Only one "issue" with a Cricket. It can't grow with her. There really are no options, it pretty much is what it is. Now, if that is acceptable for you they are great little rifles. But I think you would get better use in the long run out of something that she could grow into and continue to enjoy. Someone use to make a full size stock for the Cricket but its no longer available.

If you go with a Cricket. Why not go black and then rattle can it girly colors? Then as she grows into something bigger, like a 10/22, you can re-rattle can it in whatever color for the boy.

 

This makes sense. Sounds like the AR might be the best bet. She'll be able to grow into it and will give her experience with the platform for once she's older. I've seen the purple camo one, she'd love that.

 

M&P15-22. Stock is adjustable. Makes it easy to adapt to darn near anyone. Come in a pink/purple camo too.

 

4 year old..........Red Rider BB Gun.

Otherwise, yeah 22lr in a rifle or 410 in a shotgun to grow into.

 

The Cricket is what it is. A tiny rifle for tiny people. They work just fine. When I was lazy I'd grab it and squirrel hunt with it. Worked just fine. My youngest is 12 and the Savage FVSR is still just a touch too big for her. So you probably have some time to get plenty of use out of it.

LOP on the cricket is 12". Mossberg has several rifles in the 12 and 13" LOP range too, bolts and semis. Look at the International and Plinkster

 

The Cricket is what it is. A tiny rifle for tiny people. They work just fine. When I was lazy I'd grab it and squirrel hunt with it. Worked just fine. My youngest is 12 and the Savage FVSR is still just a touch too big for her. So you probably have some time to get plenty of use out of it.

LOP on the cricket is 12". Mossberg has several rifles in the 12 and 13" LOP range too, bolts and semis. Look at the International and Plinkster

I know big guys that use a crickets for **** hunting. Being that small is a benefit going through thick brush and swamps.

 

I like the idea of the MP15/22. They are fun to shoot, easy to handle, and as she grows she wont "outgrow" it. It will go up in size as she does, and she can use it basically forever. That, and if you have other kids, they can use it as well.

I used to love the idea of the Cricket sized .22 rifles...but then I realized that while nice if you will be running it through a large number of kids, it is only good for a small window of time.

 

I've got a cricket for my kids. My 12yo doesn't shoot it much; just not his thing. But my 8 year old asks all the time to go out on the back desk and shoot. If it weren't for the dang unavailability of the .22 round, he'd shoot a few times a week.

The cricket is a single-purpose gun in my mind. And for $125 or so ... that was a fine decision with me. I don't care if it doesn't grow for the kids. I've got five kids, so the gun will get plenty of use as more of them shoot it in time. Sights are a little tough to get set correctly. But I haven't had to adjust them since I finally got them on target. And the fact that it's a single-shot bolt action just means you save a bit on ammo over the magazine fed ammo eaters.

 

You make a good point here. They're going to be substantially cheaper than the AR platform .22's. I have two girls and a boy, the boy and youngest girl are far from firing a gun (8 weeks old and 2 years old) but my oldest daughter has shot a little bit. She loves the color purple and I'm sure number two will too. The Cricket will teach those fundamentals a little better than the AR will, I think. Having to manually reload the next round, line up the sights and pull. Rather than loading up a mag and putting the red dot on the target. That's stuff saved for us lazy old guys.

 

I'm sorry... 4? Are you going to have her married off at 11?

 

I don't recall asking your opinion on my parenting...

 

Savage rascal if you want a bolt gun,(cause I like the accutrigger) lol. Or an MP 15-22. My niece will get a rascal or an mp 22 when shes 4 or 5 depending on if her mom lets me get her one to start teaching her

 

I've put the tacstar adjustable stock on two of my 10/22's and absolutely love em. A 10/22 will grow with her forever! - Here is one ready to go.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_59_79/products_id/716006566

 

Henry makes a nice youth levergun. Mine went straight from the Daisy Red Ryder to the Henry with CB shorts.
They also make a Youth Bolt gun that is a tad on the expensive side. Hard to go wrong with a $100 cricket though.

