[krosskelt]

Originally Posted by krosskelt

The cricket is a great starter because of all the steps you have to go through. Also they are pretty accurate. I have to keep my sons fairly clean or the bolt gets hard to clean. Which is always a good training on proper care for the kid.

Bolt gets hard to close. Need to proof read.

[semperfi666]

My first gun was a cricket 22 and I will never get ride of it and it is a great little gun

[mrt8110]

I am with those who suggest the BB gun in pink. BTW the top loading single shot lever action I believe might have been an Ithaca Model 49.Cliff

[dalefan88]

Got this for Christmas for my daughter she's 8. If she does good with it this year I'm going to get her a cricket next Christmas.

[krosskelt]

Originally Posted by dalefan88

Got this for Christmas for my daughter she's 8. If she does good with it this year I'm going to get her a cricket next Christmas.

Looks excited

[dalefan88]

Originally Posted by krosskelt

Looks excited

Ya I had to freeze my a$$ off for a hour to take her out to shoot it. It's the pink red ryder BB gun.

[SmallCaliberGuy]

Definately start with the Red Ryder. Teach safety with it, then move up.

[Rex in OTZ]

I'd say get a BB gun like a Daisy first (red rider or a buck or a model 25) then graduate to a Crossman 760 pellet/BB repeater, around 9 or 10yro move them into a .22 cal of their own, have them learn safe shooting, wear shooting safety eyegear, safety infractions they lose privlages.
I had a few single shot .22's they got to try but they never really seemd too compatable (marlin 10, itcha 49, Stevens 30, Stevens 73Y, H&R handi rifle) the kids (2girls) were very excited when they went in the gun shop with Dad (to buy ammo) and spyd a youth model Cricket sitting on the rack, It went home with us that day, it was a blue/black one, they used to argue over who got to shoot it, later on we bought another Cricket (pink/stainless).

its a great littel .22 for the money, later on you can get a adult stock for them.

for a first .22 having it manual cock bolt action is the best safety feature from a parents point of view, the marlin 25 scares the bejezzus outta me, cock the knob when your ready to take your shot, easy to uncock and unload as well.

Id taught all 4 my kids to shoot and they are pretty good shots, as kids you still have to keep an eye on them, even the 16yro bears some watching & reminding ones in awhile.

Its best they learn early on just what these firearms can do wither a BB gun like a red rider (painfull welt if accidently shot) or a .22 holes through trees and 2x4's.

[Rex in OTZ]

hand guns in the hands of children scare the hell outta me, My father (Nebraska Rancher) never had a hand gun or wanted one and would never allow us kids to own them while living at home.

hand guns are like tatoos and body pierceing, you get your own when your old enuf and live with the consiquences.

I know of 2 adults that sport some interesting self inflicted gunshot leg wounds from handguns (both from holsters) and know of 3 or 4 stories of accidental discharges in homes and auto's
the 410 shotgun that took off 3 fingers of a HS class mate, the truck with a hole in the floor (neighbors truck)and a AK hunting cabin chair leg with a .22 size hole nobody is admitting to, also some fatalities from assuming they were empty .

[primer1]

My girl started with a pink red ryder, then I got her a pink savage rascal. The rascal is far better than a cricket, imo. It comes with the accutrigger, has a rear peep sight, and is drilled and tapped for a scope mount. I had shots almost touching at 20 yards with winchester bulk, open sights.

I showed it to a buddy at work, who is a backpacker. He is considering the rascal as a cheaper option to a breakdown .22