Youth 22 rifle

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  • bigjohn

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 29, 2007
    2,752
    The son has decided he wants to shoot. I’m torn between the cricket and the savage youth. Leaning towards the savage. Either you recommend or favor more than the other?
     

    Pushrod

    Master Blaster
    Aug 8, 2007
    2,979
    WV High Country
    I bought my son the cricket when he was six ( a year ago), this was after he experienced shooting one of my semi-automatic .22's. The cricket wasn't as much fun to shoot for him since you had to pull back the bolt, load the round, seat the bolt and then pull back to cock the BCG. It's fine for teaching the basics, but a pain in the butt. On reflection I should have bought him a bolt action with a tubular or box magazine. He would have enjoyed shooting it more.
     

    bigjohn

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 29, 2007
    2,752
    I have been thinking about a 10/22. Only problem is he blasts thru the ammo and isn’t working on his skill
     

    5cary

    On the spreading edge of the butter knife.
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 30, 2007
    3,633
    Sykesville, MD
    I bought my son the cricket when he was six ( a year ago), this was after he experienced shooting one of my semi-automatic .22's. The cricket wasn't as much fun to shoot for him since you had to pull back the bolt, load the round, seat the bolt and then pull back to cock the BCG. It's fine for teaching the basics, but a pain in the butt. On reflection I should have bought him a bolt action with a tubular or box magazine. He would have enjoyed shooting it more.

    I'll second this. The cricket is a PIA for some. Son still enjoys it, but given a second chance I'd go another route.
     

    Hawkeye

    The Leatherstocking
    Jan 29, 2009
    3,971
    Between the two, I would go with the Savage.

    Another option, depending on how big your son is, is the Ruger American Rimfire. It's a little more expensive, but you can get it with the Ruger modular stock on it and install one of the short modules for him to use. That way he'd be able to grow in to it, too.
     

    manderson

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 3, 2008
    1,243
    I have been thinking about a 10/22. Only problem is he blasts thru the ammo and isn’t working on his skill
    Which is why a single shot bolt rifle is the way to go. Won't be long before he starts getting interested in where his shots are going. I'd actually recommend a Henry lever. Although about 100$ more, it's a real keeper. And if you look around for used, I'm sure you can find a nice one cheap.
     

    bkuether

    Judge not this race .....
    Jan 18, 2012
    6,212
    Marriottsville, MD
    Between the two, I would go with the Savage.

    Another option, depending on how big your son is, is the Ruger American Rimfire. It's a little more expensive, but you can get it with the Ruger modular stock on it and install one of the short modules for him to use. That way he'd be able to grow in to it, too.

    Savage makes a .22 bolt for younger kids. It has a smaller stock for them so it isn't so unwieldy. I bought one for my daughter back in the day. It's still her's if she wants it.

    EDIT - The actual name is: Savage Mark II GY Youth Bolt-Action Rimfire Rifle

    And you can get an adult stock for it pretty inexpensively when they grow up. It also takes Tech Sites which make it all the more accurate.
     
    Last edited:

    newmuzzleloader

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Apr 14, 2009
    4,764
    joppa
    I bought the Crickett for my boy when he was 6, I saw it on sale at Dick's and bought it. It was ok but in hindsight after talking with people I would have bought Savage Rascal. He's 13 now and has the Ruger American compact. Like Hawkeye said the stock is modular so as he grows I can get the regular stock and put on for him.
     

    RJRjr

    Active Member
    Aug 26, 2017
    504
    cecil county
    I have the Ruger American rimfire compact for my son. Takes 10-22 mags. I bought it for him when he was 9. I'm getting him a 10-22 for Christmas this year and he 'll already have a stash of mag's for it.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,877
    Harking back to post #3 - The point of a ( presumably ) training rifle is to gain marksmanship skills . This is gained thru things like proper form , careful aiming, and smooth trigger control . Mag dumps not so much .
     

    Hunterjjd

    Active Member
    Jun 29, 2011
    118
    Remington has a Model 5, comes with 5 shot clip and single shot clip. HEAVY wood stock, might be to heavy but is another option

    I am not a cricket fan
     

    Mack C-85

    R.I.P.
    Jan 22, 2014
    6,522
    Littlestown, PA
    I have the Ruger American rimfire compact for my son. Takes 10-22 mags. I bought it for him when he was 9. I'm getting him a 10-22 for Christmas this year and he 'll already have a stash of mag's for it.

    Another option, depending on how big your son is, is the Ruger American Rimfire. It's a little more expensive, but you can get it with the Ruger modular stock on it and install one of the short modules for him to use. That way he'd be able to grow in to it, too.

    We have two Ruger American Rimfires in our family. My wife bought one, and I could never get to use it, so I bought my own!! :party29:

    We also have two 10/22's.........
     

    JoeRinMD

    Rifleman
    Jul 18, 2008
    2,014
    AA County
    Remington has a Model 5, comes with 5 shot clip and single shot clip. HEAVY wood stock, might be to heavy but is another option.

    Another even better option is the CZ Scout. It comes with a single shot sled, but takes standard 5 or 10 round magazines. My son used one for NRA small bore target shooting until he graduated to a full-sized rifle. The rifle was exceptionally accurate.

    JoeR
     

    CodeWarrior1241

    Active Member
    Sep 23, 2013
    827
    Lutherville
    Another even better option is the CZ Scout. It comes with a single shot sled, but takes standard 5 or 10 round magazines. My son used one for NRA small bore target shooting until he graduated to a full-sized rifle. The rifle was exceptionally accurate.

    JoeR
    Second this.

    CZ has a mag interrupt that only allows one round to go into what's normally a 5 round mag. Can be taken out when kid's ready later. Doesn't require a separate trainer mag.

    Sent from my SHIELD Tablet K1 using Tapatalk
     

    brooksie

    Member
    Dec 30, 2010
    72
    Middle River
    I agree with Hawkeye. I thought the Cricket was a PIA so I bought the Savage Rascal for my younger grandkids. It fits them well and they have no problem operating it. This week, I ordered the Ruger American Rimfire for my older grandkids. The model that was on sale at CDNN was the standard model, so I ordered a set of the compact stock inserts for it. They have already shot the Ruger at the youth shoots at my club and did very well with it.
     

    Fester60

    Active Member
    Feb 1, 2010
    782
    PA
    Another vote for the Savage Rascal. Both of my girls started shooting theirs when they were 4. Perfect for teaching safety and basic marksmanship.
     

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