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Cures For 10MM Witness Recoil Spring & Firing Pin 02/18/2008
Had a compensated 10MM EAA Witness walk in the door yesterday attached to a very unhappy customer. He was tired of the constant frame battering every time he pulled the trigger and described the effect as a "ball peen hammer on an anvil."
I'm an old I.P.S.C. shooter from the 1980's and remember the developmental problems and short service life of a full house 10MM. Solved the problem this way – do you know the factory duplex recoil spring on a Colts officer's model? 'Made a duplex spring set up for the Witness.
Disassemble the weapon and separate the existing recoil spring from the guide rod. Thread the cut end of a Wolff 10 pound 1911 variable compression recoil spring around the present recoil spring from the rear of the spring. Note: these springs have a cut end and a faced-off end that bears against the recoil spring guide for functioning. The coils are similar diameter and match up nicely; and with the guide rod in place, will not separate, walk, or bunch up. Next, trim the new Wolff spring back. Do not cut the original recoil spring because it goes up into the recoil spring plug. The Wolff spring is slightly larger in diameter and will contact the rear of the plug. Trim the Wolff Spring until slide retraction will make the slide face (front) even with the front of the frame and will allow the slide lock to operate. It's best to cut and try one coil at a time – spring length will be approximately 4 inches, give or take. When finished, you will have a duplex 30 pound variable compression recoil spring that makes the 10MM Witness a joy to shoot without frame battering, and it still throws brass 15 feet upon extraction.
The other problem with a 10MM Witness is the weak firing pin spring in the slide which allows the firing pin to drag across the primer upon extraction. I made a duplex firing pin spring from Brownells spring kit #69 (Stock #025-069-000) which reduced the drag to one firing pin diameter, but a stiffer spring, roughly double the factory weight, would probably be the cure. (Any thoughts from manufacturers about all this?) Hope all of this rambling helps somebody else; and thanks for all your great tools and excellence!