Newbie's DW Panther first impressions (w/pics)

[Flashpoint]

I ordered a Dan Wesson Panther Pointman Series from CDNN last week and picked it up today.

- Pistol $479
- Extra 8rd Mag $9
- Ultra thin Coco Bolo checkered grips $30
- Shipping $12
- FFL Fees$27
- Total $557

Seems like a pretty good deal for a well made 1911.

The gun is pretty tight with no play in the slide at all and not a bit of rattle.

The trigger is comparable to the SA Loaded Champion I'd been looking real hard at for the last 10 months. The only trigger I have felt that was any better was a STI Ranger, but I could have a heck of a trigger job done for the price difference.

I didn't care much for the grips that were on it they were usable, but the new ones made a world of difference in feel and looks.

I didn't see any noticeable machining marks when I broke it down to clean it. Even after I got all the crud off of it. This gun was dirty.

The after market mag seems to work better than the one that came with it. The one that came with it requires me use both hand to release the slide or pull back on the slide a bit to release the slide stop. The extra I order just requires a little push to release the slide. Is there a fix for the mag problem?

So far I'm real happy with the Panther even though it's supposedly DW's lower end model. Can't wait to get to the range.

 

[BluesBear]

Is there a fix for the mag problem?

Of course there is.
Replace the weak spring in the extra, aftermarket magazine with a good one.

 

[HighVelocity]

I want to know how it shoots! IT certainly LOOKS good.

 

[Flashpoint]

Replace the weak spring in the extra, aftermarket magazine with a good one.

I've since learned that that's the way it's suppose to be. Kinda strange considering every other gun I've messed with wasn't that tight. But I've never had a 1911 before, so that's why I asked.

 

[Hawk]

The only trigger I have felt that was any better was a STI Ranger

My Ranger has the best trigger of any firearm I own. I got mine out of the used bin and never knew if it had been "tuned" or actually came that way.

Nice job on that Panther.

 

[mattw]

I've since learned that that's the way it's suppose to be.

yep. that's right. its only stiff when the mag is empty, when there are rounds to be fed into the chamber it is not tight. I have been skeptical of dan wessons just because its not a big name-brand like Kimber or Colt or any of the others. definetly keep us posted on how it shoots.

 

[BluesBear]

Flashpoint, when you insert a loaded magazine it shouldn't take very much effort at all to push the slide stop.

Since this is your first 1911 pattern pistol I'll pass along the warning to do your dead level best to avoid dropping the slide on an empty chamber. It's just not good for the pistol.

You got yourself a nice looking pistol at a heck of a good price there.
Enjoy it and let us know how it shoots.

 

[mattw]

Since this is your first 1911 pattern pistol I'll pass along the warning to do your dead level best to avoid dropping the slide on an empty chamber. It's just not good for the pistol.

I didn't know that. can you explain why it is bad?

 

[pitcrew]

Its made with real bits of panther, so you know its good!

 

[BluesBear]

mattw, since you asked I'll try.

When you fire a 1911 type pistol the slide returning to battery is slowed and buffered by the actions of stripping the top cartridge from the magazine and guiding it into the chamber.
Where there is no round present the slide merely slams home. The locking lugs slam together. The barrel link and lower lugs are jolted against the slide stop pin. In many pistols the breechface slams against the barrel hood.

And matters will be worse if the gun is out of spec.

Now the occasional occurance really won't hurt. But I have seen people who rack the slide and dry fire, then rack the slide and dry fire again, and again and again.
For those people, snap caps, dummy rounds or APRs (action proving rounds) are suggested.

 

[wally]

External extractor. What's worse is it seems every 1911 maker who "improves" the 1911 with an external extractor has to come up with their own design -- Kimber sure seems to have had lots of trouble getting it right.

--wally.

 

[HighVelocity]

External extractor. What's worse is it seems every 1911 maker who "improves" the 1911 with an external extractor has to come up with their own design -- Kimber sure seems to have had lots of trouble getting it right.

--wally.

I haven't heard the same complaints about the SW1911 though.

 

[wally]

True, I haven't heard of any extraction problems with S&W either, but still you are stuck with a single source of replacement parts negating one of the best features of the 1911 as a standard platform.

--wally.

 

[BluesBear]

There's nothing wrong with single source parts replacement. IF that part will seldom or never need replacing.
Only if the part in question wears out or fails on a egular or scheduled basis does multiple souce aqusitions become an advantage.

If your worried about your external extractor failing then go ahead and buy two or three extras.

You do have extra parts on hand for your firearms already don't you?

 

[Flashpoint]

Here is my review.

 

[BowStreetRunner]

that is a nice looking .45 there.
BSR

 

[JDGray]

Nice!! let us know how it shoots JDGray

 

[Flashpoint]

JDGray

Thanks

Check about 3 post up for the link to my review.