I was fortunate to get an in stock alert for the new Winchester Wildcat in 22LR with the 16.5-inch threaded barrel last month. Price was slightly higher than when it first came out with the 18-inch barrel, but still under $260 shipped. It is a Turkish build for Olin that owns the Winchester brand and has in the past had some Winchester shotguns manufactured in Turkey as well as classic rifles made in Japan.
I had, to my regret, initially passed on a Thompson/Center T/CR22 package that came with a case and red dot for under $300 in the first half of 2020, and of course wanted it when the deal was expired and the package was nowhere to be found at least at that price point. The T/CR22 was an intriguing rifle designed to accept Ruger 10/22 magazines and came with other features that I found attractive, including a rear aperture sight. The Wildcat replicated these features; it also accepted 10/22 mags and it had a rear aperture. And it had other innovations. This time, I didn't hesitate in purchasing.
In 2019, I picked up a Ruger 10/22. I had several from before, but like many 10/22 owners, you can't keep just one, and this new model had a few things going for it. Ruger designated it the "Mans Best Friend" Collector Series Rifle (model # 31115). It came with some swagincluding a nifty rear sight adjustment tool (that can be put on your key ring) as well as a $25 certificate to shop at Ruger. It was, like the Wildcat, under $260 to get to my FFL. This rifle had a problem that I failed to notice until after the transfer - the front three-blade sight was canted and it wasn't adjustable. Ruger immediately offered to take it back and fix after a phone call. Ruger's rock solid guarantee on the function of their competitively priced products is often not considered when firearms shopping, perhaps because we've grown so used to it. I like this particular 10/22 model because it had the rear aperture sight as well as a stock with a changeable cheek riser module. The fancy engraved bolt was nice. But it's Ruger so it's also rugged and built to last.
If you've heard anything about the new Wildcat, you've heard that it's innovative. Not only does it utilize the Ruger 10/22 mag system, they've tried to improve it. Moreover, it's faster to drop the trigger control group and bolt out of this rifle than it is to separate an AR-15 lower and upper. It's dead simple and speedy. While innovation is cool, not not all innovation is necessarily an improvement, especially if there are trade-offs. I got the Wildcat because of the intercompatibility with the 10/22 mag system + the new design features - but would it measure up overall?
I had, to my regret, initially passed on a Thompson/Center T/CR22 package that came with a case and red dot for under $300 in the first half of 2020, and of course wanted it when the deal was expired and the package was nowhere to be found at least at that price point. The T/CR22 was an intriguing rifle designed to accept Ruger 10/22 magazines and came with other features that I found attractive, including a rear aperture sight. The Wildcat replicated these features; it also accepted 10/22 mags and it had a rear aperture. And it had other innovations. This time, I didn't hesitate in purchasing.
In 2019, I picked up a Ruger 10/22. I had several from before, but like many 10/22 owners, you can't keep just one, and this new model had a few things going for it. Ruger designated it the "Mans Best Friend" Collector Series Rifle (model # 31115). It came with some swag
If you've heard anything about the new Wildcat, you've heard that it's innovative. Not only does it utilize the Ruger 10/22 mag system, they've tried to improve it. Moreover, it's faster to drop the trigger control group and bolt out of this rifle than it is to separate an AR-15 lower and upper. It's dead simple and speedy. While innovation is cool, not not all innovation is necessarily an improvement, especially if there are trade-offs. I got the Wildcat because of the intercompatibility with the 10/22 mag system + the new design features - but would it measure up overall?
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