Can I remove the Flash Hider on my rifle?

As long as it’s a flash hider and not a welded-on muzzle brake, the Flash Hider can be removed a 5/8” open end wrench or a barrel wrench. Be sure the barrel is firmly clamped in a vise – we recommend the use of aluminum vise blocks or an upper receiver action clamp to avoid marring the barrel. For the ban compliant States: NY, NJ, CT, MA and MD, our rifles have welded-on brakes (pinned on with a steel pin that is then welded over and smoothed before final finishing), shaved bayonet lugs and non collapsible stocks. As long as it doesn’t have these features the flash hider will come right off. Note: We are now offering 14.5” barrels for the commercial market that have welded on flash hiders to achieve an overall legal 16” length. Attempting to remove one of these pinned on / welded over flash hiders will likely ruin the barrel.

Can I adjust the length of my permanent telestock?

The permanent telestock – as found on compliant models sold in the States of NY, NJ, CT, MA and MD, is not adjustable. This is a requirement of the regulations in those States. The buffer tube is specially made for that stock (i.e. it is not simply a telestock that has been permanently extended). The length of pull is about ½ inch shorter than a standard, fully extended telestock. We did have a customer recently that bought one of our normal telestocks and had it converted into a fixed stock. You can take a normal telestock and adjust it to the length you want, and have it drilled and have two roll pins inserted in a way in which they cannot be removed. This customer took the stock to his gunsmith to have this done.

Are your front sight bases standard, or “F” marked?

We use standard front sight bases on all of our rifles. If you use a carry handle designed for an “F” marked front sight base it requires a +.040“ taller front sight post (which we also sell – Part # 9349056-MOD). Most rear flip sights that are offered also require a +.040” front sight post.

Can I remove the flash hider on my rifle? Are the threads right or left handed?

Make sure it is a flash hider and not a muzzle brake with a closed end. We make those for ban compliant states (MA, NJ, NY,MD). Those models have no bayonet lug, and the muzzle brake is welded on – making it impossible to remove without damaging the barrel. If it is a regular A2 flash hider, it is removable and it has normal right hand threads (1/2” x 28 T.P.I.), so turn counter clockwise to remove.

Do you use AR15 or M16 firing pins? What is the difference?

We use M16 firing pins exclusively. The diameter of the shoulder of an M16 firing pin is larger than the shoulder of an AR15 firing pin. The AR15 firing pins were designed for use on older style AR15 carriers that had an un-shrouded firing pin. All of our carriers have a shrouded firing pin, both on our AR15 carriers and our M16 carriers. You can use either AR15 or M16 firing pins in our carriers.

My permanent tele stock is too long. Can it be made shorter?

There’s really no easy way to modify one of our fixed teles to be shorter. Our fixed teles aren’t made from stock tele receiver extension tubes that have been modified but rather, are longer and made specifically for the fixed style tele stocks. If you tried to modify the fixed tele stock, its possible you could permanently damage it. One way to accomplish what you want to do is to buy a standard tele stock and then position it where you want it, then roll pin it in place. Another option would be to replace it with a CAR version of the skeleton stock (see our website: Part # STK-SKELKIT-CAR) or “stubby” standard stock (you can find them on-line from various sources).

How do I remove a tele stock and install an A2 stock? Can I use the same buffer and spring?

Below I have attached instructions on removal of a tele stock and installation of an A2 standard stock. The rifle length buffer and spring must be used on the standard stock. The carbine length buffer and spring are too short for the longer tube of the standard stock assembly. The buffer and spring are what the bolt carrier contacts when the rifle is fired or charged. Once the bolt carriers rearward motion stops, the spring and buffer push the carrier back forward into battery.

Installation of A2 Standard Stock Assembly:
First check to make sure weapon is unloaded!

Removal of Tele Stock:

Remove lower from upper receiver by pushing out the takedown and pivot pins. With a lower receiver magwell vise block in a vise, put the lower receiver on the vise block. With the hammer in the cocked position, remove the buffer and spring by pushing the buffer detent down and pulling them out of the buffer tube. Using a properly fitting telestock wrench, loosen the stock castle nut and turn it back far enough so the endplate can be pulled back to reveal the takedown pin spring. Remove the takedown pin spring.

