Keystone Sporting Arms is an American firearm manufacturer. The company specializes in single-shot .22 rifles for youth shooters. Learn about the Crickett and Chipmunk rifles that are perfect for kids.
2026 Great American Outdoor Show
We had a chance to chat with one of the owners of Keystone Sporting Arms, Steve McNeal, while attending the National Rifle Association ‘s 2026 Great American Outdoor Show. McNeal talked about some of Keystone’s products, as well as a limited-time opportunity. Video to full interview HERE and embedded at the bottom of this post.
The Crickett
McNeal gave a rundown on Keystone’s flagship product, the Crickett. The Crickett was first made in 1996 and is a single-shot .22 rifle. The rifle is bolt-action and requires that the bolt is manually cocked after loading the firearm. Perfect for kids, the Crickett is a super affordable option to expose young shooters to gun safety and marksmanship.
“We always encourage people to get involved when the kids are young, to teach them safety,” McNeal said. “It’s always a great thing to get them educated on safety, because then if they ever get around other guns, they know how to be safe with them.”
The Chipmunk
During our chat, McNeal also talked a little about the Chipmunk rifle. “Crickett and Chipmunk are both single shot .22’s,” McNeal said. “They used to be competitors of each other, but they’re all one family now.” The Chipmunk rifle was made in 1982 by Oregon Arms. Keystone Sporting Arms acquired the Chipmunk design in 2007.
“BUILD Your Future” Program
McNeal teased that the company is bringing back a program they’ve had in the past, but for a limited time. The “BUILD Your Future” Program involves giving kids a chance to design and see their rifle get built lock, stock, and barrel.
“Years ago, we used to do a donation [program],” McNeal explained. “We let some kids come to the factory and see how the whole process works for building the rifle. And they really enjoyed it. We kind of got out of doing it for a while, but this year, we decided we’re gonna do it again.”
McNeal said that they were selling 18 slots — which may already be scooped up — to have kids come and build their own rifles, as well as a tour of the factory.
“We walk them through the whole process, from drilling the barrel, making the receiver, the stock, doing the assembly. We’ll even laser engrave their name on the barrel,” McNeal told TSRs. “ And then we’re going to take the guns out … shoot them and then they’ll transfer them … [to an adult and] actually take them home with them.”
Keystone Sporting Arms more information
Keystone Sporting Arms has some quality products and my junior adventurer took his first shots with a conventional firearm on a Crickett. For more information about the Crickett and Chipmunk rifles, visit KeystoneSportingArmsLLC.com. For information about the “BUILD Your Future” Program, you can reach out to Keystone via their “contact” page or via email at: [email protected]
Full interview
You can watch the full interview with Steve McNeal HERE or in the embed below.
