Winchester Wildcat
Jeremy S for TTAG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxoWeD9E9jM

Winchester has re-entered the semi-auto .22 LR market with the Wildcat. It’s an extremely lightweight plinker that accepts 10/22 magazines and has a whole slew of neat features. Check out the video above for a full walk-through of what makes the Wildcat unique, or visit the Winchester Wildcat product page here. Photo dump follows:

Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG
Jeremy S for TTAG

33 COMMENTS

  1. At one point Winchester was importing Russian made bolt action .22s and they called them Wildcat. Toz made them. I bought one and it is a superb shooter. I prefer the bolt gun for teaching new shooters.

    I already have a .22 that will take Ruger mags. It’s a 10/22.

  2. I really like the look of that little thing. Seems like they put a lot of thought into the design. If I had $$ to spend on a .22 (or any new gun at all), I’d be sorely tempted.

    My daughter is the only one in the house who doesn’t have her own gun, and I think she’d like this one. And I’m assuming she’d let me shoot it whenever I wanted. 🙂

  3. sorry, it looks too much like a toy or an air rifle. all that is missing is the orange tip at the end of the barrel.

    • “all that is missing is the orange tip at the end of the barrel.”

      Have the barrel threaded, and powder-coat a thread protector bright orange. Install on muzzle.

      Problem *solved*…

      *snicker* 😉

  4. Projected MSRP? Street price…?

    I wonder if Winchester has to pay Ruger royalties for the use of their magazine technology?

    Sooo many questions…inquiring minds want to know!

    • “I wonder if Winchester has to pay Ruger royalties for the use of their magazine technology?”

      As long as the 10-22 has been in production, I doubt it is still protected by a patent…

    • According to the website, the MSRP is $249. The website also describes the interesting design of the firing pin – kind of surprising that the video didn’t cover that since it seems like a great feature.

      • “The Wildcat uses a STRIKER-FIRED DESIGN (much like a centerfire bolt-action rifle) that provides faster lock time and a lighter trigger pull than traditional hammer-fired rimfire designs. The hemispheric firing pin tip focuses its striking energy more efficiently, creating a deeper rim indent that gives more reliable ignition with all types of 22 LR ammo.”

  5. And how about that magazine/last round hold open looking just like the TCR22 magazine last round hold open?? Seems like a few patents are open right now. It does seem very similar to the TCR. Maybe a few better features too…maybe.

    • “I hope it works better then their Wildcat ,.22 ammunition”

      I thought marsupials like possums *hated* CCI ‘Stingers’ more than anything…

    • I have never had in issue with their wildcat ammo apart from the occasional dud round. It’s the food my old Marlin 60 likes best.

  6. Darn. Semi-automatic. Can only be had on a restricted licences category. Yes, our laws are that stupid.

  7. If it is made in the USA, I hope they sell enough to make it worth their while. I won’t be buying one though, I am kind of all .22’d up really.

    Bought my Ruger 10/22 brand spanking shiny-new for $59 at Jensen’s Custom Ammo in Tucson. It is still my favorite gun ever nearly fifty years later. I’ve worn out magazines for it, been advised a number of times to replace the barrel too.

    Instead I just recently bought a new 10/22 as a Christmas gift for a young lady shooter.

    Guess Winchester just came along too late on that one.

  8. Another goddamn plastic trigger?

    I don’t care how light the striker makes it, the material flexing makes it suck. Herp derp nope.

  9. If this thing shoots half as good as Thier bolt wildcat. Then I will give it a try. My bolt wildcat is the only gun my kids are fighting over when I’m gone.

  10. Always a good market for .22 rifles…kids, women, hunters. Cheap plentiful ammo …useful and fun. They sell a few for use.

  11. So what does this bring that the Ruger 10/22 hasn’t already brought? It looks like it’s got a lot of cheap plastic, and what is with the last couple pictures, can you load in a 10/22 magazine or must you load in some kind of magazine superstructure?

    Seems like it is way late to the party, even before Ruger introduced the takedown models.

    • It fixes everything about the 10/22 that is frustrating. Take down is incredibly simple, you just push a button at the rear of the receiver and the whole trigger & bolt assembly comes out. The button leaves a hole there where you can run a rod through to clean the barrel. The bolt locks back on an empty mag, and the red serrated (for lack of a better word) part you see on the sides is also a mag release–you pull on those and the mag falls down right into the palm of your hand. It still retains the traditional mag release found on the 10/22. It is made in Turkey for those of you wondering

  12. What a P.O.S. they could not pay me to take one. I will make a prediction: This piece of crap will not be on the market over a year.

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