Help me decide: .357 Dan Wesson or Cz-75B

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HDCamel

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Despite a less than optimal financial situation, I can just barely manage to support my gun hobby so long as I don't buy anything TOO expensive (if I didn't at least do THAT then I'd surely go MAD).

After a long and greuling elimination process, I've narrowed down my next purchase to two guns. A Dan Wesson 14/15-2 or a Cz-75B. Opposite ends of the spectrum, I know. That's why I'm having trouble deciding. They have overlapping price ranges so it's not simply a question of cost.

Hopefully you all can convince me one way or the other.
 
With the right DW you get a few different guns for the price. But that's just my .02 worth.
 
I don't think any of us can decide that for you, as they are so dissimilar. I will say though my 75BD has been stellar, very easy to shoot accurately.
 
You can always find a deal on a cz-75b ,not so with a nice DW 15-2. A 14 series is a ok revolver but get the 15-2 model or 715 . besure you find a monson mass or early palmer model. CZ is supposed to build the 715 now but getting one might be a year or two away.

Go over to the dan wesson forum and check out venders there and all the accesories out of what cz offers and theway lower prices for barrels and shourds that EWK offers also.
 
Do you reload already? If not I'd suggest you shop for some used gear so you can reload for your present guns for cheaper and get to shoot more. And the learning and focus needed to reload well will be like a whole new hobby.

If you already reload then I'd ask what manner of shooting do you do now and what, if any, local matches do you participate in? Or what matchs are around you that you'd LIKE to participate in?

I ask these because most of my guns were bought with the idea of using them in various matches. I've only got two or three that were bought without this in mind but because they fill other niches I keep them. For me a huge amount of the fun of the sport comes from such participation and the shooting focus and new friends it gives back.
 
I don't reload because I don't have a place to do it (I live in a tiny apartment). My friend reloads, so I often hand off my spent brass to him. Usually when I head out to his property we shoot his reloads, so shooting isn't that expensive for me.

I neither compete nor hunt. Any and all guns I buy are/will be for defense and/or display and target shooting. Neither one fills a niche beyond "I don't own one of these".
 
The DW is a great revolver. I actually have one for sale in the for sale section. I don't have any experience with the CZ.
 
I have owned both

I have a Dan WESSON model 14 and had a CZ75.

I would buy depending on my need. If this was for a home defense, concealed carry or car gun, then the CZ 75 is the only choice for me.

If you are collecting, then the Dan WESSON is a nice gun with unusual features like the interchangeable barrels and grips.

I would prefer the Dan WESSON for hunting or paper target shooting with a 6 inch barrel. For action shooting, the CZ wins hands down.

Make sure you can get the parts you want at a price you can afford on the Dan WESSON, if you choose to go with it.

Good luck,

Jim
 
had some experience with both

DW is a solid gun. A friend of mine carried an older model DW 357 in his truck with him everywhere. I shot it with everything from WWB 38 specials to some stout Cor Bon, and Buffalo Bore ammo. It ate it all, spit out the lead and was more accurate than I was. It was actually the revolver that made me wish I had a revolver, now I have several, but can't remember what model Rob has.

The CZ75 is just plainly simple, tough, well designed and built. I have shot a few and I actually had a couple of friends that held one at my suggestion and bought one on the spot. They feel that good in the hand and shoot nicely.
If I remember right, CZ owns DW now, so I honestly wouldn't be afraid to own either. Even heard great things about the customer service.

Back where I'm from, DW isn't a well known name, nor is CZ, but those who know are loyal followers with absolute trust in the products. I know that shop owners are in it to make money, but none of the ones I know shy away from their support of either of these brands.
 
So far it seems like we're leaning toward the DW since it might be harder to get ahold of down the line.

Any other thoughts? I've had a hell of a time finding Cz-75Bs in the configuration I want though. Everytime I find one that's the right finish it's an 85 (ambidextrous) and every time I find a 75 it's the wrong finish (nickel, stainless, two-tone).
 
How often do you see a nice dan wesson??? Disregaurding finish new or used cz75b are way easier to find. get the wesson and then then wait for your prefered finish. I am always seeing used blued cz75b in shotgun news for sale at one of the major companies that adertize with full page add's.
 
Well, I have both S&W revolvers (similar enough to the DW you are looking at for this discussion) and two CZ's. I love shooting all of them. So my suggestion is to buy both... :D

If you're trying to converse ammo to some extent then typically I find I shoot less per session with the revolver than with the semis. With semis I tend to get into some match practicing so I lift, sight and double tap. With revolvers I tend to shoot single shots per aim. So the revolver ammo tends to go further.

If you really want some fun consider getting a single action revolver. They really are nice guns to shoot and the required unloading and loading process sure slows things down to a more steady pace.

