Crickett 22 rifle guide: sizes, stocks and which to buy

The Crickett 22 rifle is a small single shot bolt action made for children. It has a 16.1 inch barrel, a length of pull between about 11.5 and 12 inches, and it weighs around 3 pounds. We stock 67 versions in .22 LR and 7 in .22 WMR, from $139. They all work the same way. The differences are the stock, the barrel finish and whether a scope comes in the box.

How the Crickett 22 rifle works

Open the bolt, drop in one cartridge, close the bolt, then pull back the cocking knob. Only then will the rifle fire. The firing pin rebounds and stays blocked until the rifle is cocked. That slow routine is the reason so many parents and instructors pick a Crickett: a child can’t fire fast, and every shot is a deliberate decision.

One takedown screw under the stock holds the barreled action in place. Remove it and the rifle comes apart for cleaning or storage. Synthetic models are drilled for sling swivels, and most have iron sights plus a receiver drilled and tapped for a Crickett scope mount.

Sizing a Crickett 22 rifle

Length of pull is the distance from the trigger to the end of the butt. If it’s too long, a child leans back to reach the trigger and can’t hold the rifle steady. With the stock in the shoulder, the child should reach the trigger with the pad of the finger and keep the elbow bent. Models with two spacers, like the Crickett with two spacers, let you lengthen the stock as the shooter grows.

Picking a stock

This is where kids usually make the call. Synthetic stocks are the cheapest and handle weather well; the pink synthetic and black synthetic are both $139. Laminate stocks look like wood and come in blue, pink, purple, brown and red white and blue. Camo stocks include Mossy Oak, Kryptek and Muddy Girl. Walnut gives the classic look, as on the walnut blued Crickett.

Crickett Pink Synthetic Blued 22 LR$139Crickett Blue Laminate Blued 22 LR$179Crickett Muddy Girl Blued 22 LR$169Crickett Walnut Blued 22 LR$169

Blued or stainless?

Stainless versions cost $15 to $30 more and resist rust better. If the rifle will ride in a truck or live at a camp, it’s worth it. Otherwise blued steel is fine with a wipe of oil now and then. See all stainless Crickett rifles.

Iron sights or a scope package

Most families start on iron sights to teach the basics, then add a scope. If you’d rather buy it all at once, the scope packages include a 4×32 Quick Focus scope, mount and case. The pink scope package and black scope package are the popular ones. You can also add the Quick Focus 4×32 scope later.

.22 LR or .22 WMR

The .22 Long Rifle is cheap, quiet and mild, and it’s the right choice for nearly every first rifle. The .22 WMR shoots faster and hits harder, which helps on groundhogs and other varmints, but ammo costs several times more. See the Crickett 22 WMR rifles and the .22 LR history on Wikipedia.

Safety first

Teach the basic rules before the first shot: treat every gun as loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, finger off the trigger until ready, and know what’s behind the target. The NSSF safety resources have free material made for families.

Our picks

• Crickett Compact Pink Synthetic Blued Rifle 22 LR 16.1in, $139
• Crickett Compact Blue Laminate Blued Rifle 22 LR, $179
• Crickett Compact Walnut Stainless Rifle 22 LR 16.1in, $189
• Crickett Compact Pink Synthetic Scope Package Rifle 22 LR 16.12in, $189
• Crickett Compact Muddy Girl Camo Blued Rifle 22 LR 16.1in, $169

When the shooter outgrows the single shot, the Crickett 722 guide is the next read. For a side by side of every action, see the Crickett bolt action rifle guide.

Crickett 22 rifle FAQ