Witness Compact 10mm mags

AndABeer · September 6, 2002, 08:10 AM

Why are they 8 round instead of 10s?

EAA website says 10+1 but any time I have fondled one in the gun shop it has been a plugged 8 rounder.

Gusgus · September 6, 2002, 03:58 PM

Don't know. I got mine a year ago, and it came with a 10 rounder. Looks as if the mag was cut and shortened from a full size, full capacity one. Definitely cut, shortened, and welded back together. It has a flat floor plate, and holds 10 rounds easily.

Could be that they are now cutting down full size gilded mags, thereby reducing capacity to 8. Doesn't seem to make sense having a plugged mag base on a pistol designed for 10+1.

TBAUS · September 6, 2002, 05:50 PM

That doesn't make sense. I think the compact .45acp Witness will only hold 8 rounds due to the diameter of the round, but to my knowledge compact Witness 10mm mags should hold 10 rounds. Unfortunately, I don't have a 10mm Witness to look at. I just took a quick look at gunbroker.com to see what compact 10mm mags are for sale. One guy is selling 10mm Witness mags saying they hold 9 rounds... Go figure.... Email EAA and see what they say. Better yet, hopefully yet another 10mm compact owner will set us straight.

Peter M. Eick · September 7, 2002, 10:38 AM

If you take apart a witness magazine, you will see that the follower has 2 slots cut in it. These slots mate with the dimples in the mag tube. If the slots are cut to narrow, you get an 9,8 or even 7 round magazine. If you force more in, the dimple bulges and the mag breaks in half. To solve the problem take it apart (the mag that is), take the follower out, and CAREFULLY use an exacto knife to clean the slot cuts out so the follower will go all the way down to the dimple.

It works, I converted all of my 7,8, and 9 round magazines to 10rnders this way. ALSO, you cannot convert them to be 11+ round magazines this way, the rounds cannot get by the dimples without breaking the magazine. SO DON'T TRY IT!

Does any of this sound like the voice of experience.........?

nvrquit · September 8, 2002, 11:15 PM

I have still retained the Tanfoglio Witness Compact that was and is the source of my previosu posts. However, on that topic I will not dwell at this time.

The issue concerning the magazine capacity of this particular Tan' is a little misleading, depending of course upon when and where you aquired the information. The EAA website had/has at times listed the 10mm Witness Compact as being either 9 or 10 rounds. The magazines of both the black and red follower type(early feed problem and late corrected feed, respectively) were/are both able to contain 10 rounds. To this I will however add that, with 10 rounds loaded that the mag is VERY tight. In this condition, either early or late mag follower styles exhibited occaisional feed issues with the first two rounds from the mag, starting with a round already in the chamber and 10 rounds in the mag. Loaded to only 9 rounds in the mag, the late style(red) follower mags were/are fairly reliable(once the pistol was made to function properly, but I digress). BTW, the manual that accompanies the pistol when NIB, clearly states that the capacity of a 10mm Compact is 9 rounds. If anyone wants the capacity recommendations as stated on the manual for the other variations of the Tanfoglio Witness, let me know, as they are all listed on the same said manual.

September 6, 2002, 08:10 AM	#1
AndABeer Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Location: Lakeland, TN Posts: 1,622	Witness Compact 10mm mags Why are they 8 round instead of 10s? EAA website says 10+1 but any time I have fondled one in the gun shop it has been a plugged 8 rounder. __________________ "The key is to not pull the trigger but to squeeze it." Evil Emporer Zurg "You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts." Unknown

September 6, 2002, 03:58 PM	#2
Gusgus Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2000 Location: Southern New Jersey Posts: 621	Don't know. I got mine a year ago, and it came with a 10 rounder. Looks as if the mag was cut and shortened from a full size, full capacity one. Definitely cut, shortened, and welded back together. It has a flat floor plate, and holds 10 rounds easily. Could be that they are now cutting down full size gilded mags, thereby reducing capacity to 8. Doesn't seem to make sense having a plugged mag base on a pistol designed for 10+1. __________________ For a calm, relaxing discussion of firearms & firearm related issues, or if you just want to sit back and chew the fat, pull up a log to the fire, and join us at Family, Friends & Firearms [color=royal blue]In loving memory of Bill "Gunslinger" Elliott. I am honored that he called me friend.[/color]

September 7, 2002, 10:38 AM	#4
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	If you take apart a witness magazine, you will see that the follower has 2 slots cut in it. These slots mate with the dimples in the mag tube. If the slots are cut to narrow, you get an 9,8 or even 7 round magazine. If you force more in, the dimple bulges and the mag breaks in half. To solve the problem take it apart (the mag that is), take the follower out, and CAREFULLY use an exacto knife to clean the slot cuts out so the follower will go all the way down to the dimple. It works, I converted all of my 7,8, and 9 round magazines to 10rnders this way. ALSO, you cannot convert them to be 11+ round magazines this way, the rounds cannot get by the dimples without breaking the magazine. SO DON'T TRY IT! Does any of this sound like the voice of experience.........? __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

September 8, 2002, 11:15 PM	#5
nvrquit Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2002 Location: Bernville, PA Posts: 185	Tanfoglio Witness 10mm Compact, mag capacity... I have still retained the Tanfoglio Witness Compact that was and is the source of my previosu posts. However, on that topic I will not dwell at this time. The issue concerning the magazine capacity of this particular Tan' is a little misleading, depending of course upon when and where you aquired the information. The EAA website had/has at times listed the 10mm Witness Compact as being either 9 or 10 rounds. The magazines of both the black and red follower type(early feed problem and late corrected feed, respectively) were/are both able to contain 10 rounds. To this I will however add that, with 10 rounds loaded that the mag is VERY tight. In this condition, either early or late mag follower styles exhibited occaisional feed issues with the first two rounds from the mag, starting with a round already in the chamber and 10 rounds in the mag. Loaded to only 9 rounds in the mag, the late style(red) follower mags were/are fairly reliable(once the pistol was made to function properly, but I digress). BTW, the manual that accompanies the pistol when NIB, clearly states that the capacity of a 10mm Compact is 9 rounds. If anyone wants the capacity recommendations as stated on the manual for the other variations of the Tanfoglio Witness, let me know, as they are all listed on the same said manual.

September 6, 2002, 05:50 PM	#3
TBAUS Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2002 Location: Central Texas Posts: 111	That doesn't make sense. I think the compact .45acp Witness will only hold 8 rounds due to the diameter of the round, but to my knowledge compact Witness 10mm mags should hold 10 rounds. Unfortunately, I don't have a 10mm Witness to look at. I just took a quick look at gunbroker.com to see what compact 10mm mags are for sale. One guy is selling 10mm Witness mags saying they hold 9 rounds... Go figure.... Email EAA and see what they say. Better yet, hopefully yet another 10mm compact owner will set us straight.