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Steel or Poly frame on EAA Witness?

10mmtsask
Does the type of frame effect HI POWERED performance on the the EAA Witness 10mm?
I realize the recoil springs should be 22, or even 24 lbs and the magazine spring should be +10% or 15% extra power.
I like the look of the compact poly blued, yet I wonder if the FULL size steel frame would be better for high powerd loads?
Greeting to all thanks for the information.
I am looking forward to an EAA with a[:D] 24lb spring that will be better suited for Double Tap or Mag Safe rounds than a stock Glock 29!
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • beantownshootah
    Unless you think you want to carry it concealed, I'm not sure why you would want a polymer framed 10mm.

    Personally, in a 10mm, I'd pick the full-sized steel gun. More weight = less recoil and muzzle flip, and more comfort shooting.
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
    Unless you think you want to carry it concealed, I'm not sure why you would want a polymer framed 10mm.

    Personally, in a 10mm, I'd pick the full-sized steel gun. More weight = less recoil and muzzle flip, and more comfort shooting.

    I hate to say it, but that is not always true Beantown.

    I own Glocks models 20, and 29, S&W models 1006, and 1076(one of the FBI returns), and a Colt Delta Goldcup. By far the easiest shooting one is the Glock 20, followed by the 29. I only shoot the Winchester Silvertips. The reason being is the centerline of the barrel sits lower to the top of the hand than the steel framed guns. I can not account for the Witness, as I have never shot one, but sometimes percieved recoil, and barrel flip has more to do with balance than overall weight.

    The ideal 10MM would be an HK MK23 SOCOM in 10MM, if they ever decided to make one.

    But to answer the original question, no, not always does the frame type effect the performance of percieved recoil. You are going to be hard pressed to beat the Glock 29 for the best small 10MM.

    Best
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  • 10mmtsask
    thanks for the replies here.

    I was considering the poly EAA because I liked it's looks; yet performance is the key. Nothing wrong with my Glock 29, of course.

    I was thinking that a 10 EA Witness with the 24lb spring would be a platform specifically for full powered 10mm loads like Doubletap.
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  • CHEVELLE427
    i had the steel 10mm,
    just watch for the new slid design the rounded ones have been known to crack mine was the sq type,
    just search it to see pic of the 2


    mine was a great gun and felt good in the hand, only reason i traded it off is i liked my SW 1006 better
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
    . . .
    But to answer the original question, no, not always does the frame type effect the performance of percieved recoil. You are going to be hard pressed to beat the Glock 29 for the best small 10MM.

    I do agree that what you might term "balance" is more important than absolute weight in terms of muzzle flip/recoil. I think a more precise way to think about this is what you might call "moment of inertia", which is the equivalent of mass that is being rotated around a point under recoil. In essence, given two guns of identical weight, the one that has more of its weight away from its center of gravity will have less recoil flip.

    In terms of which gun has more recoil, the Glock or the Witness, that wasn't the question, and if you are going to compare those two guns, there are a lot of significant differences OTHER than recoil that I think are probably more important. (Incidentally, I've shot both). The question also wasn't which small 10mm is the best one.

    The question is about which gun is more suitable for a diet of full power 10mm loads, the compact polymer frame Witness or the full sized steel frame 10mm Witness.

    Given that choice between substantially similar guns one with a polymer frame and short slide, and one with a steel frame and long slide, I think its clear the heavier bigger gun is going to have less recoil. The longer sight radius will make it easier to aim precisely. It will also increase muzzle velocity, and (though only by a teensy amount) decrease perceived muzzle flash and noise.

    So if I were interested in firing a lot of full power 10mm rounds, I'd pick the bigger all steel gun as simply easier to shoot. I think the bigger gun also lends itself better to hunting, for what that's worth. You have to ask the question, why are you bothering with a 10mm at all? Presumably its because you are after power and maybe flat trajectory. If so, why then gimp yourself with a smaller harder to aim gun if you don't have to?

    If I were interested in carrying a 10mm concealed on my person all day, I'd pick the smaller polymer gun.

    Along those lines, when I said "I don't see why anyone would want a polymer framed 10mm if they weren't going to carry it concealed", I just meant it in the context of the question (ie all heavy loads). I can easily see why you might pick a polymer framed 10mm if you happen to like the platform (eg the Glock).

    As an analogy, if I said I wanted to fire lots of max power .357 magnum rounds, which revolver should I pick, an alloy frame 2" snubnose, or an all steel one with a 3" barrel? I don't see why anyone would pick the alloy framed snubnose in that context. . .unless they wanted to carry it concealed.

    Getting back to the question, is the steel gun going to be more durable than the polymer gun with lots of full power loads? That I can't say. . .I have no firsthand experience or secondhand knowledge about wearing out 10mm Witness guns. I'd *guess* the all steel gun is better there. . .but I don't "know" that it is, and in general many of the 10mms don't hold up real well to lots of full power loads. Witness is probably one of the strongest (if not the strongest).

    One thing I do know about these, and 10mm has alluded to it already, is that for years EAA Witness 10mm guns have been substantially undersprung from the factory. This contributes to slide/frame battering and it also causes the 10mm brass to be flung around 25+ feet from the gun in ordinary firing. Not good if you want to reload them! The gun will run smoother, wear longer, and toss brass less if you swap in a heavier recoil spring from the get go.
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  • drobs
    I owned a steel frame EAA Witness 10mm a few 5 years, or so ago. Had to sell it and a couple other hand guns when I was laid off (back then).

    Before selling the Witness I blasted through 300rds of Federal Americal Eagle ammo I had on hand in one setting. Didn't seem right to sell the ammo off separately. Almost got to the point that I didn't want to sell the gun at all. Bills and a car payment won out.

    The 10mm has some muzzle flip to it. Not painful but more than a 45acp.

    The steel framed Witness is heavy (much heavier than a Glock or steel framed 1911). Not one I would want to conceal all day long. If you are going to cary it, I'd recommend the poly frame. For a shooter - steel.
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  • 10mmtsask
    thanks CCW where I live is not available for law abiding average citizens, so this 10mm is for home defense mainly. sounds like I should get the full sized steel frame version although I like the look of the compact poly buled version.[:)]
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  • spasmcreek
    have a compact poly in 38 super for car gun...like it
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  • gap1916
    I have owned both and they both work as intended. Practice is key as always. My 2 cents [8D]
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  • NOTPARS
    I have an EAA compact witness in 45 acp. It is one heavy gun and I feel the weight after a while on long hikes. What surprised me was the recoil. I thought with such a heavy steel gun, recoil would be mild. Recoil is ferocious in this gun compared to the same round in a 1911A1 frame or even the Ruger P-90
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