Crickett 722 rifle guide: Classic, Sporter, Varmint and PT
The Crickett 722 rifle is the step up from the single shot. Here is how the five versions differ and which one fits you.
The Crickett 722 rifle is a bolt action .22 LR repeater with a 7 round magazine. It shares the brand with the youth single shot, but it’s a bigger, more serious rimfire for teens and adults. We stock 6 versions from $249 to $549.
What every Crickett 722 rifle has
All 722 models use a self-retaining snap lock magazine with stainless steel feed lips, a short 5 inch receiver, 1.6 inches of bolt travel and a cock on open bolt with a 50 degree throw. The barrels are 4140 steel, micro button rifled with a 1:16 twist, and the trigger breaks at about 2 pounds. Crickett rates the 722 for MOA accuracy.
Crickett 722 Classic
The 722 Classic ($359) has a walnut Monte Carlo stock, open sights and a 20 inch barrel with a sporting chamber. The receiver is drilled and tapped and the trigger guard is billet aluminum. It’s the traditional squirrel rifle of the group.
Crickett 722 Sporter and Sporter Compact
The 722 Sporter ($289) has a straight walnut stock and an adjustable rear sight on a 20 inch barrel. The 722 Sporter Compact ($249) cuts the barrel to 16.25 inches and the length of pull to 11.5, which makes it the 722 for a teenager who has outgrown the single shot.
Crickett 722 Varmint
The 722 Varmint ($479) has a walnut thumbhole stock, a target chamber and comes with a Simmons 3-9x40mm scope and a bipod. At 8.8 pounds it’s steady off a rest and ready for ground squirrels and prairie dogs out to rimfire distances.
Crickett 722 Precision Trainer
The Precision Trainer sits in an A-B Arms Urban Sniper Mod X stock on a 6061 aluminum chassis with adjustable length of pull and a Picatinny rail. Pick the 16.5 inch threaded bull barrel for a handier rifle or the 20 inch version with 1/2×28 threads. Both are $549. It’s built for rimfire precision matches and practice for centerfire PRS.
Crickett 722 Classic 22 LR$359
Crickett 722 Sporter Compact$249
Crickett 722 Varmint$479
Crickett 722 Precision Trainer 20 Inch$549Which Crickett 722 rifle should you buy?
- Teen moving up from a single shot: 722 Sporter Compact.
- Adult squirrel and small game hunter: 722 Sporter or Classic.
- Varmints from a bench or bipod: 722 Varmint.
- Rimfire matches and long range practice: 722 Precision Trainer.
Ammo for the Crickett 722 rifle
Standard velocity and high velocity .22 LR both feed well in most 722s, but every rimfire has favorite ammo. Buy three or four different brands in small boxes, shoot five shot groups at 50 yards from a rest, and stick with the one that groups best. Target ammo usually wins in the Precision Trainer and Varmint. The Sporter and Classic have sporting chambers, so they are a little less picky. Keep the magazine feed lips clean and don’t drop loaded magazines on hard ground.
Scopes and mounts
Every 722 except the Classic and Sporter iron sight setups is ready for an optic, and even those have drilled and tapped receivers. A 3-9×40 rimfire scope suits the Sporter and Classic. The Precision Trainer has a Picatinny rail and deserves a scope with target turrets, since it’s built for dialing at distance. The Varmint already comes with a Simmons 3-9x40mm. If you’re new to scopes, our Crickett 22 rifle guide covers the basics for young shooters.
Care and cleaning
The 722 is easy to keep running. Wipe the bolt and run a few patches through the bore every few hundred rounds, keep a light coat of oil on the outside metal, and store it with the magazine out. Walnut stocks like a wipe with a damp cloth and a little stock oil once a year.
Want the full rifle list? Browse the Crickett 722 rifles or read the Crickett bolt action rifle guide. The .22 LR article explains the cartridge.
Crickett 722 rifle FAQ
How many rounds does the Crickett 722 rifle hold?
It uses a 7 round detachable magazine, so 7+1.
Is the Crickett 722 rifle accurate?
Crickett rates the 722 for MOA accuracy with good ammo, and the target chambered models are built for precision shooting.
Can I shoot Stinger ammo in a 722?
Not in the Varmint or Precision Trainer models. They have target chambers, and the maker says not to use Stinger ammo.
Which Crickett 722 rifle is best for a teen?
The 722 Sporter Compact. It has a 16.25 inch barrel and an 11.5 inch length of pull.
Buy a Crickett 722 rifle
All six 722 models are in stock and ship free to your FFL dealer.
