Magazines for a EAA Witness Match?

[Daniel1120]

I plan to pick up a Witness Match in 9mm in the next week or so. Ive been reading alot on the Enos, and CZ clone forums about these pistols. The only issue I think I will run into are the mags. Something to do with the older style mags causing nose dives. What I want to know is whether or not the Mec-Gar magazines on midwayusa will work with the fullsize frames, and if they work well. If not I think my only other option is to go with factory mags at $35 each, not what I want to do. So what mags do you use?

 

[wally]

The Elite Match guns are all the "Large frame" with the mag well sized for .45ACP/10mm/.38Super. I don't know of any non-EAA mags for them except the Mec-Gar in .45ACP -- which I like better than the EAA mags. But also be aware the "standard" EAA mags have a baseplate that is a bit too thick to fit the Match frame so you have file/sand it down ~1mm to get them to lock in.

In 9mm/.40S&W make sure you get the mags with the spacers. I've had lots of issues trying to use the .38Super mags with 9mm or 10mm Mags with .40S&W even though the exterior mag dimensions are identical.

If you get good mags you will love the Elite Match pistol, problem is you can't be 100% certain you will get good mags from EAA and their customer service after the sale is about as bad as it gets.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Try CDNN also. That is where I got my mags and it was only 2$ difference between mecgar and factory.

 

[Daniel1120]

Anyone else know anything?

 

[ckone]

You want the newest mag design that has the spacer in the rear of the mag body, they're new on the scene as they weren't released until a few months ago...

FWIW, I'd go through Henning even if it costs you more so you definitely get the right one's.

 

[floydster]

I bought mine from CDNN for my 45 and 38 Super, after I cleaned them and a short breakin period they work great.
Floydster

 

[chbrow10]

For trouble free EAA Witness mags, buy them from Hennings (google EAA Hennings). Expensive (~$90), but worth it. They are 100% reliable.

 

[hardluk1]

I didassembled and cleaned, debured the followers, lightly lubed with break free and checked the topson how the brass sat on 8 mags in two calibers and after some 3000+ rounds ,NO problems. Mines a year old witness match. Its harder to work up to loading a full mag than anything else. New calus on my thumb.

 

[Daniel1120]

$90 per mag is outrageous. I think i'll go with mags direct from EAA, turns out if you buy two or more their only $25 each. Thanks for the replies.

 

[IdahoLT1]

You want the newest mag design that has the spacer in the rear of the mag body, they're new on the scene as they weren't released until a few months ago...

FWIW, I'd go through Henning even if it costs you more so you definitely get the right one's.

Interesting. Are the new mags supposed to help with the jamming problems? Ive had my 10mm Match for almost 2 years now and have had problems with the round getting caught up on the feed ramp. I bough 2- "15rd" mags from midway but cant get more than 12 rounds in them and they still jam on the feed ramp. The gun sits in my safe because Im looking for an answer and dont like dropping money on something that might not help it. And im very hesitant on calling EAA.

 

[bluestringer]

The Henning mags are competition style magazines setup to hold 23 rounds of 9mm. That's why they are so expensive. He also sells the factory mags for 35 dollars with stock base pad, or 60 dollars with his aluminum base pad. I've never had any problems with the Tanfoglio or Mec-Gar mags. All of the EAA pistols are now large frame. Mags for the older small frame pistols will not work in the large frame.


bluestringer

 

[hardluk1]

Idaholt1 Check the open on your mags and set the front the same as the reat or a couple th's wider but besure they cycle by hand slowly and release of the slid with one round and full. Besure too that the spring ain't in backwards . That will hurt the amount it holds and help to make it jamb . My mags hold 15 rounds in 9mm but it did take a few reloadings to get them all in. Mine also has the filler strip in the front. Gap on top where the shell rest runs between .354 and .357 at the rear and .365 and .367 at the fronts if that helps.
Henning is a great guy to deal with and he sells either chrome or ss mags -higher price, and compitition mags - higher again. The enos forum is mainly a competitors forum so for us regular shooter you have to pay attention to what goes on as it may not relate to a standard gun all the time.

 

[Daniel1120]

hardluk1, good advice on the mag lips width. Are those numbers you posted for your 9mm mags?

 

[hardluk1]

Daniel1120 Yes they are of 4 mags from my 9mm witness match. There was some widths noted also on the brian enoss eaa forum but i think they were for the 40. I only had to ajust one mag for both my 9mm and 40 but it did that before i ever fired them. Started do'n this 25 or 30 years ago when it bought a brazilan army 1911, had to learn what worked just to get that pile of miss martched parts to work.