Windham weaponry vs Colt 6920

I am looking to make my first AR purchase. Not gonna be putting more than a few hundered down range at the very most a year. Was set on a Colt because, from what I have read here it the safest bet on a quaility AR. I aint really sure what I should be looking for in a AR other than a chrome lined barrel. I went down to the local gun shop. They have a few Windham Weaponry AR's for 795.00. What I want to know is what is the difference in the standard Windham and the Colt?
Thanks.

P.S. tried the search function but, didnt get anywhere with it.

Besides price?

Every Colt has a MPI/HPT bolt. WW does batch testing, so luck of the draw.

Colt ships with a 1/7 barrel that is MPI/HPT in certified 4150 CMV steel. WW ships with a 1/9 and batch testing on barrels.

Colt comes standard with F marked FSB. WW still uses the A2 type.

Colt's BCG has a properly staked gas key. WW apparently has fixed earlier problems with theirs and might be up to snuff now.

Colt ships with standard H buffer (IIRC). WW ships with carbine buffer.

If you are looking at a plinker, the Windham will be okay. If you are looking at a serious use carbine to last the ages, pay the extra money and go with the Colt.

And no, I don't own a Colt, so no fan boy comments. Use them on duty, but do not own them personally. Just know they are decent quality.

Buy what makes you happy. I'd suggest the Colt over the WW, but the WW does have merits for a general use range plinker that gets shot maybe three or four times a year.

And ending on that note as I'm sure there will be 10 pages about why Colt sucks and you should buy a Windham since you are only paying for a Colt name, why Windham sucks and you should pay the extra money and get a Colt and snarky attitudes competing for the most attention.

For the price the Colt is hard to go wrong with.

Its is close to milspecs as one could get. (excellent carriers/bolt)


As far as the barrel . That depends on what you want to use it for.
High quality SS barrels are known to more accurate than the standard chromelined barrels .

I wouldnt have a problem using a SS barrel on a leo/mil carbine or rifle


Just break each part down and compare. Figure out what type of platform you want.

I'll argue the other way. This is a admitted low-use plinker. Buy the WW. It will serve you fine. The savings is enough to buy sow ammo and mags, or pretty much cover a decent optic like an Aimpoint Pro. If you end up rarely using it, you still have a very fine rifle that will easily bring in $650-$700 used private sale. If you end up liking ARs and grow up in the hobby, you can lay off the upper on the EE here and build something that meets your specific needs and desires. For me, your run of the mill carbine upper doesn't meet my preferences regardless of who makes it.

Get in with the best value available. WW is a better value for your stated use.

Grand58742 pretty much nailed it here, IMO.

I own WW and don't regret it one bit and if thats what you decide, you'll feel the same way.

Those little things may not mean much, but if you can find the 6920 for $1,000 or less, that $200 would justify IMO getting the colt.

Trust me though, you wont go wrong with a WW, they have a great customer service rep that is on the industry page pretty much daily and is more than happy to answer any of your questions... not sure if the Colt industry page is the same or not.

Where can you get ammo, mags and an Aimpoint PRO for $200? Last I saw the PRO was $400. $200 will cover a can of ammo and a couple mags. If it were me I'd save for another month or two and get the Colt. With ammo going to cost far more than you spend on the gun over it's lifetime I don't see the point. Plus, if you don't like the AR platform, you'll be more likely to be able to get most of what you spent on the Colt back if you sell it.

Do you understand what the word OR means?

First, who has Colt 6920s in stock right now for $1,000? I think that ship has sailed, I haven't looked in a month or so, but $6920s were creeping back up to $1,100ish.

I picked up 500 rounds of AE 5.56 at Wal-mart for 180ish. You can frequently find deals on new mags for $10ish with Magpul followers for non-ban staters. I grabbed a nib Aimpoint Pro on the EE for $350 shipped. I've also gotten two like new M2s in ARZmS throw lever mounts for $250 shipped each.

So yeah, $300 which is the likely price difference between the two. Even $200 can buy a lot of accessories/ammo. I think for the OPs needs the WW fits the bill AND will allow for some of the extras he will need.

It was exhausting and took 2 seconds to click on one of the links below but I did it. You can back order the 6920 for $ 1,000.

http://dsgarms.com/ProductInfo/CO6920.aspx

Who knows? Maybe a couple of minutes of link clicking by the OP might find it in stock?

