Winchester’s new Wildcat .22 is a semi-auto rifle chambered for .22 LR. It joins a well-populated segment of the market, but it’s got such innovation that it will change the plinkster market forever. It has a radical new design and an incredibly low price. I’ve shot with extensively and spoken with some of the engineers involved in its design. This is a rifle worth your attention.
Another 10/22 Clone…?
Ruger’s 10/22 has enjoyed the spotlight for more than fifty years. It’s a reliable design, and it’s a good bet that you’ve shot one. If you don’t own one, I’d bet money the guy in the next stall at the range does. There are currently no fewer than 21 variations of this gun for sale on Ruger.com, and you’ll find many more on GunsAmerica.com and at pawn shops across the country, as well as millions of modifications from third parties. Not to mention all the Marlins, Remingtons, and just about every other manufacturer who has something very similar for sale.
So with all these guns out there, what makes the Wildcat any different? The answer is that it is an ideal reinvention of what all those guns should be in the 21st century. For more details, I spoke with Glenn Hatt, a product manager at Winchester.
“Winchester has been all about sporting arms, but we haven’t had any entry-level arms for some time,” Hatt said. This rifle has been in development for more than a decade. “We’ve had three main engineers work on this gun. We took the weaknesses of the 10/22 and improved it and we’ve made a powerful entry-level product.”
The Wildcat has an 18″ barrel, but it’s a heavy barrel and it not only feels good and looks great, but it also keeps on target shot after shot. It’s got a direct blowback action, just like most .22 rifles and pistols, and it’s striker-fired. Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
Lower Receiver
The lower receiver is what really sets this gun apart from other auto-loaders. It comes completely out of the gun in one piece without using any tools. .22 ammo is notoriously dirty and most failures with .22’s happen because the gun is dirty. The ease of disassembly makes it simple to keep this gun clean even while shooting at the range or in the field, and it makes it easy and safe to clear a misfire.
Glenn Hatt says that the simplicity of tearing this gun down, cleaning it, and troubleshooting it in the field is his favorite thing about this design. “I hunt so much with kids — I’ve got three sons and a daughter, and we do family reunions. When there is a problem it’s so easy to get the gun back to shooting safely. As a father, it’s really nice to have that simplicity.”
With the lower removed, you can clean straight down the barrel from the action to the crown. The lower receiver’s serial number matches that stamped on the barrel.
The lower includes tool storage for two Allen wrenches. The smaller is for windage adjustments to the rear sight and the larger removes the stock from the upper receiver.
To Remove the Lower
- Verify the gun is empty and pointed in a safe direction
- Close the bolt
- Pull the trigger
- Press the red retention button at the back of the bolt
- The lower drops away toward the front
- Reinsert the lower with the catch in front of the trigger first and the charging handle positioned vertically
Upper Receiver
The upper receiver is a black polymer and can be removed from the stock with a couple of screws using the Allen key included in the lower receiver. It has an integrated Picatinny rail which is 5.5″ long with 11 slots and open ends so any accessories can extend past the ends. The rear aperture sight mounts to the Picatinny rail.
The charging handle is on the right. The red textured slides are the magazine release. The red button on the left side is the bolt release. the button in front of the trigger guard locks the bolt open. This is oriented as a right-handed weapon, but it really takes both hands to operate it well.
“Making the barrel and upper so easy to disassemble is intended to make it easy for third parties to customize,” Hatt said. “Fully machined steel uppers and lowers will be easy to make. Today’s customer expects to be able to customize and make a gun their own.”
Stock
I know that many of you aren’t even reading these words because you clicked away as soon as you saw it has a synthetic stock. I fully agree that there is a special character that wood brings to a firearm, and I generally prefer wooden stocks, too. However, this is the 21st century, people. Synthetics aren’t the junk they were in the 1980s. They are stable, inexpensive to produce, and may be lighter. This is a good stock for this gun, and you need to shoot it before you dismiss it based on antiquated preconceptions.
It’s not black, and that’s a conscious design choice. It’s a dark grey/charcoal and it looks great with black and red accents. The black parts and the barrel give it a two-tone look, and it just looks a lot less cheap with the grey. There is nothing flimsy about it. It won’t twist or deflect if you try to bend it around. The only flex is if you squeeze the forend up toward the barrel, which is free-floating.
It’s a slim stock. It fits in smaller hands well, but it still comes up in the right place on my larger frame and voluminous hands.
