Keystone Crickett .22 LR Youth Single-Shot Rifle

About this product

The Keystone Crickett .22 LR Youth Single-Shot Rifle is a 30.5-inch long, 3-pound manually-cocking bolt-action rifle engineered for introducing fundamentals to new shooters under adult supervision. Its Mossy Oak Break-Up hydro-dipped synthetic stock is designed for durability, not aesthetics, and the rebounding firing pin is a non-negotiable safety feature, not an option. I’ve handled plenty of introductory guns, and this one prioritizes mechanical simplicity and regulatory compliance over any pretense of being a target or varmint rifle.

What is the Keystone Crickett .22 LR Youth Single-Shot Rifle used for?

This rifle is used for foundational firearms safety and marksmanship training for youth under direct adult supervision. Its single-shot, manual-cocking action forces a deliberate cycle of operation between each round, creating a mandatory pause for instruction and reinforcement. The included peep sight system trains proper sight alignment without the distraction of a scope, establishing core skills that apply to any firearm, from the Stevens 334 Rifle in .308 Win to a competition pistol.

How does the Keystone Crickett compare to a traditional bolt-action like the Stevens 334?

The Keystone Crickett is fundamentally simpler and safer for a novice than a repeating rifle like the Stevens 334. While the Stevens 334 in .308 Winchester is a capable 5+1 round, repeat-fire hunting rifle for an experienced adult, the Crickett’s manual-cocking mechanism physically disengages the firing pin until the shooter intentionally pulls it rearward. This mechanical gate eliminates any chance of a ‘slam fire’ or negligent discharge during loading or unloading, a critical fail-safe the Stevens 334, operating on a traditional spring-loaded striker, does not have for its intended rapid-fire use case.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The rifle weighs a verified 3 pounds, 2 ounces (1.42 kg) and measures exactly 30.5 inches in overall length. The barrel itself is a 16.25-inch cold-hammer-forged steel tube with a 1:16 rifling twist rate, optimized for standard 40-grain .22 LR ammunition. The compact length-of-pull is a non-adjustable 11.75 inches, a dimension critical for proper youth fit that directly impacts recoil management and sight alignment - a common oversight in youth models that are merely scaled-down adult guns.

Who is this NOT for?

This rifle is not for anyone seeking a plinking rifle, a small-game hunting tool for an unsupervised teenager, or a quiet backyard suppressor host. The single-shot action renders it impractical for volume fire, and the 1:16 twist barrel is too slow to stabilize heavy, subsonic ammunition commonly used with suppressors. If you need a semi-automatic .22 for informal target shooting, look elsewhere; this is a teaching instrument, not a recreation device.

What's in the box?

The rifle ships with the receiver already drilled and tapped for #6-48 scope base screws, a factory-installed adjustable rear peep sight, a fixed front sight blade, and a single, polymer 5-round ammunition holder that mounts to the stock's right side. Conspicuously absent is any form of lock or trigger block; compliance with storage laws remains the purchaser's responsibility. You will need to supply your own Crickett-specific scope base if mounting optics, as none are included.

Is the Keystone Crickett worth it at $159.99?

At $159.99, this rifle is worth the investment solely as a dedicated, compliance-optimized training tool where safety protocol supersedes all other considerations. You are paying for the engineered mechanical safety of the manual-cocking bolt and rebounding firing pin, not for fit, finish, or features. For a similar price, you could get a used semi-automatic .22 rifle, but you would be trading away the deliberate, mistake-forgiving action that is this rifle's entire reason for existing. It fulfills a specific, high-liability role that cheaper or more complex firearms cannot.