+1 on the mention that a Colt will have a better resale value than anything else.

You can backorder... When will it be back in stock at that price? Will it be made available at that price. Several companies accept backorders and later cancel them because they can not offer them at that price any longer. So your example doesn't cut it. Look around, those that have them in stock are all $1,100 and up. The cheapest on gun broker is $1,059 plus $30 shipping and a likely transfer fee. So the issue is $800 WW available today, $1,100 plus Colt available today, or the chance of MAYBE a backordered Colt becoming available at $985. Want to guess how many are probably on that backorder list? I checked more than a dozen places, nobody has an in stock 6920 for a grand or less.

Are there any companies building there rifles like colt with the same things as mentioned here? Basically is anyone build rifles as good or better? Thanks

Bravo company, Dainel Defense are a few

But the 6920 are going to be cheaper than those and others that have the same specs...

I just don't see the point of getting hung up on Colt for what will be an admitted plinker. However, if that's what you decide on, the 6920 IS a fine rifle. I had a 6920 upper on a pre-ban Colt lower. I sold it and used the money to get a BCM middy upper with a LaRue 12 inch rail.

If you are at all handy, consider building your own. You'll learn a lot about the rifle doing so. You can get a forged lower for $50-$60 if you look around. This is a very nice midlength kit. $700ish for a nice rifle. I am sold on midlength over carbine, I was a skeptic at first.

Either one will serve you just fine.

I'd respectfully suggest you spend a bit more and go with the Colt.

AR's are addictive and the chances are good that you'll find yourself more than a plinker.

Good luck.

Yep as cheap as the Colt's are going for these days, it pays to just get that.

Resale is higher on a Colt than a similarly-equipped DD or BCM, anyway

As cheap? Colt is $1,100 minimum. You can built the PSA kit for $700. I don't know about you, but the Colt costs more than 1.5 times as much as a build your own PSA. Yes, resale is higher. So he'll get $900 for the Colt IF he sells it, and probably $600 for the PSA. But he paid $700 for the PSA and $1,100 at least for the Colt.

The question is, if he doesn't want to invest a ton, what is the best value today? A rifle with no mags and ammo is useless. Figure $100 for 10 mags, and around $175-$200 for ammo. So let's just add $300 to either package. PSA kit, lower, mags, and ammo for $1,000. Colt, mags, ammo for $1,400. Add a quality optic to both. PSA package $1,400 and Colt $1,800.

Maybe there is a question we should ask the OP. What is your budget? Also, do you want an optic or will you be using irons?

No offense to WW, I'm sure that they make a fine commercial rifle. But at $800 for a WW and $1000 for a Colt, I'll buy the Colt every time.

It's like buying a Hyundai vs. a Honda.

Again, please show me this $1,000 colt in stock and ready for delivery... I can't find one.

And you can get a quality AR for less than $800, $700 if you're willing to assemble your own lower. The difference in reality is $300 to $400, it's not $200. That is real money to some people.

I hope the OP will share his budget, because the advice we give really depends on that variable.

My advice get a BCM light wt & an MOE handguard and an LMT Defender lower with a SOPMOD stock and add one of Geissele's budget AR triggers....
I would also get a sling, a Magpul Gen II back up sight and a Aimpoint Micro 2moa in a Larue mount ten PMags and a case of ammo

The only one I know of that's close to the same quality for less of a price would be the Palmetto State. Has about the same features and as stated previously will come in cheaper than a Colt. I have no personal experience with them, but owners tend to like them.

Good luck with whatever purchase you make.

BCM and DD are great alternatives to Colt.

Its your first AR, go quality and get a colt. You think you may want 'just a plinker' but if SHTF I bet that plinker will be sitting by the door loaded up ready to defend your life and the life of your family and you'll wish you would have gone with proven make.

I recently just bought my first AR, the Windham Weaponry MPC model. I did a good bit of research and for $200 less I feel I got a rifle of equal quality. Windhams customer service is second to none, and their rifles have a lifetime warranty that's also transferable if you sell the rifle later on. I also thought their story was awesome. All in all I love mine, it's an excellent weapon that shoots great right out of the box. There will always be colt fanboys that will say anything else isn't worthy but honestly the Windham is just as good and $200 that you save could easily be spent on ammo and accessories. I put a full set of magpul furniture on mine and still have spent less than what the colt would cost. Get the Windham, you won't be disappointed.

