U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- After years of development and testing, Winchester Repeating Arms is proud to release the all new autoloading Wildcat 22 LR rimfire rifle. Designed to push the boundaries of performance and value, the Wildcat is loaded with features to enhance every aspect of the shooting experience.
The Wildcat is a straight-blowback, striker-fired design that uses a hemispheric firing pin for extra reliability with rimfire ammunition. The extensive use of rugged polymer construction contributes to a weight of approximately four pounds. The lower receiver assembly houses the bolt and fire control group, and is easily removed with the push of a button. Once removed, the bore can be cleaned from the chamber end to help prevent damaging the barrel rifling.
Among the many features of the Wildcat is a 10-round rotary-style, polymer magazine that is easy to load, locks the bolt open after the last round is fired and can be ejected using either the side-mounted rails or the release tab in front of the magazine. The Wildcat is also compatible with aftermarket 10/22 magazines.
Other notable features include a striking-looking composite stock that is comfortable for a wide range of shooters to shoulder. The close radius pistol grip enhances finger to trigger reach. A ghost ring rear sight and ramped front sight offer fast target acquisition and an integrated Picatinny optics rail allows for the attachment of optics. The integrated Picatinny rail allows a bipod, light or laser to be easily mounted. Sling mounts are built into the stock.
The Wildcat is available for a suggested retail of $249.99.
Features:
- Easily removable lower receiver assembly
- Upper receiver with integrated Picatinny optics rail
- Ambidextrous synthetic stock with integrated sling mounts and Picatinny accessory rail
- 10-round rotary style magazine with last round bolt hold open
- 18″ precision button-rifled chromoly steel barrel with recessed target crown
For more information on Winchester Firearms, visit winchesterguns.com.
I can’t wait to get hold of one of these to try it out, it might be a great little rifle, I will know after I have it for a while. I will give it chance. I bought a Remington nylon 66 black and chrome in 1960, I liked it so much I went back and bought the brown and blue one. I still have both after many bricks of ammo through the brown one it started to lose accuracy I thought it was wore out, I couldn’t see much rifling left in the barrel, but after soaking with lead… Read more »
You reckon the ol’ boys in the 1870’s were saying the same things about the new fangled metallic cartridges? They look like toys, they aren’t reliable, they’re too dang heavy to carry, a real man loads his own powder, etc. etc. Technology will always advance and leave prior protocols behind. I’m in my 70’s and I like the new Wildcat. Grew up with wood stocks and solid steel but a 4 lb. 22 with an 18″ barrel would be wicked fast to deploy. A lot of time and effort obviously went into it’s design and it has a lot of… Read more »
Odd. I bought a Winchester Turkish-made “Wildcat” .22 rifle several years ago; bolt action, very nice wood, and one of the prettiest little guns I’ve ever seen. Same name, very different looks/action, extremely accurate. Odd to name this one the same.
I’d classify this as the Black Swan of 22 LR Rifles (Ugly Duckling but seems to perform). $250 seems high for a 22 LR that doesn’t look much more than a Matell Saturday Morning TV Western rifle. I have 10 Ruger 10-22’s, and I’m not a fan of the plastic rotary magazine.
Some nice features in there but the “styling” leaves me gagging
just appears to be another attempt to boost sales another lack luster plastic 22 how original heaven forbid someone actually design a new rifle from the cartridge up seems like there’s more money to be made in producing an original product these days something that is completely different from the same old tried and true predictable cash flow generating marketing ploys just a new angle on the same tired old product
If you think that, You must almost certainly be under 30 years old. Garbage compared to what manufacturers used to turn out….
Nice….another cheap plastic P.O.S.
Remember when guns were made with quality materials? ….So tired of looking at this garbage ….
Needs a threaded barrel so you can add a can!
It looks like the front sight is lower than the rear sight (they’re not on the same plane).