 

Look at the pink wood stock bull barrel version.

http://www.crickett.com/crickett_22_bull.php

 

Heaven forbid we start training kids at a young age to respect firearms and use them properly. How irresponsible to seek out advice from others on suitable firearms for the purpose! You should be ashamed sir! Ashamed!


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A few other option for consideration:

CZ 452Scout. It uses the same magazines as 452/453/455, it can have the trigger lightened via Yo-Dave, AND it will fir into a full sized 452 stock when they reach adult size.

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-452-scout-22lr-beech-single-shot-adapter/

http://www.kygunco.com/Product/View?ItemNo=41437#.V3R9P6Ls6_s

If you go the AR route, instead of the M&P-22 how about slapping a 22LR upper on your existing AR-15? One of the best is a Nordic Components:

https://nordiccomp.com/categories/nc-22rb-upper/

As for when is a good time to introduce your children to firearms always remember:

 

Great advice in here. Thanks guys! My 4 year old rides her horse by herself and does horse shows with a lead line. She's pretty mature and listens well. My son on the other hand...


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You know, to a 4 year old a BB gun is WAY cool. And it's light, compared to a similar length rifle, even a .22.

And at the range they'll start out at, it's perfectly suitable.

As the kid grows and develops better strength and skills, move her up to a .22. The move from a BB gun to a "real" rifle will just be another milestone she'll be looking forward to and will remember fondly. Much more fondly than at 4, with respect to long term memory and impressions.

 

I bought my daughter a Cricket at that age in black because she had a brother behind her. It is has only be used once or twice (because suppressed AR-22 and 22lr handguns have been used instead) but it is hard to argue it is not worth it, buy for around $100 and sell years later for the same price.

 

CZ Scout

 

No way I'm putting a teched out AR type .22 in the hands of a 4 yr old. Just too much chit going on there. Start at the bottom not at the top. At 4 simple is not only good it's required. Single shot only. Cricket is a great one. My daughter got a Woodchuck Delux with 4X scope at 5 yrs old. She is now 24 and still refers to it as her .22 Gun. Son got a retro Savage single shot gifted to him by my bro in law as a starter at about the same age. But each had a Red Ryder first. Intro of a child to shooting is as much about living your relationship with that child as it is about actually firing rounds, probably more. There is plenty of time to move up to more complex and refined weapons but no time like the present to be involved with every round she chambers and shoots. Your help and instruction will mean more to her than anything else you can do. Starting out is the time for mutual involvement, enjoyment of the situation, and quality time with Daddy. Make it safe, make it fun, and make memories. JMHO.

 

What about the Rossi combo rifles? I've heard good things about them and they give you 3 calibers in one rifle. All are single shot which is great to teach/learn with.

 

the 2 in 1 combo rifles are 'okay', the 3 in 1 combos suck. spend that same money on a good 22, and teach the fundamentals of marksmenship.

 

I like that CZ 452 idea. I'm still trying to decide what my daughter's first rifle would be, but I would imagine a bolt action 22lr or BB gun. Got a couple more years to go; I'm assuming by that time I'll just have to barter some soup for a few rounds of ammo.

 

I started my son and daughter out with a Chipmunk (Rogue Rifles - Oregon) .22 single-shot.

 

Have you ever thought about a nice .22 air rifle?

 

Just do not put too much gun in her hands and make her afraid like I did.

I got my 5 almost 6 year old one of the Mossburg Bantum 410s and after he fired it few times he is afraid of it. It is the noise mainly I think he does not like. Size wise he can handle shooting the 410. He has lost interest going to the range for now. I know it will kick back in and he will want to go again, but I am going to let him tell me when he is ready, and we are going to stick with a 22 when we go back.

oh my son had been going to range with me since he was 4 and has had gun safety drilled into him since he was 2 1/2. You are never too young to start them IMO