Windam has 1/7 barrels listed in the parts section..while MP and HP testing and the trpe of steel high end or low end doesnt garuntee that the part will fail at just a $250 to $300 differebce id go Colt.If you could pick up a windam rifle for say $750 then its not bad that way you can always upgrade to better barrel or BCG but after adding in that cost you could have went Colt or BCM from the beginning.For the windham price range you may be able to get Spikes or PSA for that money and they have tested parts equal to the others.

You can get a complete PSA middy kit for $630 with a hammer forged chrome lined 1/7 barrel, and the kit is tested according to the product description. Grab a cheap forged stripped lower and you're at $700. That's a $400 cost savings over a Colt 6920. That's 10 mags, 500 rounds of ammo and a Bushnell TRS25 sight.

OP, check your private messages

Windham is not a "new" company. They are a rebirth of the Bushmaster we loved and trusted. I will stand my MPC against any M4 clone for quality, accuracy , fit and function. My MPC shoots as well as my Sabre Professional, which is a hell of a better rifle than your Colt. Get off you high HORSE and see what is available outside the STABLE...remember we are talking about a company with 30 + years of building AR's.

Just for the record, if either rifle has a "4150 CMV" barrel, then it's not mil-spec. Windham advertises 4150 "CMV."

Mil-spec steel is either Ordnance 4150 or Ordnance 4150 Resulfarized - neither of which contains Vanadium. Or its CMV steel - which is not Ordnance 4150. More like 41V45.

Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine. There is no such thing as a 4150 "CMV" mil-spec barrel. Its just 4150 CM.

You have not driven a Hyundai lately have you? Their quality is just as good as Honda!


Finestkind.

Not trying to be a dick but did you try a Google search? The technical specifics of rifles in question are readily available on the web. Could be wrong but this thread seems more like the weekly controversy generator than anything. Almost reads like a prank post. Apologies if incorrect. Seems like if you read enough to develop an opinion that Colt is "the safest bet on a quality AR" you probably have stumbled on WW threads.

My advice would be to do some MORE reading and form an opinion. It would take about 2 hours. lol! From Feb till now should have been plenty of time to know the ins and outs of ARs currently available. But pour some gas on the fanboys. Have to admit, it's kind of amusing.

Like I said, 10 pages of "My brand rules and yours drools" nonsense and snarky comments lol

And I might have just added my own snarky comment...

ETA: What would be really amusing would be the OP throwing us all for a loop an buying something like an Adcor BEAR GI or another brand we haven't named yet.

No this post is not a joke or a prank post. Not sure I trust what I am told at the gun shop seems they all push what they have for sale. Was told to come here to get educated before i bought. I wanted to know the difference in a Colt and a Windham. Sorry if the post offended you.

What are your sources of thi information? Like how do up know whether ww batch tests. Are you just assuming that ww is identical to bushmaster? When did ww have problems with gas key staking?

Stag arms Plus models.

Well, maybe people are tired of hearing this from me, but Windham Weaponry (the product and the company) has treated me so well that I'm going to chime in whenever it comes up. That list of differences in specifications sounds impressive. I don't think it makes a hoot of difference where the rubber meets the road. I've had my WW MPC for something over two months now with over a thousand rounds of a variety of factory, military (green tips), and handloads through it without the slightest problem. I have an optical sight on it that cost more than the rifle, and it shoots minute of angle with several loads.
There is minimal wear of any kind on it - just started to get broken in really. I've never shot a Colt AR-15. I've had lots of other Colts and their QC has not impressed me lately. Maybe the rifles are better.

Windham Weaponry's customer service/support is better than outstanding. I have called them for information a few times. A human answers the phone, and I have never had anything but a very satisfactory experience with them. When I lost a small part (my fault), I called them and they gave me a replacement free with free shipping, and I had it the next day.

I think Windham Weaponry is not, as yet, getting the recognition it deserves. I am confident that anyone buying one will get years of good use from it. How well it serves you will depend more on you than on the difference between Colt and WW, or any of several other brands for that matter. My opinion.

