Winchester Wildcat Now in TrueTimber Strata SR
Winchesters’ answer to the Ruger 10/22 is the Wildcat, and new for 2021 is the TrueTimber Strata camouflage finish. While this gun is clearly aimed at the hunting market, it has a few features that set it above its competitor.
First, if you aren’t familiar with the Wildcat, it is a semiautomatic .22LR rifle made from mostly injection-molded parts except for the barrel, breechblock, and other small parts. This helps to keep the weight low at four pounds even.
The stock is a molded polymer with front and rear sling eyelets, Picatinny rail on the underside of the forearm as well, as a rail on the top of the receiver. The rear peep sight is integrated into the rail on the receiver.
Two unique features of the Winchester Wildcat really help it stand out for the crowd. The Wildcat can use Ruger magazines; while this might not seem like a big deal, there are several aftermarket magazines on the market for the 10/22, and if you already own a Ruger, then it makes switching to the Wildcat easier.
Secondly, the Wildcat has an easily removable trigger pack and bolt group. With a push of the button at the rear of the receiver and you can remove all the operating parts in one go. With all the operating parts out, cleaning is much easier. This is a significant change from the Ruger platform, requiring removing the stock to remove the bolt group.
With the operating assembly removed, you can feed a cleaning rod through the receiver’s rear to clean from the chamber end of the barrel. This is a big advantage for rimfire rifles that require regular cleaning.
The Winchester Wildcat in TrueTimber Strata is a SHOT Show 2021 special edition; grab one now before they are gone.
Key Features: Winchester Wildcat
- Type: Blowback, semiautomatic
- Cartridge: .22 LR
- Capacity: 10 rds.
- Barrel: 18 in., 1:16-in. twist
- Overall Length: 36¾ in.
- Weight: 4 lbs.
- Stock: Polymer, black/red
- Length of Pull: 13.5 in.
- Finish: Blued (steel)
- Trigger: 4 lbs.
- Sights: Bead, fixed (front); ghost ring, adjustable (rear)
- Safety: Crossbolt
- MSRP: $329.99
Jeremy Mallette is co-founder of International Sportsman. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he has spent more than a decade in the outdoor industry, from hiking and camping to silencers and hunting. His father taught him to shoot at age six, and he received his first firearm at age eight — a 1942 Colt Commando .38 special revolver. He enjoys yearly trips to Kansas for pheasant hunting, spending time with his children at the deer lease, and collecting unique firearms.