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

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Another 1911? <Yawn> Ho-hum. GET THE FN!!

Yes, I owned one for a couple years. I don't regret selling that gun, but I do miss that gun. At least at the range I do.

The Five-seveN is different than any other gun I ever owned. Even the safety was placed unlike any other handgun I've owned. Yes, it felt (and sorta looked) like a toy. It was SO light. But then you load those 30 rounds and shoot the thing: No recoil to speak of! Huge muzzle flash! Sweet trigger feel! No barrel rise! And a bullet flying out of that muzzle at over 2200 fps!

People look over from their lanes at the range and you can see them mouth the words, "What the hell is that thang?" Yes, I've got a Les Baer 1911 as well, but the FN is just a totally different animal. Go for it!
 
Jason_G said:
What is it about the gun that you wish were different? Maybe someone could point you in a better direction.

Jason
Click to expand...
1: I HATE beavertail grip safeties and ones with that stupid little bump (i.e. every "high-end" grip safety available). I'd get a standard A1 style and have the tang ground down to a Pre-A1 profile as it is the absolute most comfortable style I've ever felt (and I can't find short-tang grip safeties for sale ANYWHERE). Since it'd be stainless, I wouldn't have to get it refinished like I would on my Regent or, incidentally, a DW Valor.

2: I'm not a fan of checkering on the MSH. The jury's still out on whether I like flat or arched better, though I think I'm leaning toward arched since it helps the gun point more naturally.

3: This is a total nitpick and purely aesthetic, but I prefer flathead screws over allen screws. The only "advantage" offered by allen screws is they can be torqued higher without stripping and, therefore, can be tightened more, but I don't need or want my grips to be especially tight.
 
Dan Wesson is a solid and quality 1911 that will go toe to toe with any good 1911. I don't have experience with heritage but I have Valor bob. I admire the craftsmanship.

I also have a 5.7, but I honestly thin that 5.7 is best used in P90 rather then this pistol.
 
1: I HATE beavertail grip safeties and ones with that stupid little bump (i.e. every "high-end" grip safety available). I'd get a standard A1 style and have the tang ground down to a Pre-A1 profile as it is the absolute most comfortable style I've ever felt (and I can't find short-tang grip safeties for sale ANYWHERE). Since it'd be stainless, I wouldn't have to get it refinished like I would on my Regent or, incidentally, a DW Valor.

2: I'm not a fan of checkering on the MSH. The jury's still out on whether I like flat or arched better, though I think I'm leaning toward arched since it helps the gun point more naturally.

3: This is a total nitpick and purely aesthetic, but I prefer flathead screws over allen screws. The only "advantage" offered by allen screws is they can be torqued higher without stripping and, therefore, can be tightened more, but I don't need or want my grips to be especially tight.
Click to expand...

I don't notice the bump on mine at all, but I can understand not wanting a beavertail.
I think you could probably change out the grip safety (assuming you can find the one that you want) and MSH without a gun smith. Especially if it's a stainless gun, because like you mentioned, you wouldn't have to reblue anything after blending. It is an extra hassle though.

Jason
 
I also have a 5.7, but I honestly thin that 5.7 is best used in P90 rather then this pistol.
Click to expand...

We are talking about range guns, not how effective 5.7 is for social work.
 
Jason, I have no tools or workspace in my tiny apartment for gunsmithing. Also, I'd rather just get a pro to do it.
 
FIVETWOSEVEN said:
We are talking about range guns, not how effective 5.7 is for social work.
Click to expand...
Sort of...

If I go with the DW, it would replace my current satisfactory, but not nearly as classy, carry 1911.
I'm not particularly against carrying the Five-seveN as I've always advocated that shot placement > theoretical stopping power, but yes, it would be primarily a range toy.
 
Well the good news is that the resale value on either is pretty good, so if you rue your decision, one way or the other, you won't take a bath if you sell it off to get the other. Now if you do send the DW off for work, it may or may not have the same resale value.

Jason
 
Sort of...

