Dan Wesson 357 for $350 -- Yay or Nay?

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PorkChopsMmm

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Has some small bluing discolorations/pits, and the grips are a bit rough but it appears serviceable. This will be worn around our land and open carried quite a bit. $350 or less is the sweet spot for me for finding a serviceable 357... so yay or nay?

I was also considered trying to find a blued blackhawk 357 for around the same price but am not sure if I want DA/SA or just SA. Since this is would be my only revolver I think I want DA/SA.

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EDIT: I am been trying to figure out from looking at the picture if it is a 6" or 4" barrel. Looks like a 6" to me. I was hoping more for 4" but this looks like a good deal from what I can tell off of GunBroker.
 
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yes



Dan Wesson 15-2's are great guns. $350 is the upper limit out the door for what you have pictured there, but you will love the gun. eBay for grips, http://www.ewkarms.com/ for tools and parts (get the barrel wrench and the feeler gauge. It's much easier to clean a revolver with the barrel removed.)
 
So would you take the DW at $325 to $350 or try and find a new Rossi 357 or a used older S&W 357 for the same price?
 
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I would take the Dan Wesson. I don't know much about older Rossi guns, but I hear they are pretty good, however, the Dan Wesson is going to have it all over a comparably priced S&W or Rossi. You can swap barrels yourself in under a minute. You can still buy barrels for it (I prefer the 3rd party, high quality, inexpensive EWK barrels). You can get all sorts of grip styles and sizes because the grip frame part of the gun is just a short metal stud on the frame.
The design is genius. The crane latch is forward of the cylinder which is supposed to square it up better than putting it to the rear. The rear of the cylinder is centered and retained by a bearing that can be tensioned with a screw driver to eliminate end shake. The barrel is screwed into the frame and then a nut on the muzzle end tightens it to the shroud which sort of tensions the barrel lending to Dan Wesson's legendary accuracy. Also all of the cylinders are counter bored like how they used to do S&W magnums.

The trigger is a bit different than the 'glass rod' S&W feel, and the the finish on a lot of DW's shows pitting, surface rust, plumb coloration, or scratches (usually on the side plate from case extraction), but if that bothers you, send it off for a reblue. The guy that used to do some of the blueing for DW is somewhat active on the Dan Wesson forum, and for not much money he will give you what amounts to a factory refinish.
 
I don't mean to gush about Dan Wesson revolvers, but I just bought my 5th one this weekend, so I'm really feeling even more positive about them than usual. :)
 
Did YOU BUY IT YET!! HURRY UP. Better call and atleast hold that DW.

The ruger will not be a better shooter . Might say no s&w will ether, even with a well used DW . The hogue soft rubber grips do make shooting a bit easier with hotter loads.

Go over to danwessonforums and read up on them in the history and arcive sections.

I only have 4 DW revolvers 2-357's a 22 and a 44mag.
 
It is on hold and SPF. I have to drive 1.5 hours to go get it so I am holding off until Saturday. I am going to print out the revolver testing guide that is stickied in this forum and go over it when I buy it.

I am now on the hunt for a new grip (looks like Hogue will win out, even though it isn't the prettiest) and a holster. This is for open carrying on our land, on a tractor, etc. -- can you all recommend a good and cheap cross draw holster? I don't think a shoulder holster is for me. I am looking at this thumb break holster. I think it will if the DW in the holster but I'm not sure about the thumb break working. Thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/Thumb-Break-Holster-Frame-GP-100/dp/B0002MFIN0/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

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I am late but the old days of Dan Wesson's being cheap have passed I believe. Your deal is indeed a buy it and don't worry about it price. I have shot them since the early eighties and the guys that use em tend to like em. Face it S&W k and l frames are now 5-600 dollar pieces and the dans are as good or better.. So far above Rossi Taurus n the like it's not funny, no wonder the prices are climbing.


M
 
It's a shame that they never sold in the volumes that comparable Colts and S&W's did.

One of the worst decisions I ever made, was passing on a complete Pistol Pac for the cheapo sum of $500, complete.
 
When the company was in the wesson family they did sell alot of revolvers. Probably could match colt and are untouchable in the long range handgun shoots as a production revolver. Only freedom arms can out class them still and they ain't production. There supermags were the revolvers to buy.

porkchop heres the hogues soft rubber grips on my 357 and 44 mag - th_102_0451.gif

And if you want a purdy BBQ Grips look here- http://lbcustomgrips.com/

Pancake holsters that can have strap on the design does not hang up on brush like a normal revolver design can. Simply rugger is a fine maker of them too.
 
Dan Wesson revolvers can be great revolvers and a bargain. Some can be problemtic depending on when they were made. My brother has 3-4 and all of his have proven to be very good guns that he was able to purchase at a substanial savings over Colt and S&W.

With the prices they are asking for used revolvers now I'd happily take the chance at $300. Odds are in your favor, but there were a few lemons made.
 
In a heartbeat for $350. +3 if it says Monson on the frame, right side, just under the cylinder. They are 'bullet proof', of concise 'simple' construction, have a great trigger, and will be a 3rd generation estate item. Really great, under-appreciated, firearms. And if you decide you don't like it, let me know. I'll cover your costs!
 
The ones made in Monson years were the best. There is a guy who posted recently on the Dan Wesson forums that used to be involved with the company (in a 3rd party capacity) who said that the Palmer plant was open part of the time that the Monson plant was running (in the hay day) and all of the guns being made at either location were stamped Monson.

Interestingly, the Monson Mass. plant marked guns are said to be the best, but they are also the most plentiful. I would personally pay a small premium for a Palmer or Norwich marked gun just because of the rarity.
 
Seem more than few palmer revolvers that were still "DW family " made revolvers and they to were fine shooters.

Nice 715 you have there. Those are the ones that tend to stay close to family.
 
I must be the only one to have had problems with Dan Wesson's. I had two 357's and both had timing issues that would completely lock the cylinder. I sold both and never considered another.
 
>>Nice 715 you have there. Those are the ones that tend to stay close to family.<<

Funny you should say that, as this one came to me as part of my late brother's estate. ;)
 
Here are more pictures. Getting excited about picking it up.

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hogshead Buy a new s&w custom shop special today and cross your fingers that its a good one. Those of use that are DW fans no just like allothers they had a few problems. Most were not when the wesson family own it and some problems weree own caused with them too. barrel gap to tight or to loose. They did fix them. Now the None wesson family revolvers Are just like s&w today. Even the CZ DW's had issues do to much of the tooling on the small frame and large frame being used up. Super mags still worked . CZ has replaced the tooling but will they ever be made in any quanity and with the skill of the early DW revolvers . Only time well tell.


porkchop Thats an early 15-2 you have there. Not much of a wear ring on the cylinder and only a little holster wear. Good buy.

Looks like your is a 1977 model. Hard to track serial numbers as only info comes from owners and date bought.
 
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Nice, thanks hardluk. I have never owned a revolver and the last time was ~10 years ago before I even knew what I was doing. I am excited to give this a go. I am very happy that I can buy an EKW 2.5" barrel with tool and I will still be in this gun for less than a used SP101 or similar.

Now I need to find a Rossi 16" 357 lever action to go with this.
 
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