Help me spend $1000: DW Heritage or FN Five-seveN?

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HDCamel

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$1000 give or take a few hundred, that is.

In celebration of my promotion (and subsequent pay raise) I decided that I wanted to buy something "fancy". Settled on one of these two for various reasons. Yes, I know they're both overpriced, but that doesn't matter, I'M CELEBRATING!:D
 
HDCamel

Congrats on the new promotion and the extra cash in the paycheck!

I would go with the Dan Wesson Heritage mainly because I'm a M1911 kind of guy. Honestly the FN 5.7 doesn't fill any particular purpose or need for me, I'm not crazy about the design or styling, and it's just another caliber that I don't want to have to buy ammo for.
 
DW Heritage!
The 5.7 is a nice $5-600 niche duty weapon. The DW is a very nice 1911 that can be upgraded to something very special. Allthough, it's one of the best 1911's around and slightly above it's pricepoint allready.

Let us know what Heritage you're looking at.

My local gun shop gets odd Heritages all the time that are far nicer than the models on DW's/CZ's website. Saw a black duty coat Heritage Razorback for about $1500 a while ago. Many have a few of the Valors options, some even cost as much as a valor and appear to be just as well built with razorback options. Not sure if that shop is custom ordering or what. They're pretty in tune with the Tac crowd.

Valors are around $1800 right now. Smaller CCO's are around $1500.
 
No brainer. DW for sure, but I would look at the Valor before settling on the Heritage.
 
When I was looking for goofy .22 high velocity centerfire toy I went with second-hand 4" S&W Model 53 in excellent condition. The ammo is very expensive but gun was half of Belgian Toys cost. Given choices listed I too would choose Dan Wesson.
 
Looks pretty unanimous.
Is it that you guys really like DW or really hate the Five-seveN?

Ankeny said:
No brainer. DW for sure, but I would look at the Valor before settling on the Heritage.
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Don't want a Valor. I dislike adjustable sights and front strap checkering. Pretty much a deal-breaker right there. Fit and finish is a moot point in light of how much I dislike those other features. Factor in that it's almost twice the price and the Valor pretty much becomes the poster child for "Guns that I will never buy".

To be perfectly honest, even the Heritage doesn't meet all my criteria for what I want in a 1911, but it IS the closest in this price range. I'd have to do some modification to make it perfect, but it would require the least work of anything else I could buy.
 
The FiveseveN has a very small following, the only people that would recommend one would be most likely a FiveseveN user. In my opinion, if you are just looking for a fun gun then get the FiveseveN, people see another 1911 at the range and won't pay attention but the FiveseveN with it's large fireball, loud report, large capacity magazine will turn heads faster then a 1911. It's also quite accurate which would make it a nice target gun.
 
The 5.7 has two big drawbacks. The price is sticker shock and once out of ammo it becomes useless as a weapon while empty DW is still pretty good skull buster.
 
Honestly the FN 5.7 doesn't fill any particular purpose or need for me, I'm not crazy about the design or styling, and it's just another caliber that I don't want to have to buy ammo for.
Click to expand...

That's all well and good for you, but neither one fills any "need" for me other than being "neat". Admittedly, I'd be more likely to carry the DW, but I already have a satisfactory carry 1911.

I actually really like the design and styling of the Five-seveN. In fact, it is literally the ONLY polymer gun that I have ANY interest in whatsoever. Basically, if I ever buy a polymer gun, it'll be a Five-seveN.
 
in my never-so-humble-opinion Dan Wesson (CZ) is making the finest 1911 with regards to value.

The fit and finish is outstanding. No MIM parts. Mid or low pricing (depending on the model)
 
It sounds like this purchase is not a case of the "needs", but rather a case of the "wants", so pick the one that will make you happy.

That being said, the reason I said "DW" so quickly was because they are a great value in 1911s, with a lot of hand fitting, and only quality parts. FN makes good stuff, but it's hard for me to compare mass produced plastic guns to a 1911 where attention has been paid to the details. I'll probably catch some hell for that statement, but I'm prepared to stand by it.

To me the only allure of the FiveseveN is the oddball cartridge. If it were chambered in anything else, I don't think many folks would own one. I can't make myself buy a weapon just for the round. I'll probably catch hell for that one too. :uhoh:

It is your decision though, and you're the one that's going to be shooting it, so pick the one that will give you the most pleasure in owning/shooting it.

Good luck with the decision. Post some pics of whatever you get.


Jason
 
Question:
Do you have to use the bushing wrench to field strip the DW easily like with the Remington R1? Because that would be a major point against it.
 
My first reaction is "DW all the way," but if you're looking to splurge on something unique, ask yourself how many Five-seveNs you have seen at your range vs. how many 1911s...
 
F-111 John said:
My first reaction is "DW all the way," but if you're looking to splurge on something unique, ask yourself how many Five-seveNs you have seen at your range vs. how many 1911s...
Click to expand...
It's less that I want to splurge on something unique and more that I just want to splurge. I've really wanted both of these pistols for a while, but until now I could never really justify the cost of buying one.
 
Question:
Do you have to use the bushing wrench to field strip the DW easily like with the Remington R1? Because that would be a major point against it.
Click to expand...

When I first got my CBOB, I used the bushing wrench the first time I field stripped it (it was tight, but I probably could've gotten it to turn by hand if I really tried), but that was the only time. I've done it by hand since, with no problems.

Jason
 
Since you already have a 1911, get the Five-seveN. It's one of my favorite range guns, it's super accurate and it also recoils lightly enough to allow accuracy even when firing as rapidly as your range will allow. Nothing wrong with it for self defense either, it conceals as well as a 1911 and is considerably lighter.
 
I have a DW heritage and I can't say enough good things about it (just got back from the range with it). It represents the type of 1911 that I like. Everything you need but no crazy whistles and bells. Mine runs like a top and will shoot anything I feed it. Gives you that pride of ownership but it's not a safe queen type of gun. Perfect for me.
 
atomd said:
I have a DW heritage and I can't say enough good things about it (just got back from the range with it). It represents the type of 1911 that I like. Everything you need but no crazy whistles and bells. Mine runs like a top and will shoot anything I feed it. Gives you that pride of ownership but it's not a safe queen type of gun. Perfect for me.
Click to expand...
As you can tell by my picture, I agree. Also, with the shooting the crap out of it part (I took the pic after a range session, front is still dirty), it feeds everything and puts it where I aim.

As for the takedown, the first time I used the wrench but I don't think it's necessary.
 
Everything you need but no crazy whistles and bells.
Click to expand...

It actually has more bells and whistles than I want. Unfortunately, pretty much all 1911s in this price range have said parts that I don't care for and below this price point you don't get the same level of fit and finish. I'm going to have to "downgrade" a few parts, a couple of which will require fitting by a gunsmith.

On the other hand, the Five-seveN comes in the configuration I want.
 
It actually has more bells and whistles than I want. Unfortunately, pretty much all 1911s in this price range have said parts that I don't care for and below this price point you don't get the same level of fit and finish. I'm going to have to "downgrade" a few parts, a couple of which will require fitting by a gunsmith.
Click to expand...

What is it about the gun that you wish were different? Maybe someone could point you in a better direction.

Jason
 
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