coupla Dan Wesson questions

[kcub]

Do you need a gauge for changing barrels? I know you need the special barrel nut wrench.

Taffin opines that it is the easiest shooting .44 magnum recoil-wise.
True?

[jglsprings]

Yes and yes.
A feeler guage is used to set the gap between the barrel and cylinder.
When I get home (off this stupid phone) I'll post some pictures.
Out of five 44 s it is my favorite. It is a big frame and very heavy.

[kcub]

So if you were to buy one you want to get one that has the wrench and feeler gauge with it (I assume).

[Zhillsauditor]

Feeler gauge sets can be had for under $20 at any hardware store. A good set is a must have for gun work. The wrench, that I don't know if you can get the right tool without the original or making one yourself.

[wogpotter]

It is better to get the gun complete with the tool (which does more than just fit the barrel nut) & gauge, but if you can get one without for the right price there's a company called "EWK arms" that makes & sell the wrenches. Be aware that there have been several styles of barrel nut & you'll need the right type of wrench that fits your muzzle nut design.

The gauge can easily be replaced with a standard automotive feeler gauge set, just use the .005" gauge.

[jglsprings]

It is so much easier to cut and paste from a real PC and not a "mobile device".

You can get the wrench and feeler gauge from CZ...



http://shop.cz-usa.com/P-20001/Dw-Ba...ch-44-Mag.aspx

Although they are out at the moment, they have been selling them for years and years. They aren't cheap. I'll look see the exact size of the gauge - you can get them anywhere.

The wrench - you WILL need one for the correct caliber. The "other" features are just allen wrenches for the sights.

[kcub]

Thanks, good stuff to know.

What barrel length do you favor? I've seen some that have a scope mounted on one barrel.

[wogpotter]

The "other" features are just allen wrenches for the sights.

& the sideplate screw & the grip screw & so on.

Gauge should be 0.006".
EWK usually has multi-caliber wrenches in stock that are way better made than the DW/CZ ones. They also have lots of other kewl DW stuff too.
http://www.ewkarms.com/zencart/

One big advantage of the DW switch barrel & shrouded barrel system is that scope mounting is easy as you only attach to the external sleeve, no drilling of the actual barrel. Personally I like a 6" vented heavy rib barrel, but that's on a .357, if I went with a .44 I'd probably go to an 8".

[ltc444]

I have the DW in 357. I prefer the 4 inch for regular carry and the 8 inch for hunting.

[hAkron]

Another vote for EWK. This guy has lots of great stuff for the Dan Wesson revolver. He makes barrel wrenches too that are superior to the original. He makes and sells barrel assemblies as well. Right now .22 and .357, but he has confirmed via email that .44 barrel assemblies are in the works.

[Venom1956]

you can get a set of gauges from napa or similar for a few bucks

[kahrguy]

Heres a link to the danwessonforum and then to EWKarms and LB custom grips- http://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/revolvers/

Some of us set our revolvers close to as tight as they can be still funtion well for hunting. I run our 357's and 44 at 1 to 2 th's. When you do change barrels or take the barrel off you need to use a good oil like a CLP on the treads of the barrel and barrel nut and only snug tight should hold it on well. Like others said i use a 4" for normal use and a 8" for hunting. EWKarms sell most anything you will need for upgrades or fix's atfar better priceing than buying from CZ

[The Comedian]

I agree with the above posts on ewk arms. I bought a wrench and feeler gauge from them, and it is very high quality. The original barrel whrench had plastic handles that broke.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I have a couple Dan Wessons... one blued, in 44 Mag ( I'd advise skipping the Dan Wesson internal compensator... when I got mine, the barrel & barrel shroud were basically leaded together... the ports in the barrel, don't line up with the ports in the barrel shroud, so alot of deposits get left in the gap, especially with cast bullets ) I had to have my local smith cut them apart, after I got it... at which time I made mine into a snubbie, with one of my local guys propritary comp / barrel nuts my other Dan Wesson is a stainless 357 Max... it also wears a custom comp nut

my 44 mag was built 10 years before the Ruger Alaskan came out, but is pretty much the same thing, only blued

I prefer 6" barrels, I find double action revolvers with under lugs, get too muzzle heavy in lengths longer than 6" ( been burned a couple times by barrel / cylinder gaps on longer barreled guns )

this is my 44 mag with custom comp / nut



the max...

[kahrguy]

I have a normal barrel to use instead of the internal vented barrel. Recoil even with hotter 240gr 1500fps loads it is not bad at all with the weight of the 44mags.

[Dain Bramage]

Wogpotter: Dude, you stole my grips!

Hogue finger groove kingwood?

They make my 15-2 one of the easiest gripping and best pointing guns I own.

[wogpotter]

"Stolen" is such a harsh word, lets call it "convergent evolution"!

Mine are actually Pau Ferro, (Morado, Bolivian Rosewood, Santos Rosewood), but yes, the Hogue Finger Grips do make for a "motie watchmaker" fit don't they
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-...ods/pau-ferro/

[Dain Bramage]

Brother from another mother, that is a cool site. Everything you wanted to know about wood, and more. Being an engineer, the specs are neat, but I doubt I could ever afford to build anything structural with exotic hardwoods.

Kingwood looks darker with denser figure than Pau Ferro on the site, but mine look just like the picture you posted, with perhaps just a touch more purple than red.

[kahrguy]

Great DW grip maker.http://lbcustomgrips.com/