If I go with the DW, it would replace my current satisfactory, but not nearly as classy, carry 1911.
I'm not particularly against carrying the Five-seveN as I've always advocated that shot placement > theoretical stopping power, but yes, it would be primarily a range toy.
Click to expand...

The FiveseveN would definably be fine for carry, it's just we don't need to drag this thread into a "5.7 x 28 sucks" kind of thread like I've seen a few times.
 
Congradz on the promo.

Oh, and the Dan Wesson Heritage for sure. The FN is a fun little zipper, for sure. The DW is a work of art. ;)
 
Not my decision to make but if you're considering a 1911 but want no beavertail, no speed bump on the GS, fixed sights, no front strap treatment, arched MSH and is stainless you may wish to consider a Colt Series 70 reissue. I appreciate the value the DW Heritage represents but swapping parts and having them correctly fitted by a smith can get expensive.

I have no interest in the FN though I can certainly see the appeal for those wanting exceptional performance in a handheld platform. If it is all you want and nothing you don't then it may indeed be the better choice.

I love new firearms as much as anyone but my goal lately has been to improve what I have with custom features. It's expensive to be sure but having one or two truly exceptional pieces is far more rewarding than writing another check for the next cookie cutter.
 
Skylerbone said:
Not my decision to make but if you're considering a 1911 but want no beavertail, no speed bump on the GS, fixed sights, no front strap treatment, arched MSH and is stainless you may wish to consider a Colt Series 70 reissue. I appreciate the value the DW Heritage represents but swapping parts and having them correctly fitted by a smith can get expensive.

I have no interest in the FN though I can certainly see the appeal for those wanting exceptional performance in a handheld platform. If it is all you want and nothing you don't then it may indeed be the better choice.

I love new firearms as much as anyone but my goal lately has been to improve what I have with custom features. It's expensive to be sure but having one or two truly exceptional pieces is far more rewarding than writing another check for the next cookie cutter.
Click to expand...
While I do want to own a genuine Colt eventually, the DW has some features that I like that the Colt doesn't have and would require pretty much the same amount of work to add. Also, when I buy a Colt, it won't be stainless and I won't modify it.

MSH shape isn't really a big deal. So long as it isn't checkered because checkering makes it harder to adjust my grip on the fly. If I thought I could get away with it, I might even just file down and polish off the checkering on the stock MSH.

The grip safety is the biggest problem. I like the Pre-A1 grip safety, but nobody sells them. Therefore, a currently existing safety must be modified to the correct shape. I don't have the tools for that. The same would be true for any 1911.
 
I have a couple of decent 1911's and an FN 5.7x28. I shoot my Glock 36 more than I shoot my 1911s. I shoot my FN more than I shoot the other three. If you like target shooting or small game with a pistol at fairly long range - you can't beat the 5.7x28. You can shoot it fast and hard and keep it on target. You have a lot of rounds and if you decided to carry this light but fairly large pistol - you'd be well armed. And right now the buy back on the 5.7 is still very good.

The Dan Wesson is a fine pistol and you can't beat the trigger and safety features.

I get my 5.7 ammo for less than 20 bucks per 50. that's a bit high but not any more than some 357 magnum, 357 SIG and a few others.

If you can shoot the 5.7 before purchasing your new celebratory toy - by all means do so. It and a few Glocks I own have performed flawlessly. The 5x7 is so fun to shoot I've still got it and that says something cause I just sold my Sig X-5. That was a really nice pistol but it wasn't as fun to shoot has the FN. Plus - I couldn't have lived with myself it i'd scratched the X-5.

If you can't shoot the FN - get the 1911. They ARE nice and in spite of what some people say - they are about as modern as they come.
 
If this was me we are talking about, it's a no-brainer, Dan Wesson by FAR.

I wanted a five-seven for a little while, and would happily accept one as a gift, but after much research I won't be buying one anytime in the foreseeable future. Dan Wesson seems to make FINE 1911s as well. Plus, anyone who has one 1911, should have two 1911s! :)

ninjafeint- that picture is worth 1,000,000 words! Such a gorgeous gun!
 
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