Opinions needed on EAA guns please
- Thread starter ak-kev
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Ak-kev
The newer rounded top slide Witness cannot take very well the beating of full powered 10 mm loads, no matter how stiff the recoil springs you use...eventually the slide crack, it happened to me.
EAA is adamant about not using full specs 10 mm ammo, their Gunsmith told me clearly, no Buffalo Bore, no Corbon no Double Tap....otherwise no warranty....you can only use the "FBI Lite" loads produced by the major ammo manufacturers, (your typical Remechesteral) which is the ballistically equivalent of a 40 S&W.
The Witness Elite and Match models retain the old style square slide top which, from what I hear, is tougher and can withstand the full specs 10 mm pills once you change the chronically weak factory recoil spring.
Magazines can be temperamental (I had 2 of them jamming all the time)
Customer Service is basically non-existent.
The Tanfoglio pistols are very nice looking and can be extremely accurate, unfortunately they are plagued by quality control issues (you can easily get a lemon) and they are imported from an organization I would not even trust to run a lemonade stand.
IMHO, I suggest to stay away.
When Tanfoglio will work out its issues I will be again an happy buyer again...
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ak-kev
Member
Thank you Saturno V for being respectable and civil in your opinion. I respect you highly for that. This is what Im looking for, honest real life experiences. I have been collecting Colts for so long I wanted to try something different. The capacity of their 10mm and 38 super is the real lure for me. Those are 2 of my favorite calibers and to get that capacity is really unheard of. I talked to Henning (sp) yesterday and he said its pretty unlikely for a slide to crack with a full size 'Match' model. I dont really want to fight with the mags though. Im still on the fence. Thank you again for your response. Kevin.
Kevin
I'm in the same predicament.
I would love to have a 10 mm Auto pistol, I want an all metal, DA/SA double stack capacity, so the Glock 20 is out.
I been waiting for the new Vltor Pistol (the new Bren Ten) for more than one year but we still not know when it will be introduced and when it will I'm not so sure I want to be the guinea pig to test the inevitable initial glitches....so I would wait 1 or 2 years from the initial batch.
As I told you before my EAA experience has been extremely negative (well, ok the pistol was accurate and good looking) and so has been for a couple of my range buddies....at the moment I'm on the prowl for a used S&W 1006...It does not have the double stack magazine but it covers all my other requirements, they are built like tanks and they are supported by S&W no an erratic mom and pop shop down in Florida...
I'm in the same predicament.
I would love to have a 10 mm Auto pistol, I want an all metal, DA/SA double stack capacity, so the Glock 20 is out.
I been waiting for the new Vltor Pistol (the new Bren Ten) for more than one year but we still not know when it will be introduced and when it will I'm not so sure I want to be the guinea pig to test the inevitable initial glitches....so I would wait 1 or 2 years from the initial batch.
As I told you before my EAA experience has been extremely negative (well, ok the pistol was accurate and good looking) and so has been for a couple of my range buddies....at the moment I'm on the prowl for a used S&W 1006...It does not have the double stack magazine but it covers all my other requirements, they are built like tanks and they are supported by S&W no an erratic mom and pop shop down in Florida...
One of the guys over at 10mm talk called VLTOR and talked to Blaine about two weeks ago. He confirmed that the plan was to release the Fortis/BrenTen at the SHOT show this year.
I had some FTF issues when my standard witness was new. I replaced the mag springs with +15% springs from Wolff in all my mags around the 300 round mark. I also started storing my mags fully loaded. I have not had a single failure to feed since. That gun is well into the thousands of rounds now.
I acquired my Match about three days after I got my mag springs. It never ran with a factory magazine spring, and has never had an FTF in my hands. My wife had one, but it was on her first visit to the range and I think she might have been limp-wristing it.
I would love to see someone take over at EAA that could step it up a level in the CS department. I read somewhere a while back the Tanfoglio tracked the cracked slide issue down to improper heat treatment but have never been able to verify that.
My next 10mm will be the VLTOR Bren Ten. Someday I may add a 2011 frame to the mix (STI or SVI). For the time being, my Witness fits my needs.
