Lovin' my EAA Witness Polymer Compact

[SavageOne]

So, I bought a RIA 10mm 1911 when they first came out and was blown away( forgive the pun ). It was the first 10mm I had ever shot and I couldn't seem to get the grin off my face after taking it to the range, everytime. I have always been a .45 acp 1911 guy, but 10mm grabbed me and wouldn't let go. As crazy as it sounds medium and hot loads seemed to have less felt recoil in that steel 5" barreled 1911 than my various .45 acp 1911s. I don't know if it was the fact that I was always so amped when shooting my 10mm or what.  I just know I didn't seem to feel as much recoil with it. The more I read about the 10mm, the more it's allure seemed to captive me. Eventually, my mind turned toward my carry gun.

I have carried a RIA CS .45acp for years as my EDC and never had an issue with the gun. It eats whatever you feed it and has never given me a bit of issue. With that said, the idea of being able to have a round with more energy at a 100 yds. than my .45acp had at the barrel, refused to leave the back of my mind. I could carry my RIA 10mm ( I've carried a FS as EDC before, with no problem) but, that is still only 8 +1 capacity.

Let me say at this point, I have never been a guy who worried about carrying alot of rounds in a mag. 7+1 and an extra mag has always been enough for whatever scenario I might imagine myself in. Suddenly,  I find myself deciding that if I want to carry a gun with .357 ( or better) power it had better have enough capacity to justify it over a revolver. Now while 8+1 is a 50% increase in capacity over a revolver, it wasn't enough, in my mind, to justify such a huge change in my preference and training for EDC. I was going to need a firearm that provided enough capacity that I would be willing to switch everything I had and knew for it. It seemed my options where limited.

I knew, of course, of the Glock 20 and 29. Both are reliable, dependable, safe firearms. There is only one problem, I can't make myself like a Glock. They feel wrong in my hands and don't follow the manual of arms I have trained myself to. Look, I am well aware of what fine firearms they are, but I'm 46 and not in the mood to change what I am trained and use to. I make no apologies. I like manual safeties and hammers and I am not a fan of large caliber striker fired handguns. I am not knocking them or doubting there abilities, I am just stating they are not for me. This left me in a bit of a predicament.

After much research the answer to my problem seemed to appear. As everyone here is aware EAA imports a fine Italian clone of the CZ 75 called the Witness. Among it's many offerings is the EAA Witness Polymer Compact. It is a smaller (relatively) 10mm with a 12+1 capacity. With it's price point in an area I felt very comfortable with, I decided to give it a try. I am very glad I did.

I bought it off of Bud's and have since run over 300 flawless rounds through it. It has eaten everthing I have fed it( Armscor, PPU, Winchester, Buffalo Barnes, Federal ) and I have not had one failure ( slight pause while I knock on wood ). The recoil is much more noticeable and after shooting a hundred rounds or so I am fighting to keep any respectable group. That said I have to say this firearm has certainly met and exceeded my hopes. While there are some smaller issues with finding holsters, I found that TheHolsterStore.com offers a reasonable line that accommodate the needs. I will say their Pro Carry's main body is so thin for a IWB that reholstering can be quite a hassle. That and the mags are not the most available item in the world.

Regardless, these are small problems compared to having a firearm that meets the desires I had. I have yet to take a picture of it yet, but once I do and if there is any desire for me to, I will post it. Please forgive such a long winded first post, it is not my normal nature, but I wanted to present my story fully. Thank you for your patience and greetings.

[Dave84]

Very happy you had such great luck with it. Some have not. Maybe EAA has improved the compact design. Wouldn't hate to get one myself.

[wadcutter]

Does the gun feel undersprung to you? Mine does and I've taken a break from shooting it until I find a satisfactory solution. I have the Compact Steel version that's why I'm asking.

[SavageOne]

Very happy you had such great luck with it. Some have not. Maybe EAA has improved the compact design. Wouldn't hate to get one myself.

Yeah, I was a little worried myself. The gun has really surprised me. I have smaller hands, I think if my hands were just a bit bigger I would go with the Carry model, but the Compact fits really well.

[SavageOne]

Does the gun feel undersprung to you? Mine does and I've taken a break from shooting it until I find a satisfactory solution. I have the Compact Steel version that's why I'm asking.

I can't really say. I knew there would be more recoil from a polymer 3.6" barreled gun than from my steel 5" and there definitely is. The slide doesn't really feel like it's slapping that much harder.

iIt does definitely throw the brass. It's ejecting up to 25 feet behind me. Then again, so does my Rock and it's been sent back to the mothership and had the heavier spring installed.

At this point I'm leery of changing to much. It works and I want it to keep working. I watched a series of videos on YouTube where a gentleman changed out the factory double springs with a single Wolff and created a jamomatic. He put the factory double springs back in and it ran like a champ, so go figure.  If you do happen to find a set up that works, I would appreciate hearing about it. If it's possible to tame this beast a little I'm all for it. If not, I'll just have to learn to accept it.

[10mmfan]

A Henning flat bottom firing pin stop helped my p carry slow down and feed better

[SavageOne]

A Henning flat bottom firing pin stop helped my p carry slow down and feed better

Thanks, I'll look in to that. Appreciate it.

[Intercooler]

That's great news! They are pretty darn nice for sure 

[Reverendpdp]

I have always liked that gun.  Glad to hear the great report.  Congrats!

[SavageOne]

Thanks guys. Again, this gun is still eating everthing. I would also direct anyone looking for a holster for a Compact or a Carry to TheHolsterStore.com. They have a large selection and are fast on shipping.

[Buddy10mm]

 "I can't make myself like a Glock"    My logical mind tells me that Glocks are the only 10mm out there worth shooting.  Then I pick one up and just can't do it.  Friends don't make friends like Glocks - thanks for the information!

[pacapcop]

Don't fancy Glocks at all. Like shooting a shoe box. But I won't have a few missing in collection. My AK go to pistols.

[Da/Sa Fan]

What kind of loads are the ammo that you have been trying? I have a SAR B6PC that I carry IWB when I'm just running out of the house  for a few. I would love to replace it with a 10mm but it would need to handle "real" 10mm loads like Underwood 180 or 200 grain stuff. A lot of the other 10mm on the market is nothing more than .40 S&W in 10mm brass! If a gun won't handle nuclear 10 I might as well get it in 10mm short.

Still waiting on the pictures, by the way!