For those considering a Cricket for a new young shooter

[son of the revolution]

If any Mom's or Dad's out there are considering a Cricket for the young shooter in the family, I think I've come across what I personally consider to be a design flaw that is not immediately apparent. Don't get me wrong, I think its a GREAT first rifle for teaching a younger child the basic fundamentals, but those considering the purchase should at least be aware of what I've found.


I've discovered that once you have a round in the chamber, the bolt closed and the action cocked, there is NO way to remove the live round from the chamber other then by firing it. The bolt will NOT open PERIOD ! I suppose it just suprised me that there would be no decocking feature or any other mechaniscm (sic) to clear the firearm other then firing the loaded round.

My first single shot .22 was a Winchester handed down through the family since the 1930's and had no such issue. So I foolishly assumed that in 2010, this would be an across the board standard feature, regardless of make, model, caliber , etc.

Just passing along the info. Im not suggesting it makes the Cricket inherantly "unsafe" but I do feel its a rather glaring oversight considering the targeted market.

[pandemic]

What if you were to decock it by holding the pin and pressing the trigger? Similar to decocking a 1911, for example.

[Rosco the Iroc]

I've noticed that also but by the time your at that point you should be taking the shot. If not, Yes you can decock it by holding the firing pin knob and pulling the trigger and letting it in gently while of course keeping the muzzle in a safe direction. It's no worse then my older Mariln 336C w/o the cross block

[son of the revolution]

I've noticed that also but by the time your at that point you should be taking the shot. If not, Yes you can decock it by holding the firing pin knob and pulling the trigger and letting it in gently while of course keeping the muzzle in a safe direction. It's no worse then my older Mariln 336C w/o the cross block

Ahhhh , ok. I can see that working. Essentially similar to decocking a cocked revolver from the single action position. DOH ! That NEVER even occured to me to try that.

[marinakorp]

Bad idea to drop the hammer on a live round...regardless of how careful you are.

[Tomcat088]

Bad idea to drop the hammer on a live round...regardless of how careful you are.

If the rifle is at the range and pointed in a safe direction, I don't see how it's any less safe than just pulling the trigger and letting the firing pin strike the round. Worse case scenario, the round goes downrange in a safe direction.

[max384]

If any Mom's or Dad's out there are considering a Cricket for the young shooter in the family, I think I've come across what I personally consider to be a design flaw that is not immediately apparent. Don't get me wrong, I think its a GREAT first rifle for teaching a younger child the basic fundamentals, but those considering the purchase should at least be aware of what I've found.


I've discovered that once you have a round in the chamber, the bolt closed and the action cocked, there is NO way to remove the live round from the chamber other then by firing it. The bolt will NOT open PERIOD ! I suppose it just suprised me that there would be no decocking feature or any other mechaniscm (sic) to clear the firearm other then firing the loaded round.

My first single shot .22 was a Winchester handed down through the family since the 1930's and had no such issue. So I foolishly assumed that in 2010, this would be an across the board standard feature, regardless of make, model, caliber , etc.

Just passing along the info. Im not suggesting it makes the Cricket inherantly "unsafe" but I do feel its a rather glaring oversight considering the targeted market.

It's already been said, but pulling the trigger and slowly lowering the hammer works. Both my kids started out on cricketts... and they still shoot them.

Bad idea to drop the hammer on a live round...regardless of how careful you are.

Meh. That's the only way you're gonna unload it... other than firing the gun - just like a revolver.

Like Tomcat said, make sure it's pointed in a safe direction when you do it... Just like when loading/unloading a firearm.

[Rosco the Iroc]

Now also IF there was a situation where we had it cond 1 and had to safe it w/o shooting I would do it for my son just to be sure it's done safely as sited.

[djturnz]

So the bolt won't open at all untill it's fired? Does it have a safety?

[customloaded]

It's already been said, but pulling the trigger and slowly lowering the hammer works. Both my kids started out on cricketts... and they still shoot them.



Meh. That's the only way you're gonna unload it... other than firing the gun - just like a revolver.

Like Tomcat said, make sure it's pointed in a safe direction when you do it... Just like when loading/unloading a firearm.

Your's Armor Gold, mine Infantry Blue. Ok, you're Armor gold ain't working so I'll try this:

Meh. That's the only way you're gonna unload it... other than firing the gun - just like a revolver.


Huh? WTH do you mean you have to fire a loaded revolver to unload it???

CL