You know the saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” That statement is purely bogus regarding the world’s largest shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade show, which is held at the Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum each year. When media, buyers, manufacturers, influencers, etc., return from four of the most anticipated “gear days” of the year, social media, YouTube, print, and digital platforms get flooded with the latest and greatest gear.

In typical fashion, Booth 12260 demanded plenty of attention. Aside from an aesthetically pleasing design, the Winchester Repeating Arms booth was chock-full of rifles — centerfire and plinkers — and shotguns. Winchester Repeating Arms showcased several SHOT Show Specials, three of which make the first of this two-part post-SHOT Show article. 

SHOT Show-goers agreed that Winchester's Wildcat 22 Scope Combo SR was a win. When you visited the Winchester Repeating Arms booth, finding a Wildcat 22 on the rack was challenging. People had it in their hands, which Winchester Repeating Arms expected when they crafted the reliable blowback semi-automatic rifle.

The Wildcat 22 Scope Combo SR, topped with rings and a quality Vortex Crossfire scope, is bore-sighted and ready for the range. Trigger performance is remarkable. The rifle utilizes a striker-fed design like a centerfire rifle, allowing for faster cycling via a crisp trigger with a lighter pull weight. A hemispherical firing pin offers improved reliability with rimfire ammunition. 

When you handle a semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle that cycles quickly, is accurate, and is a joy to shoot, you stack up the brass. Don’t fret. The lower receiver assembly, which contains the trigger group, reversible safety, and bolt assembly, is removed with the push of a button for easy cleaning. Plus, with the lower assembly removed, bore access is easy and can be cleaned from the chamber end.

The 10-round polymer magazine is efficient. The rotary design is reliable, quick to load, and has a bolt stop that locks the bolt back after the last round has been fired. The Wildcat also accepts magazines that fit 10/22 rifles.

Other must-note Wildcat 22 Scope Combo SR features include the bulletproof polymer stock, Picatinny rail with rail cover on the underside of the forearm, and a suppressor ready 1/2 x 28 TIP threaded muzzle with knurled thread protector. From plinking to small-game domination, Winchester’s Wildcat 22 Scope Combo is prepared to meet your rimfire needs. 

A lightweight, dependable bolt-action rimfire rifle that shoots every bit as good as it looks, the Xpert Thumbhole Target SR is ready to clang steel, punch paper, and fill the frying pan.

I watched many handle the rifle, and while I heard about the Picatinny optics rail, oversized bolt knob, and the rifle’s uber-light 4-1/2-pound build, the biggest rumblings concerned the Rimfire M.O.A. trigger that is engineered to offer the same zero-creep, zero take-up, and zero-over travel performance as legendary centerfire builds like the Model 70 and XPR rifles. The trigger is light and crisp, helping the shooter find accuracy with every squeeze. 

A rifle for every shooter, the bolt handle is extended for easier, more rapid cycling, and the safety is tucked into the rear of the receiver, keeping it within easy reach for almost every shooter. The 18-inch precision button-rifled barrel sports a target crown, which allows a consistent release of pressure on the bullet for increased downrange accuracy. The dual, ambidextrous magazine releases on the sides and bottom of the rifle give the shooter options and deliver the magazine into your hand. The Xpert uses the same polymer 10-round rotary magazine as the Wildcat and accepts magazines that fit 10/22 rifles. The Xpert Thumbhole Target SR is available in 22 LR and 21 Sharp.

One look at the XPR Extreme-Tungsten QPQ, and your mind will start daydreaming about whitetail, elk, mule deer, and sheep hunts in daunting terrain. Available in 11 calibers, this XPR team member features a spiral fluted barrel to ensure maximum weight reduction. And because every XPR barrel starts as a piece of solid chromoly steel bar stock that is carefully drilled and then button-rifled, accuracy is delivered in spades. The barrel is fully free-floating, eliminating pressure points and preventing it from contacting the stock, further boosting accuracy.

I love the barrel's Black QPQ (Quench, Polish, Quench) finish. The finished process looks excellent, and the specialized nitrocarburizing increases corrosion resistance. The receiver and bolt handle also have a black QPQ finish. The Black QPQ blends seamlessly with the textured Tungsten Cerakote finish on the stock, which maximizes grip in any weather condition. 

The M.O.A Trigger System promises a crisp break every time, and the pull weight is user adjustable. The detachable box magazine is easy to load, and the in/out operation is flawless. The detachable box magazine is a built-in feature that is typically an expensive after-market addition, allowing you to keep extra cartridges in a spare magazine for easy reloading instead of jingling loose in your pocket.

More great 2025 Winchester Repeating Arms to come in Part II; stay tuned!