Dan Wesson revolvers vs Smith vs Rugers
- Thread starter nathan
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That would be a model 15. I trust you know that the barrels are interchangable & you have multiple choices?
They are currently owned by CZ Arms, and spare barrels & complete guns are available.
Oh i see now at gunbroker , they have new production guns in 6 inch barrel. They are well built model 715 in stainless. They aint cheap priced for $1100 . The design is more squarish from barrel to rear sight. The one thing that shines is the lock up of the cylinder , said to be more robust. It keeps the cylinder perfectly aligned with the barrel.
Yes, and back in my IHMSA silhouette days they were consistently the most accurate revolver out there. Having the barrel under tension from the front was said to be a big help.
Barry the Bear
Member
Ruger for braun , Smith for looks , Dan for both.
krupparms
Member
I would say the Dan Wesson! The M15 with 3 barrels & you will have one nice setup & you will never regret getting it! I would get a 2 1/2",a 4"& a 8" barrels. JMO.
CajunBass
Member
I've owned several Dan Wesson 22 revolvers. They're not quite as pretty as a Smith & Wesson, but they're a long way from ugly. They're heavier than a Smith & Wesson also.
I couldn't tell you which one shot better, because it was the same lousey shot, shooting both of them...me. But they both shot well enough to make me look like I knew what I was doing.
Dan Wessons are probably harder to find aftermarket grips for. Especially these days.
I couldn't tell you which one shot better, because it was the same lousey shot, shooting both of them...me. But they both shot well enough to make me look like I knew what I was doing.
Dan Wessons are probably harder to find aftermarket grips for. Especially these days.
flightsimmer
Member
I found this to be true when I had my set, very accurate.
hAkron
Member
They are an engineering marvel. The entire gun can be detail stripped with just a few (included) tools. All parts (except for the hand, which needs to be fitted) are completely interchangeable. Barrel gap and rear clylinder clearance are easly adjustable. The barrels are easily removed and replaced...even the front sight just pops off should you decide to replace it. The grip frame is a simple short post allowing for any type of grip imaginable. I have several Dan Wesson revolvers I think they are amazing, though I will agree, they aren't usually finished as well as a Colt or a Smith, but their design is amazingly well thought out and deliberately crafted to make the gun very owner friendly.
RUT
Member
They sure are purdy though. This is my DW 715, for which I also have a 6" barrel.
bannockburn
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I had a Dan Wesson Pistol Pac years ago and I loved the versatility of having the three barrel lengths and the different grip styles to select from. A very well designed and built revolver.
Does anyone make an optics mount that clamps directly to the barrel shroud vents on a DW?
I have a 14-2 with the 2-something" barrel.
I'd like to get a 6" barrel for it.
I thought about having the frame milled for an adjustable sight, but it is in too nice of shape for me to do that without crying.
I have a 14-2 with the 2-something" barrel.
I'd like to get a 6" barrel for it.
I thought about having the frame milled for an adjustable sight, but it is in too nice of shape for me to do that without crying.
Red Cent
Member
Add in EWK Arms and the choices are out of the roof.
http://www.ewkarms.com/zen8/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67_13_14
http://www.ewkarms.com/zen8/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67_13_14
I'd have to disagree about the finish, if we are talking about the early guns. They were supurbly polished & blues - at least my M15 was....
hAkron
Member
You see a lot of 15-2's with horrible finishes and pitting. More so than s&w's of the same era. Worse metal, worse finishing, or coincidence. I'm not sure which.
CZ arms/Dan Wesson offers a factory drill & tap mount, or at least they did a couple of years ago. I suspect from my search results back then you won't find a currently manufactured mount
Saleen322
Member
I have all three and the Dan Wesson is the most accurate with good fit and finish. I still give the S&W the edge in double action smoothness. I like them all but like Merle1 said, they were tough to beat in silhouette.
