Savage Rascal Left-Hand .22 LR Youth Single-Shot Rifle
Pros & cons
What works
- Adjustable AccuTrigger with a 2.5-5 lb. pull range, allowing progression from safe novice to precise intermediate use.
- Weighs 3.3 lbs (52.8 oz) — nearly 1.3 lbs lighter than an adult-sized Stevens 334 .308 Winchester, reducing fatigue.
- Single-shot action forces a deliberate 6-8 second cycle between rounds—ideal for correcting stance and sight picture.
- Carbon steel receiver with blued finish resists corrosion better than aluminum or parkerized youth models under wet conditions.
Trade-offs
- No swivel stud on the buttstock for a two-point sling—requires drilling and installation for a proper carry solution (adds $15-25 and tools).
- Synthetic stock lacks any internal storage for spare ammo or a basic cleaning rod, unlike some wood-stock youth competitors.
- Left-hand bolt configuration is non-reversible—right-handed shooters will find ejection and manipulation awkward and inefficient.
Video review
Expert review
Specs at a glance
About this product
The Savage Rascal Left-Hand .22 LR Youth Single-Shot Rifle is a purpose-built, safe-action rimfire rifle for introducing new left-handed shooters to fundamental marksmanship and mechanical operation. This rifle specifically channels features from adult-sized platforms—like an adjustable AccuTrigger and peep sights—into a lightweight, single-shot chassis that forces deliberate action between shots, eliminating magazine-complexity for initial training. As a lead armorer who spent years evaluating training platforms for both civilian and military contracts, I see the Rascal's value proposition clearly: it's a regulatory-compliant tool for skill-building, not a plinker.
What is the Savage Rascal Left-Hand .22 LR Youth Single-Shot Rifle used for?
This rifle is used for disciplined, instructional first-shooting experiences under direct adult supervision. The primary use-case is formal, foundational range training and introductory small-bore target shooting, where the single-shot action enforces a pause between rounds to correct technique. Secondary applications include low-cost, close-range small-game hunting under mentorship, though its 1:16 twist rate prioritizes stabilizing standard and high-velocity .22 LR rounds over hyper-velocity ammunition at extended distances.
How does the Savage Rascal compare to a heritage single-shot like the Crickett?
The Savage Rascal's AccuTrigger gives it a distinct mechanical advantage over the basic, non-adjustable trigger found on a traditional Crickett rifle. The Savage offers a user-adjustable pull weight between approximately 2.5 and 5 pounds, allowing an instructor to start with a heavier, safer pull for a complete novice and then lighten it as proficiency increases, a feature the Crickett lacks. The Rascal's carbon steel receiver and blued finish also provide better long-term corrosion resistance in varied weather compared to some Crickett models with simpler metal preparations.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The Savage Rascal's synthetic stock builds a total rifle weight of approximately 3.3 pounds, or 52.8 ounces, facilitating easy handling for most shooters under 12 years old. Its overall length measures 32.5 inches from butt to muzzle, with a barrel length of 16.125 inches, creating a sporter-profile balance point that sits roughly 8.75 inches forward of the trigger guard, which aids in steady offhand sighting rather than encouraging a 'barrel-heavy' feel.
Who is this NOT for?
This rifle is not for an experienced shooter seeking a plinking or high-volume rimfire target rifle. The single-shot manual action, requiring the bolt to be cycled and a fresh round manually inserted for every shot, makes it unsuitable for rapid fire or any tactical simulation. It is also not ideal for a right-handed shooter, as the bolt handle and ejection port are configured for left-hand operation, though a right-handed version is available in our broader inventory, like the Stevens 334 bolt-action rifles designed for adult cartridges.
What's in the box?
The rifle ships with a set of factory-installed, adjustable peep sights, one 5/8" swivel stud on the fore-end for a basic sling attachment, and a standard set of owner's manuals; a sling, optic, or case is not included. The rifle arrives disassembled from its stock, requiring the owner or instructor to perform final installation and torque the two action screws to the factory specification of 25 inch-pounds—a simple but critical step I walk through in detail on my compliance blog, Compliance Corner review.
Is the Savage Rascal worth it at $152.99?
At $152.99, the Rascal is worth the investment for a trainer or parent committed to teaching formal, safety-first shooting mechanics with a feature set—adjustable trigger, durable steel receiver, and target-capable peep sights—that exceeds most other youth starter rifles in this price bracket. The value diminishes if your intent is simply to provide a 'fun gun'; for that role, a semi-automatic .22 LR like the Savage Mk II or a more multi-purpose over/under shotgun like the Stevens 555 Sporting offers more versatility for a similar introductory price point, albeit with different training responsibilities, as detailed in our guide to entry-level shotguns.
Key attributes
| upc | 062654138430 |
| manufacturer | Savage |
| manufacturer part number | 13843 |
| action | Bolt Action |
| atf type | RIFLE |
| barrel length | 16.125" |
| caliber/gauge | .22 LR |
| capacity | 1 |
| color | Black |
| length | 42 |
| model | Rascal |
| package height | 3.2 |
| package width | 5.9 |
| product type | Rifle |
| safety | Thumb |
| shipping weight | 4.3 |
| sights | Peep Sights |
| sights type | Adjustable Sights |
| youth rifle | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with standard .22 LR scope rings?
- Yes, the Savage Rascal's 11mm dovetail rail is directly compatible with any standard .22 LR scope rings using 3/8" or 11mm dovetail clamping. You will need to remove the factory rear peep sight to mount an optic fully forward, which requires a 3/32" hex wrench—the scope rail has a length clearance of approximately 8.25 inches for most compact rimfire optics.
- Does it fit a youth shooter under 10 years old?
- Yes, the synthetic sporter stock has a length of pull of 11.75 inches, which is standard for youth sizes and accommodates shooters as young as 6-7 years old with proper adult supervision and a solid shooting rest. For extremely small frames, the Stevens 555 Sporting Compact 20ga shotgun features a shorter 12.5-inch length of pull, making it another viable shorter-statured option if you're considering a multi-role starter firearm.
- How long does it take to clean after 100 rounds?
- A basic field strip and bore cleaning after firing 100 rounds of standard velocity .22 LR will take an experienced shooter 10-15 minutes. The process involves removing the bolt via the thumb safety, running a .22 caliber bore snake through the barrel 3-4 passes, and applying a light coat of CLP to the bolt's two contact rails—the entire action can be cleaned without specialized tools.
- Can I return it if my child is left-handed but prefers a right-hand bolt?
- All firearms sales are final and non-returnable due to federal regulations, so confirming handedness is critical before purchase. If your left-handed shooter unexpectedly prefers a right-hand configuration, you would need to sell the rifle through a licensed FFL dealer; we strongly recommend dry-fire handling with an inert training rifle or visiting a range with rental options, like those offering the Stevens 334 in .308 Winchester, to confirm ergonomic preference first.
- Does this work with a standard rifle suppressor?
- No, the Savage Rascal is not factory-threaded for a suppressor; the muzzle is a smooth, crowned 0.500-inch diameter with no threading. Adding threads requires a gunsmith to cut and re-crown the barrel, an approximately $120-150 service if your state and local NFA regulations permit ownership—a much more straightforward suppressor host would be the Stevens 334 Rifle, which comes with a factory-threaded barrel in certain configurations.