Growing up:  Red Ryder, and some daisy pellet/bb gun that you could pump up to increase power.  Never got pellets but the BBs were potent.  Had that same break action rack slide pistol but it was a garage sale find my grandpa never got working consistently.  
Now my oldest "gave" each Grandpa a Red Ryder for his first christmas.  I just bought a Gamo Shadow Whisper and got it dialed in yesterday.  My oldest was sad he didn't get to shoot it again today.  Its a .177 and we have 7.9 pointed and hollow point pellets for it.  Is it adequate for anything and if so at what sort of ranges?  Or just a fun plinker?