Winchester's Xpert bolt-action .22 rimfire
Test results at the range
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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.
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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.
Complete Test Results
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Brand
|
Bullet | Advertised Velocity
(fps) |
Group Size
(inches) |
Winchester Wildcat | 40-grain Copper Plated | 1255 | .590 |
Winchester T22 Target | 40-grain | 1150 | .760 |
Winchester Varmint LF | 28-grain Tin | 1650 | 1.422 |
Winchester M22 Target/Plinking | 40-grain Black Copper Plated | 1255 | .935 |
Browning Pro 22 | 40-grain Round Nose | 1280 | .626 |
Federal Hunter Match | 40-grain Match HP | 1200 | .858 |
Federal Game-Shok High Velocity | 38-grain Copper Plated hollow point | 1260 | .768 |
RWS R 50 | 40-grain | 1082 | .320 |
CCI S.G.B. | 40-grain | 1235 | .909 |
CCI Mini Mag | 40-Segmented Hollow Point Flat Nose | 1235 | .552 |
Remington Thunderbolt | 40-grain | 1255 | 1.230 |
Remington Sub Sonic | 38-grain | 1050 | .768 |
Remington Cyclone | 36-grain | 1280 | 1.220 |
Eley Club | 40-grain | 1085 | .7830 |
Eley Sport | 40-grain | 1090 | .607 |
Eley Action | 40-grain | 1090 | .550 |
Eley Edge | 40-grain | 1085 | .330 |
Eley High Velocity | 38-grain | 1250 | .609 |
Note: all groups were five shots at 50 yards.
For more on the Winchester Xpert, see Outdoor Canada’s November/December 2024 issue.