My lgs has had one on the shelf for well over a month. No takers. It feels really really cheap. I can't talk myself into it.

 

Ah, I was wondering about that. That's something one needs to see and feel in person to get an impression.

My Marlin 795 works fine but feels very light to me. It looks like they are both around 4.5 lbs.

Then again, to revisit my M16 analogy... how many guys held an A1 for the first time and said it felt like a toy compared with a wood and steel M14 or M1? And that was 6 lbs compared to 9 lbs.

I'm just fascinated by the easy takedown and factory, adjustable peep sights. That slick multiple mag release looks cool too. I guess I'll have to handle one for myself when they come around these parts.

https://gunsmagazine.com/rifles/win...lbs. 6 oz., the Wildcat is,50-yards, I tested 12 loadings, firing 5-shot groups.

Thanks!

 

Saw one the other day, in the hand it warrants three "really"s before cheap unlike the two mentioned above. Not all plastic is the same, and this doesn't feel great. Fast takedown and decent sights are one thing, connected to a rifle that has the potential to dethrone a lot of lemons.... is a whole other ball of wax. It made kel tec and high point plastic feel positively refined.

They are pimping out a ton to media types fir reviews. Not something that good products usually need...

 

It made kel tec and high point plastic feel positively refined.

YIKES. That spoke volumes to me, as I have had range time with both HiPoints and Kel-Tecs.

Thanks.

 

I will add....my 9yo thinks its cool as heck. If he wants to spend some of his birthday money on it, I'll let him. Its just nothing you would be able to pass down one day. If it was threaded, I'd certainly try one.

 

Oh I dunno, I like mine.

Yes it’s stupid light but it’ll eat anything (ammo-wise) and the modular design is growing on me.

For what it is, (a new-ish rimfire to the market clearly aimed at another generation (closer to comfish’s generation)) and very affordable with a LONG overdue bolt hold open, it’s a good addition to the rimfire world.

Wake Up. Affordable walnut & steel is gone. CNC and polymer is here to stay. Let’s maybe support the innovation and price point.

 

Oh I dunno, I like mine.

Yes it's stupid light but it'll eat anything (ammo-wise) and the modular design is growing on me.

For what it is, (a new-ish rimfire to the market clearly aimed at another generation (closer to comfish's generation)) and very affordable with a LONG overdue bolt hold open, it's a good addition to the rimfire world.

Wake Up. Affordable walnut & steel is gone. CNC and polymer is here to stay. Let's maybe support the innovation and price point.

You make a good point sir.

 

I don't really get it on this one. It costs more than a basic 10/22 for a Turkish made gun that Winchester put its name on. It does have one or two cool features but overall looks tacticool cheap. I can see where a 9 year old would love it. Unless it somehow shoots better than a basic 10/22 or even a Rossi that you can buy for half the price, I just don't get it

 

I looked at one at the lgs . It really feels "cheap "I walked away .

 

I have one...'feels cheap' is an understatement. It does go bang every time, though. The plastics do feel fragile, particularly the red bits. Accuracy didn't disappoint, but to be honest, I wasn't expecting much.
A new-age Nylon 66 it is not. It's an ok plinker, but I have no idea what the lifespan will be.
The rear peep sight is also made of plastic, so be careful not to catch it on something, or you'll likely rip it right off. Don't go too tight with the screw when you're making adjustments...it feels like the threads would strip easily.

 

I have one, I found the rear peep sight to be very cheesy. I installed a M1 style rear sight, and made a front sight out of a 2 piece 18mm shaft collar and a piece of #8-32 hardened thread section of a socket head cap screw. The temporary front sight was made to get a proper height for the permanent sight.

So far i’ve run somewhere between 600 and 1000 round of CCI Mini-Mag HP ammo, I’ve found it to reliable and after sighting in, very accurate.

The only real issue is the, at least to me, is excessive trigger pull. All of the reviews I’ve read, said the trigger pull was between 4.8 to 6.1#, so far there does not seem to be any mention, of any way to adjust adjust the trigger pull.

