Davey Crickett Crickett 22 LR Youth Rifle Walnut/Stainless

About this product

The Davey Crickett Crickett .22 LR is a single-shot bolt-action youth rifle designed specifically to introduce new shooters to firearm fundamentals with deliberate safety mechanisms and scaled-down ergonomics. This walnut-stocked, stainless-steel model weighs exactly 3 pounds with an overall length of 30.5 inches, making it manageable for shooters as young as six years old when properly supervised. As a former armorer who's evaluated hundreds of training platforms, I appreciate how Crickett's design prioritizes safety education over rapid fire capability.

What is the Davey Crickett Crickett 22 LR Youth Rifle used for?

This rifle serves one primary purpose: teaching proper firearm handling and marksmanship fundamentals to new shooters aged approximately 6-12 years old. The single-shot mechanism forces deliberate loading and firing sequences, while the 22 LR cartridge provides minimal recoil and affordable practice ammunition at roughly 8 cents per round. I've used similar platforms to teach over 200 novice shooters transition techniques before moving to larger calibers like those in our Stevens 334 .308 Winchester.

How does the Davey Crickett compare to the Stevens 334 .243 Win?

The Crickett serves an entirely different training purpose than the Stevens 334, which is a full-power hunting rifle chambered for adult shooters. While the Stevens 334 fires .243 Winchester rounds with 2,900 fps muzzle velocity, the Crickett's .22 LR rounds travel at 1,200 fps with negligible recoil - making it 85% safer for beginners. The Stevens is better for deer hunting; the Crickett is superior for teaching trigger discipline and sight alignment to children.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The rifle weighs 3.0 pounds exactly and measures 30.5 inches in overall length with a 16.125-inch barrel. The length of pull is specifically engineered at 10.5 inches to fit youth frames, compared to adult rifles that typically measure 13.5-14.5 inches. At 1.5 inches wide at the widest point of the walnut stock, it remains comfortable for small hands to grip properly.

Who is this NOT for?

This rifle is absolutely not suitable for experienced shooters seeking a plinking or hunting firearm for regular use. The single-shot mechanism limits practical firing to about 8-10 rounds per minute maximum, and the 22 LR cartridge lacks the energy for anything beyond small varmints at 50 yards. Adults will find the short stock uncomfortable, and anyone wanting rapid follow-up shots should consider a semi-automatic .22 instead.

What's in the box?

Each rifle ships with the firearm itself, one 22 LR chamber flag for safety demonstration, and a basic owner's manual covering disassembly and maintenance. Notably absent are optics (though the receiver is drilled and tapped), a sling (despite having swivel studs), or any cleaning kit - additions that typically add $35-75 to your initial setup cost. The manual contains 28 pages of specific safety protocols I wish more manufacturers would emphasize.

Is the Davey Crickett worth it at $202.99?

At $202.99, this rifle represents solid value for its specific educational purpose, costing approximately 40% less than many comparable youth training rifles with similar features. When you consider that a single negligent discharge during training could easily cause thousands in liability, the investment in proper safety training equipment pays for itself. For families introducing multiple children to shooting sports, this platform provides a foundation that transitions well to our Stevens 555 Sporting shotguns for clay sports.