After combing the new products of SHOT Show 2025, I am excited to share two new handguns from EAA that really caught my attention.
EAA just released the Witness2311 Match and the Match X, and both are packing some serious value. Let me walk you through what I’ve seen so far.
Witness2311 Match: Heavy Duty with Premium Features
First up, we’ve got the Witness2311 Match. This is a steel-frame, double-stack 1911, which provides you with the smooth-operating and low-recoiling experience that this design is known for.
Right off the bat, I noticed the solid weight—it feels hefty in your hand, which is great for shooting in a competitive environment.
The Witness2311 Match has a full Picatinny rail that runs all the way to the end of the dust cover, which allows you to attach lights, lasers, or training devices. The bull barrel lock-up (though not really a true bull barrel) is a standout feature that is designed to increase the accuracy of the system.
I also appreciated the fact that there’s no bushing at the end, making it easier to clean and maintain. Plus, it’s optic-ready, which is always a big win for me. You just pop off the two screws, slap on an optic, and you’re good to go. The optic cut on the slide is RMSc, which is most common to this platform.
A couple of other features I like are the skeletonized hammer and skeletonized trigger—both look great and help with the overall aesthetic and function of the gun.
Another feature that makes this gun competition-ready is the magazine well. When you pick this up, you’ve already figured out that it’s designed for precision and performance.
Specifications and Features
- Caliber: 9mm
- Two Magazines: 20 and 17 Rounds
- Safety: Ambidextrous Thumb & Grip
- Barrel: 5″ with Bull Barrel Lock Up
- Tuned Trigger (Max. 4.5lbs)
- Accessory Rail: Full Length
- Slide: Rear and Back Serrations
- Tungsten and black Cerakote® Finish
- Forged Steel: Frame, Slide & Barrel
- Skeletonized Hammer
- Optic Ready: RMSc Footprint
- Rear Sight: Fully Adjustable Cap Magazine Well
- Hard Travel Case
- MSRP: $989.00
Learn more about the Witness2311 Match here.
Match X: Lightweight and Compensated
The next version EAA showed me is the Witness2311 Match X, which is essentially a lighter, compensated version of the Match. The main difference here is the aluminum frame, which shaves off quite a bit of weight.
This makes it a great option if you’re looking for something that’s a little quicker and easier to handle, especially during long shooting sessions.
Another unique feature of the Match X is the integrated single port comp on the end. If you enjoy reduced muzzle rise and getting those quicker follow-up shots, this little addition will make a noticeable difference.
It still shares a lot of the same features as the Witness2311 Match—like the skeletonized parts and optic readiness—but the MatchX gives you a much lighter, flatter shooting option without sacrificing durability or performance.
Specifications and Features
- Caliber: 9mm
- Two Magazines: 20 and 17 Round Checkmate
- Safety: Ambidextrous Thumb & Grip
- Tuned Trigger: Max. 4.5lbs
- Accessory Rail: Full Length
- Slide: Lightening Cuts, Rear and Back Serrations
- Cerakote® Finish
- Tungsten & Black Lightweight Aluminum Frame
- Forged Steel Slide & Barrel
- Optic Ready
- RMSc Footprint
- Sights: Fully Adjustable rear, Fiber Optic front
- Magazine Well
- Hard Travel Case
- Full Length Frame Rails
- Bull Barrel Lock Up & Integrated Compensator
- MSRP: $1,069.00
Learn more about the Witness2311 Match X here.
Experience At The Range
After a quick test run, I can tell the Witness2311 Match has a solid 1911 feel—it’s smooth, with a nice, crisp trigger. The trigger pull feels like what you’d expect from a double-stack 1911—sturdy and responsive, which has been a complaint in the past about the original Witness2311.
Whatever Girsan/EAA has done to remedy this has worked fantastically. Though, you’ll notice that the Match X did malfunction at the range, we were told that this was a known issue with that particular gun and it will remain isolated to that one gun, not yours.
I’m really excited to run both of these guns through their paces. I’ve heard good things about the value of these handguns, and these two new offerings are definitely living up to the hype so far.
Think about this: The next-best compensated, competition-ready 2011 will cost you almost $4,000 more than you can get the Match X for. If you’re into 1911-style pistols or just looking for something with a little more ergonomics and versatility, these are definitely worth checking out.
Watch for Future Reviews
I can’t wait to get one of these Witness2311 Match pistols in hand for a full review and really put it to the test. I’ll be running it through different drills, seeing how it holds up over time, and giving you my full thoughts on it.
Hope you found this quick rundown helpful!
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That’s still a pretty heavy trigger at 4.5 pounds! I know they do this for legal reasons, but it would be nice to get a 2-2.5 trigger! Gets old buying a new gun only to start replacing parts and polishing everything to get a decent trigger.
Nice looking guns. I would definitely buy the steel frame version in a higher caliber if they start offering that. The fiber optic front sight with that compensator is kind of a surprising combination on the lightweight version… I would think pushing hot gas in the direction of that fiber optic tube could melt it but I do otherwise like fiber optic sights.