What are the "Good" Witnesses?

[Scarlett Pistol]

I heard that Intercooler had done a bunch of testing on the various Witness pistols in 10mm to see which ones were strong enough for the 10mm. I am trying to search the forum but I am coming up empty handed at the moment. Can you guys point me to any testing or commentary on the quality of the Witness Pistols?

I'd specifically like to know if the Compact Steel Witness can hold up in 10mm with proper springs and what not, but I will take any and all information on all Witnesses. Thanks in advance!

[Scarlett Pistol]

Found a thread with some good information... If anyone has more to add I would love to hear it!

http://10mm-firearms.com/index.php?topic=6383.0

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[Intercooler]

If you go with a Match on up no issues. Even most of the polymer pistols seem to be doing okay. When you get into the shorter barrel lengths, some have experienced issues. They have lots of options these days including the changed Stock I.

[cgreth]

Own a Stock III.   I love this pistol.   It is my favorite hands down against my other 10mm's that I have and have had.   Glock 20sf, Sig P220, Kimber Eclipse II.   Grips size and shape fits my hand perfectly.   
Not sure about the newer ones, I bought mine last year.   I took some advice from this forum and put in the conical spring guide and a 20 or 22 lb recoil spring.   Although the wood grips look awesome on the pistol, I prefer something with a little more bite.   Could not find any G10 grips for it, but I got some Henning Aluminum grips.   They are aggressive, but not too aggressive.   I also replaced the front sight with a Dawson fiber optic front sight.   The grips and sights were purely for my benefit.   The pistol shot well with factory grips and sights.

[Scarlett Pistol]

Thanks you guys!

So getting a steel compact witness in 10mm (to then get a threaded barrel and compensator) would not be my best bet for a compact wilderness 10mm....

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[Intercooler]

You might want to look at one of the new polymer offerings. How about a shoulder rig with a Hunter?

[sqlbullet]

Compact 10mm I would bet my life on = Glock 29.

I wish this wasn't the case.  But even around here it seems there isn't a lot of interest in pushing manufacturers to step up the game on compact 10mm handguns.

I started a thread about that a few months back:  http://10mm-firearms.com/10mm-semi-auto-handguns/guns-that-could-be

There are a few guys here who have gotten the Witness Compact to run.  This thread:

http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/flat-recoil-spring-in-the-witness-10mm

Next issue is holsters.  I have been thinking about getting my Witness full size back in the carry rotation.  Years ago when it was my only suitable carry handgun I carried in a home-made holster.  And not a great one either.  I would love to have something like a Galco Summer Comfort for the Witness, or like my Vedder Light Tuck.  But finding a good, comfortable holster for a Witness is an exercise in frustration. Best option is one for another gun that happens to fit your witness.  But shopping for those is hard, especially online.

I love the witness line.  I will probably get a Witness P Compact and perform some gunsmithing on it similar to what StockBossII did to his.  And I will probably buy some kydex and make my own light-tuck for it.

They are good guns.  But they aren't "off the shelf" guns, imho.  You gotta want to invest in them to make them into a true workin/concealed carry gun rather than a range piece.

[Scarlett Pistol]

You might want to look at one of the new polymer offerings. How about a shoulder rig with a Hunter?

I've had a hard time finding shoulder holsters that will fit it.... I am more than happy to hear any and all recommendations! Like I mentioned in my other thread about my Hunter (where you responded) the finish on mine isn't great and shows wear from everything and it's making me baby the pistol and avoid taking it as a hiking carry gun. But with a good shoulder or chest holster I would definitely take it.

Compact 10mm I would bet my life on = Glock 29.

I wish this wasn't the case.  But even around here it seems there isn't a lot of interest in pushing manufacturers to step up the game on compact 10mm handguns.

I started a thread about that a few months back:  http://10mm-firearms.com/10mm-semi-auto-handguns/guns-that-could-be

There are a few guys here who have gotten the Witness Compact to run.  This thread:

http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/flat-recoil-spring-in-the-witness-10mm

Next issue is holsters.  I have been thinking about getting my Witness full size back in the carry rotation.  Years ago when it was my only suitable carry handgun I carried in a home-made holster.  And not a great one either.  I would love to have something like a Galco Summer Comfort for the Witness, or like my Vedder Light Tuck.  But finding a good, comfortable holster for a Witness is an exercise in frustration. Best option is one for another gun that happens to fit your witness.  But shopping for those is hard, especially online.

