Posted: 2/28/2008 10:07:35 PM EDT
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I've heard a lot of good things about these guns, but I've also heard they have reliability issues. I love the CZ75 Platform, and I've been considering buying an full size Witness in 9mm to shoot Production in USPSA, and then get a .45 conversion to carry as well. The price for the whole setup is about $300 more than the price for the whole setup for a CZ 75B in .40 (even counting the extra mags, the extra fiber optic sight, and shipping etc). Are these guns reliable enough to carry? Or should I get the CZ in .40? I'd prefer .45 for carry, and 9mm for USPSA. Does the reliability and quality of the CZ outweigh the difference in caliber? Realistically, the .40 is a fine caliber for both of what I want to do. And how is the Wonder Finish? |
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There was a time when I wanted a Beretta 92F. I found I could buy the Taurus version for a lot less, so I did. Now, I find I don't have that "pride of ownership" thing going on with the Taurus, though it's a good pistol. YMMV... Some people are very pleased to have found an economical alternative and find happiness in that. Since then, I never buy a copy when I can buy the real deal. Get the CZ! Good shooting, desmobob |
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Full size Witness 10mm Wonder Finish. Using a CZ recoil reducer, 20# wolf recoil spring, polished the feed-ramp with a Dremel, hammered the "dimple" out of my factory mags to restore full capacity. I have about 1500 rounds through mine. I had some early FTF's due mostly to my inexperience in reloading. I've since worked all that out and haven't had a problem since. The recoil stuff above is a known issue with the 10mm. It tosses brass into the next county with full house loads. There is a mod where you shave down the ejector pin, but I'm hesitant to do that yet. Stock recoil spring is for the mass market ".40 in a longer case" load pressures and should not be used with full house Norma/Corbon spec loads. I polished the feed ramp as I could feel the machining marks in it by running a fingernail across it and it bothered me knowing it was there. |
I also own a CZ75B/CZ75 SP-01/CZ97B. No 10mm in the CZ lineup.. |
MIne gets better every time I shoot it(maybe I'm getting better at shooting it). I love the feel, SA trigger rocks(DA OK). I do swap out the recoil spring for a Wolf 22lb for Full power or DT loads. For me it just works, but I'm a 1911 guy. Cant wait until I get the 38 super kit for it. BTW if you want extra mags, buy them from EAA 3 at a time and get a discount.
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Here's the CZ forum. Click the "Clones" forum and read about how many love their Witness pistols. czechpistols82792.yuku.com/ |
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I owned/have Colt Gold Cup .45, Colt Delta Elite 10mm , Browning HP 9mm , a Jim Clark PinMaster .45 , Jim Boland 38 Super , ParaOrdnance .45 Limited , ParaOrdnance .45 LDA , custom ParaOrdnance .38 Super Hi-Cap and at least a dozen other "brand name" hi-dollar autos. Around Christmas , I bought a used pair of EAA Elite Match Witness pistols , these are single actions in 9mm and the other in .40S&W. I have put over 500 rds. thru the 9mm and about 1000 rds. thru the .40 ----- I WISHED I BOUGHT A WITNESS 15 years ago !!!! Look at my range report with target photos at the CZ fourm under the Clone Club postings. Both my EAA MATCH guns are as accurate as ANY of the pistols I have owned and that includes the custom guns that are now selling for up to $2000. I shoot IPSC and just LOVE the looks I get when I beat other shooters useing $2500 STIs etc. with my $500 "no name" guns !!!!!!! They feel better {thinner} with my small hands then the ParaOrdnances. My EAAs feed all Hollow Points and FMJs that I have tried in them --- They DO NOT like lead semi-wadcutters and "choke" with them. I always ask myself a simple question about a newer gun --Would you bet your life on it to work when you need it to ?? With both my Elite Match pistols -- the ansewer is YES !!! If possable , try before ya buy --- Gunfighter123 |
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I own the full size Witness in 38 Super. It is my competition and carry gun. Yes, it is a little heavy when carrying, but I got used to it being there within the first day. Yes, I could probably buy a smaller carry gun, but I know I am dead nuts accurate with the Witness and that is exactly the confidence I want if I ever need to use my carry gun in a life or death situation. As far as reliability, I have had zero failures or jams. Although I can not shoot HPs (yet). The flat nose of the HP will catch the feed ramp. But, that is an issue easily fixed by using the Competion brass (rimless). The rimless brass allows the bases of the cases to sit flush with the rest of the brass and keeps the noses of the HPs in the correct position to go up the feed ramp rather than nose dive into the feed ramp. The rimless also take up less room at the base and will allow 1 more round to be loaded into a high capacity magazine. As soon as I wear out my current brass, I will be placing my order for the rimless. Rocky |
i have a many CZs and 2 EAAs and soon to be 3 EAAs. the only issues ive had with my EAA is with my 10mm and it was due to a bad 10 round OEM Mag. dont know why, but as soon as i got some other mags, it has worked fine. i can see why you would go for the EAA since they offer conversion uppers. From what someone has posted/said, is that EAA is going to do away with the smaller lower. I can see that it would keep stocking lowers to a min. IAC, if you want to shoot 3 differernt calibers, then you really only have EAA. unless you want 3 CZs which isnt a bad deal either. i would do the same, but i like to have complete platforms to use. 22 conversion kits are nice, but i probably wont keep the 22s on them. |
