Winchester Repeating Arms Wildcat User Manual

Licensee

Winchester®Wildcat®Bolt-Action Rifle Owner’s Manual

GUN SAFETY WARNINGS

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
BE THOROUGHLY STUDIED BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
TO ASSURE PROPER AND SAFE GUN HANDLING. FAILURE
TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS OR FAILURE TO
OBEY ANY SAFETY WARNING MAY RESULT IN INJURY
TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS, OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO
YOUR FIREARM.

As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding
responsibilities. How seriously you take these
responsibilities can be the difference between life and
death. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling
of any firearm. At all times handle your rifle and any
other firearm with intense respect for its power and
potential danger.

PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE CAUTIONS,
PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS
OUTLINED IN THIS OWNER’S MANUAL BEFORE USING
YOUR NEW FIREARM.

1. Do not carry a loaded firearm with a live cartridge in
the chamber while walking, running, climbing a tree,
crossing a fence or anywhere you might slip or fall,
drop the firearm or otherwise bump or jar the firearm.
A firearm that is dropped, bumped or jarred with a
chambered cartridge might accidentally discharge even
with the safety on, causing serious injury or death to you

or someone else. When you are ready to shoot and a
cartridge is chambered, keep the safety on until
shooting is imminent.

2. Do not rely on the safety to prevent accidental discharge.
Many safeties merely block the trigger and prevent
firing by pulling the trigger. The safety may not prevent
an accidental discharge due to dropping, jarring or
bumping a firearm.

3. Use only ammunition for which the firearm is
chambered, as indicated on the barrel, to prevent
excessive pressure and possible serious personal injury.

4. Incorrectly reloaded ammunition can cause serious
personal injury and damage to the firearm due to
excessive pressure. Reload only after proper instruction
and in strict compliance with instruction and data
contained in current reloading manuals.

5. Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to
shoot. Always keep it pointed in a safe direction in case
of accidental discharge.

6. Always check to ensure that the barrel is free of
obstructions before loading and using the firearm.
If you experience light recoil or an off sound, check
the barrel for an obstruction.

7. Before firing, clean any grease or oil out of the barrel
with a cleaning rod and patch. Grease or heavy
accumulation of oil can cause excessive pressures and
result in serious personal injury.

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8. Keep the barrel, chamber and action free of rust.
Rust in the barrel and chamber can cause excessive
pressures resulting in serious injury. A rusted, pitted
or eroded barrel should be replaced.

9. Use hearing protection to prevent ear damage
from repeated exposure to gunfire.

10. Always use proper shooting glasses to prevent
eye injury from flying particles.

11. Never carry a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle or
carry one into a dwelling. Always carefully unload
the firearm before entering a motor vehicle, a dwelling
or an area such as a camp. Always point firearms in a
safe direction while loading or unloading to prevent
serious injury in case of an accidental discharge. Never
load your firearm in a house or in a vehicle.

12. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface or at the surface of
water, to avoid a ricochet and possible serious personal
injury to yourself or a bystander.

13. Store firearms in a clean, dry place out of reach of
children and separated from stored ammunition.

14. Never alter any parts of your firearm. Any alterations
or adjustments that may become necessary to the
operating mechanism should be performed by a
qualified gunsmith.

15. Hunting from elevated surfaces, such as tree stands, is
dangerous. Doing so may increase the risk of handling
any firearm. Always make certain that the stand being
used is safe, sturdy and stable. Always make certain
your firearm is unloaded when it is being taken up and
down from the stand. Always make certain that your
firearm is not dropped from the stand or dropped while
it is being taken up or down from the stand.

16. Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning
firearms or handling ammunition may result in exposure
to lead and other substances known to cause birth
defects, reproductive harm and other serious physical
injury. Have adequate ventilation at all times. Wash
hands thoroughly after exposure.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Winchester Wildcat is a bolt-action rifle capable of
excellent accuracy. The Wildcat is ready for many years of
service, plinking at the range or hunting small game. Study
this owner’s manual carefully to be sure you have covered
all information about your new rifle.

Refer to Figure 1 for general part descriptions regarding
your new rifle. You must become familiar with all part
names listed before proceeding with the rest of the
instructions in this owner’s manual.

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Cocking Indicator

Bolt Handle

Action

Bolt

Ejection Port

Rear Sight

FIGURE 1

Front Sight

Butt Plate

Trigger

Buttstock

Safety

Trigger Guard

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN
A SAFE DIRECTION. USE THE CORRECT AMMUNITION
REFERENCED BY THE INSCRIPTION ON THE BARREL.
BEFORE LOADING YOUR GUN BE SURE ALL GREASE
AND OIL HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BARREL
AND CHAMBER, AND THERE ARE NO OBSTRUCTIONS.

