I'm in ca so the windicator is only available in the .38 snub model. First question is this revolver really bad? Is the zinc "pot metal" frame not going to last? I would be shooting like 100 rounds every other month or so? Is Rossini that much better? How is eaa warranty service? I know the finish is not the greatest but that can be changed with duracoat. Any recent experiences?
.38 windicator?
- Thread starter 1badman
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1858remington
Member
They do hold crab pots in place real well.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
1badman, Welcome to the forum.
When it comes to guns, for the most part you get what you pay for. If you buy a $150 revolver that's exactly what you get. Don't expect it's fit-n-finish to be good and don't expect to pass it on to the next generation. Anyone who asks about buying a cheap handgun (cheap, not inexpensive) I tell them the same. Save up to buy something with quality because you will be happier and safer doing so.
Yes, the Rossi is a better revolver as is the Taurus and Charter Arms. If it were me I would buy a used Ruger or S&W any day before a new revolver made of Zinc Alloy.
When it comes to guns, for the most part you get what you pay for. If you buy a $150 revolver that's exactly what you get. Don't expect it's fit-n-finish to be good and don't expect to pass it on to the next generation. Anyone who asks about buying a cheap handgun (cheap, not inexpensive) I tell them the same. Save up to buy something with quality because you will be happier and safer doing so.
Yes, the Rossi is a better revolver as is the Taurus and Charter Arms. If it were me I would buy a used Ruger or S&W any day before a new revolver made of Zinc Alloy.
robinkevin
Member
Some will tell you that you get what you paid for but that isn't always true. Many guns are lower in price and fine weapons. I would rather go with Rossi or Taurus over the EAA Windicator personally however a lot of people will tell you Taurus and Rossi are crap. I don't by that, they have had quality issues in the back but usually stand behind their product and make it right. Also in recent years they have been working on improving their quality while keeping prices down. A lot of times when you buy a big name firearm you are paying for just a name, a name that was built upon good quality years ago but have since went down.
Smith and Wesson are good but not as good as they use to be, Ruger has kept up their quality from day one it seems, Colt is real nice but you pay a lot more for the name imo.
Now with all that being said depending on what you want out of this pistol I would suggest looking into Armscor M200 which I put on the same level as Rossi but with a little less attractive finish but $100 less from what I have seen. That $100 you save you can put towards a nice Ruger, Smith or whatever your heart desires and still have a decent little revolver to shoot. As I said however it depends on what your want and needs are.
BTW the only bad reviews I have read on Armscor was about one that was over throwing when shooting fast. The same guy posted about that everywhere so it pops up and makes it looks like they all do. He was going to send it back to have it repair but never saw anything on what the outcome was.
Smith and Wesson are good but not as good as they use to be, Ruger has kept up their quality from day one it seems, Colt is real nice but you pay a lot more for the name imo.
Now with all that being said depending on what you want out of this pistol I would suggest looking into Armscor M200 which I put on the same level as Rossi but with a little less attractive finish but $100 less from what I have seen. That $100 you save you can put towards a nice Ruger, Smith or whatever your heart desires and still have a decent little revolver to shoot. As I said however it depends on what your want and needs are.
BTW the only bad reviews I have read on Armscor was about one that was over throwing when shooting fast. The same guy posted about that everywhere so it pops up and makes it looks like they all do. He was going to send it back to have it repair but never saw anything on what the outcome was.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Your loss, our gain!
More fine old used S&W's left for those of us who prefer buying better revolvers than anyone still makes today.
rc
Doesn't EAA have a pretty good reputation with autoloaders? Are the revolvers made in the same factory? I always wondered why there was such a big jump in quality from the revolver to auto. As bad as it may sound the revolver rep has kept me from seriously considering one of their autos
bdb benzino
Member
You will have a MUCH MUCH higher chance of owning a good working revolver if you buy a used S&W for under $300 off of one of the internet sales sites, than buying a new Windicator. And thats not just you, thats the straight fact of the matter.
Good luck however you choose!
Good luck however you choose!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
You don't need to know if you know how to check out a used revolver.