Huskerguy
Member
I love my Dan Model 15V with 6" barrel. They are extremely smooth to operate with the short action and hold on the target with ease handling the recoil.
I nearly purchased one new back in 79 but opted for a Colt Trooper and waited all these years while the prices have skyrocketed to finally get my Dan.
I would love to have pistol pac with the full lug barrels.
I have two Smiths, a M19 that is deadly accurate and a 67 I have had for short while and have not shot it. Also have several Rugers including a Security Six that is one solid gun but doesn't hold a candle to the Dan and Smith for accuracy and overall smooth action.
I nearly purchased one new back in 79 but opted for a Colt Trooper and waited all these years while the prices have skyrocketed to finally get my Dan.
I would love to have pistol pac with the full lug barrels.
I have two Smiths, a M19 that is deadly accurate and a 67 I have had for short while and have not shot it. Also have several Rugers including a Security Six that is one solid gun but doesn't hold a candle to the Dan and Smith for accuracy and overall smooth action.
krupparms
Member
I got mine mid 80s. It was great looking! Finish was just fine & I had 3 spare grips.
Steve CT
Member
I own a few DW .357's, my current long term project is another stainless one that I am doing in high polish to add to these:
You would be very happy with a DW .357, better value in buying one of the originals as opposed to the overpriced CZ re-incarnation
You would be very happy with a DW .357, better value in buying one of the originals as opposed to the overpriced CZ re-incarnation
Deaf Smith
Member
If the DW is for self defense then it's the lowest of the three due to the front cylinder latch.
And the DA trigger pull is also not so good.
If for hunting or silhouette shooting it's at the top.
Deaf
And the DA trigger pull is also not so good.
If for hunting or silhouette shooting it's at the top.
Deaf
Hoppes Love Potion
Member
I inspected a Monson DW snubbie recently that was listed for $350. It had either a 2" or 2.5" barrel. Built like a tank. I really liked the sturdy cylinder lock. This one had trigger work and was close to S&W smoothness. I'll surely regret not buying it, but it wasn't in the cards that day.
I have several dan wesson revolvers, two .22's, two 357's and one .44 mag. Clearly I like them, BUT I bought them all a number of years ago when dans could be had for very reasonable prices. Now they seem to be priced at a premium more often than not. These days I would go with ruger over a dan for decent quality and value unless your heart is just set on a Dan wesson or you happen to come across one in good shape for reasonable price. That goes doubly if we are talking new Dan wesson revolvers to new rugers. In new guns given the price difference a ruger GP100 beats the dan wesson 357 hands down. Yes, you can get extra barrels for the dan but frankly you likely will not change barrels often. Also for the price of one new dan wesson 357 with a six inch and a extra 4 inch barrel you could buy two new GP100's and have one of those with a six inch barrel and the other with a four inch. Just my opinion.
Yeah, the Monsons are generally considered to be the top of the heap for finish.
Peter M. Eick
Member
I currently own 3 "Dan's" and have had as many as 8. The problem with Dan's is you get them to the range and your shooting buddy tries it out and immediately says he wants to to buy it. I have lost now 5 Dan's that way to friends and family that say "Wow what a great gun can I buy it from you?"
The three I have now will never be sold and no one ever shoots them but me!
The triggers are good for SA and with some use the DA is smooth and short. I don't mind the front cylinder release as it is convenient to use and eject the brass. They a big and tough guns with a great accuracy potential with the tensioned barrel setup.
Mine are either Monson's or Norwich for the newest (22LR version).
Get one and enjoy it. Its not like you can break it easily.
The three I have now will never be sold and no one ever shoots them but me!
The triggers are good for SA and with some use the DA is smooth and short. I don't mind the front cylinder release as it is convenient to use and eject the brass. They a big and tough guns with a great accuracy potential with the tensioned barrel setup.
Mine are either Monson's or Norwich for the newest (22LR version).
Get one and enjoy it. Its not like you can break it easily.
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