Witness Steel Compact Reliable with Comp?

[Scarlett Pistol]

So I keep working on this idea of a compact sized 10mm with a threaded barrel and compensator. An option for woods carry and carrying in places that are more sketchy. I am working on researching details between the G29 and Witness Steel Compact.

The Witness Steel Compact has some reputation of not being reliable and not being able to handle full power loads. I was to the point of not considering it and then read that it is reliable with softer 10mm loadings. This got me thinking... A good comp reduces recoil, so that can address the full power loads, and now could address the reliability! So my question is... Would this be correct? I am guessing that the reliability issues that sound related to magazines might be related to the pistol being undersprung, and that might be leading to the feeding issues with full power loads. i.e. The slide is outrunning the magazine feeding ability.

I probably should just get the G29, but I love my CZ 75 type pistols and my Witness Hunter. I'd like to stay in the same style of pistol that I practice with most often.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and help with trying to think of ways to get this Witness Steel Compact running in 10mm with a comp.

[Scarlett Pistol]

I might have further hope from reading on the manufacturer's page for compensators. They mention that gen 4 glocks will need the gen 3 recoil guide rods and lighter springs for reliable function. I already knew that compensators would require weaker springs. But the fact that they are having to go to the old recoil guide rods, rather than the dual spring captured systems is good news, because that is what the Witness Compact is running (from what I understand).

[sqlbullet]

Might.  Hanging a comp on the end of the barrel changes a bunch of things.  Might help, might introduce new issues.

These are the exact problems I face.  The cognitive dissonance is strong since I really like guns made from metal with hammers, guns that run with high reliability and guns that are smallish.  Glock 29 meets two of the three, as does the witness compact.  I landed on the Glock 29 as I think reliability is more important the my emotional investment in steel, and the aftermarket is stronger.

[Scarlett Pistol]

Might.  Hanging a comp on the end of the barrel changes a bunch of things.  Might help, might introduce new issues.

These are the exact problems I face.  The cognitive dissonance is strong since I really like guns made from metal with hammers, guns that run with high reliability and guns that are smallish.  Glock 29 meets two of the three, as does the witness compact.  I landed on the Glock 29 as I think reliability is more important the my emotional investment in steel, and the aftermarket is stronger.

Whew, glad to know I am not alone in this struggle. The scale was leaning heavily towards the Glock 29, and as much as I am hoping to find ways to make the witness work, I don't want to have an experiment to get a Witness Compact running with a threaded barrel and compensator to ultimately fail and I have lost the investment into the barrel and what not...

[Geeman]

I'm one that can't get one running 100%.  There comes a point where your throwing good money after something that just isn't worth it.

The double recoil springs are a total joke, the red follower mags were always a problem, and messing with got so frustrating.  I still like shooting it, but it will run through three mags without a hiccup, just to mis-feed three on the next magazine.

Sometimes it ends up in my pocket when I don't expect to bump into any humans, but I won't trust it too far.

Greg

[Scarlett Pistol]

I'm one that can't get one running 100%.  There comes a point where your throwing good money after something that just isn't worth it.

The double recoil springs are a total joke, the red follower mags were always a problem, and messing with got so frustrating.  I still like shooting it, but it will run through three mags without a hiccup, just to mis-feed three on the next magazine.

Sometimes it ends up in my pocket when I don't expect to bump into any humans, but I won't trust it too far.

Greg

My condolences! I'm curious... What do the miss feeds look like? Have you tried string magazine springs? Were you the one I may have read that mentioned more powerful loads cause more problems?

[Geeman]

I believe the problem is a combination of the magazine not being up to snuff, and a shortened time for the slide to return home after the shot.

The stock springs make ink pen springs look high quality.  The return to home is sometimes scary slow.  Super weak loads are better, but I don't load that way.  I have gotten aftermarket mag springs, followers, and recoils springs.  Just when you think your getting somewhere, it screws up a bunch when nothing else change.  It's nuts.

I have discovered that you MUST store the magazines loaded, and I'm running an 18 Lb spring.  Heavier springs increase the failure rate, but feel better with heavy loads. 

The pistol fees great, points great, and it really pisses me off that I can't get it running.

Greg

[sqlbullet]

I have discovered that you MUST store the magazines loaded

This is true of the full size mags with red followers as well.  I have five of them, and they all run great.  But, I have to store them loaded, and I change out the mag springs every 1000 rounds or two years.  I use the Wolff +10% mag springs.

[Scarlett Pistol]

Didn't they transition to Mecgar Magazines? I thought I heard things got better for all Tanfoglio pistols when they did. Maybe a miss read somewhere... Anyways, would this possibly mean that newer Mecgar mags could improve quality?

That is so bizarre that the magazines have to be kept loaded. What would be the reason?

[sqlbullet]

As far as I know all that changed was the follower.  I think they were all made by Mec-gar.  But I guess I don't really know.

[Geeman]

Only the full size pistols use Mecgar K10 magazines.  Only the 14+1 K10  are Mec-Gar.  If the would be available, I think there would be hope.

Greg