superguy38

Wolff Spring says the full size witness is 14 pounds from the factory. I just replaced whatever was in my .38 Super with a 14 pound spring from Wolff and it worked great with Winchester, white box, +P fmj's.

Hello all, I live in the OTHER panhandle. It is numero uno to me, but those Texas folks think theirs is bigger! Guess it is. :-) I am a long time shooter and collector. Always interested in gun things. Have not really been a serious competitor in the past. Hunt and shoot, but not too much competition shooting. But I love trouble shooting gun issues (mostly by necessity) and do most of my own fixes. The internet has become one of the most useful sources because of the VAST amount of experience that comes together, and the generosity of the shooting public. I am sure I will benefit greatly from my experience here. Thank you. Superguy38. By the way, I LOVE the .38 Super because it is the first serious caliber I got to shoot right after the .22 long rifle when I was a kid. My dad had a 1911 in the caliber, and like most things that you get to do for the first time, I just have that soft spot in my heart for the Super because of this experience.

BINGO! This is EXACTLY the problem I was seeking. I am having the exact same issues. Nosediving on hollow points (reloads) and mags that refuse to load past 12 rounds without having to use a tool to force down the loaded rounds. Even then, I stop at 15 rounds. Since I think these are listed as 17 round mags, I would love to be able to get 16 in them at least! I know many people state you have to load and break in the mags with a bit of use. I just feel like the .38 super has some things working against it with the two stage springs and the smaller follower that has to transition from the wide body up to the narrow body of the mag. I do not shoot competition, at this point, so this is just a defense styled pistol. I do believe in reliability for all my weapons, and if I have to work too hard to find the combo or solution, I loose faith/interest in that gun pretty quickly. Any more experiences and solutions for these conditions. My search continues.

I owned a .40 Witness and it had a cracked slide which I didn't notice until AFTER I purchased!! What is it with the .40 S&W!? An insight into gun retailers and their customer service. USUALLY they are at least interested in the shooting sports. SOMETIMES they have loads of technical experience, but more than likely, they are just filling a position and answering your questions. The guys who do the rebuilds are usually not the ones answering your questions. So while it can be hard to get through to someone, being a bit persistent can pay off. (or backfire! :-) The "sales type" aren't usually also the technical type. But sometimes you get lucky. Good to hear someone there addressed your problem, honored your requests and corrected the problem.

BHM, you didn't mention how long you have been shooting or what your specific experience has been with a 1911. IF you just got the 1911 and just got it in .45 Auto, there is definitely a learning/experience curve. The following are some very specific observations, having just returned from the shooting range today and shot 3 designs. I shot a 9mm Browning Hi Power, with both 115 JHP and 147 Subsonic, an EAA Witness (all steel) in .38 Super +P and a Springfield Armory Champion in .45 Auto with good old 230 grain Hardball. First off, the other two weapons you mentioned in your original question are both wider in the grip area that meets the web of the hand. The 1911 design can at times, depending on back strap AND grip safety, be a bit punishing. This is just the way 1911s are until you are used to them, comfortable with them, and tuned your load to your requirements. Both my "non-1911" guns of the day have the wider grip in the area for the web of the hand to have recoil impulses distributed. Both my smaller caliber weapons of the day were VERY comfortable to shoot for me. I have been shooting informally for 35 years. Even shooting the .38 Super in +P is a pleasure compared to shooting the 1911 in .45 Auto. Gotta remember, the impulse from a 138 grain projectile, even at +P ratings is much less than a .45 Auto hardball in 230 grains. It is a combination of the physics of the round and the design qualities of the gun. The 1911's narrow area of the grip safety can definitely have one notice the more robust recoil of that 230 grain projectile. BUT, I also enjoy shooting the bruiser. After a good while, and this is not just to be macho, you just enjoy the pleasure of knowing you are launching a heavy projectile down range. This has little to do with the "gaming" of competition shooting. It may just take a while to get used to shooting the 1911 in .45 and finding a comfortable shooting grip and appropriate round to shoot. Try one in .38 Super. I suspect you would enjoy the 1911 much more. Guns and rounds can be tailored as suggested by most of the responses. If you just have to have the .45 auto, put some light loads through it and use those for a while, then work your way up.