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Posted: 12/28/2007 8:37:14 AM EDT
| Does anyone have experience with the EDM Windrunner takedown rifle? |
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I've shot one a few times. I don't like the feel of the takedown area. Seemed a bit flimsy to me. Directs a lot of recoil to the neck. Seems odd, but it felt that way to me. Damn accurate, just felt funny to me. I didn't adjust the lenght of pull or height of the comb to suit me. I left it the way the owner had it. If I could have had time to adjust it, I probably would have liked it a lot better. |
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As an FCSA member, i've witnessed that the company is very supportive of the Second Amendment and our right to own 50 BMGs. They have donated numerous rifles to support the FCSA and its legislative action arm, FCI over the years. Bill Ritchie, the owner of the company, has also donated one of these $8000 each of the last few years to be given at random to one competitor from the Hunter class at the FCSA World Championship shoot in Raton, New Mexico each July. You don't have to win or even place. Bill Ritchie just specified that you have to compete in the Hunter (prone, w/bipod) class at the match and you will receive and equal opportunity to draw the rifle. Pretty sweet considering that is about a 1 out of 50 chance in winning. He offers winners the opportunity to have the rifle chambered in 50 BMG or 510 DTC in case the winner is from California. We've got numerous EDM Windrunner shooters at the matches i've attended and the rifles do very nicely in competition. Everything i've heard about their customer service is awesome. Only complaint i've heard about the rifles is that their brake could be improved upon somewhat. Upgrading to an AR-50 type brake would really make the rifle more shootable for the 60 rounds you fire over a weekend in a class. I'd personally love to have one. Other than the awesome fit and finish, one of the nicest things to me about it is a rifle you can fit in a single case you can fit in the trunk of a Honda or in the back of a Jeep Rubicon. Also available is a backpack with compartments for all parts of the rifle to fit in. That thing would be really slick for hunting where you might want to carry it to the top of a hill for Barbary Sheep, Mulie, Oryx or Elk hunting. That's my take, anyway. -David Edgewood, NM |
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Never have seen a Robar used at a match i've attended but they are a sweet lookin rifle. I've seen lots of Robar 308's and they were very well put together. Great attention to detail. The RC50 looks to me like they use a McBros receiver. Almost 50% of the rifles on the line at virtually any FCSA match have McBros receivers although they are put together by a wide variety of builders. One of the builders that has produced a whole heck of a lot of winning guns is Randy Dierks, owner of Action Gun Works. If you are looking into getting a custom 50 built, you might consider giving him a call as well. Website is http://www.dierksind.com/ Both the EDM Windrunner and the Robar are some very nice top end 50 BMGs. If you select the Robar, I would strongly suggest not going less than a 29-30" barrel. You can't get much velocity with a 750 grain bullet with that minimum length. If you want to shoot 800 grain bullets that are even more stable way out there, you need about a 32" barrel. -David Edgewood, NM |
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Other than watching www.gunbroker.com, I would suggest joinging the Fifty Caliber Shooters Association. Their web forum is the only place i've ever seen an EDM sell used. A guy sold one a couple months ago, complete with both a 338 Lapua bolt & barrel as well as a 50 BMG bolt and barrel. www.fcsa.org Still, Bill Ritchie is a heck of a guy and you won't be getting burned by ordering one of his rifles direct or through your FFL. He's got one heck of a business acumen, he really takes care of all his customers and supports our 50 BMG rights. Not sure what his lead time is right now. I think he's a little quicker than most of the other semi-custom 50 BMG manufacturers. -David Edgewood, NM |
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The lead time quoted was something like 16 weeks, and that was ONLY if I put 100% down up front. Can I do it? In a heart beat. Will I? I really don't want to. I don't want 16 weeks to become 6 months, especially while I'm working overseas and only get back to the US for short R&R's. Once bitten twice shy. Again, not by anyone in the .50 industry. I really should join the FCSA, I would have been all over that two barrel set. |
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Smicha: I understand not wanting to put all your money down. I don't know if you are absolutely set on an EDM but there are other manufacturers that don't require the cash up front. www.statearms.com is one that will accept nothing up front, they're running 12-14 weeks but their guns aren't mag fed, although I don't think mag fed is necessary for a 50. Second, ALS, www.50BMG.net only requires $250 down but they take about a year to build a gun. If you are set on the EDM, I really do suggest joining FCSA. Active duty military personnel get 1/2 price on the membership, only $20 a year, all they need is a copy of your current military ID. As soon as you join, call the office and the lady's in the office will get you a FCSA member forum password. On the forum put up a WTB ad and you might get a hit at this time of year. Everyone is broke after Christmas and there have been a fair number of 50 BMG rifles coming up for sale lately on the member's forum. -David Edgewood, NM |
