EAA 2" 357 Windicator

Livin_Cincy · Jul 20, 2018

I picked up the “Vindicator” today at lunch.

1- You do not need a come-a-long to pull the DA trigger. My finger worked fine. I also tested it as an an ambidextrous trigger and it worked fine.

2- I couldn’t locate the razor sharp edges that have been reported.

3- The Vertical Grooves on the trigger are not sharp.

4- The grips are rubber not plastic. They are a three finger grip. It felt good in my hand.

5- It is smaller than a 105 Howitzer. They always look huge in pictures. So I assumed everyone doing a video had Bigfoot size hands. It is your typical size.

6- It is built like a Ruger and Charter Arms where the frame is one piece.

7- The SA trigger pull is as you would expect. Lite and crisp.

8- The black on black sights... ARE horrible ! My GP 100 has the same issue. I fixed it... Nail Polish !

9- The Cylinder Lock does not require a truck winch to move. My thumb did it. It is like a S&W or a Taurus. You push it. I like a firm lock.

10- I read the manual out loud in my Arnold Voice...

No range report. I am old school, I dry fire to get a good feel for a new gun and marry the parts. So I will be watching Zombie Movies and breaking in the trigger.

NIGHTLORD40K · Jul 20, 2018

Livin_Cincy said:
I picked up the “Vindicator” today at lunch.

1- You do not need a come-a-long to pull the DA trigger. My finger worked fine. I also tested it as an an ambidextrous trigger and it worked fine.

2- I couldn’t locate the razor sharp edges that have been reported.

3- The Vertical Grooves on the trigger are not sharp.

4- The grips are rubber not plastic. They are a three finger grip. It felt good in my hand.

5- It is smaller than a 105 Howitzer. They always look huge in pictures. So I assumed everyone doing a video had Bigfoot size hands. It is your typical size.

6- It is built like a Ruger and Charter Arms where the frame is one piece.

7- The SA trigger pull is as you would expect. Lite and crisp.

8- The black on black sights... ARE horrible ! My GP 100 has the same issue. I fixed it... Nail Polish !

9- The Cylinder Lock does not require a truck winch to move. My thumb did it. It is like a S&W or a Taurus. You push it. I like a firm lock.

10- I read the manual out loud in my Arnold Voice...

No range report. I am old school, I dry fire to get a good feel for a new gun and marry the parts. So I will be watching Zombie Movies and breaking in the trigger.

Need pics!

Stumper · Jul 20, 2018

Weihrauch makes good stuff.

Cornhusker77 · Jul 21, 2018

I have one I bought in 2009, and it's a pretty decent gun.
Mine had the sharp edges on the hammer and the barrel looked like they hacksawed it off square.
No bluing or crown, just shiny and flat.
I filed the hammer just a bit, put a lot of rounds through it and dry fired it a lot, and it's better.
I'm guessing they have fixed a couple of those issues by now?
Like I said, it's a decent gun, I need to get it out and shoot it one of these days.

Fiv3r · Jul 21, 2018

I've kicked around getting one of these for several years. I've been in the market for a compact (not necessarily lightweight) revolver for the truck/woods/cabin. It doesn't need to be pretty or of heirloom quality. Just a decent knock around gun. I'm not one who will ever shoot enough to stretch the frame on an airweight. I'll never have enough money or time to shoot a barrel smooth. The Windicator has always appealed to my no-frills approach to firearms.

Hermet · Jul 21, 2018

I have one I like it. Cheap, disposable, good trigger, shoots well. Barrel looks like it was hacked off with a dull saw. I've carried it as a front pocket pistol for several years.
The biggest down side are the afore mentioned sights and the lack of available after market grips.( None, zilc, nada.)

bullseye308 · Jul 21, 2018

I bought one about 10 years ago for my now ex wife. 0 problems with the gun, fired every time, and was comfortable to shoot and very accurate. It shot almost as good as my GP-100 and we were hitting a gallon paint can at 100 3-4 out of 6 shots consistently. Sold it and quite a few others to pay for the divorce. I’d like to get another at some point.

