Winchester Repeating Arms Sweetens the Wildcat And Xpert Rimfire Lines

Two of America’s favorite plinking and small-game hunting rimfire lines, the Wildcat and Xpert, continue to expand in 2026. For years, Winchester Repeating Arms has added new rimfires to both lines. The reason is customer demand. The Wildcat and Xpert platforms are tried-and-true, have made their mark in the rimfire world, and continue to fly off dealer shelves. 

For 2026, Winchester Repeating Arms adds four new models to the Wildcat line and two new models to the Xpert line. 

With an integrated Picatinny rail top for easy optic mounting, the under $240 Wildcat Shadow gets its name from the blacked-out appearance; unlike other Wildcat builds, the Shadows cut out the red and gray accents. 

This is an excellent price-point semi-auto .22 LR rifle with an easy-to-load 10-round magazine. Weighing just four pounds with an overall length of 34-¾ inches, the Wildcat Shadow fits an array of shooters, and the molded polymer stock and polymer receiver are bulletproof. 

If you prefer not to mount an optic, as many plinkers and small-game hunters do, the Shadow’s onboard sight system features a ghost-ring rear sight and ramped post front sight. Winchester Repeating Arms includes a pair of Allen wrenches attached to the receiver to make stock removal and sight adjustment a breeze. 

The Wildcat Shadow is also available in an SR model. The Wildcat Shadow SR’s precision button-rifled barrel with recessed target crown is threaded (½" x 28 TPI), allowing the addition of a suppressor. A knurled thread protector covers the threads when a suppressor isn’t attached. 

• Lower receiver is removable via a single button
• Semi-automatic
• Reversible safety 
• Slide lock button
• Bolt release button
• Front and rear sling eyelets
• Picatinny rail on the underside of the forearm
• 10-round rotary magazine with last round bolt stop system
• Ambidextrous magazine release
• Accepts aftermarket 10/22 magazines

Engineered for precision, Wildcat’s Thumbhole and Thumbhole SR rifles feature a gray laminate stock with an adjustable comb. Stock adjustment is easy and ensures perfect eye to optic or iron sight alignment. The thumbhole design promotes a more stable hold from a rest, which, when combined with an optic attached to the Picatinny top rail, or with the Ghost ring sight and ramped post front sight, increases accuracy. 

Like the Shadow, Winchester Repeating Arms offers the Wildcat Thumbhole in a suppressor-ready version. The Thumbhole SR wears a 16-½" precision-button rifled barrel with a recessed target crown. The ½" x 28 TPI muzzle comes with a knurled thread protector. 

• Lower receiver is removable via a single button
• Semi-automatic
• Reversible safety 
• Slide lock button
• Bolt release button
• Front and rear sling eyelets
• 10-round rotary magazine with last round bolt stop system
• Ambidextrous magazine release
• Accepts aftermarket 10/22 magazines

For 2026, Winchester Repeating Arms blends a popular stock color option in OD Green with the anti-corrosion resistance of a Flat Dark Earth receiver and barrel in the Xpert OD Green FDE SR. Perfect for any small-game venture, the Xpert OD Green FDE SR features a three-lever adjustable Rimfire M.O.A. Trigger. An adjustable rear sight and a ramped post front sight are included with .22 LR and 21 Sharp builds, while opting for a rifle chambered in 17 WSM, 17 HMR, or .22 WMR gets you a two-piece optic-mounting base. 

Whether you want to use this bolt-action to punch paper or put more pelts on the barn wall, it won’t disappoint. The ½" x 28 TPI threaded muzzle with smooth thread protector allows suppressor attachment in a rimfire rifle that hits an under $500 price point. 

• Durable steel receiver
• Precision button-rifled barrel
• Target-style chamber
• Enlarged bolt handle
• Bentz-style chamber
• Molded polymer stock
• Front and rear sling eyelets
• Picatinny rail on the underside of the forearm
• Rail Cover
• Includes one rotary magazine
• Ambidextrous magazine release using side-mounted rails or release tabs

Get all the features of the Xpert OD Green FDE SR in a bolt-action that hits an under $430 price point. Like the Wildcat Shadow, the Xpert model is blacked out, with just a bit of red on the magazine. The Xpert Shadow features an easy to work enlarged bolt. Available in calibers of .22 LR, 21 Sharp, 17 WSM, 17 HMR, and .22 WMR, the Shadow is accurate, lightweight, and allows suppressor attachment. A Picatinny rail on the underside of the fore-end is perfect for bipod attachment. An adjustable rear sight and a ramped post front sight are fitted to .22 LR and 21 Sharp rifles, and 17 WSM, 17 HMR, or .22 WMR chamberings include a two-piece optic-mounting base.

• Durable steel receiver
• Precision button-rifled barrel
• Target-style chamber
• Bentz-style chamber
• Molded polymer stock
• Front and rear sling eyelets
• Rail Cover
• Includes one rotary magazine
• Ambidextrous magazine release using side-mounted rails or release tabs