The buttstock has a noticeably large cutout. I don’t know that this makes the gun actually lighter, but it looks like a modern weapon. There’s a sling swivel molded into the stock (instead of a knob sticking out that gets caught everywhere as on wooden stocks).
The forend has a removable cover that reveals both the sling mount and a Picatinny rail for bipods or tripod mounts.
The pistol grip is notably more vertical than most .22 stocks. But you’ll find that it fits your hand really well and you can place your thumb on either side of the action. The whole stock has a lightly stippled texture and the forend and grip have deeper slots for a positive purchase.
Length of pull is 13.5″ and the butt is not padded. It does have a removable textured butt plate. The drop from the barrel at the comb is 7/8″ and the drop at the heel is also 7/8″. For me, that drop is perfect with a scope mounted, but it’s a little low for the iron sights.
Glenn Hatt said more options are already in development, and I’ve heard rumors that third parties are already making custom stocks, as well. Hatt says it’s all in the plan to have more options soon, including youth models, adjustable lengths of pull, adjustable combs, and wooden stocks. But as is, this first version is a very usable weapon.
Magazines
Winchester isn’t trying to completely reinvent the field of autoloading .22’s and that’s most apparent in their choice to make the Wildcat compatible with Ruger’s 10/22 magazines. You can easily buy more 10-round rotary mags, 20-round stick mags, or even 100-round drums making it easy to add another gun to your safe.
The Wildcat ships with one 10-round rotary magazine, but it’s not a standard 10/22 mag. “We took all the knowledge we already have [about magazines] and applied it to improving the 10/22 magazine,” Hatt told me. When you consider that Winchester firearms are now produced by Browning Arms Company and that Hatt was talking to me from their Morgan, Utah office, they’re a company that has a lot of experience with magazine development, and that’s apparent in this build.
First, it has a built-in thumbwheel that makes it much easier to load because you can assist the drum rotation with your other hand as you load.
The magazine releases like other 10/22’s with the latch at the front of the mag, but the best experience comes using the sliding mag release on both sides of the stock. Just grip the red textured slide with fingers on one side and thumb on the other and slide it back. The mag pops out into your hand.
The biggest difference between this and other magazines, though, is that it locks the bolt open when the mag is empty. The magazine has a metal tab that pops up and locks the bolt open. If there is no magazine, you can lock the bolt open with the red button at the front of the trigger guard. That’s a very cool safety feature so you know the gun is empty at a glance.
It’s remarkable that Winchester could make a simple innovation to an existing design that significantly improves the user’s experience.
The bolt won’t lock open with other mags, and I don’t know if this magazine fits in Ruger 10/22’s.
Barrel
The barrel is 18″ long and it’s not contoured, which gives it a semi-heavy look and weight. The gun could be lighter with a standard tapered barrel, but this one leaves nothing wanting. Hatt says that the barrel shape is also deliberate. “Not contouring the barrel keeps it as heavy and as accurate as possible and at the same time keeps costs down to pass the savings on to customers.” The straight barrel profile is one more thing keeping the price of this gun down.
18″ is just the right length for toting around the woods and plains and keeps it on target at the range. Hatt says future development will include threaded barrels.
The barrel is free-floating. It’s got a matt blued finish so you won’t spook game with the shine and it wears nicely.
Manufacturing
We learn from the barrel that this gun is manufactured in Turkey by Istanbul Silah (Istanbul Arms) and is imported by BACO, Inc (Browning Arms Company), which produces and sells Winchester firearms.
Speaking about the manufacturing, Hatt a lot of good things to say about Istanbul Arms. Winchester has worked closely with them to produce other shotguns, like the Super X Pump, and once they were able to build rifles it became clear that their facility is the perfect place to produce the Wildcat. You should know, though, that this isn’t just another Turkish import.
“A lot of our in-house facilities couldn’t build an entry-level product at the price point we needed. When our factory in Turkey was able to start doing rifled arms, we took this design to them. We helped them refine their process and facility. Do I wish it was all built in the USA? Absolutely.,” Hatt said. “We still buy parts from the US, and our R&D is all here. They are building our design. We don’t put our name on others’ products — we don’t do that, that’s not what we’re about.”
Suppressors
Although the barrel is not threaded, a gunsmith can make that change for you. Maughan tested the Wildcat with suppressors during development. He says there’s a misconception that using a suppressor on a semi-automatic .22 may cause it to have more failures cycling ammo. “We measured to see if the slide velocity changes with a suppressor, but there is no effect.” The gun will become dirty much faster than without a suppressor, and that could affect performance, but the suppressor itself won’t be a problem.
