A kids 1st rimfire

[Zartan]

So my son will be 4 in April '16. I want to get him a Red Ryder to practice with, but when he's ready, is a Cricket a good 1st rifle for a child or are there other brands I should look at, short of a Henry? I mean for $109.00, it's hard to pass up. I'd also want the pink one for my daughter.

http://www.rkguns.com/rifles.html?brand=108

[TrailKon Dan]

I started my daughter with a 10/22 pink. I just load it 1rd at a time in the magazine.

Edit.

I started her off with a 10/22 because at the time it was hard to find 1 of the single shots.

[Socalman]

I had no idea what the Cricket was. Glad you posted the link.

I think a bolt action SINGLE SHOT is a great way to learn. Perhaps because that is how I was started but the reasons are:

1) There is never a chance the young shooter will shoot more than one shot by accident.

2) The shooter learns basic mechanics of shooting, not just "pouring lead downrange."

Great to start them young, however I wonder if 4 is still a bit young? I wonder what others here have experienced with shooters at that age.

[Mr. Beretta]

A Cricket is perfect.

More important than marksmanship, you'll teaching your son safety & respect for firearms.

All of my kids learn firearm safety with their Chipmunk 22 single shot rifle.

Buy it & enjoy,

[Wes C Addle]

a Cricket (or other bolt action 22 LR) is a great way to teach children the basics of firearm safety and responsibility. I would only let them graduate onto a 10/22 when they've learned how to safely operate a gun.

[Rosebud22]

On the Cricket you have to pull a button the on the back of the bolt to cock the rifle. This can be difficult for some young shooters. Look at the Savage Rascal.
It cocks when you bolt the gun. The Rascal is more expensive, ~$170.00
I agree with the above, starting out young shooters with a bolt vs semi auto.

[readysetgo]

Another option:

Ruger American Rimfire, has lasting power due to adjustable stocks and magazine compatibility with the 10/22.

Crickett or Rascal are nice and small for a four year old though and of course the price is right.

Marlin 795 start to creep in that price range, if you start leaning towards semi. Marlin XT22's are going to have similar magazine compatibility as the RAR/1022 combo, without stock changes.

The Marlin XT line also has a single shot version worth looking at: Marlin XT-22YS1 ProFire 22 Compact Rifle 16" Stainless Walnut Model #70696 or 70697

[RandyD]

I bought my daughter a Cricket in stainless steel with the pink stock. She has graduated to a Ruger 10/22. I liked that she had to single load the rifle. Going through the mechanics of loading shooting and unloading, she understood each step and how the rifle worked. My only critcism of the Cricket, is that the rear sight is cheap. I bought the scope mount and put a 2X Leupold scope on the rifle. I can consistently hit a quarter at 25 yards with this rifle/scope.

[hugocbr]

I bought my son a marlin 795 when he was 7. He is 11 now and still loves it. I think if i would have bought him a cricket he would have outgrown it pretty fast. personally, Id recommend the marlin over a 10/22 for a 1st rifle because it is cheaper in price and It does have last shot hold open which i really like.

[benjamac]

I ended up buying a Chiappa Little Badger. It's a breech .22lr that I have seen a lot of really cool mods for. First thing everyone seems to want to do is wrap paracord around it, but I've seen some cool pouches and mounting plates added to it.



This guy went further than I would have, but he had some cool ideas...

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/rifles-misc/98534-chiappa-little-badger-backpacking-rifle-modification-project.html

[SoCal Gunner]

I highly recommend the Savage Arms Rascal: LINK

Bolt action, single shot, accutrigger, and sized right for little ones so they can actually hold it up. Single shot is nice because it slows them down and keeps their focus (and saves you ammo).

[softmentor]

one more vote YES for the Crickett. I have the pistol version but it is exactly the same mechanism just with a shorter barrel.
they are actually well made. cheap on the price because of the simplicity of the design, no complicated auto this or extra that. You manually load each round with the bolt then manually cock it with the little pull piece at the back, aim and shoot. Actually accurate. ok no one expects competition level accuracy but it shoots straight and groups decent. Solid, simple little 22. Perfect.

[Teddybest]

.22 shooters

It makes my head spin when I hear about .22 shooters complain about how the round is so expensive. Here is a thought. Stop shooting .22 it will never 17.00 bucks for a brick those days are a memory. Also 22 shooters are cheap
*******s that are out of touch with reality. All the other rounds are now keeping up with demand except this underpowered round. Time to wake up and the round will probably die out like 25 and 32.

[edwardm]

I bought my daughter a Cricket in stainless steel with the pink stock. She has graduated to a Ruger 10/22. I liked that she had to single load the rifle. Going through the mechanics of loading shooting and unloading, she understood each step and how the rifle worked. My only critcism of the Cricket, is that the rear sight is cheap. I bought the scope mount and put a 2X Leupold scope on the rifle. I can consistently hit a quarter at 25 yards with this rifle/scope.

HAH! I bought my daughter the exact same rifle a few years ago! She comes from a line of short people, so the 10/22 and the Ruger Am. Rimfire still don't fit.

I really like that you have to cock the firing pin as a separate operation, which forces her to think even more about what she is doing. She shot pretty well with the iron sights, killing camo balloons and knocking around an Allen 'bouncer' at 30+ yards. I put a cheap Simmons 22Mag scope on her rifle and now it's even more fun.

I am still amazed at the Crickett's accuracy. Go put that quarter out at 100 yards with some match-grade 22LR and you'll hit it all day long.

[justjeff]

I got a deal on 10 chipmunks (same as crickets) so I bought them all for gifts. I'm slowly passing them out to all my buddies as they have kids. I'm down to 4 including my son's rifle. They are great starter guns and damn accurate for the money!