BB guns were better, and by the time I was 10 or 11, if I wanted to “play with guns,” I took a .22 rifle and a box of shells out into the woods.
Assault phaser.
I got a .22 for my 15th birthday but before that had a pretty powerful BB/pellet gun. A Crosman Powermaster.
I was also told not to point any gun, real or toy, at anyone and specifically warned that that could get me shot.
I remember having one of those. We carried out disc-shooter battles in the classroom during noon hour. Of course we’d be crucified for that today.