Cowboybootnut
Member
Just bought the above new from CTD. Does anyone have previous experience with it?
EAA Witness .38 Super
- Thread starter Cowboybootnut
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wally
Member
Standard or Elite Match model?
Tommy B
Member
I'm interested in this weapon as well....anybody?
schmeky
Member
Can't comment on this pistol, but I contacted EAA last week looking for part and I was treated like a cross-eyed goober. The person I spoke to at EAA was rude, inconsiderate, and not at all helpful.
Hope you never need anything for your pistol.
Hope you never need anything for your pistol.
Cowboybootnut
Member
wally,
Standard.
Standard.
Sound Dude
Member
I bought one a year ago and am happy with it. I changed out the spring to a 22# Wolff and run 9 x 23 through it with no problems. (38 sup continues to work as well). The only problem I've encountered is only the factory mags work satisfactorily. I bought a couple MEGGAR mags that were supposed to work with the EAA Witness, and no go. Even though they are marked for the .38 sup, after 5 rounds, no more will feed into the mag. I bought a couple of EAA factory mags from CDNN and those work fine. I like it so much, I'm seriously thinking of buying another one, this time in 10mm.
jfh
Member.
I too am a EAA Witness (Elite Match) enthusiast. I currently run a 10mm top end, and couldn't be happier with it.
Don't forget you can buy new top ends and changeout easily--the barrel-rod-spring-slide assembly and have the ultimate changeout package as well. I've done that with a .22LR unit, and am going to get a .45ACP one as well.
Jim H.
Don't forget you can buy new top ends and changeout easily--the barrel-rod-spring-slide assembly and have the ultimate changeout package as well. I've done that with a .22LR unit, and am going to get a .45ACP one as well.
Jim H.
Witness pistols have exhibited both slide- and frame-cracking issues. 
Some buyer get lucky, though ...
.... but it's kinda of an odd "double" luck, in that their guns run fine and they thereby avoid having to deal with Tanfoglio's importer, EAA for "customer service" under the warranty.
Some buyer get lucky, though ...
.... but it's kinda of an odd "double" luck, in that their guns run fine and they thereby avoid having to deal with Tanfoglio's importer, EAA for "customer service" under the warranty.
JoelSteinbach
Member
I shoot a couple of witness 10mm, never had a problem, they shoot straight, no ftf's, and never had a problem with customer service. The have always done what they said the would. I have ordered magazines, front sight, springs etc
Crackin' & Slackin'
Witness cracked slides & frames - this is just one thread, among many, floating out there in the 'verse we call the 'net:
http://www.czforumsite.info/index.php?topic=35909.0
Junkola ... avoid it.
Witness cracked slides & frames - this is just one thread, among many, floating out there in the 'verse we call the 'net:
http://www.czforumsite.info/index.php?topic=35909.0
Junkola ... avoid it.
jfh
Member.
agtman, it appears you have nothing more to offer to this thread than another opinion, and that you are adding little or nothing to the conversation by throwing bombs. The opening posts asked for experiences with, among other things, a new Witness, of some sort, in 38 Super. I realize you still have an axe to grind, and that is duly noted, but posting for the general topic of the thread need not move this thread downhill.
Revision to your posts is in order, I think.
Jim H.
Revision to your posts is in order, I think.
Jim H.
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Well, I could offer 10 more examples of Witness slide/frame crackings by way of links ... would that still make it an "opinion" - or a fact which the O.P. might want to consider before throwing good money after bad?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
By the way, EAA's sucky customer service is a fact, established beyond reasonable doubt, not an opinion.
'Kay?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
By the way, EAA's sucky customer service is a fact, established beyond reasonable doubt, not an opinion.
'Kay?
jfh
Member.
I have no doubt EAA's CS can be bad. There seems to be a general consensus on that.
I have no doubt you can point to ten cracked slides. In my own ownership, I can point you to five slides, on five different Witnesses, that did not crack. Anecdotal issues not particularly relevant to a given product do not form the basis for bomb throwing.
My point here, in calling you on your posts, is this: since he has already bought the gun, your posting does nothing to prevent him from "...throwing good money after bad." It is that fact--that he has the gun already--that makes your posts bomb throwing.