While holding the buffer retainer down with a finger or thumb, unscrew the stock until the buffer retainer is freed. The buffer retainer is under spring tension so be careful not to let it shoot out of the hole when you unscrew the stock. Unscrew the tele stock the rest of the way. Also be aware that there is a detent in the hole where the takedown spring is inserted. Be mindful not to lose this detent as it can fall out of the hole if the receiver is held upright. If you keep it in the vise to perform the next procedure you will not lose the takedown detent.

Installation of A2 Stock Assembly:

While holding the buffer detent down with a thumb or finger, screw the A2 buffer tube into the back of the receiver as far as it will go. Make sure the tube goes over the shoulder of the buffer retainer to capture it in its hole. Using a 5/8” end wrench tighten the buffer tube into the receiver. Insert the takedown spring back into the hole in the back of the receiver. The A2 stock body should have a stock spacer in the stock which is a round black piece of plastic about ½” long. Make sure this is in place. Slide the stock body over the buffer tube making sure it compresses the takedown detent spring into its hole straight and does not bend it over. Tighten screw into the back of the stock until it is snug. Insert standard buffer and spring into the buffer tube until it is captured by the buffer
retainer and held in place.

Why does my gun have an AR15 carrier in it? It is legal in my state to have an M16 carrier. Doesn’t the added weight of the M16 carrier make it more reliable and is easier on the gun?

We had a meeting a while back discussing this issue. It was decided then that all “ban compliant” states would get AR15 carriers. Some states have restrictions and some states don’t, but the law was not always black and white. To be on the safe side our company policy is to ship ALL “ban-compliant” rifles with AR15 carriers. Personally I’ve never seen a real world advantage to an M16 carrier in a semi-auto anyway. Our AR15 carrier is 11.28 oz. Our M16 carrier is 11.60 oz. In other words it’s a whopping .32 ounce heavier. Any mechanical advantage to this in a semi auto AR15 is more imagined than real to the average shooter. The real benefit of the M16 carrier is with the manufacturers. It’s easier to manufacture carriers this way as there is one less machining process. All carriers start out as M16 carriers and the small extra bit of metal at the tail then has to be machined off. If someone wants more weight in the operating system for whatever reason (Really only a benefit if you are using a sound suppressor) it’s pretty simple to go to a heavier buffer such as the 1H, 2H or 3H.

Below is the warning insert we supply with our M16 carrier when sold retail. Following that is another statement regarding our company policy on this issue.

U. S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Firearm Technology Branch RE: M16 Bolt Carriers

Based on BATFE letter dated May 5, 2008, “M16 bolt carriers are not designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun and are not any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled. Further, an M16 bolt carrier is not a firearm as defined in the GCA or a machinegun as defined in the NFA. An M16 bolt carrier is simply a machinegun part and as such its domestic sale and possession is unregulated under Federal firearms law. It is not unlawful to utilize a M16 machinegun bolt carrier in a semiautomatic AR 15 type rifle.”

However, utilizing an M16 bolt carrier in combination with other military-style firing components in an AR 15 rifle may enable the rifle to fire automatically. If a semiautomatic weapon is modified in any way (including the installation of military M16 component parts) which allows it to fire automatically, it becomes a “machinegun” as defined above, and its creation, sale, or possession by an unlicensed individual would be unlawful.

Further rules and regulations may apply in some states. Please contact your local authority for further information.

According to Federal Law, the BATFE states “It is not unlawful to utilize a M16 machinegun bolt carrier in a semiautomatic AR15 type rifle.” As a result, WW has chosen to use M16 bolt carriers in many of its AR15 type rifles, except in the states that have specific laws with higher restrictions. These “Compliant” states include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and California. Our policy for retail sale of M16 Bolt Carriers will be allowed in all states except these “Compliant” states. No retail sales of the M16 bolt carrier will be allowed in NY, NJ, CT, MA and CA.

Can I interchange Uppers and Lowers between Windham Weaponry Carbon Fiber and Aluminum guns?

Our Carbon Fiber rifles are a slightly different spec than the mil-spec aluminum rifles. It was decided during development that we would not pursue interchangeability between the platforms. Trying to force an aluminum Upper onto a Carbon Fiber – or vice versa – will cause damage and void your warranty.