I have always been impressed by the cricket rifle for it's compactness and accuracy. Trigger is not amazing, but for a kids first rifle it is realy wicked accurate.
Often I see them at events in the hands of small kids and the only real issue with the rifle is trying to keep up with time. First it is a bolt, add to that the single shot and hand cock and there is a major time constraint. But the worst problem with using it is the lack of quick access to the next round.
Scout mentioned before using duct tape to hold rounds on the side of the rifle, but looking at shotgun sidesaddles, I figure why not do the same for the cricket? So here is the prototype made of kydex, plastic tubing and jb weld. I did not have any black spraypaint so we went with the spare purple (plus my daughters love purple):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5202921813_c44a2f82ef_z.jpg)
We attempted angled round positioning for minimal rotation of each round in the the chamber during rapid load. Also note the retaining mechanism that holds the round high but keeps the rim clear so that it can be grasped with thumb and index finger just as they clear the eject action with the bolt:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5203518828_d9cc704e01_z.jpg)
And for the user, this is what you see in operation. Ten rounds of 22lr waiting for you to get it going and on target as fast as any mosin (and likely faster):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5202923813_d2ab3ec11a_z.jpg)
Since we require ammo to remain on the mat during transition stages, that had to be workable too. This is why the side saddle is completely removable and position-able:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5203519486_84dc87040a_z.jpg)
Oh yeah! Our kids deserve all the tacticool we can give them, and every bit of it should actually improve their game some if we are smart!
I will field this at Riley this weekend to see how well she does. I swear that this cricket will do 210+ in a real event (and without the bipod), it's just a matter of working out the kinks.
And yes, the final version might look better in black,
Techres
Very clever!
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
looks like a 'winner' to me....
Techres,
For Phase II, raise the tubes up so the rims are higher above the backing plate, and turn the "stop" toward the muzzle end.
Phase III double stack the rounds 5 and 5 so little arms don't have to reach so far forward.
I really like this innovation. I will make some of these over the Holidays too.
Good job!
Mac (yeah I'm an engineer... anything worth having is worth experimenting with LOL)
Genius, Techres, stinkin' genius!!! :bow: I've seen many children give up at events while shooting crickets due to the problems you mentioned. This at least helps eliminates most of the common, and will hopefully give many more children a better AS experience! O0
Thanks for sharing. :)
---GF
Quote from: MacMcM on November 24, 2010, 10:09:34 AM
Techres,
For Phase II, raise the tubes up so the rims are higher above the backing plate, and turn the "stop" toward the muzzle end.
Phase III double stack the rounds 5 and 5 so little arms don't have to reach so far forward.
I really like this innovation. I will make some of these over the Holidays too.
Good job!
Mac (yeah I'm an engineer... anything worth having is worth experimenting with LOL)
Great minds think alike. I was thinking instead of inline, taking half, doubling up and also pivoting them out slightly on an angle. The key is keeping the holder from getting in the way of fingers. I am also making a base that the holder goes into on the mat to keep from spilling out rounds when transition happens and the mat shakes.
Looking forward to your version,
Techres
Wow, very cool, Tech! O0 :bow: :cool2:
O0 O0 O0
I did something similar about a year ago for a Winchester Model 55...
While sorting through and organizing my tools I ended up with several "screwdriver bit" holders of various flavors. The ones that caught my eye were the strips with 10 slots. While the bits that fit in the slots are .25" if I took a long #2 phillips and "bored" through the bottom it produced a hole large enough to firmly hold a lead head. This left the rims elevated enough for grasping, however the rounds can be pushed all the way down and with a slight upward push the rims are revealed again. These strips were then epoxied to slightly larger pieces of 1/4" ply so that they could be screwed to the stock (Why didn't I think of Velcro..aagghh) This little rig has been attached to the 55 for about a year and I have 3 duplicates on standby... it works..
Excellent job Techres. Thanks for the reminder about Velcro...
Great work and ideas, maybe I won't have to drill into my Stevens Target Rifle stock, this looks like some answers. Thanks.
Nice! O0
Tested under the clock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdI1reKSj7A
Works decently. 48 in standing and 98 in prone. Spilled ammo in both transitions which left me with 180. It is workable and 210 is definitely possible.
I've been following this thread as I have a 7 year old daughter learning on a Savage Cub and she needs something to hold her rounds. I noticed you fumbling once or twice, was that something that needs fixing or just the size of adult hands?
Also, where can someone get kydex?
Thanks,
Charlie
Quote from: TN_Dadx5 on March 28, 2011, 01:41:20 PM
I've been following this thread as I have a 7 year old daughter learning on a Savage Cub and she needs something to hold her rounds. I noticed you fumbling once or twice, was that something that needs fixing or just the size of adult hands?
Also, where can someone get kydex?
Thanks,
Charlie
Fumbling is due to no feed ramp on the rifle and full sized fingers. It is difficult. If the round or shell drops into the action, it is easier to turn the rifle over and drop it out. I did that once in the video IIRC. The whole thing is a fun challenge.
As for the kydex, I bought it on ebay ages ago for making my son some armor. This was leftovers.
Techres
I snickered the whole time when you did it and I snickered till I had tears in my eyes when i watched it on youtube.
i especially like that small look of "told ya so" after #10. good shootin.