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The Winchester Model 70 earned the moniker “Rifleman’s Rifle” for its robust controlled-round-feed action, myriad caliber offerings, unfailing reliability and unquestionable accuracy. Storied as the classic center-fire’s legacy may be, I’ve always felt that many — maybe most — riflemen and -women owe their affinity for shooting and feats afield to the unsung heroes of Scout camps, 4-H ranges and countless backyard gardens. I’m speaking, of course, about bolt-action rimfire rifles, and .22 LR-chambered guns, in particular.
Bolt-action .22s have long served as accessible platforms for youth shooters, and new shooters of any age, to learn about safety, conscientious gun handling, and the fundamentals of marksmanship. They are excellent introductory firearms thanks to their relatively quiet reports — hearing protection still required — and near-nonexistent recoil. I’ll never forget earning the Rifle Shooting merit badge at Camp Olmsted in Goshen, Virginia, by shooting quarter-size groups with a single-shot bolt-action .22.
The appeal of these guns is not lost with age or experience. Proficient shooters can save a pretty penny, especially on ammunition, by keeping their skills sharp with a rimfire rifle. Too, they are proven small-game getters, trap-line dispatchers, and garden-pest exterminators. Most importantly, they are just plain fun. Next time you head to the range, take a few empty soup cans and a favorite .22, I promise it will be a blast.
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Xpert 22
Accepting my premise that behind most rifleman’s rifles is a rifleman’s rimfire, you’ll understand why I saw the Winchester Xpert 22 as one of the most exciting introductions at the 2023 Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. A bolt-action rifle chambered in .22 LR, it recalled fond memories of punching paper and plinking cans. Yet, its modern design and parts compatibility spoke to current demand for versatile, utilitarian guns. In the Xpert 22, I saw a rifle that progressed the time-tested .22 bolt-action platform to offer greater capabilities and near-universal appeal.
Winchester started revitalizing its rimfire offerings in 2019 with the introduction of the semiautomatic Wildcat rifle. Utilizing basic blowback operation and a rotary magazine, it was easy to draw comparisons to the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22. There was some cross-compatibility between the platforms — including the magazines — but the Winchester also offered some enhanced features including an integral Picatinny sight rail and a new ambidextrous magazine release. The greatest distinguishing factor, though, was the Wildcat’s modern, minimalist design including racy, angular lines and skeletonized polymer stock. All in, the base model Wildcat weighed just 4 pounds.
The new Xpert 22 bears clear family resemblance to the Wildcat, including many components and features as well as the latter’s panache and featherweight design.
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The specific model used for this review was the Xpert 22 Suppressor Ready TrueTimber Strata because I believe it offers shooters maximum versatility and capability. The heart of the rifle is its 18-inch sporter contour steel barrel. It’s button rifled with a 1-in-16-inch twist rate and features a Bentz-style chamber. The Bentz design offers best-of-both-worlds dimensions; tighter than “sporter” chambers for improved accuracy but not as constrictive as a “match” chamber to ensure easy, reliable feeding. At the muzzle end, the barrel features a target-style crown to protect the rifling, as well as ½-28 threads for attaching a rimfire suppressor or other muzzle device. A knurled thread protector is included. The sights, too, are incorporated into the barrel assembly and consist of a windage- and elevation-adjustable serrated rear notch and a ramped post front. Unlike the Wildcat, there is no integral rail, but the top of the receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting optics.
A robust barrel nut mates the barrel to the receiver, and I appreciate how the wrench flats on the test sample are timed perfectly with the flats of the machined steel receiver. On the right side of the receiver, a generous ejection port is followed by a cut-out raceway for the bolt handle and locking lugs. Unlike most centerfire actions, lockup is not achieved by the bolthead and chamber extension. Rather, the bolt body includes two locking lugs — approximately quarter-inch cubes — that traverse the raceway as the bolt is cycled, and mate with reciprocal receiver cuts when the bolt is closed with the handle down. The bolt handle itself — generously sized and nicely shaped like a long-necked wine bottle — extends from the rearmost lug.
The bolt can be removed by depressing a release lever on the left side of the receiver. Once out, it is apparent that the rear two-thirds of the assembly are a full-diameter bolt configuration, which facilitates smooth operation. The foremost section, though, is like a semicircle with the bottom portion removed, save for a narrow central lug designed to push fresh cartridges from the top of the magazine. A hemispherical firing pin helps ensure reliable ignition of rimfire primers, while dual extractors and a fixed ejector pair to expel spent brass.
Winchester utilizes a rimfire version of its adjustable M.O.A. Trigger in the Xpert 22, which offers a crisp break without take-up or overtravel. Our sample exhibited an average pull weight of 3 pounds, 9 ounces, from 10 pulls with a Lyman digital gauge. A two-position trigger safety extends up to the rear of the receiver on the right side. The rear position is “Safe” and pressing the lever forward sets it to “Fire” and reveals a red status indicator. The magazine release reflects an update from the Wildcat to offer easier manipulation with either hand. First, a central release tab is located just in front of the magazine on underside of the gun. The polymer “bottom metal” is relieved around the tab to make it easy to access, and pulling rearward releases the magazine. Too, the bright red release assembly includes serrated activation areas on both the left and right sides of the stock. Using the thumb on one side and fingers on the other, rearward pressure will release the magazine and drop it neatly into the cradle of the hand. The Wildcat’s 10-round rotary magazine is carried over to the Xpert, and the bolt action, too, is compatible with 10/22-pattern magazines.
