May/Jun - uspsa

"WITNESS GOLD TEAM PISTOL"FRONT SIGHT EXCLUSIVE::Team EAA/Tanfoglio makes a major pushinto the U.S. competition market with newpistols!by Kerby C. Smith, A-2386Tanfoglio of Italy is well known as a maker of highcapacity pistols.In talking with Paul Richter, vicepresidentof European American Armory Corporation(EAA) who imports the Tanfoglio pistols, and IraKay EAA/Tanfoglio Team captain I learned theywould be selling a full-house competition pistol verysoon.Shortly before FRONT SIGHT went to press, Kaycalled me to let me know that the first two "WitnessGold Team" pistols had arrived in this country. A callto Keith Burns, President of EAA, confirmed the firsttwo pistols in this country were for Team membersBilly Abbate and Mike Cundiff to use at this year'sSTEEL CHALLENGE. Arrangements were madewith Burns to borrow one of the pistols for two daysto give USPSA members an exclusive first look at thenew pistol. True to his word, I was shipped "GoldTeam" pistol serial number AB00002. The "GoldTeam" pistol on the cover is chambered for 9mmx19,but they will be offered in 9mmx21 and .40 S&W also.steel" pistol. Switching to a 12-inch square plate at7 yards [tried a series of draws and two shots on thesteel plate. The dot never left the field of view shooting"double-taps." I had fun trying an 18-round "BillDrill" on the steel plate. I was able to draw and shootthe pistol to slide lock in 4.18 seconds with all hits.I discussed the 18-round capacity with Burns. Hetold me the magazine I was sent was a 17-roundmagazine but 19-round magazines will be shippedwith the "Witness Gold Team" pistols as factorystandard. That means with one in the chamberUSPSA/IPSC competitors will have another 20-round pistol for this shooting season.The best part of this new pistol may be its price.EAA does not currently have a retail price on thepistol but Burns said, 'The all new 'Witness GoldTeam' is a full-house competition gun with everythingthe shooters have asked for, and its price doesnot look like a telephone number."For more information on the new "Witness GoldTeam" pistols contact EAA at P. 0. Box 3498FS,Bright Station, Hialeah FL 33013 or call them at(305) 688-4442 and tell them you saw it in FRONTSIGHT.Gold Team Pistol specifications listedon page 64.Abbate told me, "The safety on thisgun is probably not what will appearon production 'Gold Team' guns. Wehave designed a new lower safetylever. This change will make thesafety much easier to manipulate.""The gun you see is exactly as it wasdelivered to us from Italy. No tuningor touching-up has been done here.All metal finishing and function workis performed overseas (including the26 oz. trigger job). Shoot and evaluatethe gun as much as you like andlet me know what you think. I hopeyou enjoy it!"There was really no time for a fullhouseevaluation. I sighted the pistolin for shooting steel at 20 yards using124-grain FMJ factory ammunition.I made a few runs on the STEELCHALLENGE course "Zig-zag," andwas pleased. The trigger had a shortsmooth take-up and a light, crispbreak. The pistol has an extendedand checkered magazine releasewhich allowed me to drop the magazinewithout repositioning my grip.I had no trouble with this "out-ofthe-box"pistol equalling my besttimes on the stage with a "customWaller Bags and Cases, created for shooters,are made in the USA and considered thefinest available. They have an AdjustableRemovable Interior Partition System. Ifdispleased with any Waller product, it will bereplaced or your purchase price refunded.[-WALLERNOPWAL IK.CONNE CT ICU T•USAWaller Field BagColors: Black, Grey,RedSize: 9"H x 6" Wx 15" L.•98 .00W•WALLER•&•SON•INC142 New Canaan Ave • Norwalk, Connecticut 06850Amex, Visa & MCacceptedCall Toll Free1-800-874-BAGSor (203) 838-4083Send $2.00 forcatalogue.May/June 1992 Page 3