Looking for opinions- EAA/Tanfoglio 10mm

[Fat Boy]

On a bit of an impulse buy, I recently purchased a Tanfoglio (green box) EAA Witness in 10mm. My purpose in the transaction was to add to my collection a handgun that would serve about any need I would have for a sidearm. I like the reports of accuracy for this gun, and the CZ platform on which it is built.

Having a little buyers, not remorse but uncertainty- after the purchase, researching on line I have read of frame/slide cracking with this model in 10mm.

I have also read about a Henning-made guide rod that is designed to, along with an 18 or 20lb spring reduce stress on the gun and I am thinking about buying/installing that on the gun.

I want this gun to be a long-term deal and it is likely that I wouldn't reach the 1,000 or higher round count very quickly.

So I am wondering if anyone has owned this gun, and how it held up. Also, if anyone has the gun and has used the Henning guide rod and stronger spring, and if so how that worked out, and if you think it was a good investment.

This is the standard model, BTW, not target or Elite, etc. not the heavier slide version

Thank you

 

[Dave P]

Great pistols! I have the Elite. Yes, my old one did crack, but I got a brand new replacement. I assume they have fixed that design flaw.

Shoot it and enjoy!

 

[bltmonty]

I have the Elite match in 10mm, and it's my edc, though large. It is an extraordinary gun, my favorite handgun. Beautiful, very close tolerances, and smooth as can be.

I did have the compact polymer 10mm, and it did not feed reliably and the frame flexed too much. So the steel version is best.

 

[ATLDave]

I have never owned the non-Elite-series guns, but I currently have a Tanfo 10mm Match and a Limited. Great guns, IMO. I shoot them in USPSA competition using downloaded ammo (to .40 range), but also put quite a bit of the full-tilt stuff through the match and use it as a carry piece in black bear country. Mine run every bit as reliably as the Glocks that people bring to the matches.

 

[Edarnold]

A lot is going to depend on what kind of loads you expect to be shooting. If you do mostly target practice with commercial-level loads ( 180gr at ~ 1000fps ), this gun should last a long long time. If you shoot mostly full-charge loads it will wear out sooner. 'Mr. 10mm', Ted Nugent, wears out his Glock 20s on a regular basis using full power loads. I have the same model steel Witness as you, and I expect it to last for years, based on my usage and the mix of loads I use. I do have an 18lb spring in the gun, which I consider essential for full power loads ( 155gr at 1400fps.)

Keep in mind that the negative posting you read about any gun are the rare few that have a negative experience, and feel the need to vent. People who have positive experiences with a particular model firearm tend to the just keep enjoying the gun, without feeling a need to comment.

 

[atblis]

I've had four witnesses (3 10mm, 1 38 Super). One has been good so far (still have it). One 10mm cracked a slide. EAA proved to be a complete joke of company dealing with that. Two were never all that reliable but only suffered minor breakage/issues. To be fair to the 38 Super, all I ever did was shoot experimental 9x23 handloads.

Eaa needs to go out of business so somebody else can import Tanfoglio. That being said, Tanfoglio is far from perfect themselves.

 

[wally]

If you get good magazines I'd wager you'll generally be very happy with it. Mine throws the empties so far it makes finding them difficult.

 

[atblis]

I found that trimming the ejector helped with that.
http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/eaa-witness-elite-limited-ejector-shortening-project/

I should add that I think they're worthwhile pistols, but they should be and generally are priced lower.

 

[greyling22]

it appears that the 10mm witness' were fixed. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=625113 you can stop reading after post #3 as the thread rabbit trails.

I was unable to quickly find a picture showing the difference between a round and squared slide.

 

[astocks2622]

yep, I had a "round slide" 10mm that cracked right behind the ejection port, after about 300 rounds of factory FMJ.
EAA however did great by me & replaced it with a slide from a Witness Match. I ended up selling that, & recently bought an EAA witness Elite Stock 1 in 10mm, that is now my woods/winter carry gun. I did put in the henning guide rod (it's designed to prevent galling of the frame, not help the slide) & a 20 lb recoil spring.
the base models did/do have material removed along the front 2/3 of the slide, kind of scalloped.

this was fine for lower pressure cartridges, but the 10mm with THAT slide had issues. not sure what the current production Witness Steel 10mm's are like.
the elite line does not have that cut out, & seems not to have the issue.

of the elite line, the Match is definitely the best bang for your buck, but I didn't want the longer barrel & SAO trigger.

 

[Richard Head]

I have a Witness compact in 10mm. I've put 5,000 rounds downrange and no cracks so far. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm pretty sure all Witness 10mm pistols come with the squared slide from the factory now anyway. These also look much better than the rounded slide.

 

[Fat Boy]

Thank you for all the replies and information. I have the base model, and the way it sounds (at least for the most part) this gun is pretty well doomed to fail. Does anyone have an idea (or information on how I could find out) production numbers for the gun in 10mm and how many actually cracked? Probably no way to know but I am curious- to read the Internet reports it sounds like all of the guns fail with cracked slides, at least the base model. Then again, I am more likely to report a negative than a positive so there is that
Thanks again for the help!

 

[ATLDave]

Just to be clear, the "square" slide is not truly square.* It's rounded on the top, it just has taller/straighter sides. See the picture in post 10.

*Not like a Glock slide, for instance. Nothing like that.

 

[atblis]

Thank you for all the replies and information. I have the base model, and the way it sounds (at least for the most part) this gun is pretty well doomed to fail. Does anyone have an idea (or information on how I could find out) production numbers for the gun in 10mm and how many actually cracked? Probably no way to know but I am curious- to read the Internet reports it sounds like all of the guns fail with cracked slides, at least the base model. Then again, I am more likely to report a negative than a positive so there is that
Thanks again for the help!

Which slide do you have?

 

[Fat Boy]

It is the "curved" edition, not squared or rectangular. It is the base model gun in 10mm

 

[astocks2622]

I'd say just shoot it, & watch the slide right behind the ejection port for cracks. a 20 lb recoil spring may help. if it does indeed crack, EAA should replace it no problem. maybe you'll even end up with a hand-fitted Match slide like I did. or maybe it will be just fine. to be clear, I never heard of any catastrophic failures, just people finding cracks in the slide. barrels seem just fine for containing the pressure. good luck.

 

[chas442]

I've had nothing but good luck with my Tanfoglio pistols. I have 2 of the blue in 10mm one of which was my sidearm when I worked at a gun store. I have 3 of the Witness 2 tone Match in 10mm, 9mm, and 45ACP. I also have all available barrels for my match pistols to cover 9mm, 38 super, 9x23, 357 sig,
40 S&W, 10mm and 45 ACP. my next project is to mod a barrel to be 9x25.
I have a number of guns but the witness pistols are the ones that always make it to the range every time. The only drawback for the 10mm is the cost of the ammo. Handloading can solve that problem.