MikeChandler

Mike, just wanted to thank you for this load. I am using the same Ranier 180gr FP bullets and you saved me some testing. Loaded up a batch yesterday at 5.2gr W231 with OAL @ 1.13 to shoot out of my Tangolio Limited major gun. It worked perfect at about 950 to 975 FPS to give me about 170PF. Shot flat and fairly soft. Good accuracy and not too dirty. With the way powder is hard to find you have to use what you have not what you wish you have. Going to try it a match this weekend. I use a Lee turret loader and it had no recommended start load so I used the closest bullet weight and type to start with the lowest charge. Used 4.1grs. Got about 600FPS. Was nice and soft shooting, but not even close. gerritm Do you think the FMP (frontier metal processing) 180gr match flat points would perform about the same with the W231 and 1.13" OAL?

EAA parts is still online, it's just not loading in their lousy website layout. Here's the direct link http://www.eaacorp.com/parts.html I have some of the rubber grips, but they are on a small size frame (the older gun). Not sure if they'd work. I also have some EAA walnut ones, so I'd sell the rubber ones. I have no idea what they are worth - but you might be better off just ordering from the link above, so you can be sure to get the correct size.

The careful polishing of the trigger plunger and trigger bar plunger channel and trigger bar sidebars followed by reassembly did the job. It now racks as nice as any I've tried in stores. Thanks for the help! Now I am off to solve the safety and barrel issues. If I take care of that, I will probably revisit this with some better parts and pins. Those pins REALLY SUCK. Thanks again!

Thanks for the list - i will call tomorrow. At the minimum the roller plunger is a great idea. I have no idea what scumbags do in their spare time - but polishing the trigger bar, the same type of serrated look appears. It's either the way the paint bath happened, or a problem in the MIM process, or actual serrations. After complete disassembly the slide moves very evenly and nicely. It's surprising it's not a tighter fit in the frame though. Anyway, I'm thinking the serrated looking places where the finish is wearing is just a problem in the finish, since I can rub it off, and see that pattern happening everywhere.

Another question - should the breech, and for that matter the barrel and lug, look this rough? I cant add anymore pictures. Maybe there is some time limit I have to cross on the forums.

I have the trigger pieces out, I will take pictures of them. I think that was the issue - that plunger scrapes just when I push on it. This whole assembly is the culprit. It's cheap, it twists on lousy pins when installed, it has roughness where it shouldn't. Those serrated looking rough edges on the slides? They are twice the size on the side of the trigger bar. And the trigger plunger is terrrible. It scrapes just when I push it together, even after soaking in brake fluid. Does anybody make a drop in tuning kit for this gun?

Okay, I have the sear out now, and when I pull the trigger I get the scraping. It's apparently the top of the plunger against the trigger bar. Against my better judgement, I am now taking out the trigger bar to see this channel you are talking about. By the way, stripped down to this level, it's not rough anymore when I put the slide in. In fact, I can now see how loose the slide is in the rails. Any idea what the spec is supposed to be on that?

That's a good question - because they are are along the rails in a good many spots on both sides of the rails. I don't know if it's partially responsible, but there is considerable roughness when pushing down on the two tangs that extend from the trigger group into the rails. Is that normal? They make an audible scraping sound.

The lips are measuring .382-.387 with a "somewhat" recently calibrated fowler caliper. No bigger than .387 anywhere. I've got bigger problems anyway, at least I think I do. When I rack the slide it doesn't feel right. Now I have never racked a witness before, but there's an inordinate amount of scraping going on. There is the whole portion that just feels wrong, like mechanically stuff isn't fitted right, or something is hitting where it isn't supposed to. All my other semi autos, once the hammer is back, you can just endless rack the slide without meeting uneven resistances. And then there's the firing pin (which I started examining because of the firing pin safety, which I thought might be the culprit). When I pull the firing pin safety block out, it's got a groove ground in, and I can reverse the firing pin and it still allows firing. It's just all lousy fit. Any excitement I had has dissipated. I feel like somebody just dumped their problem on me. It would be very helpful if somebody racked their witness slide a few times, slowly and told me if there's some rough spots - like mechanically hitting or rubbing on stuff - and if that's normal. Thanks!

So...That leads me to ask what the best .40 S&W ammo would be for Pin Shooting. Should I try that ammo before I replace the recoil spring, as it might be setup for it?

Ah hah! That makes sense! Is this still a decent pin gun, or are there superior choices now? What could be done to improve it, and what shouldn't be done to it? Thanks!

I just took a gun in trade in, and am trying to figure out what it was setup for. It's a Witness 40SW Carry Comp, and It has 5 magazine followers setup on what I think might be mecgar high cap magazines. The magazine pads allow to extra rounds, but they are not angled like the hennings ones. They have two allen screws to disable them. The compensator screws off the threaded barrel. Other than the magazines, it's apparently stock - EAA reported: The serial number provided is a Witness 40sw Carry comp , this is considered a small frame due to the frame change in 2005 . This model can be converted to the following calibers : Small Frame Fullsize 9mm or Small frame fullsize 22lr Any idea what sport this was possibly used for? Or was it just somebody's plinker? Also, what recoil spring is recommended for it, and where would one find replacement magazine springs? I've disassembled one of the mags, carefully cleaned it, but there are still some FTF problems. I am guessing it might be the recoil spring.