Windham Rifle

Anyone have any experience with Windham SRC AR15 type rifle. I'm thinking about one but don't know much about them.

 

Windham rifles is basically a company started by the originators of bushmaster and of the ones I have handled they are equal to or a little better then the good old bushmasters. All in all seem like good rifles made by good folks.

 

I just shot my Windham carbon fiber for the first time yesterday, ran about 100rds thru it with zero malfunctions and once we got the red dot sighted this was the result at around 50yds of fairly rapid fire

 

I have heard among AR friends that they're quite nice.

 

You can do better for the money.

 

I bought an SRC about 8 months ago. I've been very happy with it. Very good fit and finish, shoots as accurately as I do, and not a single failure to feed, fire, and eject thru the 1500 or so rounds I've put thru it so far. What more can you ask for?

 

I have one and have owned it for about 6 months. It has been a great rifle so far. I would not hesitate to buy another one if given the chance. I like it better than the DPMS I used to own.

 

Have you ever owned,handled,or fired one? If not that's a pretty bold statement. As far as a better rifle for the money I highly doubt that being I payed only 519.00 for mine new from Sportsmans Outdoor superstore.

 

they're about 60 miles from me. I've taken an armorer's class there and had the factory tour. they'll proudly tell you that about 85% of the people who work there now were there when it was bushmaster. if you liked the old Maine made Bushmasters you'll love the new Windham Weaponry ones. I have owned both old bushmasters and a new Windham Weaponry AR-10 SRC 308-SS15 great rifle.

 

I've had my SRC for about two years. Rounds were hard to come by for much of this time but I've got probably 800-1000 through it with no problems. It's more accurate than I am as well. On its own, it looks good in terms of fit and finish. When held up next to my dad's (recent) Bushmaster it makes the Bushmaster look like a high school shop project. I'd definitely recommend one, and when money allows I'll be getting another Windham. The new 18-inch barrel .308 with Midwest Industries handguard is calling my name.

 

Nice rifle
I've had mine for a couple years, and they are hard to beat, especially in their price range.

 

I was told that Core 15 was started up by the original Bushmaster folks. ?? Maybe there were plenty of those guys who started up new AR companies?

I just saw (an hour ago) a Windham at Wal Mart for something over $800. Reckon they are worth over $200 more than the DPMS?

 

This is just personal experience here, a friend picked one up, of their nicer models, and I was scared to shoot it. Primers were getting shoved back, darn near slamfiring (chamber close was nearly as deep as fired), I made him put it up until he had it checked. Apparently their break in process is pretty tough.

My Colt was up and kicking the first day, no problems even with Tula. And I didn't pay that much more, find them on sale and they're worth every penny.

 

Willweeks, could you please explain? Are you trying to say the bolt was in the same place whether or not a cartridge was present? I'm trying to figure out the problem you saw. Thanks.

 

What are you waiting for?

I own an early production MPC that I bought almost 3 years ago for $800.
It has never failed to fire and cycle any 55gr - 62gr 223 or 5.56 I've run through it. I've fired roughly 3000 rounds without a hiccup.
It accepts everything from cheap-o Brownell aluminum mags on up.
Single stage trigger pull is crisp and consistent, but at 8#, it can become tedious after a few hundred rounds. I plan on polishing the trigger to see if that helps.
I replaced the carry handle with an inexpensive Bushnell Red Dot Sight to co-witness a Magpul flip up rear sight. I can hit 6" paper plate all day at 100" from the bench (which is good enough for me!).
Seems well built. I haven't buried it in the dirt, or dropped it from a 747, so I can't comment on that kind of durability, but I bet you can find someone out there who has, and I'd be willing to bet it's rock solid.
I haven't shot many other AR's, so I can only compare it to but a few, but I have yet to look back or have second thoughts about the quality of my WW.
I say buy one, buy one now!
Why are you still here?
Buy one!

 

Nope, never shot one... are there some kind of magical properties about them that make them any different to shoot than any other M-4gery?

I said you could do better for the money based on the specs... 1/9 twist barrel instead of 1/7 or 1/8, carbine gas instead of mid length, and no high pressure testing or magnetic particle inspection on the barrels and bolts. For the money, you can put together a rifle with a little better specs if you build.

If you are ruling out putting your own rifle together, the Windham isn't too bad of an option in that price range... I'd prefer it to the Smith Sport or Ruger AR556... though I'd rather get a Core 15 than any of them, and have 1/7 twist and HPT/MPI testing.

Better yet, get a Colt 6720 for $800, while you can still get them that cheap... I know, I know, that would require the patience to save up another 2 or 3 hundred bucks instead of rushing out and buying the cheapest AR you can find as soon as you have the money, so I'm probably wasting my breath.

