Firearms review: This Winchester-Bushnell rimfire combo offers great bang for the buck

In 2019, Winchester introduced a conceptually new .22 calibre rimfire, the Wildcat. This semi-auto, with its innovative design and very affordable price tag, certainly caught my attention. I envisioned it as a fun rifle to shoot, for both youngsters and old-timers alike, and my review in 2020 found it to be precisely that. While it performed up to and even exceeded my expectations, it left me wistfully hoping Winchester would introduce a bolt-action version, imagining the potential for enhanced accuracy.

Great minds must think alike—at least that’s my boastful take on the introduction in 2022 of the Xpert. Certainly, Winchester’s vision matched mine, judging by the gunmaker’s own words: “We put our sights on accuracy and added features to help you get the most from the rifle.”

First among those features is the new Rimfire MOA Trigger, which performs much like the triggers on Winchester’s Model 70 and XPR rifles. It has a three-lever design, with zero creep, zero take-up and zero over-travel. Winchester suggests the light pull breaks like glass.

Meanwhile, a steep grip angle provides improved finger-to-trigger accessibility and, if needed, you can add a ¾-inch length-of-pull spacer to the stock. You can also clip on a half-inch cheek riser if you require some additional height for improved eye-to-scope alignment.

Also notable is the precision button-rifled steel barrel with a target style crown, as well as the semi-match Bentz chamber and the hemispherical firing pin, which provides improved reliability with all types of rimfire ammo. Other key features include the adjustable rear sight, ramped post front sight, and precision-machined steel receiver (drilled and tapped for mounting a scope). There are also improved controls, such as the extended bolt handle.

Note that the Xpert uses the same polymer, 10-round rotary magazine as the Wildcat, while also accepting aftermarket magazines that fit 10/22 rifles. Dual ambidextrous magazine releases on the sides and bottom of the rifle give the shooter access options, with the spring-assisted ejection delivering the magazine to the shooter’s hand.

Finally, the tough skeletonized polymer stock keeps the weight down to four and a half pounds, making the rifle easy to carry for most hunters and shooters. The stock also sports two moulded-in sling eyelets, along with a Picatinny accessory rail at the forend tip.

TEST RESULTS

Bearing in mind Winchester marketed the Xpert as an accurate, lightweight rifle, I set out to ensure the combined weight of the rifle, scope and mounts did not exceed six pounds. This needed to be accomplished without compromising on the quality of the optics and mounts needed to ensure the Xpert’s promised accuracy. Weighed on a postal scale, the rifle came in at four pounds eight ounces, its advertised weight. And together with the Bushnell Rimfire test scope, Browning scope rings and Browning T-bolt bases, the entire package tipped the scales at just five pounds seven ounces, well under my six-pound maximum.

For any rifle to shoot accurately, including a rimfire, it requires a quality trigger. On that count, the Xpert’s Rimfire MOA trigger lived up to its billing, with no creep or overtravel. It broke a bit heavier than I would have preferred, however, at three pounds 14 ounces. I can live with that pull weight, though, considering the rifle will likely be used by a young hunter or shooter.

Overall, the rifle-and-scope combo was light in the hand, well-balanced and quick on point, without the need to modify the stock. The Rimfire scope proved to be an ideal match for the Xpert, and I really liked the reticle. Dollar for dollar, it provided excellent optical quality for a rimfire scope (see “Bushnell Rimfire” below).

For my test at the range, I waited for a dead calm day with a temperature of 15°C, which is ideal for a rimfire accuracy evaluation. To provide the broadest perspective of the Xpert’s performance, I tested 18 different loads, including cheap plinking ammo, hunting rounds and high-end target ammo.

Rather than offer a detailed comparison between the Xpert and its Wildcat forerunner, I’ll get right to the point: the Wildcat was a blast to shoot, but if I were looking for an accurate, easy-to-carry rimfire, the Xpert would be my choice. In terms of accuracy, 15 of my 18 five-shot, 50-yard groups were less than an inch, while five of those 15 grouped at or near a half-inch, with two less than 0.4 of an inch.

For plinking, I would recommend Winchester’s inexpensive Wildcat rounds, which had a 0.590-inch group, or Eley Action at 0.550. For hunting, the top performers were CCI Mini-Mag at 0.552 and Eley High Velocity at 0.609. And if I were to get serious about punching one-hole groups, either RWS R50 at 0.320 or Eley Edge at 0.330 would top my list. Just expect to pay for the accuracy of those latter two high-end target loads.

For the complete range test results, go to www.outdoorcanada.ca/xperttest

THE RIFLE SPECS

• Calibre: .22 LR
• Barrel length: 18″
• Total length: 36¼”
• Length of pull: 13½”
• Drop at comb: 7/8″
• Drop at heel: 7/8″
• Weight: 4 lb 8 oz
• Rate of twist: 1/16″
• Magazine capacity: 10 rounds

BUSHNELL RIMFIRE

I had three requisites in mind when selecting a dedicated rimfire scope for the Xpert: a reasonable price, a quality reticle and a light weight. Engineered specifically for rimfire shooters, Bushnell’s aptly named Rimfire 3-9x40mm ticked off all three boxes with ease. As Bushnell itself says, it’s “the best rimfire scope for outfitting a .22 LR chambered rifle for hunting, recreational shooting and plinking.”

Since the Xpert is being sold as a value-priced rifle for less than $500, I wanted a quality scope that would offer the same value. At approximately $200, the Rimfire does just that, complete with Bushnell’s Ironclad Lifetime Warranty. Then there’s the Rimfire’s Dropzone 22 illuminated reticle, which also fits the bill.

Designed specifically for a 40-grain .22 LR round, the Dropzone 22 is a bullet-drop compensator (BDC) reticle. When zeroed at 50 yards, it provides 25-yard increments out to 125 yards (the snag-free turret caps protect the rifle’s zero, whether in transit or in the field). Just sight it in at 50 yards and use the drop points for shots with dead on holds at 50, 75, 100 and 125 yards. As well, the reticle offers six brightness settings, with off positions between each setting.

With its rugged, aircraft-grade, one-piece aluminum construction, the Rimfire weighs in at just 15.4 ounces, easily meeting my third requisite. Additionally, it is fully IPX7 waterproof, and features multi-coated glass for improved light transmission, resolution and contrast.

THE SCOPE SPECS

• Magnification: 3-9x
• Objective lens diameter: 40mm
• Length: 12.5″
• Weight: 15.4 oz
• Eye relief: 3.6″
• Field of view at 100 yards: 39′ at 3x; 13′ at 9x
• Minimum fixed parallax distance: 50 yards
• Elevation & windage adjustment: 60 MOA