Dan Wesson Problem or Load Problem?

[birddog]

I also posted this question in the Revolver forum.

I have an 8" Dan Wesson revolver in .357 that I love. Shoots great, looks great. My problem is that despite the fact that "new" rounds slide into the cylinder nice & easy, once the same rounds are shot, ejection more often than not is a battle. And it's worse with my lighter handloads than it is with the heavier factory stuff so I doubt it's a pressure problem. My loads are 7.0 or 7.3 grains of Unique pushing a 158 SJSP (Magtech). I have used these loads in my Python and my Taurus 651 for years and have none of these problems. The same rounds slide right out without even hitting the ejector rod. With the Dan Wesson, I am often tempted to bring a hammer to the range to whack the rod. (Haven't had to do that yet, but close).

Any ideas? Are Dan Wesson cylinders known for their tight tolerances? Is my sizing die not doing its job?

Thanks,
Joel

 

[greatgoogamooga]

I have the same gun with no problems using AA #2 and #5. It does sound like the chambers are tight though. I have used Unique with my Taurus in the past and never had ejections problems. I also bailed out on Unique because in full blown .357 loads, the recoil and _shockwave_ shook my teeth. If you have 2 .357s, take both and measure the cartrdges after firing to give an indication of the I.D. of the chamber.

Also, any chance you shot and pile of .38 sp. through the gun first? This can cause a buildup of residue in the chamber causing the cases to stick.

Goog

 

[caz223]

I would recommend going to a slower powder.
Like blue dot.
They let the pressure build up a little slower, and expand the brass less.
Have you ever shot .38 spl in this gun?
IF so, and the cylinder wasn't meticulously cleaned, you could have a carbon ring....
I'd recommend getting a dremel, a tube of flitz, and a couple of polishing tips for it.
The pointy ones that look like they'll fit in the cylinder.
That polishes any marks as well as removing any fine carbon deposits.
Don't try to grind the hole open, just polish a bit, and you'll be surprised on how easily the cases eject.

 

[birddog]

Thanks for the replies. I may try polishing the cylinders.

 

[caz223]

Polishing the cylinders seems to make a big difference in smaller bores, but I did have to do it in 2 of my .357s, 2 of my .45 colts (After having them opened up to .452!) and even one of my 12 gauge shotguns. All sticky extraction problems. All solved.

 

[smokemaker]

My Dan Wesson 709 (the .38 special version of the 715) definitely benefitted from having the cylinders polished. Before that I actually bent the ejector rod getting +p .38's to eject. After polishing I worked up some near .357 loads for it (with the help of a Dan Wesson employee) and the empties almost fall out. Now it's a truly great gun, and has always been unbelievably accurate.

 

[birddog]

How exactly did you guys go about polishing the cylinders?

 

[smokemaker]

I sent mine to Dan Wesson, but I don't think that's feasable now. You could call gunboat up in clarence. He might do that kinda stuff.

 

[smokemaker]

Hey Joel,
In the gunsmithing forum, there's a DW thread, and Dwayne Russel mentions the guy who runs DW and how he tuned Dwayne's gun.. maybe you can get in contact and see if that guy is still tuning Dan's.

And let me know if you want to get out for peter cottontail sometimes before the season closes.

Jeff