Hermet · Jul 21, 2018

bullseye308 said:
I bought one about 10 years ago for my now ex wife. 0 problems with the gun, fired every time, and was comfortable to shoot and very accurate. It shot almost as good as my GP-100 and we were hitting a gallon paint can at 100 3-4 out of 6 shots consistently. Sold it and quite a few others to pay for the divorce. I’d like to get another at some point.

I agree about the accuracy. I used to carry a Glock but after having a little shoot off I switched to the Windicator. Easier to carry and for me as accurate.

Livin_Cincy · Jul 21, 2018

I have been dry firing the snot out of it. Found a few things:
1- The DA pull is heavy. I picked up my GP100 and it felt like a 1/4# DA trigger by comparison !
Q- I cannot see a replacement low power spring for sale. I know trimming springs was the norm before we got spring vendors. I saw a video where a guy had done this to his Ruger SP101. Has anybody done this ?

2- I found the sharp edges on the Hammer & Trigger. I think it is from excessive use by me. The trigger has a strong pull to it so it just puts some wear on your finger. I might finger nail polish the vertical grooves. Same issue with hammer. They designed the gun to work in weathr or gloves. So I might try a glove for dry firing.

3- It is definitely loosening up. The Cylinder Release is much lighter.

4- The Barrel shroud and grip frame are Aluminum.

5- I believe the front sight is set up for different projectile weights. You can see how the blade & 'shoulders' are made: https://image.sportsmansguide.com/adimgs/l/6/641465i_ts.jpg
So by putting the blade flush with the rear sight you get one point of impact. If you place the shoulders flush with the rear sight you will hit another. I am guessing slow or heavy vs lite & fast bullets will determine which sight picture.

Hermet · Jul 21, 2018

That DA action will smooth out with use or at least mine did but I've shot mine a lot and dry fired it many times.

unclenunzie · Jul 21, 2018

I bought one looking for a short barrel 6 shooter 357, but after handling and shooting I personally didn't care for it, so I traded it back in for credit on a standard GP100 4". Different roles to be sure, but for me it was a live and learn experience. Just as a side note - I'm pretty sure the barrel shroud is an alloy of some kind, I don't think it is primarily aluminum because it felt quite heavy. I could be wrong.

Livin_Cincy · Jul 21, 2018

Hermet said:
That DA action will smooth out with use or at least mine did but I've shot mine a lot and dry fired it many times.

It has now loosened up to where I can stage the trigger in DA.

Livin_Cincy · Jul 21, 2018

unclenunzie said:
I bought one looking for a short barrel 6 shooter 357, but after handling and shooting I personally didn't care for it, so I traded it back in for credit on a standard GP100 4". Different roles to be sure, but for me it was a live and learn experience. Just as a side note - I'm pretty sure the barrel shroud is an alloy of some kind, I don't think it is primarily aluminum because it felt quite heavy. I could be wrong.

The Barrel is inserted into the frame. The Aluminum shroud is pinned in place.
The Frame, barrel & Cylinder are steel.

sean m · Jul 21, 2018

zamak,

buck460XVR · Jul 22, 2018

Livin_Cincy said:
The Barrel is inserted into the frame. The Aluminum shroud is pinned in place.
The Frame, barrel & Cylinder are steel.

On their website, they state the Frames are alloy.

Livin_Cincy · Jul 22, 2018

buck460XVR said:
On their website, they state the Frames are alloy.

The break down is like a Ruger or Charter Arms. The part attached to the cylinder is steel. I called this the frame. The part holding the trigger and grip is aluminum alloy. Ruger's SP101 & GP100 are steel everywhere. This is much more like a Charter Arms design.

The weight is 26 oz so it has to have a large chunk of steel someplace or it would weigh 16oz.

EAA 2" 357 Windicator

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