Dan Wesson revolvers vs Smith vs Rugers

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I have never owned a Dan Wesson, but a friend who tried about everything back in the day, shooting, loading for, and tinkering with all makes did. He said a Colt, Smith, or Ruger could be given a better DA and would shoot as well with .38 Specials, but that the Dan W. was the most accurate with Magnums.
 
When I used a 6" bbl .357 for a hunting companion, I started with a 686 with a professional trigger job and it was sweet. Then I rescued a Monson DW 15-2 sporting a 6" tube that was languishing in an over-priced LGS until they dropped it to 3 bills.

When I took it home I was not immediately impressed because the action was gritty and crude feeling after that sweet Smith. I then soaked it in Ed's Red one night and detailed it the next day. I learned to properly adjust the barrel and within a month it took the place of the 686 for the remainder of my .357 hunting career.

What set it apart was how well mannered and competent it was with 180 gr. and even 200 gr. dragon loads. That slick Smith action is of less utility in the field and may come to be seen as a detriment. Clean of calcified fouling the DW action fits this role better IMHO. To boot the monstrous strength of the "Dan" is very comforting when you up the horsepower. Well tuned the accuracy is superb.

I now use a Blackhawk .45 convertible with the .45 Colt cylinder and Buffalo Bore +P. That is really another league, but I am a "Dan Fan" and would jump a well priced .44 mag. DW like a duck on a June bug. YMMV

P.S. It wears a Monogrip "Goodyear" stock that is heinous to some revolver purists, but was just the ticket for the application and ammo described.
 
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^ What he said.
The L frame Smith has a wonderful action.
My Dan tends to be more accurate than my Smiths (which are very accurate).
The shorter DA pull of the Dan takes some getting used to.
They are often gritty from the factory, but clean up to a really nice pull.
 
Not familiar with DW revolvers but I really like 686 and gp100. Perhaps gp100 more for its ruggedness. I have been eyeing a .460 in SW, but lets see.
 
In the 70s & 80s the DWs were the pet of the metallic silhouetters, quite accurate.
I knew a guy that loved 'em for that role.

Rarely saw them in police holsters.

Some new to the swappable barrel idea don't know you have to re-sight the gun in each time you do swap 'em.

In my case, developed an aversion to DWs that's hard to overcome.

In 1976 a friend wanted to trade me his DW for something I had; his trigger wouldn't return reliably. Turned him down.
In 1982 another cop going through the police academy with me had a DW from her agency. Could not keep it running through the range work.

Those left an indelible impression that's kept me with Smiths, Rugers, and Colts ever since. :)
Denis
 
That impression was/is wrong. I've had about 20 15-2's and 715's, and only one came with any issues, and it was fixed in a couple of minutes. I rarely had to resight my guns, and I changed barrels a lot. They stayed close enough for security/combat work without any fuss. The trigger return problem was probably just the gun was full of crud, or the spring had simply died, or someone didn't put it in right. Whatever the cause was, it was a quickly fixed minor issue. I've put thousands of rounds through them with little drama or issues. They are very easy to work on, unlike a S&W gun, and if you look at the mechanism, they make a lot more sense in general.


I presently have a 715 6" and a 15-2 4", both shoot great, and both are 100% reliable.
 
Deaf Smith-

Why does the perfectly located and easily used front cylinder latch make them last for combat?
 
I have had and still own S&W's, Rugers, and Dan Wessons and if I could have only one revolver it'd be a DW 15-2VH with a 4" barrel. Here's mine with it's counterpart...S&W M19 and a DW 15-2VH in the range box....

357Duo_zps559b385b.jpg

Really robust guns and accurate for me. I also like to play "dress up" with the DW's and have multiple grips and barrels and change them as the mood suits me from fancy wood and 6" to rubber combat and 2 1/2".

VooDoo
 
They are very easy to work on, unlike a S&W gun, and if you look at the mechanism, they make a lot more sense in general.
Click to expand...

I can't disagree with that. For a double action revolver, DW has a simple and reliable action that is very durable.

715InternalPic-1_zpse62c80a5.jpg
 
With everything that DW did correctly, why oh why,,,

With everything that DW did correctly,,,
Why oh why did they leave the underlug squared as they did? :confused:

It looks almost as if the gun was shipped,,,
Before going through one last machining step.

I have a range acquaintance with one of the 6" models,,,
His gun is exactly comparable with my 6" 686,,,
Neither of us are better with either gun.

But mine is way prettier. :neener:

Aarond

.
 
aarondhgraham said:
With everything that DW did correctly,,,
Why oh why did they leave the underlug squared as they did? :confused:
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They made 2V and 2VH barrel shrouds....regular ventilated and the VH which is the heavy, squared under lug that I prefer.

dw1.JPG


I personally prefer the heavy, squared under lug especially in a 2 1/2" .357 mag with full house rounds. The extra weight and beef really helps keep the gun from going from "OMG!" powerful to :what: and painful without the extra weight. But they made both kinds back in the day and one could buy (can still buy) the more refined shroud shape.

