The “Crickett” .22 single shot rifle is an American classic. The lightweight and affordable Crickett combines excellent build quality, fast handling, a good trigger, a simple battery of arms, excellent peep sights, a good looking and functional stock, and compact size that fits kids perfectly. It Is the perfect training rifle to teach your small shooters responsible and safe gun handling, trigger and sight picture control, and ammunition conservation… all while having fun. Produced by the Keystone Sporting Arms Company in Milton, PA, the gun is backed by a company that has shown superior customer service with its customers. The diminutive Crickett rifle comes in a wide variety stocks, finishes, and even is offered in a full sized adult version, the Model 300 (all models and styles subject to change of course). Shown in the video is the Model 252 Crickett rifle and it has served my family well (”Chipmunk” branded .22 rifles are also very similar). These guns make memorable gifts items for your family members and are affordable heirloom items. Accuracy, durability, and ease of use are all superb. Surprisingly, this is a fun gun to shoot and costs next to nothing to do so. Bolt actuation adds to the fun and simple plunger bolt is effective. There are other single shot rifle options but the Crickett rifle is my favorite and has my highest recommendation. . /////////////Nutnfancy Likeability Scale: 10 of 10
Little .22 bolt action guns are a riot. They’re fun and engaging recreational shooting options for everyone. In some ways theyre easier and less intimidating instructional tools for kids, some female, or new shooters. The Serbian-made Zastava Z5 Youth gun is just such a rifle. Formerly imported by Charles Daley, Interarms, and then marketed by Remington Model Five (version shown and discussed here), this little .22 bolt gun fun and fast. Bolt lift is only 60º and the action is smooth. Trigger out of the box is a bit stagey buy as shown can be easily improved using factory adjustment screws. Current versions wear a press checkered laminated stock but other hardwood versions, like this one, have been issued. This stock is diminuitive for the smaller shooter and features 12 3/8″ length of pull (vs 13 3/8″ for adult Z5 model). Weighing only 5 ½ lbs (6 lbs with laminated stocks), the Rem Five/Z5 is quick into action and won’t weigh down the new shooter (as long as you dont mount a heavy optic!). The bluing in this model is superb: high gloss and smooth. The Z5 comes with a 5 round magazine with is a bit thumb busting but ruggedly built. These magazines are not readily available but currently can be had from USSG Inc directly for around . Having more with make your shooting sessions a bit funner. But the Z5 can also function as a single shot with the included single shot adaptor (may be optional on some models), thus teaching the new shooter ammunition conservation and …
Part 2 of 2: Every shooter in the US should own a Ruger 10/22 (and I wish my overseas viewers could too!). It is the everyman’s, all-around .22 rifle. It shocks me when I find one that doesn’t! That’s because it provides immense enjoyment and capabilities for such a reasonable cost. Even out-of-box, the venerable 10/22 is accurate, very reliable, tough, ergonomic, lightweight, easy to use and carry, and most of all, fun! It continues to be an extremely successful Ruger design, having sold well over 5 million copies (and still going strong). It has out-sold and out-survived many other .22 designs to include the Remington Nylon 66. The 10/22 has always represented amazing value. That’s because for a reasonable price you are getting a rifle that will probably last your entire lifetime. My circa 1976 10/22 (shown) was given to me as a young man by my Dad and has adventured with me in the swamps of Florida and Alabama, the woods of Virginia, Montana, and Washington, the plains of North Dakota, and in the deserts of Utah, eastern Oregon, Arizona, and Idaho. And it’s still going strong. There are fancier and equally as-fun .22 rifles available but the 10/22s excel in most areas (and several cool Distributor Exclusive 10/22s abound, like the shown French walnut stocked TALO version) and provide unmatched versatility for the user. The 10/22 has a modular, simple design that makes upgrades to the trigger, bolt, magazine, stock, barrel, and sighting systems easy (many options shown …
The one-of-a-kind Marlin 39AS .22 lever action is the oldest, continuously-produced shoulder firearm design in th world. It is milled from solid steel forgings and heat treated for ultimate strength. And that’s for a .22! It is the best made, most collectible, most accurate, coolest, and highest quality .22 lever action being sold. It is one of my top recommendations as heirloom quality rifle to give to your children and family members. But good luck finding one. Because like many of Marlin’s guns, they sell, sell, sell and their availability within the past few years has been scarce. Don’t fault Marlin as they have been cranking the production lines as best they can. Credit good designs that connect with guys, high value, outstanding workmanship, and excellent accuracy. That’s Marlin. I know because I’ve been shooting and testing Marlins ever since high school. In the swamps of Alabama in my many hunting adventures, I found their Model 60 .22 to be a reliable and cost effective performer that’s fun and deadly accurate. Its also lightweight (5.5 lbs), super affordable, and has been issued in some amazingly cool laminated and walnut stock editions (like the blue laminated version and the nice walnut-stocked 50th Anniversay Model 60 .22 shown!). Their Model 795 .22 and Model 70PSS Papoose (reviewed) semi-auto rifle are some of the best, highest value .22 autos out there. The 4.5 lb stainless steel, 10-shot Papoose is one of the best survival kit guns in the world and …
Don’t waste your ammo, invest it. The way to do that is doing a Nutnfancy-type “RunNGun” with your friends and family. While benchrest, tin can shooting , and paper punching have their place and are fun, these days I’m a fan of our heart pumping, competitive RunNGuns. With the right folks in attendance, these course are a blast to shoot and provide stress-oriented training that can transfer to other weapon platforms. TNP RunNGun courses are generally 100 yards in length with various stages …
Part 1 of 2: Every shooter in the US should own a Ruger 10/22 (and I wish my overseas viewers could too!). It is the everyman’s, all-around .22 rifle. It shocks me when I find one that doesn’t! That’s because it provides immense enjoyment and capabilities for such a low cost. Even out-of-box, the venerable 10/22 is accurate, very reliable, tough, ergonomic, lightweight, easy to use and carry, and most of all, fun! It continues to be an extremely successful Ruger design, having sold well over …