Maughan says he keeps a suppressor on his Wildcat.
Trigger
The trigger is nothing to write home about, but it’s not terrible for a stock trigger. It’s got 3/32″ of take-up, then it creeps another 3/32″ before it fires, during which the pressure stacks up, and then another 2/32″ before it hits the back wall. The total travel is about a 1/8″.
The safety is right behind the trigger and there is no play in the trigger when the safety is engaged.
The trigger itself is polymer, as is the trigger guard. The guard has a modern rounded square cut with room for thin gloves and lightening cuts.
Action & Ammo
The Wildcat uses a direct blowback action like most .22 guns. I spoke with Robert Maughan, the last engineer at Winchester to work on this gun, about the intricacies of it’s shooting performance. For a seemingly common gun at a low price, they’ve put a lot of thought into making this gun perform well with all kinds of ammo and magazines.
The bolt is a lighter than the bolts used in Ruger’s 10/22. The lighter weight allows it to cycle faster and more reliably with all kinds of ammo. They’ve engineered a feature into the slide that delays its closing to ensure that heavier loads and bigger magazines have time to cycle. More mass in a magazine takes more time to move the next round into battery. Whether the mass comes from a heavier bullet or from a long 25-round magazine with lots of bullets, this delayed slide action helps the weapon cycle reliably.
Maughan tested the gun with many different 25-round magazines, which are favorites of the 10/22 crowd. He didn’t test the big 100-round drums, but he’s pretty sure they will work well, too. The gun was tested for 20,000 rounds with many different kinds of ammo, too, from subsonics to super-high-speed rounds.
Maughan said that lightest and quietest rounds have a little trouble, like CCI’s Quiet, a 40grain bullet shooting at 710fps. The bullets shoot fine, but they may not cycle the next round automatically. Maughan said that if you want to use quiet bullets, heavier bullets are better because their greater mass still pushes the action well.
For my part, I shot three magazines-worth of the CCI Quiet without any failures to feed. I also shot CCI’s Stingers without any trouble. Maughan says there’s no upper limit on the gun — there’s no factory ammo that is too hot to shoot safely.
Sights
The Wildcat comes standard with a bladed from sight and an aperture rear sight. There’s a 5.5″ Picatinny rail on the upper receiver with 11 slots. I mounted my Vanguard 1-4 x 24mm scope which weighs about 18 oz, and although the rail is made of polymer, it has kept true for hundreds of rounds.
Shootability
The trouble with an autoloader, of course, is that you can just keep on shooting. Ten rounds go by really quickly but the assist wheel on the magazine makes it easy to load more. This gun comes up to your shoulder well, and the front Picatinny rail allows you to mount a bipod or tripod mount. The whole gun weighs just four pounds so you don’t get fatigued shooting offhand.
At the Range
The 18″ bull-ish barrel shoots well. Recoil is used to drive the straight blowback action and is negligible for the user. The hard butt plate is just fine.
I shot 9 different factory loads and had a great variety in the groupings. Robert Maughan, the engineer, said it does better with heavy rounds, and that seemed true for me, too. He said low-velocity rounds may not feed, but I had no trouble, though they didn’t group well. High-velocity CCI Stingers also didn’t shoot very consistently. My best groups came from CCI’s Standard Mini Mags and Winchester’s recently re-released Wildcat .22 ammo, which comes in a bulk box.
I’ll not be entering any silhouette competitions with it, but the Wildcat is accurate enough for plinking and small game hunting.
In the Field
As a hunting rifle, the Wildcat excels. Its lightweight makes it effortless to carry — at 4 pounds, it’s about a pound lighter than a base model 10/22. It comes up to your shoulder smoothly and, although the trigger is nothing great, it fires reliably and predictably and is more than accurate enough for small game within fifty yards. The short 18″ barrel makes acquiring targets easier than with longer guns.
Those are the same things Robert Maughan likes about this gun. “I carry it for hunting rabbits and I can just carry it at my side without dragging on the ground. The Wildcat takes all the good things from other autoloaders but shoots all kinds of ammo and is really accurate.”
Personally, the iron sights sit a bit low for my neck/face/shoulder combination, but a scope with low rings is the perfect height. Although the stock is polymer, it comes up to your cheek as solid as a rock and it shoots consistently.
