Found a Tanfoglio Witness .45 ACP, worth trading my Kim Custom II for?

[MacTech]

At my local toy shop, I found a Tanfoglio Witness in .45 ACP, the model with the comped barrel, it's in overall decent shape, just a few freckles of surface corrosion on the right hand side of the slide and frame, rifling is in good shape, and it fits my hand better than the CZ-97 series

How does the .45 Witness compare, reliability and accuracy-wise to a Kimber Custom II? overall, my Kim has been running at 98.99%, it only chokes on my LSWC reloads if I have the bullet seated out too far, and then it'll randomly FTL, ramming the cartridge up against the top of the barrel shroud

If I keep the bullet seated to proper depth, no issues, plus, I have started using a Lee Factory Crimp Die on my reloads that should eliminate the possibility of "creep" under recoil

how does the CZ-75 based Witness .45 Comped barrel pistol compare to the Kim Custom II?

As to why do I want to trade out of the Kim, it's a case of CZ-itis, brought on my my latest acquisition, a 452 Trainer with absolutely *stunning* beechwood stock

Asking price on the Witness .45 is $300, good used CZ-97 is hovering around $500ish, but is too long for my short, stubby fingers (wide palm, stubby fingers), wheras a 1911 fits me perfectly

 

[chieftain]

Let me get this straight.

You want to get rid of a pistol you say fits you very well, and only chokes on bad reloads? Learn to reload better, do you expect your bad reloads to work better in the new gun?

WHY? Or is this one of those "just because" deals my kids give me. It's your money and life, do what you will. You asked for opinions, that is mine.

If you want the other pistol get it. But I would advise against giving up a pistol that does everything you want a pistol to do. I believe that would be foolish.

Good luck.

Fred

 

[rattletrap1970]

Damn 300 bucks? I wouldn't get rid of the Kimber, I'd just squeeze my bank account and get the Witness too.

 

[schmeky]

MacTech,

In my lowly opinion, trading a Kimber for a standard Witness would be like trading an HK for a Taurus.

 

[JLaScala]

I HAD a witness, it was the most undependable gun I have ever shot. If you like it so much, do yourself a favor and save up for a CZ. Thats what I did, and it was the best decision I could have made. Sold the Witness to help pay for it. They should change the name from Witness to Victim.

 

[tlmkr38]

had one

I had a 45 Witness full size and it was ok but it did FTF several times. Usually with my reloads.. Well all the time with them, I rarely shoot factory anymore.. I didn't really like the feel of the full sized pistol but it was decently accurate and the trigger was good. Something else came along that I wanted more though and traded it. I have read alot and known people with the 45's that had alot of trouble with them.

That being said I also have a Witness compact in 10mm that I would take anything for. It always feeds ( and in 10mm that is something in itself..) great trigger and tack driving accurate.

If your Kimber fits your hand ( The 1911 style fits mine like a glove so I understand what your saying on that ) is reliable and accurate I think I would do what the others say and save to buy the Witness outright. If it is a good one you have $300 in a gun you like. If it isn't what you want you can probably get your money back....

 

[MacTech]

The only reason I was contemplating trading was because of the early stages of CZ-itis, I am happy with my Kim CII, I was just curious if the Witness was "better", looks like I'm better off staying with my Kim, just a moment of weakness when I was tempted by another .45

I'm all better now

oh and as far as the reloads go, that problem has been solved, I'm using a micrometer to make sure the OAL is set properly, and a Lee FCD for final processing and crimping

Time to load up some more ammo, in fact, been running a tad low, thanks for helping me "dodge a bullet" as it were, gotta avoid those impulse buys, in this case, it seemed too good to be true, and it more than likely was

 

[astocks2622]

I had the witness in 10mm, and after about 400 rounds, the slide cracked at the rear of the ejection port. I realize that the 10mm is an entirely different animal than the 45, but it made me shy of the design. on the upside, their customer service was top notch. they replaced the slide with an older, more robust design, and threw in target sights, ambi safety, and 2 extra mags. ended up selling it to buy my M&P...

 

[Harley Quinn]

Save your money, and keep the Kim IMHO

 

[Casefull]

I have learned the hard way that 10 mm mags are very unforgiving if the oal is too long...even by a little. I was blaming my witness compact until I tried the same rounds in my glock. I think the mags for 10 mm autos are closer to the minimum than some other calibers just cause it is a long round. The longer I reload the 10 and the .40 the more I think I should just push the .40's a little harder and forget the 10 'cause the ballistics do not warrant the 10 by that much when I have to seat the bullets deeper than I do in the .40. Before you 40 haters jump all over me...I only started shooting the 40 cause the darn brass is laying around everywhere.

 

[bobwestgate]

Had a Witness Match 45. This was probably the most accurate handgun I have ever owned and I loved to shoot it. But-Could not get my lead swc to load no matter how I adjusted overall length. Mags also gave problems. Since I can't afford to shoot factory ammo I sold the gun. Have a 1911 and XDM in 45 that shoot anything I feed them.

Bob Westgate

 

[Voland]

Heck NO! If you want to do the deal sell the Kimber for cash and pay for the Tanfoglio. IMHO you would be trading WAY down.

Size your reloads correctly and dont look back...

V.

 

[ParChaser]

OK, considering you can get a EAA Tangfolio Witness anywhere under $575 and can not get a Kimber Custom II for under $680, I would not even consider this a viable trade.

I love my EAA Witness 10mm and have not had a problem with it ever. I want the Match in 10mm and will have it as soon as I run across a deal I cant pass up. Break down and buy the .45 Match and keep the Kimber. Just my opinion.

 

[xr1200]

I've seen a lot of used Italy made CZ clones at shops over the years and they are probably there for a reason, I would stick with a new CZ75, you can get them new for between $475-$499 for the basic SA/DA 9mm blued model all steel with a full waranty on gun broker.

 

[JLaScala]

I got my CZ Omega for $500 out the door. EAA is garbage, and their customer service is a joke. I called them after they sent my gun back to me because the jamming issue wasn't resolved. They patched me through to their "smith" who said he personally tested the gun with no issues. He then asked me what kind of ammo I was using, and I replied with 3 different brands. One of which was what he used. He then copped an attitude with me and basically called me a liar. I sold the jam-O-matic a week later and bought my Omega with the money I got back plus some. Th only reason I would ever entertain the idea of getting one of their products would be the 10mm, but I thik everyone knows about the cracking slides on those pos's.

 

[dondavis3]

I have 2 EAA Witness guns and they are fine guns.

A Witness Match Elite in .45 cal



And a Witness in 9 mm



Both very comfortable to shoot and extremely accurate.

No problems ever - but I don't shoot reloads any more.

 

[Liberty1776]

I had the gun you describe - Witness Carry Comp - in .45 ACP. It was one of only two DA .45's that I've ever gotten rid of. Hated the way it shot - very hard to shoot. Uncomfortable and inaccurate. The Kimber sounds like 10 times the gun...