Just bought on less than a week ago shipped to FFL for $985.00 plus $20 transfer fee so total of $1,005 for that I would go with Colt everytime. Like one of previous posters said maybe he gets whatever one he chooses and hates it I know some people who dispise the Ar platform. He will get most if not all of his $$ back with a colt same can not be said for a WW/ Also with a Colt you know you will get a great rifle. I have saw some WW that were great but I have also saw several that were improperly stakes and has as leak. Also if you are going to run an optic on the WW you better get a riser becuase the standard A2 sights I have seen on the WW are too tall for optics w/o a riser to project over.

Standard A2 sights from WW are taller than 'F' Marked sights from Colt?

yes, the standard front sight was designed to the height of the carry handle buis, when they moved the flat top they made the F height one that is different

So you are saying the Standard FSB is taller than the F-marked FSB? Are you sure about that?

For your intended purpose of the rifle, you will likely never notice the difference between the Colt and the Windham. If all you plan to do is fire a few hundred rounds a year and it is not going to be used for defensive purposes, then I can see why you might want to save money on your purchase.

However, if you are trying to go cheap, I would recommend that you take a look at PSA instead of the Windham. You can probably get the PSA cheaper and with better specs.

Frankly, if you just want something to plink with for a few hundred rounds a year, I'd recommend that you really save money and buy a Ruger 10/22.

Or if you want to try out the AR-15 form factor and save money, buy the S&W MP15-22. I have put a wide variety of 22 LR through mine without a hiccup.

Out the door at a local gun show, I paid less than $ 470. If you decide you want to move up to the standard AR-15 5.56 later, you would most likely keep the S&W ... but you would not have a problem finding someone to take it off your hands for most of what you paid for it, either.

Palmetto state Armory would not be on my short list!!!!!

And why not? You one of those upset because they had to end a sale early because the manufacturer slapped their pee pees over a MAP violation? Or do you have a legit criticism over the quality of their product

Doesn't say if they're in-stock, but $995 + $5 shipping:

http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.aspx?PartNumber=COLT-LE6920

Good find, they ave some other options available as well. Nice selection.

Cool, more for us. Wish less people would buy them. Don't want to see the prices increase. Everybody buy Colt carbines... Don't buy anything from PSA, BCM, DD, or Spikes. Especially BCGs from any of them.

OP good luck in your decision. Whatever you pick will be fine. It is truly hard to find a bad AR these days regardless of the strong opinions.

I've been batting around the idea of buying one of these colts to replace my RRA 16". I won't be keeping them both, as I have no desire to have duplicate 16" AR's. I paid too much for the RRA in '09, but it seems like they're still selling on Clist for about what the 6920 goes for online. I figured if I could "turn" the RRA into a Colt, that would be a good move.

The more I looked, though, the more I realized I'd want to steal the grip from the RRA, as well as the free float rail, which means pressing off the FSB, etc etc. In the end, I decided that was an awful lot of work, when I could simply use one of my spare PSA MPT BCGs in the RRA, and essentially put me right on par with the Colt. I finally came to the conclusion that the "buy the Colt and sell the RRA" swap only made sense to the collector in me, not to the financial manager.

That

You say you just bought your first AR and that Windham's customer service is second to none. Tell us how you know this to be true Windham fanboy. What a joke.

People who point out the FFL fee should, in fairness, point out that you should add sales tax with the WW unless your state doesn't have one.

For what it's worth, I've noticed that reactions very often follow ownership lines.

I own a WW (or Stag, Bushmaster, RR, Delton etc): The [WW] is just as good as a Colt, and those features mentioned don't add anything to the rifle. All you get with the Colt is the name.

I own a Colt: Buy the Colt. It's mil-spec and battle-proven. It's the only one you can trust your life to, other than a DD, BCM, LMT or Noveske. Buy the other one and you'll have a $800 piece of scrap metal that will fail you when you need it, and cost you your life.

I own both: Both work fine. The Colt is a little better rifle, and cost more.

My personal opinion is that the Colt is a better rifle, and a better value for the small price difference (let's say $300, just to end the $200 vs 300 argument), so I would get the Colt if I were in your shoes.

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