Problems with 10mm Witness Compact

[DragonFire]

I've had a EAA Witness Compact in 10mm and after the first few months of no-problem use, I started getting alot of misfeeds.

Problems first started when I ordered some new magazines from my local dealer. One problem was that the magazines were for the full-size Witness, and after quite a while, I figured out I was inserting the mags too far. I got plastic spacers that fill the gap between the bottom of the gun and the end of the magazines. Things got better, but I was still having too many misfeeds.

I had a smith polish the feed ramp. It didn't seem to have much on an effect.

I ordered a new recoil spring. Again, dealer ordered spring for full size and not compact (dealer is good friend, but he's can still be a pain). Gun wouldn't even chamber around, until we cut off a couple of coils. Dealer supposedly got right springs, but they seem too light. (when the gun fires, it feels like theres a noticably pause between the slide rocketing backwards and when it slides forward again.) Gun still misfeeds way too much with either spring. I put it back into the safe for quite a while.

I pulled out again last night, with same results (I guess my hope, that sitting on the shelf for several months would have fixed something, didn't work out).

Friends at the range suggested I replace the recoil spring with a heavier one. Everyone said Wolfe springs. Searching the forums, I see the same suggestions being made.

Problem is, the Wolfe rep tells me that they don't make (and don't plan to make) anything for the 10mm Witness. When I asked if I could use one for a 40S&W, I was told that they could guarentee it would work properely.

So who else makes replacement springs for 10mm Witness Compacts? Any other suggestions?

 

[hartzpad]

First, do your magazines have a red follower? If they do not, that is likely the cause of any problems (not sure if the compact witnesses have a red follower in their mags but this is surely the case with full-size witness 10mm's). The newer red follower mags work much better. Wolf does make recoil springs for the 10mm witness, I have a few of them, but I run a 22lb. spring in mine. I have had 2 Witness 10mm's and both have run flawlessly with the red follower mags and 22lb recoil springs. The stock recoil spring is just too weak.

 

[DragonFire]

The mags do have red followers. Wolfe themselves told me that they don't make springs for the 10mm Witness, but it wouldn't be the first time I got bad info from a company rep.

Where did you get you 22lbs spring?

 

[jerkface11]

Are you using the 22lb springs in a full size or a compact? I'm pretty sure a compact would need heavier springs.

 

[armoredman]

Have you contacted EAA directly? Thier customer service is terrible, but you might get lucky. If not, contact Tanfoglio of Italy for thier reccomendations - they are nicer people by far, and they built the pistol.

 

[medmo]

What are the misfeeds? Describe the failure specifically please.

 

[Shootcraps]

If not, contact Tanfoglio of Italy for thier reccomendations - they are nicer people by far, and they built the pistol.

I tried this. The only thing they did was refer me to the charming folks at EAA.

 

[armoredman]

I tried this. The only thing they did was refer me to the charming folks at EAA.

Sorry - when I carried Tanfoglios, they were most helpful...world turns,, and I carry a CZ now...

 

[DragonFire]

What are the misfeeds? Describe the failure specifically please.

Mostly, the rounds end up at an angle with just the tip of the bullet in the chamber. Seems like I can go a magazine or two without a problem, and then (using the same mags) I get 6 or 7 rounds in a row that won't chamber.

I also get some that are mostly in the chamber but the slide has not gone back completely into battery. (usually a sharp rap of the back of the slide with my hand fully seats the slide).

 

[jeepmor]

Gun sounds tight

With the red follower issue discussed and the problem still occurring, by what you have described, the gun sounds like it's built really tight.

Could it use some polishing of the rails or something. Maybe the reloading lug. My wife's gun (taurus pt111) had one misfeed when we first shot it, and it was just as you described your fails. When cleaning it, I took some 800-1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper and smoothed the rails and loading lug lightly. You can still see all machining marks, but it's noticeably smoother to the touch and the slide feels much smoother handcycling the action. No feed issues were encounted on our next plinking outing and we put 100 rounds thru the gun.

How many rounds do you have through the pistol?

Hope this helps,

jeepmor

 

[hartzpad]

The mags do have red followers. Wolfe themselves told me that they don't make springs for the 10mm Witness, but it wouldn't be the first time I got bad info from a company rep.

Where did you get you 22lbs spring?

I got the 22lb. spring directly from Wolf, it is on their website along with the .45acp springs. I got the 3 pack of 20, 22, 24 IIRC.

 

[medmo]

Assuming that the mag's have been eliminated as a cause I think you are on the right track with the recoil spring. If the empty brass is being ejected close then a lighter recoil spring. If the the empty brass is being ejected really far then a heavier recoil spring.

 

[DragonFire]

I only have about 500 rounds through the pistol. The first 200-300 went very smoothly and then the problems started. I had the ramp polished, but it doesn't seem to have done much good.

The brass is ejected quite a ways.

I checked the Wolfe website and couldn't find anything explicitly for 10mm. I contacted Wolfe and their reply was that they don't make anything for 10mm and don't plan to.

I wrote EAA asking if they had heavier springs, or knew where I could get any. Their reply was to call their gunsmith. I did that, and he wasn't all that helpful. He asked what kind of ammo I was shooting, (trying to be honest) I relied mostly reloads but it also happens with factory ammo. His reply was that they don't even try to diagnose any problems with reloaded ammo. I told that a local smith and other shooters suggested I try heavier springs, and he interrupted me before I finished my sentence saying that that wasn't always the answer. (I never thought or said it would ALWAYS be the answer).

I then told him that all I was looking for was a source for replacement springs, and asked if EAA had heavier springs available. All he asked was why I wanted to replace the spring if I didn't KNOW that that would fix things.

I asked him if I sent the gun into EAA would it be covered under the warranty. He said that it would be covered only if no one else had worked on the gun, and it was a faulty part causing the problem.

I politely said thanks and ended the call.

 

[hartzpad]

I would not deal with EAA customer service. Although Wolf doesn't list 10mm specific springs, you can use any 20-24 lb. spring that you want to provided that it will fit a compact witness, I know that all the full-size springs will fit a full-size witness.

 

[Shootcraps]

You have unfortunately entered that unique Level of Hell whic is called EAA Customer Service. I too have talked with Paul Richter, the "gunsmith" at EAA and had a similar conversation. Lots of us have.

You have two options. 1. Find a real gunsmith who can get it reliable for you. I think Cylinder & Slide or someone else was offering to work on the Witness.

2. Get rid of it. This is what I did after sending it off, dealing with their crap and getting back a gun that still didn't work.

Good luck. It's a frickin' shame too. It would be a great gun if it worked.