A blowback-operated rifle needs a heavy bolt, an appropriate recoil spring, a stock, a barrel, and a feed device, and you have an affordable firearm. They are among the most uncomplicated firearms. Since Winchester introduced the Model 1903, Americans have enjoyed the 22 LR self-loading design. For plinking, marksmanship training, small-game hunting, and some types of competition, the 22 rifle is a great choice. The 22 rifle is a staple of American life. Many have successfully been pressed into service as defensive firearms, and the new rifles are better than ever in this role. Winchester, for instance, introduced the Wildcat rifle recently, and we have to admit it is a thoroughly modern rifle with a host of innovations. We wanted to test the Wildcat against some likely competitors, so we chose the Rossi Rimfire Rifle RS22L1811-TH 22 LR, $159; and the stalwart Ruger 10/22 Carbine 1151 22 LR, $235; to go up against a Winchester Wildcat 521100102 22 LR, $245.

We elected to fire each rifle with 200 cartridges plus the loads chosen for accuracy testing. We chose the Remington Thunderbolt and Winchester Wildcat ammunition for most of the range work. Each is a high-velocity 40-grain LRN loading.  We also used the Fiocchi 38-grain HV for accuracy work. We began by firing the rifle at small targets at 25 yards and using the Winchester Wildcat ammo in rapid fire at silhouette targets. Here’s what we found:

Gun Tests Grade: A (OUR PICK)

$245

We waited more than a year and a half to obtain the Wildcat, despite its introduction in 2019. They were scarce. An interesting feature is that the rifle uses a striker-fired ignition. When applied to handguns, the striker has given us faster lock times and greater reliability. The firing pin itself is a deviation from the old chisel type and is designed with a hemispherical point. Under magnification, the point is unique among 22-caliber rifles we have examined. Because the priming compound in 22 rimfire ammunition is the source of many malfunctions, this is a valid improvement. The rifle doesn’t use a primer itself, but priming compound is distributed in the cartridge case rim. The rim is crushed against the chamber lip by the firing pin, igniting the priming compound and the gun powder.

Elsewhere, the rifle receiver appears conventional at first glance. The bolt features a nicely extended handle. The stock is polymer. The receiver is a housing containing the moving parts. The trigger group and skeletonized trigger guard are a good fit. The parts fit together well even after a dozen or so field strips.

The field-strip process is interesting. By pressing a visible red plunger in the back of the receiver inward and tugging downward on the trigger guard, you may remove the action housing out the bottom of the stock. This allows cleaning the barrel from the rear, normally a difficult thing to do with a 22-caliber automatic rifle. An interesting feature is that the bolt handle folds out of the way as the firing group is pressed out of the receiver. This hinged bolt handle is a neat trick. When the rifle is re-assembled, the handle moves back to its original position. The action is easily cleaned by a simple blast with aerosol cleaner, and the shooter shouldn’t skimp on this process, because 22 rimfire ammunition uses famously dirty gun powder. The ability to clean the piece easily should make for greater long-term reliability. It is interesting to note that two Allen wrenches are clipped to the action and accessible once the action is removed. One fits the rifle stock, and the other may be used to adjust the rear sight. This is well thought out.

A boon to folks who like to stock up on magazines is that the Winchester Wildcat magazine is compatible with Ruger 10/22 magazines. During the test, we used both 10-round Winchester and Ruger magazines, and the Ruger BX-25 magazine, without any feed difficulty. A steel tab on the Winchester-made magazine locks the bolt open on the last shot. There is also a small wheel that aids in holding the spring as the magazine is loaded.

We liked the stock design of the Winchester Wildcat. There are lightly done ribs on the stock and near the firing grip that offer good purchase. The Winchester features an aperture rear and plain black post front sight. It would have been good to have a bit of lighter material on the front sight, but the sights are good examples of all-round aimers suitable for most any chore. Raters were split on the sights, with some liking the Winchester sights for accuracy and others the Rossi for clarity. The Ruger was at the bottom of the scale. There is enough real estate to mount a red dot or optic. You will need a Picatinny interface with some scopes.

The barrel is 18 inches long. The weight of the rifle is a very nice 4.9 pounds unloaded. This makes the Wildcat an excellent choice as a truck gun or knock about shooter. It is almost feathery. Near the front of the stock is a three-slot area for mounting lights or lasers. This is a nice touch if the rifle is to be used for personal defense or a nocturnal pursuit such as raccoon hunting, if legal in your area. There is a piece supplied with the Wildcat that covers the forward accessory rail. We have no photos of this because we lost it early in the game. Sling swivels studs are molded into the stock. We like the molded in red areas for the magazine release, two of them. One is conventional and one is a larger rail on each side set into the stock above the trigger guard. It makes magazine changes much easier. The bolt release, also molded in red, is rated more ergonomic than the Ruger. Trigger compression is heavier than we like at 5.5 pounds, but useful. The Wildcat’s trigger felt neither lighter nor heavier than it was, and it wasn’t difficult to manage. The Rossi’s trigger broke at 5.4 pounds and felt lighter. The Ruger trigger was the best of the three with a 4.75-pound compression.

During the range work, there were no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. General accuracy was good. Due to the sights and overall good handling, the Wildcat gave the best rapid-fire results. In accuracy, the Winchester shaded the other rifles by a small margin. The best single result for a five-shot group at 25 yards was 0.9 inch with the Fiocchi load.

Our Team Said: We liked the Winchester Wildcat the best of the three rifles. If it holds up in the field, and there is no reason it should not, this is going to be a desirable rifle for years. At the time of our test, the Wildcat seemed a scarce commodity, but supply seems to have gotten better. We think this rifle is a winner.

22 LR Range Data

Value Guide 22 Rifle Rankings (Various Actions)