I’ve killed several marmots and rabbits with the Wildcat. Although I love to hunt with my bolt action Winchester Model 69A that was built in the 1930s, the Wildcat is quickly becoming my go-to .22 for hunting. It’s lightweight and it’s short and it’s easy to grab and go.
Availability & Affordability
The Wildcat is ready to buy right now. The MSRP is $249. Incredibly, when I mention the price to people, they always say, “Well, I’ll just get a 10/22 for a lot less!”
But, you can’t get a new 10/22 for less. Ruger lists the cheapest 10/22 at $350, and you’ll be hard-pressed to get one under $200 used. Those who think they can buy one for a lot less are those who bought them a long time ago or inherited them. I’ve already seen the Wildcat for $219 at retailers. The fact is, your money will go farther with a new Wildcat than a new 10/22.
Is The Wildcat For You?
10/22’s have been the incumbent rulers of the .22 market for 60 years. They have loads of aftermarket customization available right now, and dozens of variations. But I think the Wildcat is worth your consideration. It’s lightweight, it’s affordable, it’s easy to shoot and maintain, and it includes many innovations that bring the semi-auto .22 up-to-date. At less than $249 on the street, I think it’s a good way to go and it looks like it will last at least the next 60 years.
Specs
| Caliber: 22 LR | Barrel Length: 18″ | |
| Overall Length: 36 1/4″ | Length of Pull: 13 1/2″ | |
| Drop at Comb: 7/8″ | Drop at Heel: 7/8″ | |
| Weight: 4 lbs 0 oz | Magazine Capacity: 10 | |
| Twist Rate: 16″ | Barrel Finish: Matte Blued | |
| Stock Finish: Gray | Receiver Finish: Matte Black | |
| Barrel Material: Steel | Barrel Contour: Sporter | |
| Stock Material: Composite | Recoil Pad: Plastic Butt Plate | |
| Pistol Grip Cap: Matte Polymer | Checkering: Textured Grip | |
| Sling Swivel Studs: Integrated | Receiver Material: Composite | |
| Trigger Finish: Matte Black | Bolt Slide Finish: Matte Black | |
| Magazine Type: Detachable | Trigger Material: Polymer | |
| Trigger Guard: Composite | Trigger Guard Engraving: None | |
| Scope: 5.5″ Picatinny Rail | -– | MSRP $249.99 |
Visit Winchester for More Information
18 INCH GRAY YELLOW NPR APPROVED PRARIE HOME COMPANION CAMO, GOT MINE HAD TINY SHALLOW PIN PRICKS ON OUTER EDGE OF SPENT CASES, HAD TO RETRY SOME 2 0R 3 MISFIRED AMER EAGLE LEAD RN, THAT WORKS GOOD IN MY WALTHER COLT 22, WILL BE CONTACTING WIN/BROWNEYE….NOT GOOD KINDA JUNKY EVEN COMPARED TO RUGER10/22, 1ST GEN 70S, 80S? HAD PIN PROBS ! FIXED WITH TITANIUM AFTER MARKET FIRE PIN, MIDWAYUSA GOOD FOR SOMTHIN ..GET THE 10/22 MULE DEER, BENGAL, OR NON S.S. 20 INCH BARREL TALO VARMINT TARGET !! ALL HAVE WOOD STOCKS…PEEPS. DONT BUY ANYTHING STAINLESS STEEL……DING DANG IT.
I have a 10/22 takedown in a backpacker stock that I think is 22 perfection. But im buying one of these winchesters because when you shoot alot of nasty 22s it’s great to remove the guts of the gun and brush the dirt away.i also get impression that the synthetic components could allow this gun to run without dirt attracting lube.
I’m curious, has anyone been able to see if you can change out stuff In the triggers. Like adding a binary trigger?
Does anyone have access to an exploded parts diagram for the LR22 or the SR22? I need to reverse the trigger safety… Many Thanks.
Talk about chasing a rainbow; I would like to see a revival of the Winchester 63!