It simply distracts from a possible discussion of his new gun
It simply does no good to do that.
IMO.
Jim H.
I have no doubt you can point to ten cracked slides. In my own ownership, I can point you to five slides, on five different Witnesses, that did not crack. Anecdotal issues not particularly relevant to a given product do not form the basis for bomb throwing.
My point here, in calling you on your posts, is this: since he has already bought the gun, your posting does nothing to prevent him from "...throwing good money after bad." It is that fact--that he has the gun already--that makes your posts bomb throwing.
It simply distracts from a possible discussion of his new gun
It simply does no good to do that.
IMO.
Jim H.
mesinge2
Member
I have a 9mm witness with countless rounds through it and no issues yet. I give you and endorsement!
Red Cent
Member
I have been looking at the Steel Witness in 9MM but most all the forums continually talk about the most lousy CS ever encountered. While most of the problems seem to be with the 10MM, I am not going to buy from a company that has such a history. And I am talking about all the failed frames.
Agtman is saying what I read from a bunch of posters. Forget EAA.
Agtman is saying what I read from a bunch of posters. Forget EAA.
IdahoSkies
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2009
- Messages
- 549
I have an 9mm EAA and love it. I got a good deal on it and I really like the fact that the slide and barrel can be swapped out for another caliber on the same frame.
jfh
Member.
"...And I am talking about all the failed frames."
Well, I think the reasonable question to ask is, "just how many failed frames have their been?" The last time I looked hard at this was about three years ago this spring. What I found at the time was that there may be up to ten 'cracks' in either slides or frames, as agtman suggested. The point is, AFAICT, there could also have been less, as the issues with the Witness quality are clouded by multiple postings on different sites about the same gun / problem. We have no idea of whether or not these failures are from a long-ago-sold batch of guns, but the date of these postings generally suggest that the guns are long gone out into the market, or that the poor heat treating / assembly specs (spring rates) / whatever have been corrected by EAA CS, or whatever/whoever.
IOW, are these failures a relevant problem for today's purchases? Should we judge the EAA product based on these old (?) issues? The issue of the CS quality is kind of separate--I can see why some people worry about that, but generally speaking, I worry more about buying a gun where CS is probably not needed.
For whatever reason, EAA seems to have found a few 'haters' who follow discussions of it nearly everywhere. Then the fanboys show up (I should probably be counted as one). and then we have a discussion of "xxxx is no good" and "xxxx is good."
The result, in a discussion thread such as this one, is that the thread gets off the track--i.e., here we are, debating the merits of this brand / firearm, typically in a caliber / setup NOT inquired about in the original post, and now also debating the merits of a such a discussion about this brand. And, IIRC, only one of us posting has responded to the original poster's query: Any other owners of a Witness .38 Super have any tips to offer?
So, can we get this discussion back on track?
Jim H.
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MachIVshooter
Member
There are a lot of Witness pistols in my circle. I personally own 2, a compact and a Limited, both in 10mm. Aside from extra power mag springs and cleaning up the extractor to make them run 100% with my really hot loads, they've been superb and trouble-free guns.
They did run fine with most ammo, just that pushing 180 grainers in excess of 1,400 FPS causes some pretty extreme slide velocities, and the standard mag springs and sharp bottom edge on the extractor were causing the occasional failure to feed.
The slide cracking issues were almost exlcusively 10mm guns, and only those with the rounded slide that has been discontinued.
The frames cracking are isolated incidents, happens to many guns in those tiny quantities.
EAA's CS really isn't that bad, you just have to approach them with the kind of respect you'd like. If you call them with an attitude, guess what you're gonna get back? I've not had one problem with them in almost 10 years of dealing. If it really bothers someone, then deal with Hennings instead.
http://www.henningshootsguns.com/
As for Tanfoglio? There seems to be a misconception that they are marketing exclusively through EAA. However, they are one of the largest handgun manufacturers extant, and the guns are winning competitions world-wide.
They did run fine with most ammo, just that pushing 180 grainers in excess of 1,400 FPS causes some pretty extreme slide velocities, and the standard mag springs and sharp bottom edge on the extractor were causing the occasional failure to feed.
