550-round capacity, you can shoot for quite a while before needing to reload, your arm will likely get tired before you run out of ammo.

Handling & Usability

This rifle is clearly designed with accessibility in mind:

• Lightweight (3.3 lbs) makes it easy to handle

• Shorter length and pull fits smaller shooters well

• Moderate cocking effort is manageable for beginners

• Lever action slows firing rate, adding a safety advantage for new users

Rifles like this are excellent for training because:

• They are easier to aim than pistols

• They encourage controlled shooting

• They are not overly powerful

Even for experienced shooters, these are simply fun and inexpensive for backyard plinking.

Sights & Optics

Out of the box, the Air Venturi Annie Oakley Lil’ Sure Shot Spring BB Rifle includes:

• Fixed front sight (plastic on newer version)

• Adjustable rear sight (elevation only)

One notable feature is the removable Weaver-style rail, allowing you to:

• Mount a red dot or scope

• Or remove it for a more traditional look

Keep in mind the rail is plastic, so care should be taken when mounting optics.

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Comparison to Similar BB Rifles

This rifle sits in the same category as:

• Daisy Red Ryder – The original classic

• Umarex Marlin Lever Action – Slightly more adult-oriented design

• Crosman Marlin (older models) – Direct Red Ryder competitor

All of these:

• Use lever-action spring systems

• Have internal BB reservoirs

• Shoot in the ~300–350 FPS range

The Annie Oakley version distinguishes itself with:

• Better visual styling

• Wood and metal construction

• Optional optics mounting

New vs Older Annie Oakley Version (Key Differences)

If you come across different versions, here are the main distinctions:

Newer Version:

• Longer barrel

• Plastic front sight

• Larger loading port (easier to load)

• Metal Lever

• Brighter, more polished wood finish

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Older Version:

• Shorter barrel

• Metal front loading system (rotating port)

• Metal front sight (more durable)

• Plastic Lever

• Slightly darker, more matte wood

Both should perform similarly, but the newer version is a bit more refined with that quality all metal lever.

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to handle

• Real wood stock and metal lever construction

• Large 550-round capacity

• No CO2 required (low maintenance and inexpensive to shoot)

• Removable optics rail for flexibility

• Classic Western styling with Annie Oakley branding

• Great for beginners and younger shooters

Cons

• Plastic front sight (new version)

• Lower power compared to CO2 rifles

• Rear sight only adjustable for elevation

• Slightly higher price than some entry-level similar BB rifles

• Less realistic than shell-ejecting lever-action models

Final Thoughts

The Air Venturi Annie Oakley Lil’ Sure Shot is a well-built, visually appealing lever-action BB rifle that blends classic styling with modern usability.

It’s ideal for:

• Beginners and younger shooters

• Backyard plinking

• Anyone wanting a simple, reliable and fun BB rifle

While it doesn’t aim for full realism like higher-end shell-ejecting models, it delivers where it matters, ease of use, affordability, durability, and fun factor.

Available at:

• 🇨🇦 ReplicaAirguns.ca

• 🇺🇸 ReplicaAirguns.us

Also check out ReplicaAirguns.com for additional articles, photos, and video reviews.

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I have not officially done a Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle other than my quick outside shooting test where I simply shot a bunch of rounds at some pop cans just to see how the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle would work for me and it did perform well during that test.

Jumping ahead to a little while later when I went to make my Official Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle. I found it was not performing well at all, shooting well under the 410 claimed fps closer to 200 fps which was a surprise since it seemed to do a lot better for me on my previous test. I even changed out the CO2 but still did not get any better results. I racked this up to maybe being a defective gun and so I went about getting my hands on another Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle.

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Guess what? Same thing with rifle number two. Very poor fps, again almost half of the claimed rated velocity. So at this point I decided I was goring to make the Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle and let the results speak for themselves… I also thought it would be fun to compare it to the Classic 1938 Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun since I figured they would both get similar fps and accuracy and be rather comparable at the end of the day.

