Witness Elite Match .45 Range Report

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schmeky

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West Monroe, Louisiana
I recently received this NIB Witness Elite Match (EM) from a Gunbroker auction. I paid $475.00 + $25.00 shipping + $25.00 FFL fee, for a grand total of $525.00.

Fit: The slide to frame fit is very tight and I can detect no play. The manual safety is very smooth and feels like its floating in oil. Cycling the slide with barrel lock and unlock is also very smooth and solid.

Trigger: This is the single action model and the trigger breaks like glass. I am estimating around 4lbs to sear release. There is an adjustable over-travel set screw that was properly set out of the box. The trigger rivals my best 1911’s.

Overall Finish: Is very good, however, there was small scratch on the blued slide when I unwrapped it. The bluing is rich and deep and the adjustable rear sight is very compact and appears to be a quality set up. The frame is polished on the flats, matte on the rounded surfaces, and has grooves on the back-strap and front-strap. The rubber grips fit well and there is a very generous beaver-tail to eliminate hammer-bite. The hammer is a skeletonized heart shaped “speed” type.

Accuracy: Is excellent. As I got accustomed to the trigger, the groups got smaller and smaller. The target in the photo is 10 shots at 30 feet with the pistol butt set on a pistol rug, slow fire.

Observations: This is lot of pistol for the money. For me, it needs nothing. The trigger is crisp and lite, the sights are compact and adjustable (I did not take a screw driver with me so it shot low, easily corrected). Initially, I would place 3-4 rounds in a single hole, then open up the group with some flyers, which were my fault (I brought my Kimber along to verify if I was having a good day or not since it can shoot one hole groups at 30’ all day long).

Summation: A great value for the money. This pistol has custom features and appears to have match grade accuracy potential, for less than a cheap 1911. I think it’s a stone cold bargain.

My thanks to “Craig” for steering me in the direction of the Witness. I plan on shooting it along side my CZ-SP-01, 9mm.
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Good looking pistol. Did you say single action model? Hmmm, I'm confused...it looks like a double action. How many rounds does it hold...and what would a new one cost? Looks like a CZ with Para trigger action.
 
I have a stock elite and agree that they need nothing.They are great deals,but mine doesn't like my swc's.
 
DawgFvr, the Witness is one of the more famous CZ clones, hence the resemblance. It is single action: note the trigger position. In double action, it would have a considerably longer pull. Capacity is 10+1 (double stack).

It's quite a nice pistol, especially for that price. Great find! :cool:

BTW, how much does it weigh in that configuration?
 
How many rounds does it hold

All the full-size Witness' (Standard, MAtch, Stock, Limited, Gold) are as follows:

9x19mm & .38 Super: 18+1

.40 S&W & 10mm Auto: 15+1

.45 ACP: 10+1

The Witness Elite pistols are very nice indeed. I love my limited 10mm, and intend to pick up either a Match or a Stock in .38 Super this spring.

WitnessLimited10mm.jpg
 
I also have the Match in 45acp, and it is easily the softest shooting, most accurate 45 that I own. I lucked out and picked it up used, but like new for $400 at my local dealer. I am now in the market for the same gun in 9MM...........

 
I have a stock elite and agree that they need nothing.They are great deals,but mine doesn't like my swc's.

What's the OAL on you SWCs?

Guns do vary but mine is fine with my hard cast lead 200gr SWC loaded to OAL 1.24" with 6.0 gr Unique. Needs prety much full power loads as the cone barrel in the Elite Stock adds a good bit of mass slowing down the action despite the very light recoil spring.

I had a few failures to go fully into battery the first couple of hundred rounds but after that its quickly become a range favorite.

Along with the Stock and Limited in .45ACP, I've also got the Elite Match in 9mm, .40S&W and 10mm. Great guns too, but I've had issues with the mags needing work to be reliable, I had to squeeze in the feed lips and then work on the followers to get them to lock back again. The .45ACP Witness mags have been fine as have the Mec-Gars.

--wally.
 
MachIVShooter, I envy you. I really want to get a 10mm Limited. Could you post some more pics? Maybe your own review?
 
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