I had some FTF issues when my standard witness was new. I replaced the mag springs with +15% springs from Wolff in all my mags around the 300 round mark. I also started storing my mags fully loaded. I have not had a single failure to feed since. That gun is well into the thousands of rounds now.
I acquired my Match about three days after I got my mag springs. It never ran with a factory magazine spring, and has never had an FTF in my hands. My wife had one, but it was on her first visit to the range and I think she might have been limp-wristing it.
I would love to see someone take over at EAA that could step it up a level in the CS department. I read somewhere a while back the Tanfoglio tracked the cracked slide issue down to improper heat treatment but have never been able to verify that.
My next 10mm will be the VLTOR Bren Ten. Someday I may add a 2011 frame to the mix (STI or SVI). For the time being, my Witness fits my needs.
Gunfighter123
Member
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=457732&highlight=elite+match
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=449631&highlight=elite+match
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=432414&highlight=elite+match
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=428652&highlight=elite+match
There are a TON of other posts about the EAA Witness pistols --- the ELITE MATCH in any calibur is a Best Buy !!!! I've owned/own custom high dollar guns from Jimmy Clark , Bill Wilson , Steve Nastoff , Jim MacArthure , and others --- ALL had hand-fitted BarSto , Clark , etc. Match grade barrels and either of my Witness Elite Match guns are as accurate.
BTW --- you CAN convert the single action Elite MAtch to a double action --- look close at my pics and you will see that one is converted to double action.
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=449631&highlight=elite+match
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=432414&highlight=elite+match
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=428652&highlight=elite+match
There are a TON of other posts about the EAA Witness pistols --- the ELITE MATCH in any calibur is a Best Buy !!!! I've owned/own custom high dollar guns from Jimmy Clark , Bill Wilson , Steve Nastoff , Jim MacArthure , and others --- ALL had hand-fitted BarSto , Clark , etc. Match grade barrels and either of my Witness Elite Match guns are as accurate.
BTW --- you CAN convert the single action Elite MAtch to a double action --- look close at my pics and you will see that one is converted to double action.
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ak-kev
Member
Thanks everyone for your input. I talked to a guy today at the gun show where I work, and he shoots Ipsc and has over 42000 rds of 40 in his Match, and he loves it!! I obviously have no way to verify his round count, but he seemed legit. Still thinking about it. If I do anything, it will be tomorrow at work. That way it would be here for the weekend. We'll see. Kevin.
hardluk1
member
The stock1 and the stock 2, elit match and guns up the ladder are all guns that do NOT have the round tops on them . So you do have a choice of guns for the 10mm from around 500 dollars and up with no worry of round top problems. Also as said before the match can be changed to a da/sa trigger. Mags are not a problem if your a old 1911 shooter either,just treat them the same . Take apart and debure all follower edges, clean ,lightly oil and reassemble. Check all top openings for equal rails and angle if you have multi mags. Henning can problably tell you what the gap should be for your caliber. Cycle all mags with 1 round and maxed out by hand slowly . I have a 40 match with a 9mm kit and 8 mags between them all stock springs so far and no FTF in around 2000 + rounds with different brands. 42,000 in several gun is impressive. Have a nieghbor that has run 30,000 through a custom comp 1911 but it took him some years to do it and has retired it. There are a husband and wife glock factory shooters that say they shoot a 1000 rounds a week each as practice leading up to the season. They also shoot cowboy to. Guess it might only take a couple years if your a average shooting pro to run 42000 rounds.
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shooter1
Member
I have the fullsize wonder finish in 9mm/10mm w/.40 barrel/.45acp. All mine run great. The 10mm is for sure under sprung. I replaced the recoil spring (10mm)and firing pin spring with the heavy Wolff springs. (22#recoil), replaced the mag springs with the + power Wolff springs, and shortened the ejector. Now sometimes I can find my brass! Prior to the spring change and the shortening of the ejector, ejected cases went into low earth orbit. The Witness pistols are IMO the best buy out there. I have a Elite Match in .40 on order that is going to become my limited pistol in USPSA. Time to give the STIs and Paras a break!
str1
str1
Lucky Strike
Member
I've got an Elite Match in .45acp, awesome trigger. I don't shoot it much (due to .45 cost) but it's definitely a fun gun.
