Witness Extractor Failure

[LESchwartz]

On a recent range trip, I began to experience failure-to-extracts with my all steel compact Witness in .40 S&W.  Closer examination reveled that the hook of the extractor had broken off.  I ended up replacing it with a new on from Numrich.

Should I worry that this a weak point in these pistols, or is it a one off failure?

Larry

[jwc007]

More than likely a one-off.  I've been shooting my .45 and 9mm Tanfoglio a lot and have never had an Extractor break.

My oldest .45 Witness has more than 18,000 rounds through it and still has it's original Extractor.
I have however replaced quite a few Springs.

My old Full Sized TA90 still has it's original Extractor with a lot of 9mm Ammunition through it and I don't expect it's Extractor to break anytime soon.

I do note however, that on my newer Tanfoglio Pistols, the Armscor/RIA MAP1 FS and MS, the Slide Boltface and Extractor design has been changed/improved.
Strangely, it's the same design used on my old Compact TA90.

[eastman]

Some people have the habit of single-loading by dropping a cartridge in the chamber and closing the slide. They are at risk of breaking extractor hooks.

If you don't do that, then the extractor should have a long, productive life.

[LESchwartz]

Some people have the habit of single-loading by dropping a cartridge in the chamber and closing the slide. They are at risk of breaking extractor hooks.

If you don't do that, then the extractor should have a long, productive life.

I'm not in that habit, but it makes sense that such a thing would be hard on the extractor.  I should have added that I purchased the pistol used and can't speak for the previous owner(s).

The imports date was 1997.  I acquired it 6 years ago.  Since then I would guess I've put about 1000 rounds through it.  No idea about the previous owner(s).

Larry

[LESchwartz]

Got back from the range earlier this evening . . . 100 rounds down the pipe and no failures with the pistol.  Hurray!

Now if I could only say the same thing for my laser . . . the laser on my new TLR-4G kept cutting out.

Larry

[Gunnerdad80]

I have quite a few older and newer Tanfoglios and CZ clones and I’ve never had to replace an extractor. Extractor springs and pins, yes.

 Simple but sturdy they be!

[DenStinett]

My DtD is a 2007 Witness Semi Compact
It has thousands of Rounds though it
Every time I clean it, I reload that First Round by "dropping a cartridge in the chamber and closing the Slide", every time
(normally) you won't see the same issues with External Extractors, as you would with Internal Extractors like found in (say) most 1911s

[eastman]

My DtD is a 2007 Witness Semi Compact
It has thousands of Rounds though it
Every time I clean it, I reload that First Round by "dropping a cartridge in the chamber and closing the Slide", every time
(normally) you won't see the same issues with External Extractors, as you would with Internal Extractors like found in (say) most 1911s

don't know of any special Tanfoglio magic, but that is a great way to break extractors on CZs, SIGs and Glocks

[jwc007]

Every time I clean it, I reload that First Round by "dropping a cartridge in the chamber and closing the Slide", every time

Not recommended practice!  You've been Lucky so far. 

I always run the Slide to feed the first round, manually decock, then top off the Magazine with another round, for carrying at full capacity.
Now I've never broken an Extractor either, but I'm not going to push my Luck.

[Gunnerdad80]

Every time I clean it, I reload that First Round by "dropping a cartridge in the chamber and closing the Slide", every time

I used to do it too but now I rack one in then top the mag off.

[DenStinett]

I used to do it too but now I rack one in then top the mag off.

"you're a good man, Gunga Din"
I'm sorry .... I meant Gunnerdad !

[LESchwartz]

I've heard too many stories of folks experiencing a accidental discharge when decocking manually.  My fist pistol was a CZ52, where the decocker couldn't be trusted.  Because of all this in not in the habit of topping off.

Larry

[Gunnerdad80]

"you're a good man, Gunga Din"
I'm sorry .... I meant Gunnerdad !

I had to look up Gunga Din to see what it was. 

[jwc007]

I've heard too many stories of folks experiencing a accidental discharge when decocking manually. 

There have also been instances of accidental discharge when carrying Cocked and Locked, when the Safety Lever gets accidentally bumped to the OFF position.
With Firearms Handling in General, you can never be too careful.

Manually decocking a handgun, particularly back in the Revolver Days, both SA and DA, used to be considered an essential skill.
If one is to carry a Cz75 pattern Pistol with a Loaded Chamber in the DA first Shot Mode, then that skill must be learned, safely.
My personal practice is to go outside to my back Patio, point the Pistol at the dirt, rack a round in, then manually decock the Pistol.

https://youtu.be/XO59J7tBKuM

I've been using the "Over the Top" method shown above, without incident.

[Gunnerdad80]

I've been using the "Over the Top" method shown above, without incident.

Ditto