I paid 197 before tax. You aren’t gonna find a ruger under 200 don’t kid yourself even Walmart was selling them at 280 and that is the cheapest place to buy one. Unless you know a fool who will give there ruger away for under 200 that’s the only way you’ll get one at that price. I have a marlin mode 60 and a ruger 10/22 and the wildcat the wildcat is not as pretty but for the price you can’t go wrong it’s accurate easy to clean and fun to shoot. It sucks Winchester had to go outside the us but that because of taxes and politics an American icon shouldn’t be made in turkey
spend to much time reloading you need a 25rd magazine. it will use the ruger magazine but its not perfect but it will work. gun is useless with out a bigger mag. buy a 10/22 so you can have some fun plinking. ron
I wanted to know what scope rings you used with the vanguard in the pictures
I purchased the Wildcat at Cabela’s for just under 200.00 dollars. I have been collecting. 22 rimfire rifles and pistols for 40 years. Needless to say my experience with rimfire’s is extensive to the extreme. The new Wildcat is the perfect survival hunting rifle for truck, SUV, ATV, R V
Boat, back pack etc… it is everything mentioned in the above article. Just stash it away and forget about it until needed. Utterly reliable with deadly small game accuracy. My particular model is capable of 5 shot 1/2 inch groups from the bench at 50 yards when scoped. 3/4 to 1 inch groups with iron sights. My particular example is the most accurate with CCI 38 grain HP ammo. CCI 40 grain standard velocity is even more accurate than the mini mags. Don’t bad mouth this model until you try it yourself. Believe me, eventhough the rear of the stock looks somewhat bizarre, you will love the gun overall.
OK listen up people i am the KING and don’t never forget it….thank you…..thank you very much
The statement about the price of 10/22s is flat out false. I live in the NW and Bi Mart still sell these for $200. You can find one for $180 or $190 at Sportsmans or other stores at times.
All that is well and good , but it is one of the ugliest guns I’ve ever seen . Will not be replacing my Ruger with that !!!!
Red plastic is a real turnoff totally destroying the gun’s visual appeal…
I sure wish that I still had my Browning 22 bottom ejecting 22 LR, bought it a Coast to Coast store in Cut Bank MT in 1963 for $99.00. Gave it to BIL went I went to the Azores in ’77. In ’63-64, Pacific Hide & Fur was buying jack rabbits for $2.00 ea as long as they were too shot up (no shot guns). Sure made money back then.
Yes I’m a wood stock-steel barrel purist, but I have more than several plastic stocked & rough steel barrel wonders
I have a Winchester 74, semi 22 short onlys (1955) and a Remington Nylon Apache. Both are fun to shoot, but are too long for young shooters. My Ruger 10/22 was fine but I added a bull-pup stock. Somehow the new stock allowed the 10/22 to shoot even faster, almost sounds like a fully-auto. I want to get a short stock, lightweight 22 for my grandkids. The bullpup might work but I want something new for them. I wish the wildcat had an adjustable stock – easy to handle for an 8-year old first-time shooter.
No thanks. Give me an old Remington of walnut and polished steel that shoots .22 shorts. longs. long rifles, or an older Winchester too.
Plastic and more plastic and metal grit blasted barrel is totally unappealing. I want the feel, the look and warmth of walnut and steel.
All well and good, but good luck finding one. It’s been the equivalent of a unicorn at all of my local stores big and small since introduced at the SHOT show last year.
You are talking about the 550 and 552 – great pieces with the Carbine Williams design floating chamber. Not cheap to buy now if you can find one.
The pictures and article refer to a 10 shot magazine. Is there an aftermarket magazine in more than 10 rounds? Thanking you in advance… J.B. Clark
Dude-it takes 10/22 mags, how many variations of magazines do you want? More choices than fleas on a hounds rump.
Yeah but the 10/22 mags won’t have the bolt hold open option.
I appreciate the informative review, and am not gonna spew some of the silliness others have posted here. However, I am taking the time to post in order to point out the one fatal flaw that this gun has for me – it is not made in the USA. I don’t fault others for their buying decisions, but the one thing that is absolute for me is that I will not buy any gun that is not made in the USA.
We can blame Uncle Sam for this what with taxes and regulations. Unfortunately, the price if it were US made would be higher. The DemonRats are notorious for calling for new taxes and saying, “But ***you*** wonnt pay them because the corporations will.” Corporations don’t pay taxes; “taxes” are listed as a business cost that is added to the price that we end up paying when we buy the product.
I recently picked up a nice vintage .22 from the late 40’s or early 50’s: a Mossberg 151M with Mannlicher type stock and Spencer type tubular magazine _in the butt stock). I like it!
Sorry, you lost me at “close the bolt and pull the trigger” for disassembly.
I bought a Browning auto .22 about 1960 and I have always liked it and still have it.