They didn't let too many S&W lemons get out of the factory back in the day.
Besides, you are the one wanting to save a few bucks by buying a cheap pot-metal no-name revolver.
Not me.
All I was doing was to point out that you can spend nearly the same money on an older used S&W and have a 100% better gun, and one that will still have a lifetime of use left in it.
My work is done here, as I can see I can't change your mind with the facts.
rc
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There is truth to that statement but when you buy a new gun from a company that saves money on material and/or quality control you don't know the full story behind it either. If they have good customer service you have something to fall back on but you still still stand a higher chance of getting a gun that is not as good as a used smith or ruger. New from a company like charter, Rossi, or EAA is more of a gamble than used from the others.
These companies put out more problematic new guns that abused used Smith and Rugers out there
1badman, I know where you are coming from because I am from the same camp. I really do not like buying used; you never know how many rounds are left in the gun before a critical part breaks. This is not such a problem for range toys, so I do make an exception for pure range toys/target/fun guns. But, for a gun that might be used in self defense, it just makes me feel better to know exactly how much wear is on the gun.
That being said, beyond the range toys, I do make two exceptions to this philosophy. First is for milsurps, since to buy new would be hard, expensive, and largely defeat the purpose. The other time I will buy used is for certain guns where the used options are SIGNIFICANTLY better than the new options.
The revolver world is one such facet of the gun world. Beyond new Rugers, there is no other good new option in my opinion. The older S&W revolvers are built very well, much better than any new options. To make S&W's of the quality of old would be very expensive; its like getting a super premium gun for normal prices.
For example, I know there has been a lot said about MIM parts, but I'd still feel more comfortable with a used S&W where I can see the wear (and replace the part before breakage) than having a new MIM part unexpectedly break. For a revolver, I would not hesitate to buy a used S&W over any new Charter, Armscor, EAA, Taurus, etc. revolver. Check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL3jfhM2mYM
Then check out his video on how to check out a revolver as well as the stickied thread in this forum. This way you can be assured of a decent gun, at least as sure as you will be that a new ____ is decent.
You are entitled to your opinion certainly, and I hope this doesn't come off as beating a dead horse, but I thought I'd add my own $.02 so you could make a more informed decision. If you still want to buy new, then absolutely go ahead.
That being said, beyond the range toys, I do make two exceptions to this philosophy. First is for milsurps, since to buy new would be hard, expensive, and largely defeat the purpose. The other time I will buy used is for certain guns where the used options are SIGNIFICANTLY better than the new options.
The revolver world is one such facet of the gun world. Beyond new Rugers, there is no other good new option in my opinion. The older S&W revolvers are built very well, much better than any new options. To make S&W's of the quality of old would be very expensive; its like getting a super premium gun for normal prices.
For example, I know there has been a lot said about MIM parts, but I'd still feel more comfortable with a used S&W where I can see the wear (and replace the part before breakage) than having a new MIM part unexpectedly break. For a revolver, I would not hesitate to buy a used S&W over any new Charter, Armscor, EAA, Taurus, etc. revolver. Check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL3jfhM2mYM
Then check out his video on how to check out a revolver as well as the stickied thread in this forum. This way you can be assured of a decent gun, at least as sure as you will be that a new ____ is decent.
You are entitled to your opinion certainly, and I hope this doesn't come off as beating a dead horse, but I thought I'd add my own $.02 so you could make a more informed decision. If you still want to buy new, then absolutely go ahead.
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I understand all views. But when someone says your loss our gain like I'm being stupid I just have to respond. And by full story I also mean was it used in a crime. I know that should not matter and who gives a **** but to me it does. But back to the topic .
robinkevin
Member
Unless buying off the street your odds of it being used in a crime a extremely low. Someone who uses a pistol in a crime isn't going to try selling it to a gun shop. A shady pawn shop, maybe but even then they do take down information and make sure it's not stolen. You are listening to the media too much there. Also most of the used Smith and Wesson's are police trade ins. They are carried a lot and shot little so usually are in real good condition other than some holster wear which in my eyes just adds character. Also a police trade in isn't coming from a crime...