GENERAL OPERATION

The Wildcat is a bolt-action design that allows you
to load a cartridge by cycling the action and moving
a cartridge from a loaded magazine to the chamber.
This can be repeated until the magazine is empty.

Prior to using live ammunition, familiarize yourself
thoroughly with these operating instructions. Get
accustomed to the feel of your new gun, know the forces
required to operate the action. Learn how to pull the

Barrel

Magazine
Release

Magazine

Fore-end

trigger and, above all, know the location and operation of
the safety. Procedures for disassembly and operation of
various components are outlined in the sections in this
owner’s manual. Please read and study them thoroughly.

TERMINOLOGY AND DESCRIPTIONS

Descriptions in this owner’s manual generally refer to the
firearm in the horizontal position. That is, in the normal
firing position. For example, the muzzle is forward or front;
the buttstock is rearward or rear; the trigger is downward
or underneath; the sights are upward or on top. For general
parts terminology, refer to Figure 1. Figure 2 covers the
general features and benefits of the Wildcat design.

Throughout this owner’s manual, the “action” refers to
the mechanism of this rifle which loads and secures the
cartridge in the chamber.

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(Continued on page 6.)

Muzzle

The Wildcat’s cocking indicator is easily seen, or
felt by the thumb, letting you know the status of
your rifle’s firing pin.

The receiver is grooved to accept scope mounts.

Non-adjustable,
two-stage trigger.

The safety lever and
magazine release are
conveniently located and
easily operated with the
index finger.

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The rear sight folds down for use with a scope.

10-round and 5-round
magazines are included. Their
slim, reliable design keeps the
dimensions of the rifle narrow.

FIGURE 2

The muzzle is target crowned to
maintain accuracy.

The hardwood stock features bordered
cut checkering, steel swivel studs,
comfortable dimensions and a signature
Schnabel fore-end.

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SERIAL NUMBER

The serial number is located on the left side of the receiver,
forward of the ejection port. Record the serial number at
the front of this owner’s manual for future reference.

INITIAL CLEANING/OILING

Some metal parts of your new Wildcat rifle have been
coated at the factory with a rust preventative compound.
Before first using your Wildcat, a high-quality, light gun
oil should be used to remove this compound and to give
your new gun its first lubrication. Wipe the action and bolt
clean and apply a few drops of quality oil on the bolt guide
lug and guide rails. Clean the barrel using a cleaning rod
and patch as explained under “Cleaning and Maintenance
Suggestions” found on page 14 of this owner’s manual.
It is recommended that the “Cleaning and Maintenance
Suggestions” be followed before each oiling.

If your new Wildcat is to be stored for an extended period
of time, it is permissible to leave the rust preventative
compound in place and keep your Wildcat in its box for
maximum protection during long-term storage.

Do not shoot 22 Short or 22 Long ammunition, blanks or
bird shot cartridges. Always read the ammunition label
and any enclosures with the ammunition to assure that the
ammunition is appropriate or that there is no restriction
for its use with your firearm. We can assume no
responsibility for incidents which occur through the
use of cartridges of nonstandard dimension or those
developing pressures in excess of SAAMI (Sporting
Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute)
established standards.

Winchester ammunition is always an excellent choice
for your new Winchester rifle, delivering the unmatched
performance and dependability you want.

DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED
AREAS, CLEANING FIREARMS OR HANDLING
AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO LEAD
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES KNOWN TO CAUSE
BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM AND
OTHER SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVE
ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES. WASH
HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE.

AMMUNITION

The Winchester Wildcat rifle must only be used with 22
Long Rifle rimfire ammunition as designated on the barrel.

OPERATION OF THE SAFETY

The safety is located just forward of the trigger guard,
on the right side of the rifle.

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FIGURE 3

FIGURE 4

Safety in the “on safe” position.

1. “On Safe” — This is when the safety is moved to the
most rearward position (Figure 3). Always maintain

the safety in this position when a cartridge is in the
chamber or until shooting is imminent.

2. “Off Safe” — With the safety fully forward, the rifle is
ready to fire (Figure 4).

The safety mechanism when engaged is designed to
prevent firing. However, this mechanism will not
necessarily prevent the accidental discharge of this
firearm as a result of jarring or abuse such as occurs
when a firearm is dropped.

Safety in the “off safe” position.

Never rely totally on your firearm’s safety. It is merely an
aid to safe gun handling. Like any mechanical device
the safety can possibly fail; it can be bumped off or
inadvertently manipulated into an unsafe condition.
At all times, keep the safety in the “on safe” position
and the barrel pointed in a safe direction. It is advisable
to never load your rifle until you are in the field, at the
location you intend to begin hunting or you are at your
bench on a range and it is clear to shoot. For extra safety
on a range, and as a courtesy to others, fully unload the rifle
and keep the action in the open position at all times other
than when it is clear to shoot.

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