Comparison: Would you prefer a short-barrel Witness 16 round or a full-size CZ?

J

Jorah Lavin

New member
I've started to think I'd like to add a 9mm carry gun to my set of options.

Local dealer told me he is getting some 9mm EAA Witness pistols in, they come with 16-round mags... price "around $425." They apparently have a 3-5/8" barrel, compensated (why comped on a carry gun?) and full size grips... probably similar to this one:

witness_standard_steel_compact_large.jpg


I did a search on TFL and found that people keep referring to the Witness as being a CZ clone, so off I go to the CZ site...

Where I find this nice looking gun, DAO, as I've been thinking of getting:

http://www.czub.cz/detail/75daoa.htm

CZ75DAO-v.JPG

And the price seems closer to $330



So my question boils down to... would the extra 6 rounds in the carry mag tilt the scales for you, toward the Witness and away from the CZ? (Based only on the photos, the CZ seems better finished, but who knows if this might be just the result of a better photographer at work?)

-Jorah
 
I've owned both and much prefer the CZ line of fine pistols. They just seem like they are of a higher quality. Fifteen round mags for a full size 9mm CZ are easy to find. Factory mags are still fairly reasonable.
If it were me:D CZ wins hands down. Best, John
 
http://cdnninvestments.com/index.html Cdnn is selling similar witness pistols for $329. You have to download their catalog to see them. I have a cz75b. It is a very good pistol. If it was me for the same price I would go with the cz. Cz has better customer service than EAA who imports the witness line of pistols, at least thats what I keep hearing. Mark
 
CZ hi-caps

Just to make sure that a hi-cap magazine is not a deciding factor for you, you can get them for a CZ for $38 right here:CZ-forum. That's where I will be getting hi-caps from for my PCR or P01 that I'll hopefully buy in a few months.
 
I own a Witness and am happy with it (40 compact), but your dealer is way out of line on price. My local dealer had several for $279 a while back, you can find them most places for around $300-325.
 
Personally, I'd go with the CZ. I have two (a CZ 75 and a CZ 40). CZs are great guns. I especially love my CZ 75. As far as mags there is a guy on the CZ Forum who still has a few high-caps (15 rounds) for $38 plus a couple bucks for shipping. If he is out when you buy even full priced they are relatively cheap and very easy to get, they are listed on CZ's website for $48 (CZ had a ton of them made up just before the ban, they are the only manufacturer that I know of from whom you can still buy the mags directly). If you buy from a dealer, depending upon your location, you will probably pay between $45-60 (once you're over what you'd pay from CZ's website, price and shipping, you may as well ignore the dealer and buy from CZ, unless you are willing to pay extra to get them immediately).
 
The witness is an all around great gun. The 16 rnd mag'd gun you are speaking of isnt the Compact you have up in the pic.
The Compact Witness is a 10 rndr just like the CZ Compact.

Its a fullsize gun just like the CZ you show. As far as Hi Caps,
the CZ 75 in some cases for the price you are looking at, comes with a 10 and 15 rnd mag. Its a trad. d/a triggered gun...

Look in shotgun news, you will see them in 2 or 3 places. For the money Id go with the Cz everytime. Absolutely great guns for the price. Quality, dependability, accuracy, reliability, ergonomics etc etc bla bla. You really cant beat a CZ for the money.
Shoot well
 
Jorah, the Witness you are looking at is probably the Tactical II. I bought one a couple of weeks ago. The price you quoted is high. Bachman Pawn (Dallas) sells them for $329.00. That's what I paid for mine, as I bought it from Bachman at the Gun Show.

The Tactical II does indeed have the compact ported slide and barrel and comes with the full-size grip frame. Sixteen round mag. is standard.

The Witness has the best ergonomics of any pistol I've handled. I also find it more astectically pleasing than the CZ with its upswept grip tang and flat sided slide. The Wonderfinish is Tennifer, as I understand. Same finish as the Glock.

I've only had it out to the range one time. No malfunctions whatsoever. The double action trigger is heavy but has lightened up with the few hundred rounds I've put through it.
The single action is great. The one thing I don't like are the ports. My first range trip was at an indoor range. The ports blew debris from the ceiling.

I rented a full-size Witness in 9mm several years ago. The range owner said it was the most reliable and durable of all his rental pistols which included Glocks, Sigs, and Smiths. Tens of thousands of rounds with no problems.

The DOA CZ is no doubt a great pistol. I do like the Safety on Witness. JohnH.
 
John H said:

Jorah, the Witness you are looking at is probably the Tactical II. I bought one a couple of weeks ago. The price you quoted is high. Bachman Pawn (Dallas) sells them for $329.00. That's what I paid for mine, as I bought it from Bachman at the Gun Show.

The Tactical II does indeed have the compact ported slide and barrel and comes with the full-size grip frame. Sixteen round mag. is standard.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the details. Also, since everyone I talk to mentions prices in the $330 range, I'm starting to think that I miss-heard my dealer.

The Witness has the best ergonomics of any pistol I've handled. I also find it more aesthetically pleasing than the CZ with its upswept grip tang and flat sided slide. The Wonderfinish is Tennifer, as I understand. Same finish as the Glock.
Click to expand...

The dealer, whose opinion I generally agree with, was particularly enthusiastic about the Witness's handling... he described it as one of the best pointing guns he'd ever shot, and told me that he owns seven of them in different models. The "Wonderfinish" is another plus for me, since I'm looking for something a little more resistant to body oil acids and sweat than plain bluing.

Those CZs are sure pretty, though. I think I started this thread hoping to get talked into deciding on the CZ.

Who knows. Maybe I'll end up with the Witness, maybe with a CZ, or maybe it will be another case where I end up having to spend the money on the dentist or a car repair, and I'll go another year without a 9mm... well, I've survived this long with my poor little Kimber (joke) so I guess I can last another year! On the other hand, maybe someday I'll end up with one of each!

Thanks to everyone for your comments; appreciated as always.

-Jorah



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"Don't believe everything you hear!"
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You know. CDNN had a run of these guns a while back..limited #'s per caliber and all of that. I remember them now.
Your dealer has a point regarding the pointable" gun thing. Ya I know...really punny! :D Anyway..the reason for that is its a copy of the best gun made for ergonomics. CZ and BHP are very close in the grip.
There are alot of Witness guns out there..really, LOTS. The quality, fit and finish, dependability etc of the EAA guns is pretty good. But not as good as the copy.
CZ guns are just simply more consistant in quality. As I have personally seen and owned. Im related to a dealer...so Im taking in his experience also. IMO, 75%+ of the EAA's have been killer guns...I remember a 10mm wunderfinish that somehow had pitting on the inside of the barrel...not good but it got pas them.
95-98+% of the CZ's have been better.
Seriously, they are both good guns. But I can tell you, those who have shot both most, not all, but most will tell you to get the CZ.
Shoot well
 
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