I too have run into the "Pride of Ownership" thing... my boss (who pretty much has an armory at home and buys nothing but glocks) gave me some flack about buying the Taurus 24/7 Pro. So far, the only hiccup that i had was because of poor (cheaply made ammo). I dont even know what brand i was using, but when i went back to using "Lawman" ammo i didnt have one issue. JHPs flow thru my T. Pro as fast as i can pull that trigger and i trust it to save my life... say what they may but I love my Taurus! http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk311/taurus9mil/228835b13e2979133dafec61d3de76cb.jpg |
| I have an EEA Witness in 9mm. Its the large frame 9mm with the 18 round magazine. I have run alot of different ammo with it runs like a champ. It has the wonder finish which is nice and durable. I am in El Paso and its sandy and windy but I never have a problem with that. |
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What about the Polymer Compact/Carry??? I havnt heard anything on this pistol, Good, Bad, Ugly??? http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk311/taurus9mil/20063-1.jpg |
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Anyone had issues with the trigger bar? I had a witness awhile ago and it kept breaking trigger bars. Probably a bad batch of trigger bars. EAA sent me a replacement after I bitched on the phone long enough and guess what? They sent me a trigger with a broken bar. Having said all that, I will get another in .45. One of the few guns that is perfect in my hand. I've been told a Sig 226 kydex holster works for the Witness as well. Can anyone confim that? Safariland doesn't make a 6004 for a Witness but they do make one for a Sig 226. |
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I Just picked up an EAA Witness Match in 10mm at the local gun show, only because I overlooked the Dan Wesson RZ-10 somehow. However I am not so sure that I would have been better off. This pistol was half the price of the Dan Wesson for starters. The trigger is certainly match-grade; as it has overtravel stops and very clean 2-stage design. Some of the machining edges are on the rough side so I will be turning them all down and possibly refinishing the gun with duracoat. The pistol has a target rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation. The case is also nicer than the regular green tanfoglio cases. It is a silver color polymer case with combination locks and a vinyl interior with foam inserts for the pistol. It came with a self-contained cleaning kit; which is packaged with a swiveling brass rod, extension, nylon brush, bronze brush, bore mop, and a slotted patch jag. Not the highest quality, but great value. I will be getting it out to the range for a report soon. As a side note: I will say that I examined the steel compact, polymer compact, and steel full-sized pistols in the Witness line and I preferred the feel of the full-sized steel pistols over their counterparts. I think their polymer representation is a piece of junk. |
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While out blasting the AR. A friend let me shot his 9mm witness. I have target shot a 1911 in .45 and a Beretta 92. I was so impressed with this gun, It felt like it was an extension of my right hand. I immediately went on the look-out for one. Picked up a Tanfoglio TA-90 back in June for 265. It is so easy to completely disassemble. Tons of info out there. I have had no issues with this gun, it eats everything I throw in it. I am still so impressed with it, I just bought Witness, in wonder finish, last week for 290 and it should be getting here soon. I cant hardly sleep. I will get some pics up when it gets in. |
That's what made me fall in love with the CZ-75 platform in the first place. If CZ made a 10mm, I'd get it instead of a Witness, but they don't so it's the Witness for me. 
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The new American Handgunner mag. just out, did a test report on that gun. Author says it is the most accurate out of the box production handgun he has ever shot. I want one and will pursue getting at least one in the very near future. I too have custom Colts, XDs, Glocks etc.,etc. and this Witness Compact Carry intrigues me, especially now that I have read these posts.  Edited to add that I see very few holsters available for it on various web sites. Will probably have to spend extra for custom leather.Also, the EEA website is not clear as to how many mags come with the gun, or how much extra mags are. |
Usually, Witness pistols come with two magazines, I think. Cheaper Than Dirt has factory no-ban magazines for a reasonable price; $20 for 15-round 10mm mags. ALWAYS get magazines with red followers, not black followers. The ones with black followers are post-ban (or sometimes pre-ban) magazines and generally unreliable. They just don't feed well. The ones with red followers are no-ban and of much higher quality. |
Gorgeous! |
1911, The Beretta 92 holsters will fit, and there is alot more to choose from when it comes to Beretta. These links do them as well, http://www.highnoonholsters.com/index.htm, http://www.garritysgunleather.com/BeltHolsters.htm , http://www.delfatti.com/ The CZ75 holsters will work as well. As for taking them apart to clean, I mean completely, after the slide comes off, there is only two roll pins to push out. One for the triger/triger bar, and the other for the hammer. http://cid-c49cac3b81743ebf.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!C49CAC3B81743EBF!113/ hmmm, my picture posting ability seems to be lacking... |
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Lots of good info. I've been drooling over the 10mm since the last two gun shows I made it too. Finally picked up the full-size in wonder finish yesterday. Now I need to find a place to get a couple (between 2 and 4) extra magazines at a good price. Anyone know of where to get some of the good red follower mags for between 20-25 bucks? Oh, and just remembered a problem with one of the 9mm Poly guns I got to check out. It was at my buddy's pawn shop, and you could lock the safety on, but every time you pulled the trigger with the safety on, the safety would move about 1/16th of an inch towards the down position. pull the trigger between 4 and 6 times (depending on how hard you pulled it) and the safety would eventually come off safe and the hammer would fall. I haven't been able to get this to repeat with any of the metal Witness guns though. 
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