What do I need to know about the Witness Hunter.

[Scarlett Pistol]

I snagged a Witness Hunter in 10mm in July. I put the heaviest recoil spring in that it came with. I have been shooting S&B loads I got on sale (mostly to get brass while I got reloading components). Now that I am reloading do I need a heavier recoil spring for full power loads?

Is there anything else I need to know to care for my Witness Hunter? I've heard reports of slides cracking in the past.... Has that been sorted out? Are there any reviews or stickies of reviews and testing?

PS - I'm new and trying to read through documentation and get a feel for the forum. I come from the CZ forum and it's nice that the layout seems similar. Anyways, feel free to point me to any reviews or sections with answers. Thanks for the help!

PSS- a few pics as I have progressed through some purposeful practice to improve longer range accuracy so I can hunt with this pistol. Everything was 25 yards, standing, 2 hand grip. Except the last ones (outdoors) were 30 yards. Threw in a mix, so I wasn't cherry picking my best groups along the way. I'm no marksman, just trying to get better.


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[Intercooler]

I run a 20lb Wolff spring in mine for everything. The only issue you might have down the road (I did) was the two piece guide-rod coming apart. You can do the JB Weld with new pin thing at that point. It will never come apart again!

[Patriot]

I had mine converted to DA/SA. I use it for woods protection with full power loads.

[Scarlett Pistol]

My finish seems really weak and gets scratched by anything. Does yours have that issue? I love the pistol but it makes me want to avoid it for tromping around the woods...

It sounds like these can handle lots of full power loads from what I am finding on this forum. Is this truly the case? Would I be safe to sink some money into refinishing the pistol with a better coating for long term use? Something like hard chrome...

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[Intercooler]

I had my lower hard chromed after several years of use. The slide still looks good.

[Scarlett Pistol]

Oh good to hear someone else did this. Thanks!

So does the Hunter really have the ability to handle full power loads better than Glocks? I've read that here and there but didn't hear mention of actual experiences or explanations.

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[sqlbullet]

Tighter chambers and better case head support.  My witness guns never have smiled a case, where my Glocks and my Para P16 have.

Case heads from brass fired in the Witness will measure .002" to .003" small than the same loads fired in the Glock. 

Add to it a heavy slide and a heavy frame which helps dampen recoil and you have a real winner in the Hunter.

In general I find the EAA finishes to be poor.  My full size steel had the wonder finish.  I think that is short for "I wonder if anyone will notice this isn't bare steel".  Kidding, kind of.

I sandblasted mine and refinished it with Cerakote.  I posted up a tutorial in the gunsmithing section.  I did the same this past weekend to a Kareen Hi Power, and am on the lookout for another dog-eared hi-power or CZ75 to give the same treatment.

[Scarlett Pistol]

Great to hear on the strength of these pistols! I ordered some heavier springs from wolff today to keep my Hunter safe.

Not so great to hear about the finishes. I've been doing enough work on my CZ's lately that I've started looking into the equipment for cerakoting. Looks like my trip down this 10mm witness path may amplify that need...

[sqlbullet]

All you really need is a small air compressor and a $10 harbor freight sprayer.

I used this gun:

https://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/paint/adjustable-detail-spray-gun-92126.html

It is regularly on sale for $9.99

I would skip the airbrush compressors and get a small pancake compressor.  They are cheaper by about $30, and for that you can buy an inline oil/water filter and the adapters to connect the sprayer to the compressor.  Probably be about $90 all in.

Of course, if you already have a compressor, which I think everyone should own one, then it is just $20 worth of sprayer and fittings.

Sandblasting is what gets hard.  A compressor to keep up with even a small "spot" blaster can be quite expensive.  Cheapest option I have found is at Tractor Supply:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/porter-cable-stationary-belt-drive-air-compressor-60-gal?cm_vc=-10005

Up to now I have made due with a oil-less pancake compressor.  It is painful.  Blast for about 20 seconds, then wait 5 minutes for the compressor to re-charge and cool down.  Repeat.

[Scarlett Pistol]

Thanks! Definitely very good to know! Im easily side tracked by interesting topics in threads. If/when I decide to start I'll definitely read your thread and start another specific to the topic.

[Canoe]

So is it just the 20lb recoil spring (part # 49820 for the longslide right?) that you folks would recommend for the Hunter or would anyone recommend tweaking the hammer spring as well?  Need order so just covering my bases.  Thanks gents.

[Intercooler]

I guess you could put a hammer spring in. I put the flat bottom firing pin retaining block in with an increased weight spring in all of my EAA pistols. The Hunter really only needs the 20lb spring to start blasting away. The Hunter tames all the 10mm loads like a pussycat!

[Intercooler]

  I really need to stay out of this thread    Seeing these nice metal pistols with fancy grip panels makes my eyes twitch    Gotta stay strong until after Shot Show 

[Scarlett Pistol]

I guess you could put a hammer spring in. I put the flat bottom firing pin retaining block in with an increased weight spring in all of my EAA pistols. The Hunter really only needs the 20lb spring to start blasting away. The Hunter tames all the 10mm loads like a pussycat!

  I really need to stay out of this thread    Seeing these nice metal pistols with fancy grip panels makes my eyes twitch    Gotta stay strong until after Shot Show 

I got mine out and it ran like a champ with the new 20 lb recoil spring. Can't wait to hit the range again this week with it and the little SP-01 Compact.
Ahh, another who has this problem too. Pretty steel pistols with beautiful grips lure me in too.

[Intercooler]

I only have the Polymer K100 and Maryland will never allow carry from the looks of things. I love Steel and see a CZ on the horizon if Shot Show doesn't show a new piece.