Olympic Arms Whitney Wolverine?

[Mot45acp]

Have they released this .22 yet? They are advertising the heck out of em in gun rags. I must admit its starting to work on me They look like a fun lil gun. I havent seen one yet. Gunbroker turns up the original, but not the one by Oly Arms. I'd like the newer one with customer support/parts/etc.

Anyone have any experience with them? Shoot well? Reliable?

Any info is appreciated.

 

[searcher451]

I've got an original, which I love, and also have wanted to pick up the new model for some time. I've asked my FFL dealer to get me one, but he says that he keeps striking out (this has been an 8-month project at this point). I also sent a note to the company, advising them that I'd like to get one but haven't yet been able to, and also asking them how my FFL dealer can get his hands on one. I got a flip reply indicating that the guns are readily available and that any dealer worth his salt can get them. Well, I've not found that to be accurate. So I pretty much have the same questions: anyone have one, where and how did you get it, and how does it perform?

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I've seen one of the new ones. But just one and it was about a year ago at a gunshow. The dealer who had it - didn't the next time I saw him. Must have sold it. But, he didn't restock it for some reason. Either he wants to and can't get it or he's had bad customer feedback on what he's sold. He's one of those dealers who, if customers have alot of problems with a gun, he stops carrying them. It was a good price, but, at that point I knew nothing of the original and just thought it was another cheap .22 (it certainly looked it - most of it was made of plastic).

 

[dfariswheel]

These have been out for at least several years.

A number of reviews indicate possibly systemic feed problems.
This is odd, because the original Whitney had one of the most reliable magazine designs in .22 history.

In any event, I read several reviews that say the gun just isn't reliable, and in at least two cases, a trip back to Oly didn't fix the problem.
For some reason, I haven't seen any reviews in the gun magazines.
This appears to be a low-selling gun with "issues" and possibly limited distributorship.

Take this for what its worth.

 

[Dr_2_B]

well that's a shame

 

[cpirtle]

I have 3 of the originals and according to the folks at Olympic arms all of the parts are interchangeable except frame parts (for obvious reasons).

Personally, I would not be afraid to buy and original because the new one pale's in comparison. Although, I have thought about the Oly just to round out the collection.

Whitney's have always run best on high velocity ammo and from what I have heard the new one is no different. Most reports I have heard of problems with the gun were resolved with a change in ammo and a few hundred rounds of break-in.

FWIW - I have been shooting Whitney's my entire life and the only part I have ever had go bad was a firing pin and it was broken in the gun when I got it. I ended up just making one which was an easy project. It's easier to lose parts in these guns than for them to go bad.

 

[TCOV]

A relative bought one of the plastic ones a couple years ago and had nothing but trouble. She let me try it for a while to see if I could get it to work. I tried several brands of ammo and I think mini-mags sort of worked if I remember right. Cheap plastic feel, very picky on ammo. Maybe just didn't shoot it long enough for break in but it's just one of those guns that doesn't feel worth the time. Can't say anything good about it.

 

[HardShell]

I've seen one of the new ones. But just one and it was about a year ago at a gunshow. The dealer who had it - didn't the next time I saw him. Must have sold it. But, he didn't restock it for some reason...

My experience, exactly.

I'm still kicking myself for not buying that first (and only) one I've come across in the flesh.

I would still like to have one -- good bad, or indifferent.

 

[Joe Demko]

I had one. For the first 500 rounds it was a joy. Then it grew balky with every brand of ammo, including brands it had previously cycled. I ended up selling it at a loss.