The stock is probably the most visually arresting feature of the Xpert 22, but its futuristic aesthetic should not disguise its functionality. The skeletonized design and polymer construction lend to the gun’s light 4-pound, 8-ounce, weight. Not only is the Xpert portable, but it is also easy to hold and manipulate for new and small-statured shooters. The stock features a near-vertical pistol grip which can reduce unintended, user-induced twist and torque compared to straight or sporter-style stocks. Reducing shooter influence on a gun generally improves accuracy. The forend swells at the bottom before narrowing into grip channels, making it easy to grasp. It’s bottom portion also has molded ribs to improve purchase. At the front of the forend, a black polymer panel conceals a 1-inch section of Picatinny rail for attaching a bipod or accessory, as well as a sling swivel. The latter pairs with a rear swivel in the toe of the stock. To improve fitment or account for optic height, Winchester offers an optional clip-on comb riser as well as stock spacers to increase the rifle’s length of pull. As the model name implies, our test sample’s stock was finished in TrueTimber’s Strata-pattern camouflage, but models with solid gray or Forged Carbon Gray finishes are also available.
Range Time
When it was time to head to the range I opted to add an optic to the Xpert. In my opinion, .22s are great platforms for red dots and low-power scopes. For this test, I went with the former, using a Vortex Crossfire Red Dot for it’s 2 MOA reticle and its accessible price point; I don’t believe in breaking the bank for utility guns. To mount the sight, I used the optional Xpert Picatinny Scope Rail.
Accuracy was very good, with each of the three selected .22 LR loads posting at least one five-shot group of 1-inch (technically 1.07 inches) or better. The testing did reveal the gun’s preference for the higher velocity ammo, as the average group sizes were positively correlated with velocity values: CCI 32-grain Segmented Hollow Point, .94 inch at 1,686 feet-per-second (fps); Aguila 40-grain Interceptor, 1.07 inches at 1,462 fps; Browning 40-grain round nose, 1.65 inches at 1,297 fps. I should note, I do think the gun is capable of even better accuracy had I used a magnified optic. The day of my accuracy test was beautifully clear and sunny, which can be a nightmare for red dots. I was forced to turn the optic’s brightness way up to see the reticle, and the resulting dot fully covered the 1-inch centers of my 50-yard targets. I stand by the choice of a red dot for maximum utility, but if I were to re-shoot this rifle for accuracy I would choose a 1-to-6-power scope.
In all, the gun ran great and I was pleased with how fast and smooth the bolt ran. Rimfire bolt actions can often get “sticky” from fouling and the expansion of the thin brass cartridge cases. No such issues with the Xpert. Another common hang up for rimfires is spent cases failing to clear the action. With the Xpert, ejection was quite energetic. Even with minimal force on the bolt handle, spent cases flew with alacrity.
The supplied 10-round rotary magazine worked to perfection. Still, folks like me with 10/22-pattern magazines around would want to confirm functionality with aftermarket units. I didn’t dive into the deep end of non-Ruger 10/22 mags. Experience tells me that some of those offer dubious reliability even with the primary intended firearm. However, I did test a 10-round 10/22 magazine, as well as Ruger’s BX-25 25-round mag. Both worked without issue. The only change worth noting is that ejection became a bit sluggish, at least compared to when the Winchester magazine was installed. To be clear, this was a difference of throwing spent brass 3 to 5 feet instead of 5 to 10 feet.
My final feeding check was whether or not I could hand-feed the Xpert 22 single cartridges through the ejection port, as you might want to do when teaching new shooter. With the Winchester magazine installed, this was no problem at all. I was able to lay the cartridge into the port, on top of the magazine’s feed lips, bullet toward the chamber. Then, running the bolt forward, chamber the round without any hitches or hang ups.
To be honest, I’m sold. My check is on the way to Winchester, this gun is staying with me. In fact, I’ve got it kitted out with a Silencer Central Banish 22 suppressor, rigged and ready for pest control at the family farm.
There may be no greater firearm in a shooter’s arsenal than a bolt-action .22. It’s a gun to learn with and, more importantly, to teach with. A tool for instructing future generations in safe firearm handling and rifle marksmanship, it’s also at home in the truck, in a tree stand or on the trail. Winchester’s Xpert 22 captures the utility and nostalgia of time-tested bolt-action rimfires and offers them in a modern package that will appeal to shooters for years to come.
Winchester Xpert SR TrueTimber Strata
- Type: Bolt action
- Cartridge: .22 LR
- Capacity: 10 rds.
- Barrel: 18 in. (tested), 1:16-in. twist
- Length: 36.25 in.
- Weight: 4 lbs., 8 oz.
- Material: Polymer (stock), steel (barrel, receiver)
- Length of Pull: 13.5 in.
- Sights: Adj. rear, ramped post front
- Finish: TrueTimber Strata
- Trigger: Winchester Rimfire M.O.A.; 3 lbs., 9 oz. (tested)
- Safety: Two-position trigger safety
- MSRP: $390
- Manufacturer: Winchester, 800-333-3288, winchesterguns.com
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