[Will-Be-Hunting]

Looking to get my son into shooting. Is one better than the other?

 

[Xd357]

Yes rascal all the way. It’s a true bolt action.

 

[Christopher S.]

Savage Rascal or Henry Mini Bolt. Both are true bolt actions where as with the Cricket you have to manually cock the firing pin and I've seen people who grew up learning on the Cricket who transitioned to standard bolt actions and were confused as to why they didn't work like the Cricket. The Rascal and Mini Bolt are like any other bolt action with exception of being a single load only. Open bolt, load, close bolt, put safety on until ready for use.

 

[onlymaroonmatters]

I’ve got 2 crickets. Don’t mind having to pull back to cock them. Extra layer of safety. They both shoot lights out. Only negative is they’re not threaded barrels and some of the savages are. Might end up swapping them out down the road

 

[Popsquatch]

I put a reflex dot on my granddaughter‘s crickett, seemed to help. She lets me do the loading and cocking anyway so not a big issue, but the dot has made a difference. Crickett makes a mount for it and so does EGW (I think that’s the name of the company I got it from). Pretty accurate, just not quite as user friendly as the other ones mentioned.

 

[Blackhawk]

I have a Crickett, but have observed lots of our 4H shooters with both the Rascal and the Henry. All are similar but the Savage would be preferable to the Crickett because of the Savage Accutrigger. It is easily adjustable for whatever your purposes. Not that the Crickett was bad, the trigger actually weighed at 2 lb 6oz and I had to add an additional trigger spring (a cut off ballpoint pen spring) inside the original trigger spring to bring it up to the 3 pound minimum required for CMP Sporter Rifle competition. As others have mentioned, the Rascal's bolt doesn't have to be independently cocked like the Cricket. Between the two If I were buying another, I'd buy a Henry, just for the bolt handle. Check it out.

Mini Bolt Youth | Henry Repeating Arms

Gotta have pictures, so:

 

[onlymaroonmatters]

Wouldn’t mind having this cricket

KYGUNCO

KY Gun Co is your one-stop online shop with the lowest prices for firearms, ammunition, accessories, parts, and outdoor essentials. We ship fast and easy around the country from our home locations in Kentucky, and are always ready to help.

www.kygunco.com

 

[Blackhawk]

Having answered your question about the Crickett and the Rascal, I'll go one further and suggest that a MUCH nicer rifle both for you and your child would be a CZ 457 Scout which comes standard with a threaded barrel. It is also pillar bedded, comes with a single-load magazine and accepts multi-load magazines. Super accurate out of the box, you could always easily upgrade the stock to an adult stock when your child is older, and also upgrade the barrel easily if needed. This is one you'd be proud to pass on to your grandchildren.

Mine is set up for NRA 3-Position competitions for my 11 year old granddaughter. Shoots one-hole groups at 50 yards when using a scope. Accurate with irons to stay competitive with other 3-P rifles.

 

[one65r]

I second Christopher S on the Henry mini bolt! I’ve had 2 and taught all 3 of my boys to shoot with them.