On a whole, I found the rifle to be very functional, easy to clean and fun to use.

 

I have never actually seen or handled a Winchester Wildcat so I can't say anything about its accuracy or reliability.

I do know that I had a Winchester 490 in the 1970s and sold it because it just didn't resonate somehow. Every time I see a picture of a Wildcat it makes me wish I had that 490 back.

Don't tell me that this is how modern guns are made and that I have to go with the flow. I don't. I have a rack of fine old vintage .22s and if push comes to shove I can always dig out my old Winchester 67A single shot.

 

I have never actually seen or handled a Winchester Wildcat so I can't say anything about its accuracy or reliability.

Then don't comment.

Don't tell me that this is how modern guns are made and that I have to go with the flow. I don't. (If you want a new rifle you sure do) I have a rack of fine old vintage .22s and if push comes to shove I can always dig out my old Winchester 67A single shot.

No you don't but the last 67 was made 60+ years ago. For what it is, The Wildcat work and it IS the way things are going.

I read some reviews of this neat little gun. I like mine but does anyone else think it is a short gun, like made for kids?

There's a sort of review up in the 10/22 section showing how one shot with a bunch of different ammo. https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1229651

 

My replacement front sight arrived, set the required height, and finished the sighting in. I used the Wildcat, in my weekly 100 ft iron sight indoor range league, my 5 targets were 97%, 98%, 100%, 96% and finally a 98%, for a weekly average of 97.8%. About 1% point lower than my usual Ruger Precision Rimfire average. I’m currently 6th in the league standings.

 

My replacement front sight arrived, set the required height, and finished the sighting in. I used the Wildcat, in my weekly 100 ft iron sight indoor range league, my 5 targets were 97%, 98%, 100%, 96% and finally a 98%, for a weekly average of 97.8%. About 1% point lower than my usual Ruger Precision Rimfire average. I'm currently 6th in the league standings.

Would you please post pictures and details about your replacement/modified front and rear sights. There appears to be several of us that are interested in doing something similar.

 

Recently picked one up

So I was in my LGS the other day, with a P-64 that i was tired of. They gave me enough for the little 40# double-action-pull finger breaker to pick up a new wildcat(threaded) and a two pack of ruger 25 round mags. To say its more expensive than a 10/22 is, I think, incorrect(I haven't bought a 10/22 in a LOOONG time, so I cant say for certain, especially in today's economy.)

Anyway, I haven't shot it yet, but here's my hands on opinion. It's crazy stupid light. even with a loaded 25 round mag. Mainly because the only steel on the gun is the barrel itself. Even the trigger pack is some sort of polymer. That said, I would disagree that it feels "cheap." To me it feels fairly sturdy, not a whole lot of flex to the plastics. Mag release is a little awkward with the 25 rounders, because the release is in front of the magazine well. The last round hold open feature only works with winchester mags, but the manual hold open is much easier to actuate than the 10/22(not that it's all that difficult to a practiced hand,) and you can slingshot the bolt forward from locked back without fiddling with the release (which it also has a bolt release button, and unsurprisingly, its made of plastic.) The sights are nice, especially on what is, effectively, a "budget plinker." It seems to come to the shoulder and point very naturally. It's super light. And feels super short. You aren't going to be modding it anytime soon, but I'm not sure that you need to, as long as you remember what this rifle is.

I don't see it taking the place of my 452 Trainer when I want to shoot playing cards with my target-buddy at 100 yards. It probably won't replace my Marlin60 at 50 feet shooting half inch groups off hand. However, based on feel alone, I think its going firmly into the fun zone as a mag fed equivalent to the Nylon66.

My opinion is that what you have here is a light, handy plinker, aimed solely at having fun and maybe teaching the younguns how to be a gunslinging stalker of rats, both the tree and ground variety.

 

Thanks for sharing your impressions.

