Witness Elite Match 10mm mag problem

hondoweatherbee · January 07 2016 02:57:35 PM MST

I have a 2007 10mm Witness Elite Match. The current EAA replacement mags do not fit without forcing, especially as I move the mag up into the well, and cannot be removed without effort. I do not want to change the magwell's interior dimensions. Has anyone else experienced this, and are there any solutions? I am reluctant to send it back to EAA, since they have exchanged several mags with me as well as base pads. I also had an unproductive conversation with one of their execs that makes me hesitant to return it to them.
When I purchased the WE Match in 07 it came with a burr on the muzzle crown. EAA had me return it to them, and sent it back to me two days later with the following mods: fitted Lothar Walther polygonal barrel, ambi safety, and a spare 7 round mag. Pistol shoots to point of aim anywhere out to 23 yards. Only mods on my part are a 18lb Wolf recoil spring and a Springco Recoil package. The two additional mags I purchased in 07 fit fine and have only had their springs replaced with Wolf items.
If this question belongs on a different part of the forum please let me know.

sqlbullet · January 07 2016 03:09:13 PM MST

Remove the basepads. Sand the tops. I will post more details tonight when I get back from Disneyland.

sqlbullet · January 07 2016 08:17:01 PM MST

Here is the web page I wrote about it when I did it:

http://fellingfamily.net/witness_mags.html

sqlbullet · January 07 2016 08:27:30 PM MST

And I created a post here in the Gunsmithing section.

http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/witness-mags-don't-fit/

hondoweatherbee · January 08 2016 03:56:55 AM MST

Thanks for the reply, sqlbullet. Mag hangs up in well long before the mag is seated. Removing the base pad and then inserting makes no difference with seating. Something wrong with the new mag's cross-section. Does anyone else make mags for my model pistol?

Intercooler · January 08 2016 07:06:37 AM MST

Can you take some pictures of what you are working with? The old ones, new ones, pistol, problem, etc... Let's see what you're working with.

sqlbullet · January 08 2016 08:41:25 AM MST

Yeah...need pics. Haven't seen this before

hondoweatherbee · January 08 2016 02:08:08 PM MST

Thank you for the replies. The upper third of the new mags cause the problem. Comparing the properly fitting mags with the new one shows different upper tapers, different lip designs, and different left/right side configurations. Should have looked more closely before.
I need to take pistol and mags to a good gunsmith to get the new mags modified.
Mods I failed to mention earlier are an extra-power firing pin spring along with a Hennings extra-long firing pin.
If anyone has any 2007 or earlier 10mm full size mags he wishes to sell please contact me. Properly fitting mag bodies alone would be good, since I can purchase the internals elsewhere.

Intercooler · January 08 2016 02:45:08 PM MST

Do you have pictures? The red follower and newer black follower K10's both fit. You have something unheard of there really.

sqlbullet · January 08 2016 02:48:19 PM MST

Yeah. Makes me wonder if you were shipped the wrong mags

Intercooler · January 08 2016 04:11:08 PM MST

Wrong caliber, possibly another pistol type... Maybe a small frame as well.

sqlbullet · January 08 2016 04:19:35 PM MST

Yeah. OK am thinking some sarsilmaz mags

hondoweatherbee · January 08 2016 04:22:13 PM MST

I have tried mags from EAA and from Midway. All stamped K10 on the right side near the bottom. All of the black follower K10 mags stick in the mag well when inserted about 2/3's in. EAA's Sales VP told me that since the pistol was out of warranty that I would be on the hook for all shipping and possibly repair charges. Emailed Tanfoglio in Italy but no reply. Hennings responded to me but could not help. I do not want to alter the mag well if at all possible, so I am trying to obtain the older mags and/or mag bodies.
Will try to get pics of the two types of mags. Seen from the top my old mags are nearly rectangular with a slight back taper. The K10 front is rounded with a more pronounced back taper.
Pistol is large frame Witness Match, as marked on left hand side of the gun. Barrel hood marked 10mm.

Intercooler · January 08 2016 05:44:34 PM MST

They are new? Let's get a photo and ID them. If EAA won't take them back for a K10 exchange (I assume these aren't stamped K10), at that point sell them and buy some K10's. They are the better ones to have anyway.

hondoweatherbee · January 08 2016 05:55:13 PM MST

The 3 to 5 K10 mags I tried (from EAA and two other merchants) did not fit. That is why after reading the comments here I did a visual comparison between my old mags and the non-fitting K10s and noticed the major differences. I tried sanding the upper third of the K10 I kept but it still inserts only with effort.

Unless I can obtain the older mags I need the services of a good gunsmith to modify the K10 mags to fit, if it is possible.