The Rimfire Report: The Rare, Forgotten, and Weird RAU Wildcat 500

Hello and welcome back to another edition of The Rimfire Report. This week we’re taking a quick break from our ongoing set of rimfire ammunition tests to check out another probably-forgotten historical piece - the Wildcat 500. Another single-shot .22 rifle with an unusual design and a brief but interesting history, the Rau Wildcat is one that I only learned existed just a few weeks ago courtesy of fellow writer Sam S. Today I’ll take you through what I’ve learned about the old rimfire rifle. Most of this information was gleaned from a combination of auction sites and various online forums as there is little official information on the Wildcat 500, let alone its manufacturing company, Rau Arms Corp of Kansas. Let's take a look at this nearly forgotten rimfire rifle.

More Rimfire Report @ TFB:

• The Rimfire Report: CCI Clean-22 - Part 2 with the P322 COMP
• The Rimfire Report: Musing Rimfire At SHOT 2025
• The Rimfire Report: CCI Clean-22 Steel Challenge 40-grain - Part 1

The Rimfire Report: The Rare, Forgotten, and Weird RAU Wildcat 500

The Wildcat 500 is a single-shot .22 caliber rifle similar to past designs that feature a pivoting-barrel and swing-out action. Its forend, which is clearly meant to imitate the style of a pump action rifle, serves as the operating handle for the extractor rather than a traditional grip. Early models were built with a mahogany stock, blued barrel, and action. Later variations included skeleton stocks with plastic inserts designed to look like wood, while some had genuine wood inserts or no inserts at all.

The average rifle weighed about 6 pounds, The Wildcat was intended to be lightweight and manageable for younger shooters or beginners. Again, as is common for these types of firearms the Wildcat 500 can shoot .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle cartridges without issue due to its single-shot nature. According to some users on the forums, a  Wildcat 600 was also produced which was a deluxe model with a walnut stock and chrome-plated steel components - I can’t confirm that this actually ever existed as I can’t find any photos of it or any other evidence besides claims made in these forums.

Historical Background and Predecessors

The Wildcat 500 obviously has its roots in earlier rimfire designs. In 1902, the Hamilton Rifle Company of Michigan produced the twist-action No. 7 rifle, followed by the Model 11—previously covered in The Rimfire Report—both aimed at affordable shooting for youths. By 1967, Firearms International Corp. in Accokeek, Maryland, introduced the BRONCO .22RF, available in takedown and non-takedown configurations. The Garcia Corporation, known for fishing tackle, acquired FIC in 1970 and expanded the BRONCO line with options like a .22 Magnum, a 22/410 combo, and a 410-only model, all marked “Made in USA.” After Garcia’s closure, Bauer in Fraser, Michigan, released a similar design called the Bauer Rabbit in 1984. These rifles share design traits with the Wildcat 500, such as pivoting barrels and a focus on a simple list of inexpensive materials.

Production History of the Wildcat 500

Harold Rau, a retiree from Florida, founded Rau Arms Corp. in El Dorado, Kansas, on September 11, 1969, to produce the Wildcat 500. The rifle’s name reflects the Kansas State University mascot. Rau aimed to create an economical target rifle for women and children, assembling the guns in El Dorado while sourcing actions and other parts from Oklahoma City. Production was limited to about 3,000 units between 1969 and 1970.

Rau Arms Corp. faced challenges and ceased operations rather quickly. After missing its first annual report in September 1970, the company was dissolved by December 15, 1970. In August 1970, Precision Industries (also known as Mountain Arms) of Ozark, Missouri, purchased the business. Precision continued production, initially using Rau markings until 1975, then branding rifles as Mountain Arms Wildcat with Precision Ind stamps. By 1978, Precision discontinued the line. Later models often lacked a fore-end, featured bare metal stocks, and omitted the takedown feature present in some earlier designs. You’ll find a mixed bag of marked receivers on the secondary market but all of them have since discontinued the production of the Wildcat long ago.

Manual of Arms

The Wildcat 500 operates with a straightforward process: the barrel swings out to load a single .22 cartridge, then closes before the rifle is cocked using the fairly large cocking lever mounted on the right-hand side. Aim, fire - pretty simple operation. The Wildcat’s lightweight construction suits it for basic target practice or introductory shooting, especially for kids or smaller framed individuals. Reports from owners indicate it performs reliably for its intended purpose, though it lacks any of the creature comforts we’ve come to expect as somewhat standard today like adjustable iron sights or a more traditional manual safety. The design prioritizes ease of use and unit cost over any sort of versatility or originality.

Collector Status and Market Value

Similar to the “series of tubes” Hamilton Model 11 we covered a few weeks back, the collector's interest in the Wildcat 500 stems from its limited production and unique design. Some people have gone as far as to collect several examples of the same firearm from different manufacturing companies, similar to what we’ve seen with other single-shot 22LR rifles. Auction records show shootable examples selling for around $500, while rougher ones go for $200 or less. Variations in stock material (wood vs. plastic) and manufacturer markings influence value more heavily with the Rau Wildcat since wood furniture and fillings are an inherent part of its original design, unlike the skeleton-like Hamilton Arms Model 11.

While it might be cool to have a collection like some of the guys do in the forums, this is one collector's item I’d be fine not shooting as there doesn’t seem to be any spare parts for sale on the internet like there are for a lot of other discontinued firearms. I wouldn’t expect that the Wildcat would fail catastrophically in any way, but since these are firearms we can truly never get original or “factory” parts ever again, I think it’s safe to keep it in the safe, and maybe share it as a curio/relic with some friends now and again. Love to hear your thoughts on this one. As always, thanks for stopping by to read The Rimfire Report and we’ll see you all again next week!