 

No problem

To be fair, I haven't had the chance to shoot it, so once I do, I'll post my impressions of it. But I think that what this rifle does is try to make a name for itself as the budget rifle bought as a gift or a first rifle. I think if we go into it expecting the performance of a CZ/Anschutz/Ruger(not that i ever had much luck THERE) we will all be severely disappointed.

I can say that a friend of mine carries one when trapping. After he got bit by a fox, he decided that the 22 pistol he carried required him to get too close to the animal. He says that the tradeoff from the pistol to the rifle was a small one, and the slightly heavier rifle has more pros than cons for his use.

 

Boilerjack22- I've been shooting one of these for about 6 months, and have really enjoyed the ease of use and reliability. I would love to see pictures of your sight set-up! I've wanted to try a smaller aperture, but haven't found a way to do it yet. Did you consider any of the Tech-Sights for this?

 

I contacted tech-sights manufacturer. They said they dont have a sight for it . BUT I think that the any after market backup sight (MBUS) should fit the weaver rail :
https://magpul.com/firearm-accessories/sights/mbus/mbus-sight-rear.html

 

mwar

The problem with using a MBUS rear sight is you would need an extremely tall front sight. Using a low ramp rear sight similar to the Williams WGRS-336 might work if a person cut-down the picatinny rail in the rear and inset the Williams sight

I am also looking for a more robust and easy to adjust rear peep sight

 

I'm picking up 2 today on sale for $219 & "Honey" always finds a discount 10% in this case so under $200. I have the USSR made Winchester Wildcats in hunting style & Target/Varmint HB very good shooters. Those are TOZ in nicer walnut stocks. Only sold for a year. I think I'll have about 12 Wildcats in all most never out of the box. Ruger should have improved the 10/22 long ago. I bought 2 10/22s back in the winter when Sportsmans WH opened for $129 ea & they are pretty cheap made. At least the new Wildcat has a thicker barrel, peep sights. & is easy tp clean. Turkey makes good guns. Best deal I got was Rossi/Braztech who makes Mossberg rimfires makes a fine 22 semi auto in a hardwood stock I paid $93 new OTD & they've never missed a beat. Takes Mossberg 25 rd mags too.

 

Well, I broke mine, but it was totally my fault. I wasn't paying attention and forced the action back into the receiver when I shouldn't have and snapped the bolt release lever.

So I called Winchester on Tuesday this week in the hopes of ordering a replacement. To my amazement, even after I explained it was my fault, they sent out a brand new part, under warranty, at no cost to me. Even more amazing is that the part arrived on Thursday!!! I have it installed and it's working perfectly again.

Just wanted to pass along this phenomenal customer service experience.


Also I have over 500 rds through this so far and while I had it apart I checked the reciever and so far there are no signs of wear.

 

My Wildcat has run every mag I fed it

Except for one that I'm waiting to receive - the GSG 110 round drum that worked fine with two prior 10/22's.

I put on it a PINTY Red/Green Dot Reflex sight I bought from Amazon for $21. It was actually the 6th one I purchased. Half of them went on rifles and shotguns I sold on Gunbroker and the other half went on my AR rifle, AR pistol and Wildcat. They're actually not a bad sight (for sore eyes). On my Wildcat, I can print 1" groups at 15 yards with it. That's about the distance limit at the range.

When the weather cools off again, I may check out this outdoor range that has targets out to 100 yards.

 

Windchester wildcat

I read some reviews of this neat little gun. I like mine but does anyone else think it is a short gun, like made for kids?

 

There's a sort of review up in the 10/22 section showing how one shot with a bunch of different ammo. https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forum....php?t=1229651

Not interested in plastic winchesters!

 

except for the trigger (uggh) it's a fine shooter... Mostly...

 

Yesterday my 15yr old grandson, shot mine, he said the trigger was too hard to pull, he said pulling the trigger, felt like it was pulling the rifle off target.

 

He's a smart kid! (and spot on!) :t:t:t I think my original comment was "a trigger only a mother could love"

 

How do you remove the front sight on your Winchester Wildcat?