As for the current decision I'd say get what you don't already have. If you've got all semis at home buy the DW. If you've got revolvers already get the CZ. If you've got both then flip a coin? From all I've read of Dan Wessons and know of my CZ75 you won't lose either way.
 
So my suggestion is to buy both...
Click to expand...

Oh, I fully intend to acquire both EVENTUALLY, but limited funds plus the fact that I have to wait 30 days between handgun purchases in VA (from dealers, anyway) makes that an impossibility for the time being. I hope to get ONE of them before the year's out, the other early next year and then a Cz-82 around tax time.

If you really want some fun consider getting a single action revolver.
Click to expand...

My usual carry piece is a Single Action Army.

I'd say get what you don't already have.
Click to expand...
I have a 1911 and the aforementioned revolver, but they're both SA. Either of these will be the first DA I will own.
 
Perhaps a little more clarification is in order.

The Cz-75 is actually my favorite auto. I've handled and fired several. The version I want the most is an original "short rail" version (which I was lucky enough to handle several years ago) but the B model is a close second (and MUCH cheaper). I don't like the competition, compact, or tactical models very much (poor balance IMO) and the SA only and decocker versions don't have the features that I like about the 75 (DA 1st shot and Condition 1 option respectively).

On the other side, the DW is the ONLY double-action revolver that I have ANY real interest in. To me, S&Ws are dull and uninteresting and Colt DAs are overpriced, finicky, and/or uninspired. The DW is the only DAR that has made say "I should own one of these".
 
So I just found an absolutely beautiful DW 15-2 with a 6" barrel in a pawn shop for $450. I couldn't buy it outright, but I put it on layaway. I'll have it in about 2-4 weeks depending on how well I can pinch my pennies.
 
Thanks for the info. I'll keep it in mind, but this one is in much better condition than that one as far as I can tell. There's a little rust under the extractor and the grip looks like someone used it as a hammer, but it's otherwise perfect. Bluing is probably 98%, timing was fine, very little cylinder play, trigger smooth like butter, etc. I didn't check the gap because, unlike other revolvers, it's something that I can personally fix rather easily if it's out of spec.

Also, I have to say, it's a lot lighter than I expected. Granted, I'm used to toting around a big, solid SAA.

Why weren't these more popular? They obviously hold up well, and the customization options are pretty outstanding. Perhaps it was before its time.
 
While I'm a bit upset that you besmearched my beloved S&W's I'll let it pass because you're obviously a revolver guy.... :D

It would be a pretty boring world if we all liked the same things. So all the best to you with the Dan Wesson and I hope it hits the funny bone nerve with you. Frankly I think you did the right thing since DW's are out of production and only show up here and there. You can always get a CZ at any time.

And to add confusion did you know that CZ Custom shop is selling a short non rail dustcover version of the Shadow now? It's a pretty darn nice looking gun. And it comes with the competition hammer that has the shorter and steeper angle sear hook for less trigger creep in SA.
 
I've put quite a lot of thought into these two specific firearms...

In regards to the Shadow, I don't like the full-length slide rails for balance reasons (front-heavy).
In regards to Cz-75s in general, the original "short rail" had perfect balance. The Pre-B and B models are a little bit front and top-heavy compared to the original, but I can live with it. Compacts are too back-heavy. Ambi versions feel cluttered and mess with the ergos a bit. The Cz-75B has "perfect" ergonomics along with "near perfect" balance.

Let me say that balance and ergonomics are the most important features to me with ANY gun because I believe that they are the most important factors to shootability. A well-balanced gun that fits the hand well feels like an extension of the body. With S&W revolvers I generally feel like you can have one or the other. The basic grips make the gun balanced, but I don't like the way they fit my hand. If I use better grips, then it throws the balance off. I find most polymer guns to be too top-heavy so I prefer all-steel construction in my autos.
I've also found that guns with good mechanical balance tend to have good aesthetic balance as well (sort of a "good function begets good form" sort of thing).

This DW that I'm getting has superb balance and ergonomics. A cut above any DAR I've ever handled. The quality of build might not be as high as a Colt or a S&W, but the quality of design is better than even the venerable Python, IMO.
 
I had a Dan Wesson 15-2 with a 6" barrel. Picked it up for $175 at Warshal's in Seattle in the late 90s, damn that was a fine revolver. Accurate like a laser beam, well built, low recoil...I let it go when I was short on cash and have regretted it ever since. Someday I'm going to get a pistol pack...
 
I have a 4" DW ca 1980, it's a great shooter, good luck with yours. FWIW, I like the feel of Pachs for rapid shooting. :)
 
I guess the real question is now: "Should I get the Cz next or should I build that AR I've always wanted?"
 
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