Good, Bad and Ugly. Dan Wesson 1911

[USMCDK]

Okay everyone,

I just became curious about the Dan Wesson line of 1911's and really know nothing bout 'em, so I figure let's start a thread about them and start learning something.

So have at it, what's the GOOD BAD AND UGLY on these?

and remember no fighting this is an informational not a dispute, thank you.

S&R (Sincerely and respectfully)

USMCDK

 

[PCRit]

Good: Most accurate 1911 out of the box I've ever shot (PM-7S)

Bad: A pain to break down due to very tight barrel bushing, but that all adds to the very close tolerances and why it was so accurate, so really not that bad

Ugly: Nothing about a stainless PM7S with cocobolo grips is ugly, nothing

 

[Cougfan2]

I have a DW Bobtail Commander that has fast become my favorite pistol. Very Accurate with no MIM parts and an excellent trigger straight out of the box. Basically like a custom gun for the price of a garden variety Kimber or Springer.

 

[rellascout]

Current Dan Wessons are great guns.

The Valor if you can get your hands on one is an incredible pistol at $1300

I love my CBOB

 

[CZF]

CZ/DW needs to offer the Valor in 9mm and 10mm.

As for my old DW CBOB Commander.

Worked well and was lighter to carry than any government model.

I made a decision to sell all of my .45s, so the CBOB went.



Would like to have another DW 1911, but in 9mm someday.

 

[Phelptwan]

I can't say anything bad about my CBOB in the least bit at all. About 1k rounds down range with 0 failures.

 

[CWL]

Good -great guns, probably 'Best of Breed' for M1911s up to $2000 price range.

Bad - you may have to wait for yours because they are backordered.

Ugly - After looking at the fit & finish of a Dan Wesson, you may never be able to look at your other pistols the same again.

 

[Bart Noir]

My CBOB was a jammamatic and wrecked my glasses!

I guess I should have not purchased a gun that had been traded in after a week It would not get through a magazine without some sort of jam, usually a failure-to-feed or a failure-to-eject.

The trigger pull was a delight, just as crisp a let-off as any production gun I've found. And it was super accurate, when it actually loaded and fired. But then the empty case would fly right back into my face. That is how the glasses got chipped. Oh well, I needed new ones anyway.

My best friend worked on it a bunch after finding the slide rails were "rather irregular" and he laped them in a much smoother condition. And we replaced the extracter. We improved it so that it would only jam every third magazine. And this didn't improve when we swapped in the recoil spring from a very reliable Commander.

So I sold it. Could have got the factory involved but just wanted to move on and get a different gun. This one was one of the first with the CZ in the serial number, and maybe there was an employee or quality control issue when CZ bought the company.

Bart Noir

 

[MICHAEL T]

My DW is great My Colts and Kimber are upset . They sit in safe and DW and I go out togather. DW best pistol for money period. Sorry Colt (I have 7) Sorry Kimber DW twice the pistol you are.

 

[Cougfan2]

Bart Noir, DW should still warranty your CBOB. My first CBOB was a disaster, but their gunsmith said send it back. I did and they actually sent me a new gun even though they didn't have to under the terms of their warranty. He said he had fixed mine, but he was not happy with the way it shot so he picked three new guns off the rack picked the one that shot best, did a little more work on it and sent it to me.

I figure everyone makes a lemon from time to time, but they sure took care of me.

 

[Whitman31]

I purchased one (Bobtail 10mm) back in the spring, it had some initial break in issues that cleared up after a couple hundred rounds. The chamfer on the end of the guide rod was too sharp and the recoil spring caught on it causing a spring failure. DW promptly sent me a new spring, they offered to send a new guide rod but I had already corrected the problem.

There was a sharp spot where the grip safety meets the frame, it actually drew blood a few times. I filed that down during a breakdown session, issue solved. DW also offered to do this at no charge.

