Quiet Upgrade: Winchester Wildcat SR now Suppressor Ready
Adam Scepaniak 01.26.21
Winchester struck gold amongst rimfire fans when they introduced their Wildcat rimfire rifle a few years ago. The multitude of features from being lightweight, affording the shooter good ergonomics, and being cross-compatible with Ruger 10/22 magazines made a definite hit among the 22 Long Rifle faithful. Now they have given that model a small yet valuable improvement by making it suppressor-ready with the introduction of the Wildcat SR. Winchester goes over some of the highlights of that rifle in the Press Release statement below:
“The 22 LR rimfire Wildcat SR is suppressor ready with a threaded muzzle. A thread protector is included when not using a suppressor. Lightweight composite stock and construction keeps weight to 4 pounds. Shorter 16 1/2″ barrel. Rotary magazine features last round bolt hold open. The new Wildcat SR gives you all the advantages of the exciting Winchester Wildcat autoloading rifle in a version that is threaded to accept a 1/2″ x 28 TPI suppressor. A suppressor is not included with this rifle. Firearms suppressors offer significant hearing protection to the shooter and bystanders. They are currently legally available in 42 states from many different manufacturers and resellers in the United States.“
The only element about this rifle that trumps the impressiveness of the fit, feel, and function is the price-tag. At the full MSRP it only retails for $279, and they are more frequently than not, found for prices cheaper than that on store shelves. If the curb appeal and price-tag are not enough to draw you in then maybe some of the specs will. A complete specification listing can be read below as presented by Winchester:
- 16-½” precision button-rifled chromoly steel barrel with a recessed, target-style crown
- ½”x28 TPI threaded muzzle with knurled thread protector
- Rugged polymer construction of the upper assembly, lower receiver assembly and ambidextrous skeletonized buttstock
- Fully-adjustable ghost ring rear sight and ramped post front sight
- Integral Picatinny sight rail
- Molded-in sling eyelets plus a Picatinny accessory rail located under the fore-end tip
- 10-round rotary magazine with a polymer body, metal feed lips, and last round bolt hold open
- Dual ambidextrous magazine releases
- Spring-assisted magazine ejection
- Reversible manual safety button
Aside from this new suppressor ready offering in the Wildcat SR, Winchester actually has several new models for the Wildcat line-up which also include camouflage versions and factory-mounted combos that will come with a micro red dot. All of these new Wildcat models are currently live and viewable on the Winchester website HERE. Personally, I do not shoot a ton of rimfire, but I love that Winchester is making a phenomenal little rifle at such an affordable price-point. This should only drive more people to join the shooting sports, or at least add another firearm to their collection. As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
