To big for a Cricket.

[Fordtough25]

Have you seen the Savage Rascal? I think that will be a future purchase of mine for my kids.

 

[armedindy]

i was also going to say marlin 795...cheap, fun, big enough for him to grow into, and probably not too big for the immediate

 

[17 squirrel]

When I bought my son his first rifle 15 years ago there was not that much available in the market for a kid. I bought my son a Deluxe Chipmonk, Its a wonderful little rifle that was well made and reasonably priced, Now Keystone ( Cricket ) owns Chipmonk and you just don't see them for sale all that often.
I would look at the Savage for a few reasons, Its available either right of left handed and it is a self cocker. After cocking my kids chipmonk a few hundred times in a day your fingers will be really pissed off. The self cocker has its place the spring tension is too stiff for a child to cock.
Here is a review of the Savage.
The Savage Rascal .22LR Boys Rifle ? Gun Review

 

[TheWabbit]

I have a Marlin 795 for semi and Marlin 60 for bolt. We also have a Henry 22 lever. All great rifles for youngins to learn.