 

The world of AR's today is like no other time before with rifles, ammo and parts readily available and at reasonable prices. Look at several brands before your purchase, if looking for a "bargain" rifle Windham makes models that compare with other low priced units. For my first AR I would budget twelve hundred dollars for the rifle and six hundred for two cases of brass case ammo. A weapon in this price range (colt, BCM, DD, etc) will be of better quality in areas that make years of intense trouble free use at your disposal. If 200 rounds a year is actually what you are going to shoot any level firearm you can afford will work. I would stay away from plastic receivers simpLy because aluminum parts rarely break but the poly ones are just as expensive and currently have a dubious track record that you probably do not want to be involved with.

 

Thats fair enough , there were certain factors that went into this purchase the biggest being this was my first AR and with prices dropping like they are there's a chance I would have lost money on a pricier rifle if I didn't like it and wanted to sell it, and with the price I payed for it I could resell it no problem for what I payed.
Another big factor was the reviews/comments on the gun forums that seemed to be about 90% positive. With all that said I still can't figure out some people especially on ar15.com that are so petty [at least to me] that if it's not 100% mil spec,no forward assist, dust cover it's junk. As it turned out I really like the light weight of the gun and find it very easy to handle. I already have my mini14 sold and after I get my wifes xmas gifts the rest is going to the new Ruger ar556 that should retail for mid 600's

 

Since Colts can be found for under $900, I certainly wouldn't bother with Windham at $800.

 

I was referring to the firing pin impression on chamber close, it was nearly deep enough to cause slam fires, very close to the actual fired shells.

 

True this.

Just saw a *lightly used* Colt A3 for $750 at the LGS.
Same LGS had a new Colt for $900. Could probably have haggled that down something further for an OTD price of about $850, as the owner would have deemed someone like me to be an "established client."

Since the current market for all things AR - as well as for all makes of 5.56mm/.223 ammo - is experiencing a record glut price-wise, why buy some one-off 3rd tier AR clone?

Right now, you can get one of the top tier standard AR flattop models for not much more than what Windham is asking for theirs. Even "name" makers, like Noveske & BCM, have reduced their prices on standard AR carbines and upper receivers.

Something to think about ...

 

Thanks for the info. I'm looking real hard at Armilite.

 

Since I don't know enough about AR's to get in a debate about whats best. Windham is staffed by mostly Bushmaster employees who got canned there's no reason to think their rifles wouldn't be as good as the old Bushmasters. "agtman" so you're saying anything not colt is a one off 3rd tier repro. Again I'd love to say you're talking out your a** but the only experience I have is with Windham and my buddies Daniel Defense but I can state my experience with my 1911's, 1 colt commander,1 Ruger and 4 Rock Islands- is the Colt trigger better,no, is the action smoother,no,is it more accurate,no,is the finish better,ever so slightly. The only real difference is it's got a pony stamped on the slide.

"tickbite" the best advice I can give you is research the different forums like I did and get as much info as you can, except ar15.com (if your ar costs less than a months pay it's junk) according to them. The research I did showed PSA,Windham,Smith and Wesson and a few others have really good reviews from actual owners. Again do your research and get the one that you like best, don't listen to a bunch of people who've never shot the rifle but they're willing to spend your money and while your at it check this new one that Ruger just came out with MSRP 749.00 http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556/models.html
,

 

CDNN will have the Rugers for 629.00. http://www.cdnnsports.com/ruger-ar556-5-56-carbine.html#.VFLYjVfvh8c

 

A lot of opinions from people that have never touched one.. just sayin'. You can look at specs all day long and form an opinion based on them.... but there's no substitute for fondling the rifle yourself and forming your own opinion. I've seen and held a Wyndham but never shot one. I thought the fit and finish was better than many rifles I've seen that cost more. That's all I can tell you. Over the years I've gotten tired of the, "this rifle is better because it's made by ____" ... or "these specs are better"... it just depends on what the end-user wants. A guy who wants a tactical rifle is going to look at it a whole lot different than a guy shooting groundhogs at 500 yards.

I've also seen "off-brand" (if RRA is an off-brand) ARs out-shoot dedicated varmint rifles... like MY RRA and MY Sako L579 heavy-barreled .243. A buddy of mine has an old Bushmaster. It shoots just as well as any other 16" AR.

Now I'm not really sure what my point is! I'm kind of wound up though... pay your money / take your chances. I was impressed with the quality that I saw on the Wyndham for the money they were asking, when I touched it. A lot of guys won't buy it because it doesn't have a big name on the receiver. You gotta get over that and buy what you like.

Edit addition: I have a "vintage" (1970's) SGW, which was the predecessor to Olympic Arms. It has a milled billet receiver and a stainless Olympic barrel. SGW was known for their very good quality match-grade barrels. This old AR with the carry handle will REALLY shoot. And... it hasn't ever malfunctioned for me. Now people look at that and go, "Oh, that's a crappy old Oly... they have a bad rep and I wouldn't poke it with a stick." Buy a Wyndham if it looks like something you want. Later on if it's not... get another one with a different name on it! It's all good.