Source for +strength magazine springs for 10mm Witness

[bobclevenger]

As the headline says, I am looking for higher power magazine springs for my EAA Witness 10mm. Wolff has them for all calibres EXCEPT 10mm.
First question: Where can I get these?
Second question: what is the actual difference between the 10mm mag springs and all the others?

[jwc007]

Second question: what is the actual difference between the 10mm mag springs and all the others?

Did not know there was any. Use the same Magazine Springs you would use in a .45 Witness or Cz97B.
Wolff should have those.

[Rock-it3]

Bumping this 4+ year old thread hoping to get a reply without starting a new thread. I have an EAA Witness Classic II 10mm, with 2-15 round and 1-10 round magazine. It continually fails to feed a new round into the chamber. The cartridge starts into the chamber, but the case head seems to hang up on the breech face. The case rim is NOT touching the extractor when it hangs up, the rim is still below the extractor. Also, the cartridges plunk into the chamber and spin freely. They are my reloads, OAL is 1.246-1.248, crimped to .4220-.4225, so within specs. When the cartridge hangs up, it I retract the slide slightly, sometimes the cartridge will rise into position and feed, other times I have to retract the slide fully and release it.

I have the Wolff recoils spring calibration assortment of 16-18-20-22# springs. I had the 18 in it yesterday, and it ran terribly, sometimes failing to feed 5-6 times per magazine. When I got home, I installed the 20# spring, thinking maybe a little more oomph would shove the cartridge into the chamber. I haven't shot it yet, though.

I searched here for threads on magazine springs (which I have done before, but keep coming up against what the OP mentions), found some threads again, including this one. I am wondering if the problem is weak magazine springs, which may not be pushing the next round up quickly enough, or hard enough, to get the case head to slide up the breech face. Is there any logic to that idea?

The problem is, though, as the OP mentions, Wolff says their magazine springs for the EAA/CZ75 series, etc., are for all calibers except 10mm. jwc007, you suggest using springs for the .45 Witness or the CZ97B, but I cannot find those pistols listed on the Wolff website. Everything under CZ and EAA says except 10mm, and there is no listing for 45 Witness or 97B.

Here are screenshots of the Wolff website:
CZ springs:


EAA springs.


The listings are identical, including part numbers, and both say "except 10mm". If my supposition makes sense, I'll need to find springs that I am sure are extra power, instead of chancing it and not knowing for sure. Advice, input, suggestions, questions, etc. appreciated!

[flareside_ford]

I have no information for your spring question but have you checked for a burr on the breach face at the firing pin hole?

[Rock-it3]

I will double check, but it jams before the case head gets up to the firing pin hole.

[Grendel]

Same magazine all the time, or with all the magazines all the time?

Does it feed factory ammunition?

[Rock-it3]

Same magazine all the time, or with all the magazines all the time?

Does it feed factory ammunition?

One magazine is worse, but all three have trouble. I haven't shot factory ammo in along time, but my recollection is yes, even factory ammo.

[Grendel]

The easiest thing to check is the ammunition. I'd start there before anything. Run a couple of mags or 3 of factory ammo and confirm if it still does it.

[Rock-it3]

Easier said than done, with the price and availability of any ammo, especially 10mm. But I'll give it a try.

[Grendel]

Easier said than done, with the price and availability of any ammo, especially 10mm. But I'll give it a try.

Mags probably don't need to be full, except maybe one of them

[Rock-it3]

I have no information for your spring question but have you checked for a burr on the breach face at the firing pin hole?

No burr anywhere on the breech face, and the extractor doesn't interfere with feeding, either.

I'll try Grendel's suggestion, if I can find any factory 10mm locally.

[Rock-it3]

I picked up a box of Federal 10mm 180 grain FMJ, loaded up my mags (1-10round, 2-15 round) and went to the range. I first shot my reloads to confirm/duplicate previous results, then loaded up the Federal.

Results, with my reloads, several failures to feed in each magazine (4 in the 10 round, 2 and 5 in the 15 rounds). With the factory ammo, ZERO failures to feed!

I'm thoroughly frustrated now, even though what I thought could be the issue has been eliminated from consideration, I now need to find out why my reloads do not feed. Dimensionally, they are essentially identical to the Federals, but the Federal i 180 grain has a rounded ogive. My reloads are 165 grain Berry's Flat point, like a truncated cone. Side by side, that flat point shape appears to be "thinner" than the rounded shape.

The Federal claims 1200 fps. I am reloading with 8.6 grains of Power Pistol over the Berry's 165 FP. That may be a bit light per Alliant's data, but it doesn't seem to be too light according to the manuals I have, or data I find online. It is certainly above any starting load I have seen.



Sorry to be taking this thread about Witness 10mm springs off topic. If you think this should be in it's own thread, or in another existing thread, let me know.

[Fuzzy Sights]

Rock-it3,

Assuming no pressure signs you could try bumping up your load or using a lighter recoil spring.  Assuming this is a classic failure to feed which can have multiple causes.  Also check your mag spring tension which can cause issues from load to load, depending on the dwell time the slide has all the way back.

Would probably open this up in the reloading forum.

Hope this helps.

JW

[Grendel]

It's an ammo problem, not a spring problem. I suggest you ask for some help with loads in the ammo forum.

[Rock-it3]

It's an ammo problem, not a spring problem. I suggest you ask for some help with loads in the ammo forum.

Will do. Thanks for pushing me to try some factory ammo. Sometimes tunnel vision prevents seeing other possibilities.