Windham Weaponry: An Inspiring Tale

Windham Weaponry: An Inspiring Tale

Bushmaster Firearms was bought out by a big conglomerate that moved manufacturing to New York. Hundreds of people were left out of work in rural Maine. But the former owner came out of retirement to put men and machines together again to make ARs. Read more about Windham Weaponry in the 4/20 issue of SGN.

Fortier says the Windham Exterminator has obvious applications for three-gun and other sports shooting in addition to its role as a varmint shooting piece.

Varmint Exterminator's Styling

The Varmint Exterminator's styling is sedate in contrast to the wilder looks of many modern ARs. This is one that will go down easy with the hunting market.

M4 Type Carbines

Along with the Varmint Exterminator Windham Weaponry is offering an array of other models including traditional M4 type carbines for the defensive user.

Just as the Bushmaster rollmark became familiar to every AR fancier, the Windham name should be taking its place in the pantheon of black rifle manufacturing.

The Bolt Carrier Assembly

The bolt carrier assembly was a good looking piece with internal chrome lining, properly staked gas key and a bolt machined from correct Carpenter 158 steel.

The 1:8 barrel twist allows the user to specify a host of bullet weights, ranging from 55-grain varmint pills to 80-grain VLDs for long range shooting.

No military style flash suppressor here, just a nicely executed target crown. Barrel is a medium weight and nicely fluted stainless steel match piece.

The gas block features a MIL-STD-1913 rail that facilitates mounting a front sight if so desired, though that would seem unlikely for a rifle like this.

An Ace, Ltd. skeleton buttstock has a padded receiver extension tube. Fortier says the stock proved quite comfortable for offhand, bench and prone shooting.

The Windham Weaponry Exterminator/Burris Eliminator combination worked very well and provided rapid hits from field positions. Accuracy out to 530 yards was good.