Dan Wesson Revolvers

[bulltaco]

How do these revolvers compare to the S&Ws and Colts from the 1980-90s era. I am interested in a 357 mag. Model 15V maybe?

 

[daveInME]

I've got one in .22 and one in .357
I have also owned / own S&W, & Taurus revolvers.
the Dan Wessons are as good as my smiths are.

just as reliable, just as accurate
they have the added feature (to me at least)
of having interchangeable barrel lengths.
want a snubby? put on the 2 inch barrel, want to hunting? put on the 8 or 10 inch barrel.

 

[johnny blaze]

I agree with the above.

 

[Jimmy Newman]

I'm interested in them as well, and I have heard some very good things... but I haven't ever even held one.

 

[hemiram]

I prefer them over others, for several reasons, but mainly due to the fact that you can take one almost completely apart and put it back together, using just the tool that normally comes with them (or a couple of allen wrenches), and 99% of the time, replace any part without any gunsmithing needed,not that it's happened very often. They are very strong, I shot thousands of full power .357 rounds from one of my guns, and it was still in great shape. And they are more accurate than I ever have needed them to be, or I could ever be.

I'm on my 5th and sixth .357's now, I stupidly sold the 4 Model 15's I used to have over the years for money to buy PCs with, and last year bought a near mint stainless 715 that appeared to be unfired, in the box with 3 grips, a couple of front sight inserts, and a not so pretty, but really cheap blued Model 15. Both shoot great, and all together only cost a little over $500!

Now if I could just get the money together for a 44 mag...

There are lots of them on Gunbroker.com.

 

[Majic]

Extremely strong, scary accurate when adjusted right, and most of the time a beautiful finish. The strange hammer fall has bothered a lot of shooters, but they ruled the long range silhoulette games until the Freedom Arms came along. I have them in .22lr, .357 mag, and .41 mag. I should have bought some pistol packs when they were dirt cheap.

 

[Starter52]

I'm not a fan. I cannot get used to the strange hammer throw. Single-action they are OK but not better or equal to Colt or S&W. I'll admit that the early Monson-made guns were very well finished. I have a Monson in .22 and it is quite accurate, but I prefer to shoot a Colt OMM or a S&W Mod. 17.

 

[madcratebuilder]

My 357max is the equal of any Smith or Colt I own, python included. The most accurate revolver I own also. If I see a good deal (steal) on one I well pick it up.

 

[bulltaco]

Saw A Few Today

Went to the gun show in Raleigh. I looked at three DW 357 mags. Price range was 299.99 for a 2.5" barrel to 495 for SS 6" barrel. Think I will keep looking on-line!

 

[O.S.O.K.]

I've got a .357 DW snubby

I'd say its design is superior to my S&W revolvers. Stronger.

Mine shoots great and yes, the DA trigger cycle is shorter than other revolvers but that's a plus really.

 

[JoeHatley]

How do these revolvers compare to the S&Ws

In my experience, not well. I had two. Gave one away and sold the other very cheap.

Joe

 

[bulltaco]

Thanks For The Insight

I purchased a DW 357 Mag w/ 8" barrel today at the Raleigh, NC Gun Show. Shot it when I got home. That sucker is accurate!

 

[jimmyraythomason]

DW vs S&W

I owned 3 different Dans in the '70s. A Model 15,a Model 14 and a model D11 all .357s. I had the 4'' barrel on all 3. The D11 had an external barrel nut,the 14 and 15 required an spanner wrench to remove the internal barrel nut. Accuracy was great with all 3. It took me a LONG time to get used to the cylinder release on a Colt DA revolver and even longer for the S&W after the Dan Wesson. I had to learn to like S&Ws and Colts after being spoiled by the DWs.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

BTW, don't have one nickle plated unless you copper plate it first. Otherwise the nickle won't "stick"!

 

[ez45]

my uncle had one he bought new in the 70's and it was by far the most accurate 357 I or he had ever shot. Tin cans at a 100yds was common.

