EAA Witness Hunter (6" 10mm)

[g_one]

Recently moved to Wisconsin, and I plan to start doing some camping up here once things warm back up. Currently all my guns are in 9mm, which I feel is adequate for self defense vs two legged predators but not quite so adequate for camping and hiking up here, and after doing some range time and research I've decided on the 10mm.

After taking personal preference into consideration, this limits me to the Glock 20 and the EAA Witness Hunter. I own a Glock already and I'm a big glock fan in general, but I have to say the EAA witness hunter is a real beauty, it feels really good in my hands, and the 6" barrel is not only practical but it looks great too.

So the question is this - without trying to start a Glock war - anyone have any experience with the witness hunter? How does it stand up in terms of reliability, and lifespan? Also, as a side note, how difficult would it be to find some good aftermarket grips for it?

 

[intercooler]

You still have some more choices in the Wtness lineup. My Hunter is awesome and a favorite to shoot. Let me find my picture...

 

[intercooler]

The Hunter has crappy wood grip panels. I bought mine used and one of the wood panels had been cracked and glued. A little shooting showed me why as they don't fit well and move. I put on a set of Henning panels and they are solid all aluminum and fit snug with no movement. You can also get Omega to make some wood panels for it. It soaks up the recoil a noticeable degree better than my Match and gives a good boost in velocity with the 6" barrel. Hogue wrap-arounds won't fit it!

My Match I added a Hogue wrap-around and it really made the feel just that much better! It's been a solid piece and you can also get Henning or wood panels for it.

Both have proven solid for me shooting ammo in the 700-900lb range with just 20-22lb recoil spring swap. Both are single action though if that is what you want.

 

[SuperBoomTurbo]

Having started my 10mm love with the G20, and having a Stock II 10mm, here's a few thoughts from both sides of the fence:
Glock: Robust, reliable, ugly as sin. If you shoot hot loads, get a fully supported barrel. Me, I have big hands, so grip size wasn't an issue, but hands down, the Witness/Tanfoglio is far superior in pointability (an accuracy, but that comes in later).
I didn't care for the goal post stock sights, and had I not sold it to finance an AR project many moons ago, I would have replaced them in a heartbeat. You being a glock aficiando probably already know this.
One other blip for glock is aftermarket support. Anything that fits the 21 will fit the 20, aside from magazines.

Tanfoglio/Witness: Beautiful for a gun, stupidly/amazingly accurate, all steel, much softer than the glock with recoil (its a real pussycat! I have a 9mm that's snappier shot back to back. Crazy but true, for me at least). I bought my 10mm before Mec-Gar came into the equation, so I got stuck with shi!tty magazines. Swapped the springs out with Wolf and it made a world of difference. I don't have the questionable reliability issue anymore, which if you're putting your life on the line versus bears, wolves, etc, that will be something you need to get fixed if you get a hunter. *So far as I know*, any hunters pistols are older as I've read they don't make them anymore (current production?) Someone else might chime in to verify or crucify that remark.

I wish I'd gotten one, but I really liked the full dust cover of the Stock II, of which I'm in the process of stripping that metal treatment to convert to a black oxide finish.

You'll hear the horror stories about EAA (the importer of the pistol; Tanfoglio is the manufacturer in Italy) and their customer service, but I haven't gone down the road yet, and hope I won't have to.
So far as aftermarket support. Ehh, you're about limited to Henning Walgren (henningshootsguns.com). Super nice guy and a factory shooter. I've given him a goodly bit of my hard earned dough on aftermarket parts, and I'm really thinking about going with his fiber front sight. Holsters: I've heard ones made for CZ and certain sigs work, but I make my own from leather and ABS sheet. Easy peezy.

I'll see what else I can think of, but long story short, I still have the Witness and not the glock. Personal preference, as I do not fault the glock for its robustness, but I wanted an accurate gun that also looked decent. The Tanfoglio filled that role nicely. However, I may eventually get another G20 for a carry gun. It's a tool/working gun for sure.

