[kjeff50cal]

With all this talk of the 10mm & the CZ-75, I handled a 10mm Tanfoglio Witness Compact at a favorite gunshop. It appears to be solidly made and the grips feel very similar to the other CZ clones (besides the Beagle). They are asking $379 new. Has anyone had any experiance with 10mm Tanfoglio Witness Compact?

[Lennyjoe]

Heard the compacts are hit and miss and the full size are pretty reliable. If it were me, I'd go with the full size model. I've found that its no different to hide a 5" barreled pistol over a 4" model.

[Grayrider]

Personally I would avoid the compact and get a full-size. While some have posted on various forums having luck with the compact 10, I have seen many who did not.

John

[craigs380]

Are there any discussions about what the problems with the compact are? I have not found any specific ones. I have one located at the Tanner show here in Denver, CO for $375. I like the feel and heft of it. If the problems are fixable the price is right.

Has anyone had any experience with a Witness P(polymer)-Carry in 10mm? It has a 3.65" barrel with a full sized frame/grip. The later versions have a light rail also. I handled a 45acp version and it also fit my hand well.

Thanks.

[roscoe]

The rumor is that some slides crack.

[MachIVshooter]

The rumor is that some slides crack.

That word says it all. The Tanfoglio's are built like tanks. I have been hammering my compact 10mm with 180 and 200 grain loads that push harder than BB or DT for four years no with no ill effects other than accelerated weakening of the recoil spring.

The problems with the 10mm compacts are feeding issues with full power ammo. There is less mass to soak up the recoil, so they cycle really fast. No extra power recoil springs are available (double spring system), but I was able to cure mine by doing the following:

1)polish the feed ramp

2) bevel and polish the bottom of the extractor

3) swap the stock mag springs for full length mag springs (I used the ones from 10 rd. Beretta 92 mags that will never see the light of day).

The added magazine spring pressure pushes the cartridges up harder and faster so that the slide doesn't catch them mid-feed, while beveling and polishing the bottom of the extractor allows the rims to slip under it that much easier (hence faster). Polishing the feed ramp is just standard practice for me when feeding issues are encountered.

The Tanfoglios are a great buy, but I would venture to call them a tinkerers pistol. No major issues, but a little fluff 'n' buff by the home gunsmith may be in order.;)

[panzermk2]

polished the ramp on compact 10mm and installed wolff 15% mag springs something I do in all my autos. At 3k I replaced the reciol with a wolff. Todate I have shot around 15k through it all full power 10mm including Double Taps 200XTP. No problems with slide or strength of gun.

I never ever have heard any rumor about the slide cracking. How and were? the compacts slide is just a shorter version of the full length and is not lightened in any way other then length

[Grayrider]

One does hear about a Tanfoglio slide or frame cracking periodically. I had a frame crack on an early 9mm at around 300 rounds. I suspect that is just typical of cast parts. Sometimes you get a bad cast and a part breaks. If there is a defect it will happen, if not it will not. EAA replaced the entire gun without any problems, and Paul was quite nice about it. I would guess that if the 10mm guns do that any more often it is just that the stress of the more powerful round makes the flaw manifest itself more quickly. It may be that people shooting softer ammo get more mileage before something happens.

John

[Duramaximum]

I have one I've put only about 200 rounds though but haven't had a single problem yet. It's built like a tank. My gunsmith says they should be sold for about $700, they are so solid.