Thread: kids rifles

Good to know @Tommy

I'll keep a eye out for any cracks appearing

Originally Posted by Alpinehunter0

Been mooching around and see that reloaders supplies have the crickett rifle listed at a price of 359
.....

Thats a good price for new. I paid $349 for the Rascal I purchased on Monday. I would go for a Rascal if I was to do it again too.

My 7 year old was using my Marlin XT until I purchased the Rascal, although only with a bipod and with the butt through his arm pit. With the Rascal he can now shoot from the standing, kneeling and hold the rifle without the use of a bipod on the ground. The closest rifle to the Rascal would be the Cricket but that has a bolt that requires an extra step to cock the bolt and no ramp to assist with loading.

Any thing realistically can be used but as others have said whats $300+ on a tool that should set them up for success later on down the track. Check out my photos of my 7,5 and 2 year old in the prone position with the Rascal in the "Savage Rascal" thread. Should help with comparisons as your kids are 7 and 5?

Keeping it interesting is in my opinion key especially when it comes to targetry... Here are a few we used the other day + a metal spinner set-up.

The cut out of the peep sight and fore sight (to the right of targets) is to get my kids to show me what they are aiming at and to help me explain points of aim etc...

Water balloons are great, my boy loves it.
We also have a set of steel plates, any reactive target gives them instant feedback and gratification.
I plan on picking up one of these too.

my girls are 6 1/2 months old , I reackon its about time I start looking for a shooter for them ...... I can try it out for them until they can walk at least

Originally Posted by GWH

There is no way my 4 yr old can hold the pistol grip and reach the trigger, not a shit show in hell (therefore doesnt want to do it) but with the Marlin youth she can. If you can't spend $300 (mine was $292 2nd hand) on ya kids for something that will help them join in with our own interests then i reckon there's something wrong (compared to what we spend on gear and hunting trips etc for ourselves). 300 bucks doesn't buy much today.

And when they are finished with it, chances are you will get most/if not all ya money back when you sell it.

I know this will probably come across the wrong way, but that's the way i see it.

I see what you mean now regarding the stock scaling rather than the action. (Not taken the wrong way). For smaller hands like that reshaping a stock would take as much work that would probably justify buying a youth rifle. And you are quite right in that they seem to hold their value pretty well too. Good thing as their hands do not stay that size for long............

Also a very good point on introducing them young. It is a great way so spend time with young ones....

As for the steel walking target has anyone used one?
I think it would be a piece of piss to make a couple but am concerned about ricochet especially at 25-50 y?

I am thinking of making a few thin steel plates with a spike that will definitely hole(no ricochet) but fall over and ring a bit as a reactive target.

Would be semi disposable but quicker easier more compact and reusable than bottles of water.

Maybe 1.2 zintec or something, would have to test penetration of course but if it wont go threw I will just use alloy.

Thoughts on this and any other ideas for reactive targets for kids?

I made loads of those walkers. They are pretty good fun.
Here is one of mine if anyone is interested


Sent from the swamp

Clay targets are awesome.

We have one like this and use it +50m with no dramas, it's been $50 odd dollars well spent.



Some guy holed it twice with his 223 @ 50m for some reason, but is still quite functional.
Not having to reset the target is a big thing for me.

Originally Posted by chrome

I made loads of those walkers. They are pretty good fun.
Here is one of mine if anyone is interestedAttachment 39843


Sent from the swamp

I'm keen as.

Thanks shooter and all of the rest of you for your replies.....still looking and thinking about it......thanks for the heads up re the crickett never realized that you have to cock the bolt..... Although this is possibly a good safety..... I amwwilling to spend 300+ to get my kid's interested and after all I imagine they hold their value well.... Still looking at possibly the Marlin xt22 youth but not 100% aa it is slightly bigger than the rascal and crickett as far as I can see.....the advantage is it comes with a full size stock too

Anyone around Oamaru with a youth rifle we could look at or even have a go with?

Originally Posted by Moutere

Clay targets are awesome.

We have one like this and use it +50m with no dramas, it's been $50 odd dollars well spent.

Attachment 39842

Some guy holed it twice with his 223 @ 50m for some reason, but is still quite functional.
Not having to reset the target is a big thing for me.

Link us up !

Originally Posted by chrome

I made loads of those walkers. They are pretty good fun.
Here is one of mine if anyone is interestedAttachment 39843


Sent from the swamp

How have you found the ricochet situation with these?