The Hot Shot does not have interchangeable barrels.

Tom Tom -- I've handled Chimpmunks but never shot them. I have shot the Rossi. With a scope, I shot 1.5" 5-shot groups at 50 with it.
The Hot Shot has a better trigger.
Walt Smith -- At Field & Stream we don't have to say nice things about sponsor's products if we don't want to. I geniunely like this rifle.
007 -- I do remember the barrels you're talking about. They had some kind of choke or rifled choke that screwed into the muzzle.

Whst a great gift this rifle will make for many children this Christmas or their next birthday. Pretty affordable as well.

I do have to respectfully disagree with Greenhead though. I don't think there would be that much of an issue transitioning between a peep and a standard rifle sight, with both you have center the front blade. It doesn't seem that big of a leap to me.

Sorry. Yes, it's a .22 lr.

Easy to cock. Definetly a plus over another youth rimfire I have experience with. Thanks!

Looks like it would be a good deal. We bought our son a Chipmunk when he was a wee lad.

Phil, the TC Website does not reflect an interchangable barrel, such as a .410 or 20 guage. In your opinion, how does the TC compare to the Chipmunk or the Rossi? I still enjoy a single shot and have a blast dove hunting with a three generation hand-me-down Iver Johnson .410
With Christmas coming on coupled with two 5 year old grandsons, Santa is looking for the training rifle that will stay on the farm until the boys visit.

Judging from all the T/Cs used on the television hunting programs I would agree that the Hot Shot probably would be a great beginner rifle. However here in Wyoming or Montana I am yet to see a single hunter armed with a T/C Encore in thirty years. I don't know why but then I have never owned one myself. I do have a friend who uses a Contender effectively for prairie dawgs and then hangs a .35 Rem barrel on it for big game. I would just go with a Cricket.

Rechamber it to 22 MAG :)

Sounds like a great youth rifle, especially at that price.

My only issue is with the wisdom of learning to shoot with a peep sight. I have no doubt that it will certainly shorten the learning curve for the kids, which is definately a good thing, less they lose interest, but what happens when the move up to an adult rifle and realize they don't know how to use conventional blade sights?

I don't recall having any trouble transitioning from my BB gun to a browning .22, to a sporterized Mauser, because the sights were similar on all. It seems to me that learning how to use a whole new sighting system would make that transition more difficult.

Can remember my first Daisy BB gun. It had a flip down peep/notch rear sight. I spent most of my time with the peep flipped up. I found it easier/quicker to use at the age of 5.
I didn't have the luxury of purchasing "first" firearms for my children, but they quickly "adopted" various arms as their own.
They both spent hours with a Ruger Single-Six because it was about as simple as possible.

Bubba

Looks like some posters above are not familiar with youth offerings in .22 caliber. Try one, because they can be a lot of fun! Plus, they pack easy with the camping gear as a survival or spur-of-the-moment plinker.

May I suggest a look at the Henry youth single-shot. I think it weighs a tad less than the TC. Overall it is excellent, but the trigger is not as good as the TC's.

The Henry has better sights for very young shooters, in my opinion. It has Tru-glo blade-stle front/rear sights. It also retails for about $200. Both the Henry and the TC are much, much better than the Crickets.

The Henry is a lot of fun to carry in the woods, even for an adult who has top-of-the-line .22 LRs. It is a real hoot!

Bought my son a chipmunk many years ago and it looked great but was crap to shoot. Sights would not adjust enough to sight it in and trigger pull was way too heavy. Most of the time when it fired it would not extract the empty. Never had a Rossi but that new little TC looks like just what the DR. ordered for the Granddaughter.

Clay C.

My "first" gun was an L.C. Smith in 16ga. At the time I recieved it, I was unable to keep both ends off the floor at the same time! (about 4yoa) It was a hand me down from a great-uncle who had no children. It's still in the closet!

Bubba

tom tom: all the big box stores are the same. most cannot order anything. they get what they get from corporate marketing. very few employees there are knowledgable about guns, they are merely clerks. that's why most of us patronize the small local gun shops. most have at least some knowledge of guns and can order anything you want if they don't have it in stock already and almost always at a much better price. a lot of people buy guns from cabelas,bps, etc. but the smart buyers always go to the small local shops. good shooting.

I think this un is a really good deal. This gun has a match grade barrel and the looks of Dad's modern rifle. Also it can be adjusted to grow with your kid over the years with the 1 inch spacer. If I recall the chipmunk and rossi does not offer a match barrel or a grow with the kid stock. I agree te switchable barrels are a pus for the rossi but the Hot shot was just introduced this year. I don't think their was very many chamberings for the original contender the first year either. If in 5 years the company has not put out switchable barrels for it I would complain. My son loves his hot shot and I too would like barrels in the .17 calibers all the way to the .223 remington and the .410 shotshell. By the time they master those it is time to switch to regular guns. Just give it time and this gun could be fantastic if the sales numbers stay up. Really how many calibers do you want for a gun that is to uncomfortable for you to shoot and that they will grow out of by 8th grade?

I'll bet this is enough to the Sarah Brady's panties in a knot.