Only issues I've had were with the magazine. Seems like the mag spring isn't strong enough when the mag is fully loaded to feed the gun properly. If you fully load the mag it'll have a FTF 90% of the time on the second shot. If you download the mag by two rounds then everything feeds perfectly. I really need to buy some new mags/springs but i haven't yet.
There's a british couple at my gun club that both use Elite Match's (in 38 super) for IPSC...one is stock and the other's been turned to a fully custom race gun
Only issues I've had were with the magazine. Seems like the mag spring isn't strong enough when the mag is fully loaded to feed the gun properly. If you fully load the mag it'll have a FTF 90% of the time on the second shot. If you download the mag by two rounds then everything feeds perfectly. I really need to buy some new mags/springs but i haven't yet.
There's a british couple at my gun club that both use Elite Match's (in 38 super) for IPSC...one is stock and the other's been turned to a fully custom race gun
floydster
Member
My Som-In-Law and I both have Elite Match pistols in 38 Super and 45 ACP., all four guns fun excellent, great triggers and very accurate.
I like the fact you can rack the slide with the safety on and when field stripping you can strip the firing pin block very easly for cleaning.
I like these guns better then my CZ's.
I like the fact you can rack the slide with the safety on and when field stripping you can strip the firing pin block very easly for cleaning.
I like these guns better then my CZ's.
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ak-kev
Member
Well, I ordered it Thursday afternoon and it shipped Friday. I should have it Monday or Tuesday. Thanks everyone for being so helpful. I really appreciate it. How come Im seeing different rear sights on these? I didnt see an option when ordering. Are people changing them out to the larger, more adjustable version? I hope the factory ships these with the smaller novak lookin rear sight. Anyway, thanks for all your input. Kevin.
They all have the novak style now but the older supersight they used to have was better... The novak one is ok though, I recommend grabbing some daysighters for the front post since it can be hard to pick up but guess some guys don't mind black on black irons.
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ak-kev
Member
Thank you sir. You have been most helpful with both of your posts. Kevin.
boxingRef_Rick
Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2008
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who cares about the quality of the weapon, did ya see the legs on the model they use in their advertisments!!!
All the dirty old men who appreciate quality in women, raise your hand now to comply!
All the dirty old men who appreciate quality in women, raise your hand now to comply!
You're gonna love your Tanfoglio Witness! I bought a .38 Super, full size, steel frame version new for $269 from CDNN in 2005. The gun has run flawlessly. I bought conversion kits for .22, .40, and 9mm. They all run great except the .22 is finicky about ammo as most .22's are.
I just decided that the WItness Match is too good of a deal to pass up. I never used the double action trigger on my Witness so I bought a new Match in .40 with the picatiny rail.
I'm going to sell my standard Witness because I like my new Match in single action a lot. I bought a set of birdseye maple grips from Sam at www.czgrips.us and I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to spruce up their Witness with handles that are a bit more handsome than the factory rubber grips. Sam does amazing work and you can have the grips thin or thick with swells or not and sharp corners or rounded corners.
I have many other firearms but the Witness series (and the Match in particular) are amazing guns at fantastic prices!
I just decided that the WItness Match is too good of a deal to pass up. I never used the double action trigger on my Witness so I bought a new Match in .40 with the picatiny rail.
I'm going to sell my standard Witness because I like my new Match in single action a lot. I bought a set of birdseye maple grips from Sam at www.czgrips.us and I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to spruce up their Witness with handles that are a bit more handsome than the factory rubber grips. Sam does amazing work and you can have the grips thin or thick with swells or not and sharp corners or rounded corners.
I have many other firearms but the Witness series (and the Match in particular) are amazing guns at fantastic prices!
I don't object to sexual imagery in advertising-the models need jobs too. I would prefer that the distributor add a healthy dollop of business ethics and promise keeping to the overall package. The legs and gonatrophic attributes motif may cause some confusion in the marketplace. American Tactical Imports is now using sexual imagery plus motorcycles in its poster ads.
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