 

[bulltaco]

I Need A Holster For The DW 8" Barrel

I have been checking all of the holster makers and I was wondering if any of you guys could recommend a holster for an 8 ' barreled double-action DW revolver. I want to deer hunt with it and I need a holster.

 

[Okiecruffler]

One reason they ruled silhoulettes for so long was that a S&W would shoot loose under that kinda punishment. Very strong frames. Here's my pair..


A 722 with a 6 inch barrel that now wears a red dot and terrorizes squirrels and a model 15 with an 8 inch barrel that terrorizes steel.

 

[harmonic]

I had a 744 (stainless 44 mag). The hammer spur was cast metal and the checkering wasn't very sharp. Plus the spur's angle was such that it wasn't always possible to get a secure grip with my thumb, especially if I was sweating. It was a very poor design.

And since it was cast metal (as opposed to Smith's tooled metal), nothing could be done to improve it. So I sold it.

But the model 15s and the 22 caliber DWs had entirely different designs. These had spurs that angled sharply and allowed for secure grip.

Someday I intend to buy the 22 cal pistol pack. Last one I saw (with four barrels) was $700.

 

[LubeckTech]

I currently own a .357 and a .44 - they are both accurate guns and I am currently looking for a .22. In my experience with them I would advise caution when purchasing one unless it were new as in made by the current Dan Wesson company. They are worth purchasing, if the price is right but be prepared for problems depending on when and where they were made. The company has been in and out of business for the past roughly 30 years and during that time i believe quality control was an issue for them at times. Last year at this time I bought a used 15 for $235 which was in good shape but wrought with problems like spent cases wanting to stick in the cylinder even with light loads and being out of time to the point where it will not shoot a full cylinder DA (SA OK) and cylincer sometimes binds. I don't think the gun was properly "finished" from a machining stand point. I have had the cylinder honed to solve the sticking problem and will eventually have the other problems solved by a gunsmith - probably Grant Cunningham. I owned a .357 in the early 1980s which would require complete disassembly and cleaning after every 300 rounds of shooting or it would have a timing issue. Bought a .44 acouple years later and had no problems with it. At any rate despite it's problems I would not sell the .357 I currently own as they are great guns once the problems are worked out and are well worth the effort.

 

[hemiram]

I've never seen a .44 or a .357 with any problem more serious than a cylinder that wasn't totally square, or where the hand spring was broken or had gotten weak. I never had any problems with the hammer on friend's 44's and 744s. I will buy a 44 or 744 as soon as I can get the money together.

 

[GaryP]

I'll admit that the early Monson-made guns were very well finished.

Yes, but the Palmer, Ma. Wesson Arms guns leave a lot to be desired when it comes to reliability and quality .

 

[Okiecruffler]

It should also be noted that you can get parts for the old pistols from the new folks. I just had to replace the transfer bar on my 722. Was really worried that my beloved pistol was gone for good after talking to a couple of local "smiths" who said they couldn't get parts. $15 to the new Dan Wesson and I was back in business. You can also still get replacement barrels from them. Seriously considering a 12" for the 22.

 

[jameslovesjammie]

GaryP,

Can you expound on your statement? Just curious about what to look for/avoid in a DW.

 

[BobMcG]

I owned one since '80 and have put thousands of problem free rounds through it. I've bought and sold numerous S&Ws between that time and now but the D-W is never going any place.

 

[GaryP]

The quality & reliability of the "Wesson Arms" Palmer, MA guns, made from 1990 to 1994, was somewhat marginal. For whatever reasons this was not a good period for Wesson Arms. My personal experience was with a Wesson Arms 738P I purchased NIB back in 1994. My 738P was built like a tank, which is a good thing, but functionality was another story. Back during the 1980's & 1990's the company changed hands 3 times that I know of which could be a major factor contributing to the marginal quality associated with the 1990 - 1994 (Palmer, Ma) period. If you are considering purchasing one made during this period it would be wise to check it over thoroughly and check with the current company to verify parts are available. Do a search on Wesson Arms Palmer, Ma.