Virginia Dragoon Info. Sought
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Willie Sutton
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Love these things for a heavy duty SA. One step above a Ruger, originally priced accordingly, and available now for affordable prices. They are sleepers in the marketplace. I don't know of a serial number list for them, but I've never seriously looked either.
If you're looking at it, you should be able to determine if it's a good one (almost all are) just by simple inspecton.
You have of course read this, I assume?
http://www.singleactions.com/VADragoons.pdf
Look at timing by looking for drag marks on the cylinder as well as watching the bolt drop into the cylinder notches, check lockup, and look down the bore. If it looks good you'll be fine with it. They are superb revolvers. The pre-1980 ones are fairly rare and so just based on the odds it's more common to find later ones, and even of the very first ones built there are many that are excellent. Just do a good lookover and enjoy. Even the "least" of them are still strong and excellent revolvers.
Willie
.
If you're looking at it, you should be able to determine if it's a good one (almost all are) just by simple inspecton.
You have of course read this, I assume?
http://www.singleactions.com/VADragoons.pdf
Look at timing by looking for drag marks on the cylinder as well as watching the bolt drop into the cylinder notches, check lockup, and look down the bore. If it looks good you'll be fine with it. They are superb revolvers. The pre-1980 ones are fairly rare and so just based on the odds it's more common to find later ones, and even of the very first ones built there are many that are excellent. Just do a good lookover and enjoy. Even the "least" of them are still strong and excellent revolvers.
Willie
.
Confederate
Member
Check yours out carefully and make sure you leave one chamber empty under the firing pin. I had some major quality control issues with mine. Hammer crystallized and shattered the third time I dry fired it. Chambers also not sized properly. When repaired the gun wouldn't group. Measurements showed the chambers to be little more than just holes in the cylinder. These guns are beauties, but not even close to what a Ruger is.
Got a very nice NIB looking one a few years ago. On the second time I took the cylinder out, I scratched it on some part of the frame 
. Interestingly the scratch doesn't show as a white mark, but I can feel it and I know it's there...
On second look, I found that "case hardened" frame to be rough compared to the rest of the gun. The cylinder throats are on the generous side too.
A second "problem" was the grip's screws loosening and the trigger/hammer consequently "jamming".
Overall, I like it a lot. The cylinder is not as thick as a Ruger's, which improves the looks. I think it even looks more balanced than a New Frontier (which I had been dreaming about before).
I also like not having (only) everybody's Ruger...
. Interestingly the scratch doesn't show as a white mark, but I can feel it and I know it's there...On second look, I found that "case hardened" frame to be rough compared to the rest of the gun. The cylinder throats are on the generous side too.
A second "problem" was the grip's screws loosening and the trigger/hammer consequently "jamming".
Overall, I like it a lot. The cylinder is not as thick as a Ruger's, which improves the looks. I think it even looks more balanced than a New Frontier (which I had been dreaming about before).
I also like not having (only) everybody's Ruger...
silicosys4
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I can instantly tell if one of my .44 brass was fired out of mine....the brass has stretch marks. I haven't measured the fired brass yet, but i'm pretty sure the chambers are on the generous side. The gun also shoots so high that even with the rear sight fully down the gun shoots 8" above point if aim at 20 yards.
Other than that, it's a lovely gun, and very accurate.
Sic Semper Tyrannus.
Other than that, it's a lovely gun, and very accurate.
Sic Semper Tyrannus.
Arizonan
member
Your Dragoon you are looking at was made between 1982-1984.
These guns are easy to check for quality workmanship. I have 3 dragoons. Two in 44 and one in the 357 Deputy model. The two 44s were made in 1977 and 1978. The 357 is from 1983. My 1977 44 mag was not the best when it came to quality workmanship.
The 1978 is a totally different gun. It is 110% awesome. And the 357 is so cool. It is such a single action masterpiece. I am trading off the 1977. The other two will never leave my possession.
Good luck.
These guns are easy to check for quality workmanship. I have 3 dragoons. Two in 44 and one in the 357 Deputy model. The two 44s were made in 1977 and 1978. The 357 is from 1983. My 1977 44 mag was not the best when it came to quality workmanship.
The 1978 is a totally different gun. It is 110% awesome. And the 357 is so cool. It is such a single action masterpiece. I am trading off the 1977. The other two will never leave my possession.
Good luck.
OP
OP
red rick
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Thanks for your help .
What would be a fair price to offer him for it ? The cosmetic appearance is excellent and if the timing is good and it locks up tight . It is a .44 SS , I believe 7 1/2" barrel and wood display box . I might have also saw some rubber grips in the box .
What would be a fair price to offer him for it ? The cosmetic appearance is excellent and if the timing is good and it locks up tight . It is a .44 SS , I believe 7 1/2" barrel and wood display box . I might have also saw some rubber grips in the box .
shootniron
Member
I have owned one for MANY years and was pretty good shooter...but the quality is not in the same league as the Blackhawk. Matter of fact, mine currently resides in the safe and will not lockup on 2 chambers...and it has never been fired 500rds and those have all been only barely magnum loads.
I would probably not pay more than $250 for one and it would have to be perfect.
But, if you want one...pay what you think it is worth.
I would probably not pay more than $250 for one and it would have to be perfect.
But, if you want one...pay what you think it is worth.
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red rick
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Do you know the year yours was made ?
Arizonan
member
$375.00 - $400.00 if its in VG to EX condition.
Trust me on this
Trust me on this
Willie Sutton
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It's a beauty. Enjoy it.
Willie
.
Willie
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I have one just like it with a slightly shorter barrel, what a cannon it is!
Now, can anyone recommend a holster for these big mothers? I don't want one to wear, just one to store the pistol in to protect it. Something like a nylon Uncle Mike's would be dandy, but I can't find out what size.
Now, can anyone recommend a holster for these big mothers? I don't want one to wear, just one to store the pistol in to protect it. Something like a nylon Uncle Mike's would be dandy, but I can't find out what size.
heycods
Member
Had one in the 70s loved the gun, wish I had it back, I like the extra safety on the cylinder pin alowing carry of 6 rounds, mIne was 45Colt
Rick, what does the grip frame say?
Ron, it's roughly the size of a New Model Blackhawk's so that's what i would look at.
And contrary to what I wrote earlier, the cylinder is of the same size as the one on my Ruger NM .45, the frame a trifle longer, the barrel thicker and the grip longer and more confortable...
Ron, it's roughly the size of a New Model Blackhawk's so that's what i would look at.
And contrary to what I wrote earlier, the cylinder is of the same size as the one on my Ruger NM .45, the frame a trifle longer, the barrel thicker and the grip longer and more confortable...
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red rick
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Mine was like yours in that the two grip frame screws were loose . They were so loose that I could feel movement in the handle . I then checked and all of the screws were loose in the frame . The gun does not look to have been shot much , so this might be a problem for some blue lock tight on all of the frame screws .
Another thing that might be a problem that I saw when inspecting the revolver , there is only about a .001 gap between the forcing cone and cylinder. So I don't think that I will be able to shoot very many rounds before it starts binding the cylinder .
Good news the lockup is very tight and the timing looks good on all chambers and I got it at a good price .
Another thing that might be a problem that I saw when inspecting the revolver , there is only about a .001 gap between the forcing cone and cylinder. So I don't think that I will be able to shoot very many rounds before it starts binding the cylinder .
Good news the lockup is very tight and the timing looks good on all chambers and I got it at a good price .
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