The Chipmonk is a POS...not easy to use and after watching a friends child struggle with one wouldn't waste a dime on it.

My daughter started out on a Rossi Tri-Fecta...the advantages are:

- The rifle cam with both youth and adult stocks...allowing growth and longevity of use
- Swapable barrels allows for versatility...her's came with a 22lr, 243 and 20g barrels...we have since added to it a 410 and a 223 barrel. Again...versatility and growth potential.
- Cost...bough on sale with 3 barrels in stainless for $179 @ Cabelas...
- Accurate...it shoots very well...I managed to shoot 2" groups @100 yards with the 22 barrel with cheap ammo..and 1.5" with the 223 and 243 barrels with reloads...plenty accurate for a first rifle.
- Single shot rifles teach kids patience and not to just pull a trigger, are easy to use and have less moving parts to complicate the process...


That being said the Savage Rascal gets much better reviews than the Chipmonk and doesn't seem to have some of the same safety concerns. Whatever you do, don't buy the kid an autoloader as the first firearm! Enjoy the time with him shooting...some of my best times are with my daughter at the range...she also started shooting when she was 5...she can now consistently hit a 6" pie plate target @ 50 yards from the bench after 2 years of shooting.