Scoping a .22LR Cricket

[geezerbiker]

My grandson wants a scope on his cricket and is willing to work or earn one.  So I reckon I'd better have it figured out before then.  The cricket has only 2 mounting holes for the scope but the mount on their website has 3 holes in it that I'm assuming are for mounting screws. 

Anyone know how exactly this works?

Tony

[Graybeard]

Got two of them scoped here. They belong to the rug rats in the back yard. (Wyatt and Bradley) both are scoped and all three holes are used. The rear most one is attached to the bracket that holds the rear peep sight.

It's a good solid mount up and they are accurate little rifles tho I really like Wyatt's and Joey's TC Hot Shot rifles better. If ya already have the Crickett go with it and scope it but if you haven't bought it yet take a look at the TC Hot Shot before buying the Crickett.

[geezerbiker]

Thanx for the feedback and info... I had already bought one cricket before I saw a Savage Rascal at the local BiMart.  I think the Rascal is a better rifle and I bought one for the other twin grandson.  I got the Rascal on sale and it was $140 out the door with the Oregon $10 transfer tax.  So one has a stainless Cricket and the other the Rascal.  Fortunately for me both are happy with the rifles they have.  I also think they both have the rifle that best suits their personality.  James is far better off with a rifle that has to be manually cocked and Kit is more focused and is OK with a rifle that cocks on opening...

I'm disappointed with the plastic front sight and cocking knob on the Cricket.  Someday I'll look into taking the bolt apart and I think I could make a new cocking knob out of brass pretty easily.  Making a better front sight is beyond my machining ability.  I bought an older pink Cricket used and I have it stashed away for when my granddaughter is old enough to take shooting.  While this rifle has a steel cocking knob, the front sight is plastic.  I think if someone made upgrade parts for these, they'd sell.  I know I'd buy them....

Anyway both boys were having problems grouping their shots and it took a few days for them to get around to telling me they couldn't see the black front sights.  I'm going to apply a little paint to the front blades before I scope these 2 rifles but it's nice to know I can...

Tony

[Old Syko]

What scope for a cricket?  Have to get one for the granddaughter's cricket.  Didn't know if I should just get the 4x from the manufacturer or something else.  She likes the 10x on one of my ARs but that much money on a hundred dollar gun just didn't make sense. 

[geezerbiker]

If I scope one of our Crickets, there's a BSA scope at Midway with a 5 star review for about 50 bucks.  It looks like a pretty good one for the money.

Many years ago I bought my daughter a Crossman pump pellet gun because her .22 short rifle was expensive to shoot and I thought this would give her something cheap to practice with.  She was 8 at the time and neither of us could hit crap with it.  There was a new Wallmart in McMinnville, OR at the time (the only one I new of back then) and they had a Tasco rimfire/air rifle scope for less than ten bucks.  I figured I wasted more money a week on that on misc junk, so I bought it.  It turned a worthless rifle into a tack-driver.  Sometimes you just have to change the sights but I'm hoping paint on the front site blade will help...

Tony

[Old Syko]

Paint will help.  Granddaughter likes silver metallic nail polish.  When it comes off she always has some on hand.      Tried different colors from her stash and found the proof was in the pudding, so to speak.  She never missed a lick in the next 25 rounds she shot.  I'm gonna call in the morning and order the scope along with the mount from Keystone.  50 for the scope and 15 for the mount and the lady who answers the phone is always fun to talk to. 

[Graybeard]

Do NOT get the 4x scope from Crickett. It's a POS.

Wyatt's Crickett has a red/green dot sight on it and his TC Hot Shot has a Leupold 2-7 on it. I've forgotten what scope I got for Bradley's Crickett. Joey's TC Hot Shot has the cheap Crickett scope on it and I have got to get him a Leupold for it.

My personal recommendation is the Leupold 4X Rimfire scope or their Rimfire 2-7. The little rifles are accurate enough for the Leupold quality on them.

[geezerbiker]

At 2 bills for a Leupold, I don't think it's going to happen.  I told the boys if they wanted scopes they could work for me and save up for them.  I don't think they'd get that far even if I bought the mounts for them...

Anyway I painted the front sights on their rifles with Testor's florescent orange and while I was at it, I touched up the one on my 94 Winnie.  I forgot to do the one on my .45-70 Handi but I'll get that one tomorrow...

I can hardly wait to take the boys shooting again...  I've got at least 4 years before the granddaughter is old enough to take shooting.  I took her little pink Cricket out when I was shooting other rifles shortly after buying it (the newer ones have a Monty Carlo stock and I can't get my eye lined  up with the sights.)  Anyway I and a friend both shot it and both of us old coots thought it was an amazing little rifle.

Back when I was young and could backpack, I would have loved to had one of these to carry along.  It's light, short and accurate.  What more could you ask for in a backpack rifle?

Tony

[Old Syko]

Like Geezer I ain't puttin a $200 scope on a $100 gun.  Found an old 4x Bushnell in the closet that fits like a glove and a base and rings at an LGS.  I set it up and she will work it over Saturday.  She has a dot on her AR already but I want to teach her to use optics.  She has the irons (in this case plastics) well in hand.  I think she will be happy with this setup. 

[thumper113]

I'm gonna try the Tasco Bantam on my granddaughter's.  I got the cricket one on my grandson's and we've had no issues.

[geezerbiker]

I look forward to hearing about how well it shoots...

Tony

[redleg11b]

My boy's Cricket has a "Famous Maker" brand 4x mounted on it.  It works better than he can use it, and I can wring out 3/4" to 1" 50 yard groups on a good day.  The scope is a cheapo, but works well enough. 

[sert01]

I put a Tasco RF3-7x20 power wideview scope on my daughter's Cricket. It'll keep 3 shots inside a dime at 25 yards. First sight in session at the range, it outshot a customized scoped Ruger 1022 and a scoped Brno.22 bolt at 25 yards. Both of the other shooters got mad and packed up their gear and left. Before I shot, I could here them snickering about me shooting a hot pink stocked little gun!! They sure quit laughing after we compared targets!!!LOL!!!

[thumper113]

Tony,

Well I finally got her to shoot and love the little Tasco!  Natchez had them for $20.  When she's old enough to get serious about it, I'll upgrade her but for now this is a great little scope.

[geezerbiker]

Thanx for the feedback.  I've yet to get the twins back out shooting since I painted the front sights.  If this doesn't do it for them, scopes are next.

I bought an illuminated Barska for 50 bux and to put on one of my .22 single shots.  If it's OK, odds are the boys will want one like it.

Tony

[cudatruck]

Thumper, Which scope was that for 20? We have a BSA sweet 22 on a marlin 795 and love it, but my daughters little single shot is just too small and light for that big scope. I put a 7 dollar tasco from walmart on it and it works but it is sure not the nicest scope or easiest to use. very sensitive to eye relief and not very clear.

[thumper113]

The Tasco Bantam.  You can get them at Natchez for $20 plus shipping.