In 1964 I bought the first 10/22 I ever saw, I still have, I love it. I put a k3 weaver scope
and a sling, the only other things I’ve added was half dozen Mags and bricks of .22 LR.
Absolutely the best simi auto 22 on earth, take the action out of the stock once a year
for a good cleaning and you will never need to break it down in the field. Cannot speak
for current 10/22 s but I’ll put my 55 year old 10/22 against any thing out there.
I thought it was great article. Answered all my questions and then some. I like Winchester 22’s. Got the 190, 290, a model 72. All been extensively used. I like a short truck gun. Even though I love my ol 10-22, (no warning printed on barrel), new toys are such a rush. Think I’ll get one. Heaven knows I’ve got plenty a Ruger magazines. Hope they work as well in the wildcat .
Good grief what but a bunch of whining babies commenting on here. If you want a wood stock go buy a .22 that has one, you don’t have to come on here and bitch about it. Most people I know like synthetic stocks but then we’re not a bunch of old cranky Fudds!
As a cranky old Fudd I resemble that remark! LOL. Truth is my last three rifle purchases were synthetic stocks. And yes I do like them.
The scope attaches to a polymer upper? What does the barrel screw into, polymer? Did I miss that (twice) or did the author leave that bit of vital information out?
As much as I would like to wish Winchester the best of luck on this offering, there is m=no way to foretell whether this little rifle will be a success or not. As I recall, W-W has not has much good fortune with their .22 auto loaders over the past 40-50 years. Models, 74, 77, 100, 190, 290, 490 are all in the rear view mirror and not without good reason.
While I wish them well, I don’t see a lot of success with this offering. For comparison, we bought a Thompson Center T/CR22 the other day. It came with a case, sling, and a darn nice little Red Dot Sight. It has a bolt hold open magazine, AND will run with any Ruger 10/22 style magazine to boot. It is compatible wit virtually ALL 10/22 aftermarket parts and accessories. It has a nice fiber optic front sight and a very useful peep rear sight. And it has a picatinny rail integral to the receiver.
All this for $280 out the door. Proven design (10/22 clone) with all the benefits of aftermarket support already in place, and made in America……………….
I still would like to get my hands on a 63 but I don’t fit the carriage trade. Talk about a beautiful piece!
Don’t forget the good old Marlin 795! I love mine!
Got that right. Heavy barrel and <$$$.
the aftermarket will be flush with actual metal parts to replace all the easily broken ones on this new wildcat. No doubt with anodized color options.
Oh look, anothyer polymer ‘poo-poo’er’, even though the material is well proven in firearms, military, and space.
Some guys just keep it up there for the warmth, I guess.
I ordered one of these a few months ago. Apparently there is issue with importing them into the USA aside from the few that reviewers get to use and brag them up. I am confused why some can be imported and not all. The real question here is whether it will be a good gun for the 22nd century as it appears they can advertise them but not sell them as they are not available unless you are a special person. I may just buy from competitor before I get a chance to see one myself as the competitors have availability. Too bad because while I do not see it as a high end gun by any means, it looks like a nice enough entry level that would be fun to shoot. I’d even pre-order a youth version but would be too small by time is delivered and child is an adult.
We aren’t having political problems like that in Turkey, are we? That would likely cause problems importing it.
Plastic is for tooth brushes, hairbrushes, combs, water bottles, and bags, not firearms
Some people, for no reason other than to hear themselves talk (type), say stupid things. You are obviously one of them. No one is entertained by your stupidity, believe me.
Bet he bought a wooden stock for his AR.
I’ve never seen a wooden stock on an AR………..but the Mini 14 has some nice wood stocks and fires 5.56NATO
Mini 14 is a nice piece for sure but my AR was/is more affordable. I like them both but bought the AR.
Seem that I’m not the only one disinterested in the toysrus pistol and rifle club.
I have had enough of the plastic guns ! I own several , I appreciate them for their lighter weight, durability ,price and friendly to carry ergonomics but, I wish to behold a blue steel , American walnut well put together fit and finish rifle that may cost more than the nylon counterpart but, have the enduring quality of a family heirloom that tells stories just by looking at it ! That’s all !!
And there are how many of those out there??????? It’s not like you’re being left out there bunky.
That’s all. ?!?
The innovations are great but the end result doesn’t impress me enough to consider buying one. The HB (but firearm in total) accuracy was mediocre, why pack the weight with no benefit? Red trim reminds me of pimp sneakers. If they wanted a little contrast: GRAY stands out and blends.
