Davey Cricket .22lr

[That Guy]

Does anyone have any experience with these Davey Cricket single shot bolt actions? I've been teaching my nephew and his mother to shoot and I've been given the go ahead to get him a .22 for his birthday in a couple of months. He's going to be 9 and he's actually small for his age, so I need something that will be easy enough for him to hold and shoot. It's basically a choice between this and a Savage Rascal depending on which I can find when I'm ready to buy. I'm leaning toward the Savage - it's only a little more expensive and seems to have a decent reputation, but if all I can get my hands on is a Cricket, are they ok?

Anyone have any experience with these?

 

[ToddDubya]

No personal experience, but I've seen a lot of good reviews on YouTube. If I were in your shoes I'd save my dollars and get the Crickett. He'll outgrow it before he needs something better. Spend the extra dough on that $60/box ammo.

 

[That Guy]

That's not a bad point - it may all boil down to what I can get my hands on.

Also, I hope my nephew doesn't have a problem with getting a "new" gun that has had a couple hundred rounds put through it at the range. You know, just to make sure it works.

 

[PATRON]

The rifle is a light single shot 22 that is excellent for training kids. I picked one up two years ago for my granddaughter , and now all I have to do is wait six more years for her to be old enough to shoot it.

 

[twinbrook86]

I have one. It's a solid little rifle and designed to be super safe. Paid 100 bucks new. Pick it up

Once he out grows it hold on to
It for him and let him have it when he's old enough

 

[KBCraig]

I handled and compared the Crickett, Henry, and Savage before picking my youngest son's first rifle (he's 10 now; he was 3 when I bought it).

I bought the Crickett because everything about it was light and easy enough for a kid to handle alone, from working the bolt, to the cocking knob, to a reasonable trigger weight.

 

[That Guy]

Sounds good - I like the idea of getting the cheaper rifle and buying a couple bricks of ammo with the difference. Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[mustagt02]

No personal experience, but I've seen a lot of good reviews on YouTube. If I were in your shoes I'd save my dollars and get the Crickett. He'll outgrow it before he needs something better. Spend the extra dough on that $60/box ammo.

No experience but have a cricket for my son and it is a lot of fun.

 

[Hwy Htr]

Just took my 2 girls to the range yesterday with the Cricket. It's easy to use and with only 1 round in the rifle, safety is very controlled. It is light, comes in many different colors and I believe I saw one up at Riley's last week. I've had this for 2 years and my kids are 6 and 3. Small enough to start them with it and grow into it as years go by.
Have no exp. with the Savage models.

Call around to a few shops to see who may have one in stock or can order you one. Place a WTB ad and see what comes of it.
Good Luck.

 

[That Guy]

Cabela's in Maine carries them - I'm going by in two weeks on my way north, so I'll check then and place and order if they don't have them.

 

[alohadoug]

I'll play the devil's advocate here.

I taught both my kids to shoot with a Cricket. First I had issues getting the right one from the distributor (thru Dick's). Then, discovered that the rear sight was bent. Keystone sent a new one right out. The problem with that one was that the appeture was too small to see through. I had to drill it out so they could use it. I finally mounted a red-dot to it (not easy). Sighting issues aside...
The Bolt is ROUGHLY machined. It has several sharp edges that really limit the closing. It can be a BITCH to close. My daughter typically can't close it so she loses interest quickly. I've had to fight with it a time or two. The trigger is gritty, rough, and that's the best it will be.
My son now shoots my wife's CZ452LUX (off a rest) and I just got my daughter a Ruger 10/22 Scout (in Pink Laminate, like the Cricket).

If you want to to check mine out, send me a PM and we can try to get together sometime.

If I had it to do over again, I'd be getting one of the Savages that B&K in Natick has...

Aloha.

 

[That Guy]

Thanks - Doug. Was the bolt something you think could be modified or fixed with a little polishing or is it a limit of the design itself?

I'm staying away from the 10/22 not because it's not a good rifle (I have two) but I want a single shot where it will be used quite often by a kind and his somewhat inexperienced mother, so I am not comfortable handing them a semi-auto for a starter gun.

The CZ looks nice, but I think it's going to be a little out of my price range. I'll be sure to work the action on whichever I buy, anyway, just to make sure (that complaint about the Cricket - tough bolt action - was the biggest complaint I found about it reading reviews).

 

[NewGunGuy]

Riley's in Hookset had both some of the crickets and the Savage Rascals in stock this weekend. I plan on getting my daughter the Rascal but need to work it over with the wife first!

Charles.

 

[alohadoug]

I think its the design of the bolt. Rough fit makes for tough closing. I've handled the Rascals at B&K and really wish I'd have gotten one of those.

I went with the 10/22 because they both had enough time on the bolt gun that I'm comfortable with the semi-auto now.

I'll try to get some pictures of the bolt on the Cricket tonight.

Aloha

 

[one-eyed Jack]

The Cricket is a good training rifle. I gave my 8 yo grandson one two yrs ago. After a year with the stock sights his dad put the Cricket scope and mount on it for short $$. The bolt will wear in. Jack.

 

[alohadoug]

I've had other people tell me that theirs wore in too. Mine hasn't seemed to. And yes, I have spent many evenings in front of the tv (much to wife's dismay) working the action. I've had it looked at and been told that we could round some corners and polish it, but never seemed worth the money. Both kids were ready to move on.

OP - if you want to get together to see mine, shoot me a PM.

Doug

 

[garandman]

We bought the Savage Cub T. I believe it's one step larger. It's hard to figure out the right size without having one - and whatever you want is neve rin stock.....

Cub is 33" long and Crickett 30". Rascal replaced the Cub and is 2" shorter with a LOP = 11.25", versus Cub 11.75".

 

[boxerjake77]

I bought my son a cricket a few years ago, and am very happy with it.
Shot all kinds of ammo and it's never had a single problem.

He had trouble looking through the peep, cause its so friggen small.
I added a scope for him, and now he shoots much better.

The bolt was a bit rough, but has smoothed out a lot now, it's like butter.
The trigger sucks, no doubt.

As for accuracy, it's spot on. It shoots great. My son will scatter shots around at 25 yards, but I'll pepper the bullseye all day long with it. I alway bring it with me even if he's not coming I love to shoot it too.

 

[Pilgrim]

I bought a Cricket for my granddaughters. When one outgrows it, it goes to the next younger one. Here's granddaughter #2 at 5 yo using it. She loved it and at 10 I got her a Henry.

 

[Hwy Htr]

Saw 2 Crickets for sale in Merrimack,NH at Collectors. I believe they were priced @$139.00. If anybody was looking.

 

[dropride]

Bought my daughter a crickett last year. She loves it so far. She had been using the peep sites but they kinda suck imo so i bought her a cheap scope for it.