Basically I think what the best advice is, if you want a good firearm buy a good one which when speaking of new Ruger is the best out there to match that you are more than likely going to need to buy used. Like cars firearms just aren't made like they use to be. On the other hand if you are just wanting a cheap beater to shoot at the range then go cheap in order to save money for a real nice one. Personally I can't bring myself to buy a Rossi for $300 when I can have a lot more better in a police trade in Model 10. Talking about saving $100 on that $300 to buy a cheap beater allowing me to put more money in the new Ruger saving can, well that in my mind makes more sense...
Then again your mileage may vary. Just remember when buying cheap make sure they stand behind their product and have a lifetime warranty and don't be surprise if you have to send it in for some work.
ljnowell
Member
I had one given to me, and two people I know bought one. One of them doesnt have it anymore, and I do have one, do the math. The trigger never really gets smooth on them. One of my friends thought he would shoot full power magnum loaded 158gr SWC through his to see how it held up. It developed horrible end shake and went out of time in about 1K rounds, give or take a few hundred. It spitting lead now and he just plinks with it. The other one is the one that was given to me. It will occasionally lock up when shooting double action. Let off the trigger and pull it again and it will go. It also developed a horrible amount of endshake and shot out of time, shooting only standard pressure 38 loads. It lasted longer, maybe 2k rounds. These are both 357 chambered, btw.
Not saying that they are ALL junk, I am just simply reporting my experience to you.
Not saying that they are ALL junk, I am just simply reporting my experience to you.
robinkevin
Member
According to Armscor it's made of
take that for what it's worth... I don't think it would be a revolver that would last forever but from the one I have handle I believe one would get their $200 of use out of it. Also from my understand like the RIA 1911's I believe there is a lifetime warranty from what I recall...
take that for what it's worth... I don't think it would be a revolver that would last forever but from the one I have handle I believe one would get their $200 of use out of it. Also from my understand like the RIA 1911's I believe there is a lifetime warranty from what I recall...
bdb benzino
Member
We are talking about the Windicator imported by EAA, not the Colt clone made by Armscor.
Although I beleive the Armscor revolver would be better in quality.
Ash
Member
I saw an Armscor and was surprised. It was the full-size model and the cylinder would not rotate all the way and lock. If you pulled the hammer back slowly, it would cock without the cylinder being locked. You could turn it about 1-2mm before it would lock for shooting. It did it on all chambers equally (the pawl or star were not up to snuff).
I would certainly check one before I bought it. However, if it started off okay, then I imagine they would last quite a while.
The EAA's are made in Germany by Weihrauch and are just so-so in quality/durability. So much for German engineering - proof there is always an exception.
I would certainly check one before I bought it. However, if it started off okay, then I imagine they would last quite a while.
The EAA's are made in Germany by Weihrauch and are just so-so in quality/durability. So much for German engineering - proof there is always an exception.
bigtubby
Member
1badman, I will only buy a used gun and only a S&W, Ruger or Colt I check them out and buy them I don't care about there history of a crime when they are purchased the serial# is ran to check to see if they are stolen if not it is a good deal for me. Most of the used guns I buy look like they are hardly fired and once a brand new gun is fired by the owner it is a used gun. Good luck with your purchase and I hope you get a good one.
Ash
Member
As to used, I agree. The vast majority of all pistols I have bought are used. I only got a lemon once.
Hoppes Love Potion
Member
They aren't making them with the fit, finish, style, and craftsmanship of the old S&Ws. The new ones don't compare. Rugers are sturdy and a bit unrefined, and I agree with the others who say that Ruger is currently the only one with consistent high quality at a good price. S&W is slipping in their quality control.
The great thing is there are millions of great-quality used Smiths out there and many are still very reasonably priced. Lots of them were kept in a box and never shot, or passed down from Grandpa in mint condition.
The great thing is there are millions of great-quality used Smiths out there and many are still very reasonably priced. Lots of them were kept in a box and never shot, or passed down from Grandpa in mint condition.
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