Chipmunk and/or Crickett .22 rifle owners?

J_Curd

J_Curd

Joined
Jul 26, 2006
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I have been considering one for a small backpack game gun. I believe the two brands are being made by the same company now, but I haven't been able to find much info.

Seemingly same in size, action, and sights...is there any major difference? Any chance some of you have shot the Aguila 60gr SSS loads in one?

I don't mind spending $100 for giggles, but it's gonna be a tiny lil thing to shoot anyway, I'd like to know if it's right for me.

Any opinion would be welcome, better or worse.
 
Actually Vance I have. It weighs alot more...I find that 40oz weight of the Chipmunk and Crickett really appealing.

I also really like fiber-optic sights, but peep sights do more for me at range. 50yd rabbit shots would probably be twice as effective for me with peep sights...I don;t have great vision, the peep sight seems to help me focus better.
 
My son has a Henry and I had a smith put the scope mount up top. I have looked at them all but liked the Henry better for the sights, polymer stock, and stainless steel construction(big plus in Oregon's wet fall/winter). The little gun is also a real tack driver :)
 
It really depends on how tall you are, and what you value in your tiny single shot rifle.

I bought my daughter a Marlin 915YN. Yes, it's a bit larger, weighs and costs a bit more, but ... it's a rifle, with good sights (no peep, but the reciever is grooved, so you could get a peep put on it), good trigger, easy to run bolt (instead of the cock after you already loaded it affair on the Chipmunk), and accurate.

I sometimes kidnap it to hunt rabbits with, early on a Saturday morning. Just a pocketful of .22 hollowpoints, my Brittany, and a cool breeze, taking a walk with a little single shot rifle is a lot of fun. I can see what you're looking for.
 
I worked with a couple of the Chipmunks a while back, and my mother-in-law (roughly 5 feet tall) bought one to try out.

At 6'2", I can't shoulder one & still get a sight picture.
When the MIL died earlier this year, her Chipmunk was passed on to a 12-year-old grandson. He's already too big to shoulder it.

The size & weight are tempting, but....
For backpacking where those attributes are important, I'd go with a Marlin breakdown Papoose .22 semi-auto rifle.
That one I could shoot all day, accurate enough, and very portable.
Just a thought.
Denis
 
I got a savage cub and it quickly became my favourite rifle. It shoots cb shorts as well as longs, and those are as quiet as my air rifle. The cub and shorts are the most fun I have had with my clothes on. :D
The peep sight is incredibly accurate, 2 beginner shooters were hitting a quarter sized target from about 35 yards. I can't wait to teach my little cousin to shoot with it when he's a bit older and his mum lets him.
 
Has anybody tried the Rossi 22/410 combo? I looks light and small and has a 410 barrel. Neighbor has one for his son. I was thinking about buying one to carry in the truck box.
 
Has anybody tried the Rossi 22/410 combo? I looks light and small and has a 410 barrel. Neighbor has one for his son. I was thinking about buying one to carry in the truck box.
Click to expand...

I bought one for my 10 year old son. I would feel confident I could fill the pot with it to eat. It's not a fine hand crafted firearm but the price is right and it just works when you pull the trigger. We have shot plenty of small game with the 22 and I have shot several limits of geese with the 410.

Paul.
 
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How's the 410 for taking birds that big? Any special considerations you need to make as far as range etc.?
 
I'm a big fan of the Chipmunk. My son and I shoot it all the time, great construction, good sight picture, and fits a lot of different body sizes. I think the Chipmunk and the Ruger Single-Six are the two most fired guns at my place.
 
Rossi also makes the same combo gun in .22/20 gauge... They are sturdy and are good shooters.. they are like the Moras if the fire arm world
 
Being a backpack gun, I'd hopefully have my pack...

I was thinking that the shoulder strap on my bag, stuffed with some clothing or misc gear would suffice to make the gun fit me if it is short. At 2.5lbs, I cant imagine a super cheek wield or deep shoulder pocket would be needed for shots inside 40yds.

Goofy idea?
 
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I appreciate the advice, but I really want to focus this discussion on the original two guns in question. I like the weight and micro size to strap outside a pack. Also, I want a super simple operation, which a single shot affords me.
 
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I just had my son out with his Cricket yesterday. He is eight and kind of small for his age and the Cricket is just right for him. He can grow into it for a long time. At 6 foot I don't have any problem shooting it but it is about as small as I can shoot accurately.

cricket1.jpg

The rifle is very accurate and easy to use. These are 25 yard groups.

The synthetic stock is hollow and can be adapted to hold supplies. I plan to fill mine with an emergency hunting/fishing/trapping kit. I figure if I ever use the rifle in the bush it will be to procure food. I would rather augment that ability with a few select resources than stuff a general purpose survival kit in there. my other kit will cover that. Mac
 
What it comes down to with either gun is whether it can fit you.
Both are simple & inherently accurate enough for your purpose.
Denis
 
How's the 410 for taking birds that big? Any special considerations you need to make as far as range etc.?
Click to expand...

Special considerations? Yes! the birds were on the wing and were shot at a range of no more than 10-15 yards. We hunt out of pit blinds with several hundred stuffed birds for decoys. The birds are real close when we start shooting. It was also done to see what the 410 was capable of using #5 bismuth shot. We also had 2 backup shooters with 12 Ga. guns and were picking the birds, not flock shooting. We did not want crippled birds being shot with the 410 and flying away.

I must say I was truly impressed with the 410 being able to take geese on the wing like that. 75-80% were head shots and the bird was in hand. The other 20-25% were hit in the body and were cripples quickly dispatched by the backup gunners. I would have no problems taking head shots at birds on the ground or water with the 410 if it were a life or death situation and I had to eat. That is what we wanted to see in the first place. Hope this clarifys my statements.

Paul
 
Don't have one, and gawdknows I don't need another .22, but....

shouldn't be that difficult to make an extension for the stock...maybe one with space for a box of ammo, should it? Looks like there's a recoil pad on there now. I assume it is screwed in place.

justathought.
 
I bought a Chipmunk for my grandchildren. It was surprisingly expensive. They use it but not that enthused for the big bucks I paid. It is too small for adults.
 
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