I just started shooting reloads, found I had too much load for the recoil spring, two new springs are on the way from Wolf, a 24 and a 26. I was on my own to purchase these. I can't complain because the gun shoots all factory ammo good now.

Good: As accurate as much more expensive guns, good service. I know I could have had a new gun from DW by now, but Gladys is part of the family and I couldn't just send her back. Fit and finish is very, very tight.

Bad: I hear spotty reports, some say the guns work flawless out of the box, others have bugs to work out like myself. I read a lot more good than bad about these guns. Keeping in mind mine is a typically more issue prone 10mm.

Ugly: Nothing...

 

[Beagle-zebub]

The Ugly: Tuco shoots one.

 

[CZF]

Dan Wesson pics and review:
http://www.angelfire.com/amiga2/czid/DW.html

I also have a DW 1911 wrench and DW patch for sale. $20 shipped. (+2 for PP)

Ask for pics.

[email protected]

 

[Craig M. Arnold]

I have nothing but good to say about my Dan Wesson CBOB and PM7. They are two of the best 1911s I have ever owned and I have had some high-end 1911s.

No bad and certainly no ugly.

Best regards.

 

[USMCDK]

Very nice very nice looking weapons. They really aren't my style in the cosmetic sense, but I am sure that they are very nice shooters. I didn't know that they made a 1911 in 10mm, god that must have some kick to it. How well does it handle the recoil???

 

[Whitman31]

I didn't know that they made a 1911 in 10mm, god that must have some kick to it. How well does it handle the recoil???

It has some bite to it. It definatly gets some attention at the ranges, especially the indoor ranges.

As far as handling the recoil, it's a work in progress. Once I get the correct combination of recoil spring and load I'm sure it will function great.

 

[jeepmor]

It has some bite to it. It definatly gets some attention at the ranges, especially the indoor ranges.

As far as handling the recoil, it's a work in progress. Once I get the correct combination of recoil spring and load I'm sure it will function great.

Whitman, are you having functionality issues with the 10mm?

 

[stevemis]

Funny this came up... I just got a CBOB on Saturday and took it out to the range Monday morning. So far, 250 rounds mixed harball and JHP down the pipe with no issues whatsoever. The gun is very accurate and very tight.

I got a screaming deal... $730, new.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Cougfan2]

I got a screaming deal... $730, new.

I hate you!

 

[bluetopper]

DW 1911's are the cat's meow in my opinion.

I've seen none at twice the money I'd trade them for.

My PM1 has ten's of k's of rounds through the pipe with no issues and still match accurate as far as I can tell.

 

[watarski]

I just want to know where someone else can get that screaming deal! That's mighty impressive. I'd buy one today-

 

[Whitman31]

jeepmor,

I originally had some issues that have been worked out. More recently I started working up some reloads and found I need to upgrade my recoil spring to handle the hotter loads. Two new springs, a 24lb and a 26lb, are in the mail from Wolf, should be here today or tomorrow.

I really don't want to bad-mouth DW. I love this gun and am able to accept the fact that I got one with some small bugs...

 

[USMCDK]

So far it's lookng like there can't really be a bad thing said about the DW's I am sure they have some functionality issue once and a while but what firearm doesn't from time to time??? I am really glad I started this thread, so keep it coming and thank you for all the input thus far.

 

[Zhivago]

Where does one find a NEW Dan Wesson for only 730? Then cheapest I've seen is $830 with shipping included.

 

[shooting4life]

You can get factory second for around 750 on gunsamerica. I bought a CBOB about 3 months ago and I love it! It is way more acurate than I am or probably ever will be. It was my first 1911 and all of my other autos are da/sa so it took me a little while to get the feel for the gun. Mine came very tight, I had to put some lapping compound on the frame rails and work the slide back and forth to loosen it up. After doing this the slide feels like it is on barrings. Fit and finish is great. My problem is being in california I can only get the CBOB and PM7. My dad bought a PM7 once he saw my CBOB so I am out of dan wessons to buy. Dang safe handgun roster