EAA Windicator Revolver: A Range Review

European American Armory (EAA) is a Cocoa, Florida-based company founded in the early 1990s. It imports firearms to the United States and has imported Wierauch pistols from Germany, Tangfoglio from Italy, and Star and Astra Unceta pistols from Spain. It has also imported Izhmash and Baikal long guns from Russia. Its most recent endeavors have been importing pistols and shotguns from Turkey.

The Tangfoglio “Witness” was one of their more well-known imports; it is a modified clone of the CZ75/85.

Initially, EAA simply imported firearms and sold them as they were manufactured. Later on, they began working with manufacturers to develop new products, including competition guns. Most of these competition handguns are from Tanfoglio, and there are a few tiers available, from base models to full custom-tuned models.

Windicator Revolver

The Windicator revolver is made in Weihrauch, Germany, and in size, it vaguely resembles a Smith & Wesson K-Frame.

With the revolver in hand, one can tell that it’s obviously solid, given the substantial heft. The other thing is that it’s not as finely finished as, say, a Smith & Wesson revolver. However, for the price point, it’s certainly decent. And what is the price point? These can be found well under $300.00, which is pretty impressive. One source listed a price of $265.99 at the time of writing.

This revolver belongs to a family member who won it during a drawing; it was not sent by EAA.

Let’s look at some of the specs of the Windicator.

The Specs

The Windicator is a 6-shot double-action/single-action (DA/SA) revolver in .357 Magnum, which means it can also fire the .38 Special cartridge. The barrel length is listed as 4 inches, though the actual measurement is closer to 375 inches. It weighs 25 ounces.

The overall length is 8.5 inches. The finish is nickel, with a matte appearance.

The grips are black rubber with finger grooves on the front strap.

• Capacity: 6
• Caliber: .357 Magnum/38 Special
• Barrel: 4 inches (closer to 3 3/4 when measured)
• Weight: 25 ounces
• Overall Length: 8.5 inches
• Finish: Nickel
• Grips: Black rubber with finger grooves
• Sights: Fixed

Now that we’ve listed the specs, we’ll check out some of the particulars next.

Sights

The sights are about as basic as you’ll find; they’re fixed and machined into the revolver’s receiver. There are no dots or markings on the sights; they are quite plain but work well enough. Some color on the front sight would go a long way toward making them easier to see and use. On the positive side, there are no adjustments to get knocked around in the field, and they don’t get any simpler than this.

Grip and Trigger

Although it’s not fancy, the black rubber grip is pliable enough that it absorbs the recoil of the magnum loads efficiently. The grip fits a wide range of hands, whether large or small. The finger grooves feel great and lock the grip into the hand securely.

The double-action trigger is, of course, very long but not excessively heavy and about average for a revolver of this type. I’d estimate about 12 or so pounds, though I can’t confirm that. Naturally, the single-action pull is much lighter and, I dare say, very crisp. It’s as good a single-action trigger as most of the other revolvers that I’ve ever used.

The fact that this revolver is DA/SA is perfect in that it allows the Windicator to be good for defense or for making more precise shots at longer ranges. A family member used this revolver for hunting, and it has a confirmed kill (a whitetail deer). For all-around use, double action/single action does a great job of providing the full potential that a revolver can reach.

Controls

The cylinder latch releases the cylinder easily and locks it back into place well. The ejector rod operates easily and kicks the spent cases out of the cylinder smoothly. The cylinder also swings in and out smoothly. The ejector rod is shrouded underneath the barrel.

Size, Fit, and Finish

This is an unmistakably large revolver, and it feels solid in the hand. At 25 ounces, it’s not lightweight. Although that doesn’t make carrying the revolver a pleasant thing, the weight does come in handy for taming recoil. The weight also contributes to a feeling of confidence in the piece, as you really feel as if you’ve got a solid gun in your hand.

Recoil with this large-frame revolver is dramatically less than some of the light, snubby revolvers that are easier to carry. Touch off a .357 Magnum in those little revolvers, and you’ll know where the bear pooped in the buckwheat! This is far less so with the Windicator. It’s a natural pointer, too, so indexing on targets is intuitive.

The fit and finish of the Windicator are not bad, but it’s certainly not what we’d refer to as high-end. With that said, there are no rough edges or visible tool marks. The nickel finish has a dull matte quality that doesn’t look bad. All in all, it’s not bad, and I like it. This is a working man’s revolver that’s not fancy, so you don’t have to fret if you put some wear marks on it.

At The Range

Over the past few years, I’ve had several range sessions with the Windicator, and all have proven to be rewarding. The Windicator has been as accurate as any other revolver I’ve used.

It handles well, and I ran it through some drills, firing six rounds of .357 Magnum loads as fast as I could at a target 10 yards away while shooting on the move. I was able to fire very rapidly, as the magnums didn’t slow my fire down much, although it was obviously more of a challenge than with .38 Specials. The grips and the weight of the Windicator go a long way in taming that recoil, and I was easily able to make good hits on the silhouette target.

All family members who shot with the Windicator were able to shoot it well, and recoil was not an issue with magnum loads. When we ran it with .38 Special, it was a veritable pussycat with very little recoil.

This revolver is usually carried with Hornady Critical Defense .357 Magnum 125-Grain FlexTip rounds in the cylinder.

Final Thoughts

The Windicator would be a great training tool for those who are learning to shoot handguns. Loaded with .38 Specials, it has barely any recoil to frighten off a new shooter, and the muzzle blast is tame, too.

Besides new shooters, the Windicator offers a lot to those who are experienced. With magnum loads, it will handily reach out to 100 yards and beyond. It’s at home in the hunting field bagging game, as well as defending hearth and home.

While it’s not a small, thin handgun to slip into one’s waistband for a trip to the gas station, it will still serve for self-defense. As a matter of fact, I can’t think of a job that a good revolver isn’t capable of as far as handguns go. Especially considering that this one is chambered for the vaunted .357 Magnum, which can take up to medium game or defend against two-legged attackers.

For those who want a more concealable revolver, a Windicator with a 2-inch barrel is also available.

The quality of the Windicator seems solid, and it’s proven to be a reliable revolver. It may not be quite as polished as some others on the market, but the Germans seem to have gotten this one right. Throw in a couple of speed loaders or speed strips, and you’re all set!

If you’re looking for a solid working revolver and don’t want to spend a ton of money, the Windicator might be a good choice for you.

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