VooDoo
 
Hem,
You're undoubtedly right. :)
I'm just saying those were my experiences, along with a general lack of acceptance by LE during revolver days, that put me off DWs for life.

At this late stage, no point in trying to change, I have enough Smiths & Rugers to fill up the rest of my days. :)
Denis
 
If the DW is for self defense then it's the lowest of the three due to the front cylinder latch.
Click to expand...

Can you please explain this? I'm having a hard time understanding why this is a problem.
 
For those of you who don't remember (AKA not olde enough:evil:), the original DW was one of the most butt ugly fugly looking handguns you've ever seen. Fortunately with a little work they cleaned up quite nicely.:cool:
 
robhof

I've shot or owned Dans since 1970 and they all have been sweet shooters and handle loads that would damage a Smith or Colt, not that I'm recommending testing their limits, but they are made like tanks. My biggest regrets have been the ones that I sold.
 
hemiram said:
Deaf Smith-

Why does the perfectly located and easily used front cylinder latch make them last for combat?
Click to expand...

Elkins45
Quote:
If the DW is for self defense then it's the lowest of the three due to the front cylinder latch.
Can you please explain this? I'm having a hard time understanding why this is a problem.
Click to expand...

I too am curious about the basis of Deaf Smith's comment. It has been many years since I shot a DW that a friend owned. We shot IPSC together. He was never able to get his reload speed up to the level of people using Smiths and Colts. Perhaps it was just inadequate practice on his part but I suspect the ergonomics of the DW are part of the reason.
 
Dan wessons are nice, certainly. The problem to me is that they are just too expensive. i agree with the guy who said smith for looks, ruger for durability, and dan for both. I don't however, think most dan wessons look as good as most smiths, and for the price if you just need a nice revolver that isn't ugly by any means and can handle abuse, the ruger lineup certainly doesn't suck
 
for self defense then it's the lowest of the three due to the front cylinder latch.
Click to expand...
It can actually be faster once you learn how to manipulate it correctly. Seth Wesson showed me method years ago
 
Nom de Forum said:
Faster than a S&W or Colt? I would have to see that to believe it.
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I've seen it.

If you are switching hands anyway, your support thumb will be on the latch as it rises to cradle the cylinder. The thumb releases the cylinder as the finger push it out the window. All this time, your strong hand is reaching for your speedloaders. The strong hand ejects the spent cases before inserting the fresh cartridges.

What stunned me in a training class was watching a revolver shooter beat a Beretta 92 shooter in a reload. It was a single elimination contest for the whole class and these last two shooters were going for the best out of 3
 
9mmepiphany said:
I've seen it.

If you are switching hands anyway, your support thumb will be on the latch as it rises to cradle the cylinder. The thumb releases the cylinder as the finger push it out the window. All this time, your strong hand is reaching for your speedloaders. The strong hand ejects the spent cases before inserting the fresh cartridges.

What stunned me in a training class was watching a revolver shooter beat a Beretta 92 shooter in a reload. It was a single elimination contest for the whole class and these last two shooters were going for the best out of 3
Click to expand...

The bolded statement alone tells me this technique is not as fast as the fastest techniques for a S&W or Colt. Too much additional motion required for the fastest of revolver reload speed. Who are the top 10 DW revolver shooters for reload speed? How do you think their speed would compare to the top 10 S&W or Colt shooters reload speed? The DW guys may be fast but I do not think their speed would equal or exceed those of the S&W and Colt guys. Seeing a revolver shooter reload faster than an auto shooter is not so rare, all it takes is superior skill or the auto guy having a bad day.
 
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I have a Dan Wesson model 15 pistol pac with 4 barrels and 2 set of grips, chambered in .357. I never really thought to look up the date but I'd guess that it was from the 70's judging by the suitcase that it is in. It is unbelievably accurate and a really good looking gun. I have several other .357 revolvers and my Dan Wesson is my favorite when it comes to accuracy and "cool factor" because of the interchangeable barrels.
 
Reloading Speed

I own Dan Wesson and S&W revolvers. When I began my LE career, the Dept had S&W model 10s and Colt New Police revolvers (Yeah, I am that old!). I am right handed and on a DW revolver, I handle the cylinder including the release with my left hand. As soon as the sixth round is fired, my right hand goes for the speedloader while the left handles the empties. The old qualification course required that the speedloader case be secured so you had to unsnap it first then take out the speedloader meaning it normally took longer to get the speedloader out than to empty the spent casings. Because of that requirement, I normally did the same off the job as well-keeping the speedloader case snapped. With a Smith or Colt I always used the thumb of the shooting hand to activate the cylinder release where with the DW I could drop the shooting hand right to the speedloader pouch without delay. I don't know if that made the DW reloading any faster but it certainly did not seem slower. YMMV
 
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