Crickett rifles for kids

[tacdad]

I just bought a Crickett rifle today at one of my local gun shops. I bought it for my daughters 7th birthday. It's has a pink camo stock. I picked it up for $139.99. I was wondering what everyone thought of this little gun. Of course we will ALWAYS practice safety first but it seems like a great low cost learner gun. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I gave my son a Chipmunk on his 8th birthday, and he got blisters from cocking it on his first range session. He already knew the safety rules from watching us compete in IHMSA silhouette, so we had no problems with that.

He kept me ammo-poor from then until he finally got married and had to buy his own. He's also a much better shot than I ever was.

Prepare to buy several more firearms for her before she gets her own job.

BTW, my grandson now owns the Chipmunk.

Moving this to rifles.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I like the idea. My 5 year old grand daughter has wanted a pink gun since she was 3. I had planned on getting one for her for CHRISTmas this year. Unfortunately,her mother moved to California with my grands before I could get it for her.

 

[JERRY]

here is my baby when she was 6 with her first real gun.


she has since moved up to her own pistol.



The crickett was a good starter for her. simple, easy to use, fairly safe to handle, and small enough for her to shoulder and manipulate correctly. she has since out grown it but we still have it.

 

[tacdad]

Jerry...that is awesome. This is exactly what i am talking about went i said it seems like a great learner gun. I would love for my daughter to be into shooting sports when she gets older. My wife is a little uneasy about it but i have informed her that it is a safe learning experiance with the right teacher. That is the only reason i was aloud to get it for her. I don't want her to grow up and be scared of guns like so many others who haven't ever fired one or started out on something to big...aka a 12 gauge shotgun like i did...lucky enough i thought it was fun.

I have also heard that if you call Keystone Sporting Arms (Who makes the Crickett) that you can get an adult size stock for it for not that much money. Might be a cool christmas gift to bring back those memories of going to the range with Dad. I'm kinda thinking about the future for my girl as well with that.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Great little rifles, at the perfect age... but my Eldest didn't want a pink gun. She started on a marlin 101 single shot from 191X, and is smitten now with my '73 AR-7 Explorer.

The Marlin has a Myrtlewood stock carved by my dear Great Uncle, he wanted an adult stock on his boyhood gun. Was my Starter .22 too.

When she moves on, Check out the AR-7, it stores entirely in it's own stock, and Henry added a rail to it, that and it floats when your Sprout falls into the lake.

 

[68wj]

I am really liking the TC Hot Shot and will probably be going that route when the lass is a little more mature.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I engraved three of the TC Hotshots last Christmas for some lucky little girls. Impressive little rifles!

 

[mnhntr]

My 6yr old step son has one we bought for X-mas. He loves it, and with a Bushnell TR-25 red dot he hits targets better than most kids his age.

 

[boatme99]

Great! I got my 5 year old granddaughter a full pink one while she was visiting last summer. She loves it! It is hard to cock, so I still have to help her, but she'll have it soon.

 

[gunnutery]

I bought a pink chipmunk for my 4 year old. She's quite sensitive but very able to take direction. It took a bit of explaining the iron sights at first, but she ended up hitting the target several times before the rain got too heavy and she called it quits for the day.

It's been a good purchase too, it does double duty on pest control at home.

 

[JERRY]

i tought my daughter how to cock the bolt on her crickett by holding the forstock with her left hand and arm straight out, put the base of the butt stock in to her hip right where the crease is made when you sit, then with her right hand grasp the toggle of the bolt and with a little "croutching" move pull down.

it worked for her pretty good but i alsways stayed right beside her to ensure muzzle safety.

i put a scope on it (bought from crickett) and she became so accurate with this gun it was almost boring to watch her pop anything she aimed at.

my only dislike about the gun is that stupid safety plug underneith that can get bumped up by accident and lock up the whole gun. i ended up tieing the key for the lock to the front of the trigger guard with a piece of string and placing the key in the lock in the out position......

getting on target for first ever shot.


then assessing her first ever shot with a real gun.


as seen here with the key tied to the gun.




and this great little targeting tool.

 

[postalnut25]

^^^^^
Love the Pictures! Not only does she shoot, but she wears a KISS hat, too.

 

[oldfool]

There are, no doubt, better quality made l'il rifles for the l'il folks, but I think the Chipmunk/Crickett rifles are best bang for your buck, hands down

picked up a black stock Chipmunk a few years back for 1st born great-grandson, and it has seen it's share of range time
(not made anymore, name bought up by Keystone, was a bit better quality than the Keystone flavor)

picked up a pink stock Crickett couple years ago for 1st born great-grandaughter
she is just two now, so it's waiting in the safe for her

I set 'em both up with millet SP1 red dot sights, easiest thing for little beginners to hit with, and nothing beats hitting the target for fun factor. We have plenty of other fancier rimfires for when they grow out of those, and they do grow out of 'em fast, but it's well worth it.

 

[MtnCreek]

They're good little rifles. My little girl has a Cricket and my boy has a Chipmunk. Basically the same rifle; they're made by the same company now. I have three children and my initial thought was to get one ‘little’ rifle and let all of them learn on it, but I decided it would be better to let them have their first rifle to keep and pass on. I really like the peep sights for a new, young shooter; I think it’s a little easier to understand than typical rifle sights.

 

[zfk55]

My son has the same Chipmunk I had 25 years ago, and still pretty minty. Where is the Chipmunk made? I haven't seen one yet.

 

[MtnCreek]

Where is the Chipmunk made? I haven't seen one yet.

Up North, USA. Keystone owns/makes both the Cricket and Chipmunk. Most of the stores around here carry the Cricket. I had to order the Chipmunk. IMO, the stock is a little nicer on the Chipmunk rifles.

 

[Tadracket]

I got my son an ole Marlin 881 when he was 5. He is just now getting to where he can actually shoulder the rifle. But he loves it. I painted it camo and throwed an old Leupold on it for him. It is his sniper rifle, lol. He will be 8 soon. Now my daughter wants a pink rifle. She just turned 6. Santa is bringing her one of these Cricketts.

A good friend of mine bought his grand daughter one like 8 years ago when she was 2, lol. I wish I had all the rounds that little thing has thrown down range. I would bet the odometer on that rifle is easily over 20k...

 

[UpTheIrons]

My son started out with a Crickett, and my daughter with a Savage Cub. He's just about outgrown the Crickett now, but my duaghter still fits her Savage. They have both started 4-H Shooting Sports now, and my daughter is begging me for a Walther P22. My son has earned a Browning Buckmark already, so looks like I'm off to get another .22 pistol!

I think the Crickett line is a great starter gun.