Ammo costs kinda stink, but with either pistol, a barrel swap and you can shoot .40, .45, etc.
Happy Trails, Hanz!
(Not sure where that came from, but it sounded good in my head)

 

[intercooler]

That's a Henning fiber on my Hunter. I'm thinking of getting a EAA fiber for the Match just to see how it compares. You can still get the Hunter new and about two on GunBroker at any given time for $900.

Not much needs to be swapped on them except the grip, sight and springs if so desired. Fusion makes a 6" and Heinne also... but the G20 you can go 5" plus, 6", compensated, swap to 9x25 Dillon, etc.... very versatile!

 

[SuperBoomTurbo]

That's a Henning fiber on my Hunter.

Good to hear, which means you can answer my question
So far as sight height versus the stock super sight, how much wider/taller is it, and does it hang up if/when you holster the weapon? That's been my primary hold-up on locking one down. Fine motor skills go out the window if you (read 'I') would have to pull it if that should be my carry gun that day. Seems an awful waste to put so much work into this finish for a safe queen.

 

[intercooler]

It's roughly the same height and width. The squared edges could make it difficult with some holsters I am sure.

 

[SuperBoomTurbo]

Thanks for the reply, but I forgot to ask. Which size did you end up with? I forgot the exact dimensions, but as I recall, one was a bit wider than the other.
I suspect that I would mold a new sight channel for a new sight in the end, holster wise.

 

[intercooler]

It has the smaller lite-pipe.

 

[Gag_Halfront]

I can't speak to longevity of the hunter per-se, but my old witness .45 survived a brutal existence at the hands myself and my friend. I can't recommend the Witness enough if you want something that will last. I've only put the first 50 rounds through my Hunter and I have to say, it is _everything_ I hoped it would be.

Hope that helps.

 

[g_one]

Thanks a lot everyone, I think think I've ruled out the G20 now. The SF model might have been great but the Hunter has me won over. I was considering doing a Fusion kit also, but I'm skeptical of trusting myself to assembling a 1911 from a kit, I feel like I'd just get better quality out of a factory gun.
The Kimber Eclipse 10mm originally had my eye but IMO as great as Kimbers are, I would treat it like a safe queen and never take it out; the Eclipse is a beautiful gun but I'd rather not spend the money on something I wouldn't end up using.

So, to derail my own topic - I've never used a red dot before. I know the Hunter has the holes tapped for mounting a scope kit, but I'm skeptical of using any sort of sight on a handgun other than traditional handgun sights. How would a good no-magnification red dot do on the Hunter? I

 

[SuperBoomTurbo]

If you've ever used a red dot on anything, its really the same, outside of having it quite bulky. For the purpose of red dots, I'd illustrate the Trijicon RMR mini RDS (or the burris version). Its typically mounted on a picatinny rail, but pistols such as the FNP45 have a dedicated mounting plate, i.e., it sits right on the slide. I really like that set-up, as its as easy as point and shoot. The irons are co-witnessed by the red dot, and its comparably smaller and less unwieldy than that full size red dot on an even more unwieldy rail system.
FNP45 Tactical with Mini RDS

Witness with scope example


Now, granted, the Witness itsn't set up for a RDS mini on the slide, but I would bet that a decent 'smith could rig something up on the slide, even if you had to drill and tap a section of picatinny rail or whatnot. Choice is yours, of course

EDIT: Sorry, I got myself hung up on the witness in general. The scope base for a hunter can be had fairly easily. That Trijicon goes for some bucks, though personally I've looked at the Burris version which is about 150$ last I looked. I was shopping for an FNP 45 til I saw one at a gun show. Felt great, but the glock-style controls killed it for me.
Anyway, Red dots are cheap, though the reflex sights are awesome.
Fusion's quality is very hit or miss, and personally I backed out of a deal last year after reading the horror stories around the web on quality and wait times after its been paid for. Don't know about the kits, but I don't regret walking away from a custom build. The Stock II 10mm was nearly everything I wanted and half the price. I correcting the color I used to work with a fellow that carried a Kimber as his duty weapon. We had a range session as a send off to some new recruits a few years back, and of course, we shot each others weapons. The kimber shot a lot softer than I would have thought and it was bang on accurate. It was a .45 though, but still nice.