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I do have to say that the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle did make me eat my words and I am happy it did since I really like the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle and wanted it to do well!

Usually I state all there results for My Field Test Shooting Videos here in the written article but I kind of feel it is best if you just watch this one from start to finishes since the video result s did turn out to really surprise me in the end.

Buy the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle in Canada

Buy the 1938 Daisy Red Ryder Spring BB Rifle in Canada

Buy the Umarex Legends CO2 BB Lever Action Cowboy Rifle in the US

Buy the 1938 Daisy Red Ryder Spring BB Rifle in the US

OK to start things off, this is a review of the Daisy Red Ryder Lever action BB Rifle but the Vimeo Video also compares the Red Ryder to the very similar Crosman Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Riffle, If you have not checked my Marlin Cowboy review out, you can see it here.

So for the most part I am going to focus on the Red Ryder in this text version but I will refer to the Marlin Cowboy when comparing the two BB air rifles.

Type: BB spring air rifle.

Manufacturer: Daisy.

Model:Red Ryder.

Materials: Mostly metal and wood.

Weight: 2.2 pounds.

Barrel: Smooth bore.

Propulsion: Spring.

Action: Lever action.

Ammunition Type: Steel BBs 4.5mm.

Ammunition Capacity: 650 rounds.

FPS: Up-to 350.

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull is pretty good, not super light but predictable. (the trigger area is much larger then the Crosman Marlin Cowboy which may be more suitable for adults with thick fingers)

Accuracy: When I originally tested my Marline Cowboy I thought it performed well but the Daisy Red Ryder definitely has the advantage in the accuracy department, at least in my testing. I got about a 1.5 inch 8 shot group from a free standing position 20 feet away from the target.

Build Quality: This is a pretty much all metal and wood gun with a build quality almost exactly like the Crosman Marlin Cowboy. Daisy has even made some improvements like upgrading the lever to metal from plastic, most likely to compete with Crosman on this feature. The only plastic I found was the trigger, safety and front sight assembly.

Realism: Even though this BB gun is styled after the classic lever action Cowboy Rifle, it's not a close replica to any that I know of. You have to keep in mind the purpose of this gun - meant primarily for younger first time shooters. There are some nice touches like the leather tassels and the Red Ryder name burned into the stock .

Purchased From: Walmart.

Pros:

• Inexpensive introduction to the sport of Airgun shooting.

• Made out of Mostly Metal and Wood - Now including the Lever.

• Large capacity internal barrel magazine (650 rounds).

• Adjustable rear sight for height.

• Decent 300+ fps velocity.

• Excellent accuracy and consistency.

• The original maker of this style of BB rifle - great track record!

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Cons:

• Plastic trigger, safety and front sight assembly.

• Some people may find the non removable metal loop for the leather tassel a bit intrusive.

Comments:

I think this is a wonderful little BB rifle and even though it's intended for the young entry level shooter it can make a great back yard plinker that anyone can join in and enjoy - adults included! I plan to be shooting either the Red Ryder or my Marline Cowboy side by side with my little guy when he is old enough to shoot one of these fine lever action BB rifles. When it comes to picking between the Daisy Red Ryder or the Crosman Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifles it comes down to a few points: Both have almost the exact same build quality so it may come down to which look you like best? The Daisy was more accurate while the Crosman had a bit more power. The Red Ryder had the lighter but longer lever action pull while the Marlin Cowboy had a heavier shorter lever pull.

If you can't decide just buy them both because they are dirt cheap to buy and tons of fun to shoot, so when your friends come over you can always pass them one so they won't feel left out!

My Vimeo Video Comparison Review for these Lever Action BB Rifles:

Buy Air Rifles in Canada   -   Buy Marlin Cowboy in the US

Buy Red Ryder in Canada   -   Buy Red Ryder in the US