I love the witness line.  I will probably get a Witness P Compact and perform some gunsmithing on it similar to what StockBossII did to his.  And I will probably buy some kydex and make my own light-tuck for it.

They are good guns.  But they aren't "off the shelf" guns, imho.  You gotta want to invest in them to make them into a true workin/concealed carry gun rather than a range piece.

Dang this is a ton of great info, thank you! I've got some reading to do now.

Finding a holster for my Hunter has been rough, and I was hoping it was just because it was more unique. Sounds like it's across the board for Witnesses.

I'm not worried about putting some work into a pistol, I just want to know if it will function in the end. Ha, 6 CZ's later and they all have had a work over of some sort or another. I have a problem....


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[sqlbullet]

I hear ya.  Sometimes I feel like I run a home for troubled guns and cartridges.  "It isn't a bad gun, just doesn't have the right firing pin stop..."

[Scarlett Pistol]

I read through the threads you linked to. Thank you for those. The Compacts seem to take some work and love. Since I want a compensator on a compact 10mm for my woods gun it may still work since the compensator would reduce recoil. But I'm not sure how much.... I'm thinking that if I want a compensated 10mm I'll go with one of the full sized Witnesses.

[gandog56]

I really want to look into a Witness in 10mm, but NOBODY around me sells them. And I have small short fingered hands, so I need to hold one to see if their double stack feels good in my hands. (Which is why Glock is pretty much out of it, they do not feel right to me.) Not sure how to solve this dilemma.

[Scarlett Pistol]

I really want to look into a Witness in 10mm, but NOBODY around me sells them. And I have small short fingered hands, so I need to hold one to see if their double stack feels good in my hands. (Which is why Glock is pretty much out of it, they do not feel right to me.) Not sure how to solve this dilemma.

What size glove do you wear or fit into? My hands are a size medium. I bought the thin aluminum grips for my Witness Hunter and since it is SAO I don't have to worry about a long double action reach.

[sqlbullet]

They can be hard to find.

I would say this.

My Witness guns are the smallest feeling grips of any 10mm I own.  This includes single stack 1911's, at least with factory grip panels.

And, you can get super thin grip panels for witness guns as well, though they aren't cheap.

I will try to remember to put a measuring tape on some guns when I get home.

[brio]

I love my witness steel 10mm. Best shooting gun I ever had.
https://grabagun.com/eaa-wit-10mm-15rd-4-5-stl-wf.html
grab a gun has some stock, FYI.

[gandog56]

You might want to look at one of the new polymer offerings. How about a shoulder rig with a Hunter?

I've had a hard time finding shoulder holsters that will fit it.... I am more than happy to hear any and all recommendations! Like I mentioned in my other thread about my Hunter (where you responded) the finish on mine isn't great and shows wear from everything and it's making me baby the pistol and avoid taking it as a hiking carry gun. But with a good shoulder or chest holster I would definitely take it.

Compact 10mm I would bet my life on = Glock 29.

I wish this wasn't the case.  But even around here it seems there isn't a lot of interest in pushing manufacturers to step up the game on compact 10mm handguns.

I started a thread about that a few months back:  http://10mm-firearms.com/10mm-semi-auto-handguns/guns-that-could-be

There are a few guys here who have gotten the Witness Compact to run.  This thread:

http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/flat-recoil-spring-in-the-witness-10mm

Next issue is holsters.  I have been thinking about getting my Witness full size back in the carry rotation.  Years ago when it was my only suitable carry handgun I carried in a home-made holster.  And not a great one either.  I would love to have something like a Galco Summer Comfort for the Witness, or like my Vedder Light Tuck.  But finding a good, comfortable holster for a Witness is an exercise in frustration. Best option is one for another gun that happens to fit your witness.  But shopping for those is hard, especially online.

I love the witness line.  I will probably get a Witness P Compact and perform some gunsmithing on it similar to what StockBossII did to his.  And I will probably buy some kydex and make my own light-tuck for it.

They are good guns.  But they aren't "off the shelf" guns, imho.  You gotta want to invest in them to make them into a true workin/concealed carry gun rather than a range piece.

Dang this is a ton of great info, thank you! I've got some reading to do now.

Finding a holster for my Hunter has been rough, and I was hoping it was just because it was more unique. Sounds like it's across the board for Witnesses.

I'm not worried about putting some work into a pistol, I just want to know if it will function in the end. Ha, 6 CZ's later and they all have had a work over of some sort or another. I have a problem....


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I would have thought that just about any holster for a CZ75 would probably fit a Witness no problem. But I do have a full size one. Does CZ make a compact?