Levi,
You have written a very interesting article on this remarkable new 21st century rifle. Obviously Winchester put a great deal of thought into making the Wildcat address many of the end users’ problems with just about all of the owners of competitor rifles.
But PLEASE have someone review your future articles to avoid using the word “weapon” in describing an entry-level rifle that can be used to introduce kids to the fun of shooting. The word “weapon” plays directly into the opposition’s camp.
It is a rifle.
I appreciate your feedback.
No, not even close to being the “new semi-auto king”. For chrissakes, I hate clickbait titles and hyperbolic statements (“…it will change the plinkster market forever”). I thought I was going to read about some paradigm-shifting development in the world of firearms.Instead, an overly long, gushing article about a cheap plastic with plastic parts. As far as I’m concerned, the only things going for it are the low price and the improvements on the Roger magazine. But really, there are plenty of solid, inexpensive.22 rifles on the market (by the way, you can find new 10/22s all over for close to $200), and neither the lack of last round hold open or loading the rotary mags has ever bothered me.A new “king”? Pffft.
This may be a great firearm but they can’t get away from the polymer magazine. These things don’t last if you are an active shooter. It is the first (and probably the only) thing that always fails on these rifles.
I like how they have a big buff guy shooting this little young person’s 22-:)
I want a semi-auto WMR there are already too many 22 Semis.
want to purchase this weapon ONLY if you can send with 2 — 20 round mags–your reply–please
NO
Stop your grippin’
When the Gestopo shows up with their metal detectors you’ll wish you had one
“Ruger lists the cheapest 10/22 at $350, and you’ll be hard-pressed to get one under $200 used. Those who think they can buy one for a lot less are those who bought them a long time ago or inherited them. I’ve already seen the Wildcat for $219 at retailers. The fact is, your money will go farther with a new Wildcat than a new 10/22.”
I bet Ruger drops the price on the 10/22 (at least the entry level model) after this goes on the market — especially if it does well. Competition is almost always a good thing for the consumer! As long as the two companies can make money on them at around $200 it’s good for everyone!! Now I want to see a good $200 .22LR US made pistol. Browning Buckmarks and Ruger Mark IVs are around $400. You can get a GSG Firefly or a Chiappa M9-22 or 1911-22 for just over $200, and I’ve been thinking about one of those, but I would prefer something more like a Mark IV with tapered barrel. If they can make a rifle for close to $200, they should be able to do that with a pistol as well. I know the sales numbers aren’t as high in pistols, and they want to keep profits up while not having to produce a lot, but wouldn’t you think a good low cost .22 pistol would bring more shooters out? I have a Heritage .22 single action revolver. Those are pretty cheap from Classic Firearms at $103-$140 — $148-$161 with a .22WMR cylinder to boot! But I want a semi-auto for practice….
Nice that the photo of your daughter shooting includes eye and ear pro but the adult is shown with a dufus hat backwards, no eye or ear pro. I’m sure Winchester did their homework but this should have been released with a threaded barrel and adjustable stock from the get go. Different stock modules like the Ruger American. 22 would have been smarter.
Great article, very well written!
Makes me want a Wildcat, if only for product development.
I currently make tensioned Carbon Fiber threaded barrels for 10/22s, so maybe the Wildcat would be an easy product to add?
Couple things I noticed, though…
1) There already is a Winchester Wildcat. It’s a bolt action 22LR rifle. This won’t cause confusion at all….
2) They could drop a bunch of the space cadet cosmetic features and have a fairly handsome rifle here. What’s with all the angular red features. Stick with black and gray low profile controls and keep it classy.
3) All that talk about the trigger, and no mention of the actual pull effort? Is it 6lbs or 16lbs? Kinda makes a difference.
I thought that Levi did a fairly through review of the new Winchester. My thoughts – it’s a plastic gun (cheapo), easy to manufacture with a very low price point ($249.99). There a far better offerings available than the new plastic gun from Winchester.
Back in early 2000 the NRA picked a .22 for gun of the year…it was a real wi nner. I think this .22 will be just as big or bigger .
Not threaded = not interested
Looks like they accidentally used some metal in the barrel.
Yeah, it Looks Like they Lined the barrel with metal since the dirt it’s made of won’t hold the rifling. Oh, and for a gun kids will be using I’d have recessed that crown a bit more than a papers width.