EAA Witness Elite Match Question?

[mrslyter]

I will try to keep this brief and if someone has already asked/answered this question please forgive my ignorance. I'll also try to be as specific as possible without being long-winded. I am seriously considering getting an EAA Witness match elite in 10 mm. My motives are simple, I do not shoot competitively (but may in the future), I am not a collector or in it for any macho reasons. I do plan on deer hunting with it or at least giving it a try. What I like and what is possible may not be possible or not at least financially so. I LOVE the wonder finish but I really want it in the match series, which I believe is SS. I'm not concerned as much with the hammer or SA vs. DA part. I also am considering a conversion to 40 and if possible .22. I believe from what I've read that I can just get a barrel to go down to .40 but feel it might be better to have the full slide for each so I can get the heavier springs for the 10mm. My main question is, can I get a match in 10mm but get the frame in the wonder finish and then still get other conversions or do I need to choose between wonder finish and the match? I know there is a hunter version out there but I also like the rail on the frame and I'm just not a big fan of blued, parkerized or whatever finish it is. Any insight or recommendations are appreciated.

just a note: I reposted this from the old site because the move goofed something up but the person in charge was on the ball with helping me along - thanks.

Thanks everyone and safe shooting.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Welcome to The High Road (THR),

You cannot get the Elite Match in the Wonder finish; EAA does not do any mixing of their models, finishes, extra touches, etc. You take what they offer, or you get something else.

If you are interested, I have an Elite Match that I am going to sell. It is a fine pistol, but I am thinning out my guns, as I just don't shoot too many of them very often. I tend to buy guns that interest me, shoot them a little, then find that I'm always going back to the same few guns whenever I go out to shoot; the safe is too full at this point.

Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

Sam

 

[LubeckTech]

There are many conversions available for the Witness series pistols. Check in the Parts section of their website; http://www.eaacorp.com/. I have a ported Witness (not Elite) in .45 which is an accurate and reliable gun (in wonder finish) with a very good trigger right out of the box. I don't know that I would pay extra for the elite series but instead select a basic model which can be had at very reasonable prices and use the difference for maybe a custom trigger job or other work like sight or an optics mount. Before you do anything check out the Witness/Tanfogilo forum at BrianEnos.com

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=202

Witness pistols are decent guns but if you do some research you are less likley to be disappointed. I have read about people having problems like frame battering with these guns in 10mm so I would check this out before shooting a lot of 10mm in one of these. The conversions can be a source of problems in the large frame guns. For example last year I was considering a 9mm conversion kit for my .45 witness for competition use. I began reading and found for my gun getting them to run reliably could be tricky requiring just the right magazines and possibly modifying even those. I wound up buying an M&P 9L because after the cost of the conversion and magazines and hassle that was, for me, a better choice. Another consideration is the range of accessories like sights, grips, barrels and optics mounts is not as broad as it is for other guns and they tend to be expensive. EAA has had some magazine issues in the past and there different color followers in some of their guns denoting older and newer sreies magazines. The conversion kits are not badly priced but when EAA says "Longslide" they mean 5" - not 6". I'm not trying to discourage you as they are good guns but there are a few things to consider in purchasing one.

 

[hardluk1]

I had a witness elit match i bought in 40 cal. Payed 499 new when retail was 640. Not expensive pistols. Darn accurate with a very good trigger. I also bought a 9mm upper for 200 from eaa and with 4 mags for each caliber. Shot right at 4000 rounds through each caliber. I never had a single faulure of any kind. If you buy a 10mm and deside to shoot HOT loads then you want to besure you change the recoil springs to aheavier springs. You may have to find the one that works and still functions well. Thats just the down side of standard loads and some hand loads or after market hot loads. Some people also don't take the time needed to just detail the pistols no matter the make includeing the mags. The mags I had were the old ones with the spacer in the front and no problems. Great shooting pistols and was used for competion only. I hunt with a 357 and 44.' There were some after market 6" barrels in 10mm at one time and lone wolf would do some custom stuff at one time. A 9x25 dillion would make a hot rod handload for a 10mm witness.

The guys at Brian enoss eaa forum can help with most problems there and henningshootsguns is the guy to deal with for accessories and some site upgrades and he makes and sells some competitive prodcts for the witness line and is a factory shooter here.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I really want it in the match series, which I believe is SS

It's hard chrome on the frame.

I have read about people having problems like frame battering with these guns in 10mm so I would check this out before shooting a lot of 10mm in one of these

On the standard, not an issue. In the tighter Elites (like my limited), after the first couple times out I had some light peening where the barrel contacts the frame under recoil. Didn't impair function, but made disassembly/reassembly difficult. I simply filed a little where it was pinching the barrel lug. Once it found it's happy spot where the barrel was making decent contact with the frame instead of just the edges, it stopped.

I should also note that this happened using full power plus loads (180 gr./1,406 FPS from my 1006, probably faster in the poly rifled 5-1/4" Limited barrel) with the stock springs. It now has a 22# spring.

 

[mrslyter]

Yes I would be interested in it if it's a 10mm. If you could send me a photo or two and a price I'll take a look and let you know.

 

[mrslyter]

Thanks to everyone with the quick and helpful info. I'll still take any others out there too. By the way what is the best way (and #) to contact EAA?