EAA Windicator Durability report

B

braindead0

New member
As I've posted in the past on the EAA Windicator, I thought I'd do a quick follow up (also going to update my article on handloads.com).

After around 2000rds, still running good....BUT.. I found the weakness. The front cylinder catch is engaged via a slot in the ejecter, when the rear engagement 'button' is depressed (while sliding in or pressing the release) it lines up a slot in the ejecter rod with a catch built into the frame.

This works fine for .38 and .38+P probably a bit higher. This weekend I fired 12rds of 'American' (I think, made by federal) high velocity 158gr copper jacket flat point. These are pretty stiff, probably right in the end of .357 range..quite a kick. Well, 12rds of that beat up the ejecter rod enough that I couldn't release the cylinder without a bit of a whack.

A couple of seconds with a fine diamond file and everything was back to normal. No excessive cylinder 'slop' or anything. But it does mean that this gun is relagated to IDPA use only, handles those loads all day.
 
Thanks for info.....

I owned two of them: one in .38sp with adjustable sights and the other a .357 mag. If I recall correctly, their owner's manual does not advise the continuous shooting of +P or high pressure reloads. However, 12 rounds of "hot stuff" does not seem excessive. All that being said, both windicators were a "best-kept" secret - two of the best revolvers out there for the price. The .38sp with adjustable sights is still the most accurate short-barreled handgun I've ever fired. A very comfortable, forgiving gun.
 
Yeah, overall it's a good gun.. But It's a .357 so it should be able to handle full .357 loads. From what I can tell it's a basic design flaw... It's not going to keep me from shooting it in IDPA.. at least until I get something else ;-).. It's also a nice compact SD pistol. I figure if I get something else, this is a perfect car gun.. fits in my center console (underneath a tray insert, so I can get my reg/ins. cards)..
 
I actually finally got to see/play with a Windicator in person. Larger than I thought, trigger wasnt bad at all..better than a stock Ruger d/a trigger, quality wasnt what I had hoped for but better than some "super" name brand guns Ive played with lately.
All in all.....not a bad little gun. For less money than my old Rossi, you can have a nice 357. But this store wanted 329$ for it :eek:
Shoot well
 
Whew! Eric: You gotta find another store!

I paid well less then $200 for both my windicators. Got them both at the same pawn shop NIB. Not a compact snubby by any stretch of the imagination, nor particularly light (both of mine weighed in at over 30 oz. However, that is what made it such a joy to shoot and I did like the 6 round capacity.
 
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