For his first gun, my son wants a .22lr Cricket for Christmas. It got me thinking that it might be fun to pick up a .22lr barrel for my Contender. After a few calls I found a used 14" barrel in excellent shape for $100. Last night I put a Leupold mount and a Simmons 2-6 scope on the barrel and bore sighted it. Went to the range this morning, first shot was dead on center at 25 yards, that always puts a smile on your face. Put two more in the same hole, then did some shooting out to 100 yds. The only round I tried was Winchester Super X, but that barrel seems to like it. Spent the rest of the morning shooting pieces of broken clays the trap shooters left behind and spent 12 gauge shells. It was a blast! I forgot how much fun shooting can be. It's nice going through a few boxes of ammo without the price of it adding up in the back of your mind. I have not really shot a 22lr in about 20 years, I wish I had not waited so long.

they are definately fun, accurate...n cheap to shoot a LOT

never catch me giving some one a hard time for shooting a .22rf practice is practice.
bougth a crickit in .17hmr for my kids. they had no time for it. to hard to cock. single shot. they liked the 10-22 i shortened the stock in to much. next thought was it might make a truck gun for me for crows. i could not contort myself enough to get down on the sights with out causing pain. next step was to get a scope for it. got rid of the crick in the neck. the 1" 3x9 looked like a spoting scope on that .17 and the barrel was so thin that the barrel walked from heat after 5 rounds. traded it for a second 10-22 ruger.

Yeah 22 are COOL!!

I also got a cricket for the kids. Hard to cock and the trigger is terrible. They also installed a safty device with a stud that comes up thru the floor of the action and will not let the bolt close. There is a key to release it. Talk about cheap and a real pain in the but.

I was in a gun shop a while ago and found a Savage youth model, about the same size and a lot better gun for about the same money. It even has the AccutTigger. Here is the link check it out.

Savage CUB

Thanks for the information on the Savage. The Cricket fit him well, but I dont want him to get discouraged if its a pain to shoot. I'll see if I can track down a Savage on Monday.

you might also check with rogue rifles, they make a gun called the chipmunk, these are nice guns with lots of options, there web address is www.roguerifle.com

Give the Aguila Super Extra (SE) hollow points a try. They are the most accurate hunting ammo in a 22 I've ever used. They aren't as fast as the Winchester but they lead seems to be soft and they expand better than the win's on squirrels.

Thanks for the information on the Savage and the Chipmunk. I looked into both of them, but the Accu-Trigger sold me on the Savage. I'm going to order one tomorrow. Now I can hardly wait for Christmas to see the look on his face when he see's his first rifle under the tree.

sounds great, it is pretty cool to see that look on a kids face. MERRY CHRISTMAS

It's always fun to put a smile on your kid's face. He will enjoy that fine gift. I can still remember giving my son his first gun years ago. I can't remember though who was more excited him or me.

My 10" Contender is my practice gun for about 5 others barrels I use on the same frame. I try to shoot at least once a week. Have spinners on a berm behind the house for when it's to nasty to get to my range. Just have to open the basement window...and remember to pick up the cases off the floor. Keeps the eye sharp. Mine loves Win Power Points but the Federal economy pack hollow points work too.