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Having met Bill Ritchie, his son and knowing his FFL and another guy that works for him I can tell you that he's a great guy to deal with. If you're overseas the lead time is moot, put a down payment on it and let them know you're in the Military. When you get your orders to return or when you know you're coming back, send EDM an email or call to let them know so that your rifle will be ready. Once back send your final payment to them and pick up the rifle from your FFL. I have shot all of the EDM rifles from the .308 to the .50 and I can tell you that they are one of the finest tactical rifles on the market. You won't be disappointed with it once you get behind the trigger. |
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Just to clarify, I'm a contractor - not military. I've been working in Iraq for the last 2 1/2 years as an accountant. Take what I say based on my past experience as such. I get home on R&R every four months; the lead time would mean that it would show up after this upcoming R&R and I wouldn't see it (to inspect) until October. I don't want that much time to go by before I can inspect what I've purchased, and I'm just not plain willing to trust ANYONE that much. I make good money but that's 4 weeks in Iraq. Sorry, been burned too many times. If a gun is in high demand there shouldn't be any reason they need 100% down - take a $1000 deposit and if I dissapear sell the rifle and make more money. If it really isn't in high demand then I don't want to be a unsecured creditor. Just the way I see it and I don't plan on changing my mind. I've just joined the FSCA and I'll give them a call. |
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I own two Windrunners and can also attest that they are among the finest rifles built. In addition, I have a Barrett 99 and a Serbu BFG, which are also very good choices in the .50 cal arena. Were I to buy yet another .50, it would probably be another Windrunner. Bill Ritchie is a genuinely pleasant person to deal with on the phone, if you call EDM and he's around, you can generally talk with him directly if you like. Perhaps if you called and explained your situation he could accomodate your schedule? Don't know, but it's worth a try. Windrunners are rarely for sale used and hold their value quite well. Occasionally they are listed on biggerhammer. You might also try Tom Miller at TSM consulting (one of EDM's retailers). He probably has a better idea of where there might be a used one than most people would. |
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i owned an EDM windrunner in 50... it was a superior rifle. i had my 80 hole brake removed, and the serbu 4 gill installed (which is standard at EDM now IIRC). it helped a bit. either way, i didn't have any problem with recoil. interesting story... when i sent my 50 out to Bill for the brake and indexing mod, my rifle was "lost" shipping on the return. it was lost for 28 days. finally, UPS opted to make good on the insurance and pay Bill. they managed to leave a zero off the check and sent him something like $700 instead of $7000... he got the ATF involved and the FBI and put the heat on UPS. two days later, my rifle was found by "accident" on the will call shelf of the local UPS hub in Des Moines... it was hand delivered to me at that point. while i remain convinced my UPS driver knew what it was and stole it, it found its way back to be regardless. Bill spent hours on the phone to make it happen. that rifle happened to have been custom painted by Stewart Wilson for a contractor and was used in the middle east for work prior to my purchase. he KNEW i wanted MY rifle back, not a replacement and went after it... i can't thank him enough for working hard on my behalf to get my rig back. i'm nearly certain if he hadn't gotten everyone involved i'd be light one 50... that pretty much sums up the man. his product reflects his passion as well. fit and finish are first rate. some guys run them stock and are content. i can offer three suggestions that i felt made the rifle even better than it was. the stock rod stiffener (basically a plastic tensioner) is a wise investment (it removes the "stock torquing referred to above). also the bipod rod is relatively short. if you buy the longer rod the footprint for the legs while shooting prone be increased and much more stabile. also, it uses a rem 700 trigger, so any worthy aftermarket unit will work fine. i settled on the kepplinger set trigger. i can't think of a better unit for such an application. don't get me wrong, the rifle is super as it is... however, those three inexpensive changes have a tendency to make shooting the rifle easier and provide for more satisfaction. i understand you're unwillingness to put out all the cash. i don't blame you. prior to deciding for or against this action, i'd call Bill up and visit with him and share your concern. either that or the same with one of EDM dealers. the genuine "50 crowd" are some of the best and most understanding folks in the rifle world. as a member of the FCSA i can tell you there are great folks out there who aim to help one another and it shows. deal on your EDM with confidence.  oh, for the record... pics and range report are a prerequisite after you buy it. considering we'll be able to see all your teeth due to the overly large smile you'll have just put on, you might brush extra hard that morning before your "new EDM owner" pic is taken...  i wish you the best of luck! -ST13 ETA ****************** don't go cheap on the scope... considering what you are going to spend on a top of the line rifle, a scope like a USO or S&B may be in your future... |
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Well, I just made a deal on a used Robar RC-50F, with a Nightforce scope. With the case, pod, and scope it was a bit less than the cost of a new gun and I was able to get 300 rounds of ball (Tallon) at $1 each so I should be good for a little while. Edit: Here's the link to the original ad: Robar RC-50F |
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