Anybody have any experience with the fairly new Winchester Wildcat .22 B.A. Rifle?

[Browning]

Anybody seen, fired or shot one of these yet?

http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=525&type_id=100&cat=018C

I recieved some Christmas money and I kind of wanted a .22 LR plinker that didn't cost too much, but that was still accurate, that looked good and handled well. The only thing that I've heard that was even remotely critical was that some people felt that the finish wasn't up to snuff with what they felt a Winchester was supposed to be like.

It's either that or one of the CZ .22 bolt action rifles.
http://www.czub.cz/index.php?p=32&idp=2&ids=8&idz=210&lang=en

http://www.czub.cz/index.php?p=32&idp=2&ids=8&idz=22&lang=en

http://www.czub.cz/index.php?p=32&idp=2&ids=8&idz=21&lang=en

 

[rangerruck]

the winny is really called a TOZ 78, it is a russian type rifle, the origionals also came with 4 magazines. You can find them , as a toz, at gunshows usually. the Winny has better fit and finish, and usually better wood. It is also a lot more money, the toz can be found for as little as 150 bucks, usually more like 175.
Accuracy will be very good, to excellent. You will find that it fires a lot of ammo very well. and very accurately.
So I would say, Unless you can find a TOZ with 4 mags, then go for the winny, chef recommends...

 

[Browning]

I looked around for the TOZ .22 bolt action rifle as it was mentioned in an article about the Winchester Wildcat, but after checking (what I think) is the importers website all the various companies they listed didn't have any and they haven't had any of those rifles for awhile now.

http://www.tennesseeguns.com/distributors1.html

 

[akolleth]

Unfortunately you missed the boat on getting the TOZ 78-01. Centerfire was selling them for $100 just a few scarce months ago, but they are gone.

Superb rifle for the money, free floated barrel, adjustable trigger (mine is set very crisply)

But as others have said, its a very rough finished rifle. My wood looks like it is painted, not stained, and the metal work is similarly rough.

But she shoots, way better than I can.

 

[furyalecto]

I have a TOZ-78-1 as well & it shoots better than I can as well. I have seen both & I like the finish of the Wildcat better, but I liked the sights on the Toz better.

 

[mickmten]

I've seen the Winny at the local Gander Mountain, and I have a TOZ. The finish on the Winny is definitely better, but the feel of the action is the same. I would say that if money is the issue, try to find one on-line or on an auction site, but if you can afford the Winny go for it. I've never had a problem with my TOZ and the accuracy is great. I take one of my other milsurps to the range, go through some of the hard-to-find milsurp ammo, and then spend the rest of the day going through boxes of .22 with the TOZ. The only issue I have with the TOZ (and I don't know if the Wildcat is the same) is that the magazines are plastic. I can imagine the day will come when I'm going to be in the market for replacements and I hope they're out there somewhere.

TOZ/Wildcat is highly recommended.

Mick

 

[Browning]

Anybody have experience with both this and a CZ .22 rifle?

So how do they actually shoot?

Do they shoot as well as a CZ rifle?

I've shot plenty of CZ bolt action .22's, so that's the best comparison that I can make.

 

[rangerruck]

I would put them up there with a cz in accuracy, and it is possible that some cz mags, or older savage mags will work in the TOZ, but I am not sure what models they are.

 

[Browning]

Okay, good enough.

That's all I really needed to know.

I'll just forget about getting the TOZ and buy the Winchester at Bass Pro or something.

Thanks.