Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Chipmunk vs. Crickett... Which is Best?

I am getting a little guy his first 22 rifle. He’s very small framed and only 6 so I am going with a simple and small one. Does anyone have experience with the Chipmunk and Crickett brand single shot rifles? Is one better quality than the other?

Thanks!

I can't speak to the Cricket since I have never owned one. As for the Chipmunk, I purchase one many, many years ago (maybe 1980 or so) and that thing was built like a swiss watch and it was extremely accurate. Now I think "Chipmunk" that I knew went out of business and was later reopened under new management so they may not be the same today.

A note on the Chipmunk, years ago dealers could not keep them on the shelves here in SW Virginia because coon hunters were purchasing them as fast as they could get them. Their small size and light weight was just what a coon hunter wanted.

buy the savage rascal

Both the Chipmonk and Cricket lines are now made by Keystone Arms which I believe bought the Chipmunk makers out over 10 years ago...

They are both well made little rifles.

The problem with the Crickett, is there is no feed ramp to funnel in the cartridge. For a 5-6 year old with limited coordination, it is a pain in the AZZ to load. The same holds for adults with fat fingers..

Advantage-Savage Rascal.

Only experience I have is with the cricket, my sons did well with it, the keystone guys are good to go to. Another one to look at is henry mini bolt

Thanks. I’ll check out the Savage and Henry as well.

the new cricketts now have a floating feed ramp instslled

if you wanna buy just one 22lr for them go cz-455 scout. then later buy him an adult sized stock and barrel as the same stock/barrels from the fullsize cz 455 fit the scout.
good luck,
Big Ed

The Savage Rascal is a much better gun IMHO. Or, find a used Savage Cub. I bought 2 Cubs for my boys when they were young. I still use the Cub with 22 CB's for rabbits around the house.

Yeah, the newer Cricketts have a feed ramp. I've got one in 22lr and you can see in the pic below the red bit is the underside of the feed ramp. Also have one in 22mag and it does not have the feed ramp. For sure the ramps make it easier to load. Kids are big now so I set these up as super light 2 barrel pack rifle. Switched out the one screw that holds the barrel for a thumbscrew so it can pop on and off really quick. Also added the Crickett stock extender which adds a couple inches to the length of pull so it's way easier to shoot for an adult.

Have you considered the Ruger American Predator?

Small enough for a young child...but one that he can grow into as well.

I can’t speak on the Savage, but I bought my daughter a pink cricket and it’s dead nuts accurate. I liked it so much that when I ran across a good deal on a crickett, I bought it for myself. I don’t care that it’s pink too. It’s an excellent truck gun due to its short length.

+1 on the Savage Rascal. I bought one for #1 granddaughter last year.

Good to know. Thx.

Few years ago I spent a few months comparing them and purchased the Savage Rascal for my grandson. You said, "He’s very small framed and only 6." He will be able to handle the Rascal just fine. It was much easier for him to use than a Red Rider BB gun. I needed to remember that little guys don't always keep safety foremost in their minds. He quickly learned the simple Rascal mechanics of loading and shooting.

Have had a Chipmunk for around 40 years that my kids, and now grandkids started with. Still solid and accurate. Curious that I have never seen a used one for sale.
Anschutz made a "kids" 22 a few years ago that was impressive. My buddy eventually made me return it.
Like most of my opinions, my info is outdated by decades!

Yes, the older Chipmunk rifles were made like expensive rifles with walnut stocks. I think they got priced out of competition.

keystone is making the 722 of theirs in a compact model, but I agree that is an expensive option for a kid and I'm sure has a little longer lop than a cricket/chipmunk, would have to ask.

+1

DF