The slide cracking issues were almost exlcusively 10mm guns, and only those with the rounded slide that has been discontinued.
The frames cracking are isolated incidents, happens to many guns in those tiny quantities.
EAA's CS really isn't that bad, you just have to approach them with the kind of respect you'd like. If you call them with an attitude, guess what you're gonna get back? I've not had one problem with them in almost 10 years of dealing. If it really bothers someone, then deal with Hennings instead.
http://www.henningshootsguns.com/
As for Tanfoglio? There seems to be a misconception that they are marketing exclusively through EAA. However, they are one of the largest handgun manufacturers extant, and the guns are winning competitions world-wide.
hemiram
Member
I've bought a couple of parts from EAA, without trouble, and I've had 2 late model large frame Witnesses, and presently own two Tanfoglio 9mm guns that are identical to the earlier small frame Witnesses, and they've all been great guns. My full sized one has the best slide frame fit of any gun I've ever owned, including 3rd Gen S&W guns, and several Beretta guns.
mesinge2
Member
jfh, is right on. If we get hung up on the past then no one should buy a Beretta for fear of a cracked slide or a K frame 357 for fear of a split forcing cone. Yet my m66, m19-4, and 92fs all seem to work fine!
Cowboybootnut
Member
Thanks for everyone's input.
I think every gun manufacturer has issues with a gun model one time or another. I'll just remember not to run hot loads in it.
I'm a big fan of the .38 Super, I wish gun companies would give it a try. Other than 1911 versions, there are not many models out there.
I think every gun manufacturer has issues with a gun model one time or another. I'll just remember not to run hot loads in it.
I'm a big fan of the .38 Super, I wish gun companies would give it a try. Other than 1911 versions, there are not many models out there.
MachIVshooter
Member
I hammer my 10mm models with 800 ft/lb loads.
You probably can't get enough powder in that .38 Super case to hurt the gun. Don't worry about it.
I had a .38 Super Witness for 8-10 years. Never had a problem with it, but I wasn't shooting it and sold it. Also, I didn't want to take the chance that it might break and I'd have to deal with EAA. I've had some very bad experiences with them.
Anyhow, my favorite load for the gun was a 125 grain .357 plated bullet over 8.6 gr of Blue Dot. I got 1180 fps which certainly isn't a hot load, but was very accurate and functioned 100%.
Anyhow, my favorite load for the gun was a 125 grain .357 plated bullet over 8.6 gr of Blue Dot. I got 1180 fps which certainly isn't a hot load, but was very accurate and functioned 100%.
I bought a "Wonder Finish" EAA Witness 38 super a few months ago. I only have 150 rds through it but I found the gun to be extremely accurate and pleasant to shoot. It's not so much that it shoots amazingly tight groups, it's that it shoots **really** good groups with very little effort on my part. Must be the ergos.
Like an earlier poster, I bought this gun to shoot 9x23 out of. The thought of what is essentially an 18 shot semi-automatic 357 magnum makes me feel all warm and tingly inside. I haven't yet gotten around to switching out the recoil spring and getting the load components though.
My only dislikes about this handgun are that the grips are very thick on an already large handgun with limited aftermarket options for replacement, and the accessory rail (useless to me and aesthetically unappealing.) Of course, I knew about those things before I bought the gun.
If you are interested in getting into 38 Super/ 9X23 for under $500 then this and the RIA or Taurus 1911 seem to be pretty much the only games in town.
Like an earlier poster, I bought this gun to shoot 9x23 out of. The thought of what is essentially an 18 shot semi-automatic 357 magnum makes me feel all warm and tingly inside. I haven't yet gotten around to switching out the recoil spring and getting the load components though.
My only dislikes about this handgun are that the grips are very thick on an already large handgun with limited aftermarket options for replacement, and the accessory rail (useless to me and aesthetically unappealing.) Of course, I knew about those things before I bought the gun.
If you are interested in getting into 38 Super/ 9X23 for under $500 then this and the RIA or Taurus 1911 seem to be pretty much the only games in town.
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