|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
February 12, 2017, 12:54 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 11, 2005
Posts: 1,023
|
Any feedback on the Dan Wesson ,357?
Been out for a while now but I haven't heard much about it.
Anyone care to elaborate?
__________________
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill. |
February 12, 2017, 06:26 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 13, 2013
Location: N. Georgia
Posts: 1,150
|
Had one for a while but in the end still prefer the Smith 686 or GP 100.
DA trigger good but no better than the Smith or Ruger. The very square barrel with sharp edges no help either. Combined with a much higher price is why you probably don't hear much about it. Not enough revolver guys, especially DA guys, out there to generate much heat. |
February 12, 2017, 01:38 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 30, 2014
Location: It changes.....a lot.
Posts: 356
|
Way back in 1978 or so, I bought a Dan Wesson .357 Mag. pistol pack.
It had a total of 4 barrels (2.5", 4", 6", 8") that came with it, as well as some different colored sights and barrel changing tools. It also came in a neat little suitcase type of container. The barrels were all the full-under-lug type and blue. I shot it some with the different barrels and don't recall anything special about it. Long story made short, I sold it and I've regretted it ever since. I think I paid under $400.00 for that when I bought it.
__________________
Airborne Rangers Lead The Way. |
February 13, 2017, 03:07 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 13, 2005
Posts: 4,700
|
I have both the M-12 with extra barrels and the M-15 Pistol Pac. You rarely see them in the used gun sections because those who have them keep them.
Both of mine are very accurate. |
February 14, 2017, 04:19 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 5, 2009
Location: Alamance Co., NC
Posts: 265
|
I passed on a Monson, MA .357 with 2.5", 4" & 6" barrels a few years ago for $300. Just didn't have the money
|
February 14, 2017, 04:40 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 17, 2004
Location: NH, USA
Posts: 812
|
I have an original Monson made 715 that dates to 1982. Also have the 6" tube as well. I can't offer much as to the new CZ models except to say they're more money than I'd care to spend.
__________________
Liberals don't care what you do... as long as it's mandated. |
February 14, 2017, 11:00 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: June 30, 2012
Location: cleveland
Posts: 21
|
I have owned both DW and a 686. The 686 gets my vote for all-around practicality.
DW has some cool factor and are usually hand fitted well. Hammer, trigger, and cylinder stop were all MIM parts on my Norwich CNC made gun, one generation back, but still had a very nice action. Not sure about CZ's stuff today. Just saw a new 357 in the case at Fin Feather in Ashland Ohio last week, around $1,000. Looked nice, they modernized the vent rib look a bit, but I am over it. DW also has an odd, short straight back hammer stroke. (short stroke for shorter hammer fall/lock time, but heavier to pull back). The design was conceived for single action high powered silhouette competition (not DA), so they really shine for single action target duty. The 686 has a very long history, with spare parts, grip options, and information galore you just cant overlook. Better price point, great accuracy, mine has a SA trigger to die for. DA is nothing to scoff at either. Sorry, this wasn't supposed to be a poll was it.... Last edited by marvintm1; February 14, 2017 at 11:08 PM. |
February 14, 2017, 11:51 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 25, 2008
Posts: 305
|
The ones I've seen and handled appear to be the equal of the Monson-built revolvers. I haven't shot one though. IMO, the price is a bit high but then the prices of the used ones are steadily increasing as well.
|
February 15, 2017, 04:30 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 9, 1998
Location: Ohio USA
Posts: 8,563
|
Back in the 1970's I worked in a retail paint store.
Business was always spotty. We either ran our butts off or picked our nose and passed it around. I used to buy all the gun rags the local drug store in the shooping strip carried and read them during the down times. Metallic Silhouette was the big thing back then & everything about Metallic Silhouette was - Dan Wesson in .357 mag. Dans were the only thing that could stand up to the constant pounding and still work as required. |
February 15, 2017, 06:16 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 13, 2013
Location: N. Georgia
Posts: 1,150
|
Other than my comments, it seems most refer to the older guns.
The new DW has a much, much better double action trigger than those of old but I still prefer the 686 or GP 100 in DA shooting. No doubt the new gun which I owned was beautifully finished, etc. but in the end it really "isn't there" for me. What I found interesting, or odd, is that for such a big revolver the cylinder remains K-frame sized rather than the beefier L frame or GP frame. It takes a K-frame speed loader while the other two, of course, need an L-frame speed loader. As a lefty, I was never much bothered by the forward frame cylinder release but I'm sure that with righties it's a bother. |
February 15, 2017, 06:22 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 19, 2005
Location: Nevada
Posts: 1,146
|
I thought I heard the 357mag wouldnt knock over the rams so I'm surprised to hear that.
|
February 15, 2017, 09:59 AM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 9, 1998
Location: Ohio USA
Posts: 8,563
|
Quote:
""normal sane" .357 mag loads had a lot of trouble with the Rams. The loads they fed the Dans were on a whole different level. They were throwing the 180 grain and 200 grain slugs in the 1500 fps neighborhood. That's pretty much where the .357 Max was born. Those pills were so stout they shook the big N frame S&W up and the Ruger Blackhawk too! |
|
February 15, 2017, 10:01 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 25, 2008
Posts: 305
|
UncleEd,
The reason for the smaller diameter cylinder, as I was told many moons ago, was that cylinder mass has a direct influence on DA trigger pull. The cylinder was never a weakness on the K-frame S&W so a larger cylinder wasn't deemed necessary. Last edited by DWFan; February 15, 2017 at 10:07 AM. |
February 15, 2017, 10:19 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 25, 2008
Posts: 305
|
timothy75,
The key word is consistently. They were stubborn and any breeze behind them neutered the Magnum. Speer used to list silhouette specific loads for the Dan Wesson in their manual. |
February 23, 2017, 06:32 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 9, 2008
Location: GA
Posts: 1,149
|
The definitely look appealing, although I haven't heard much high praise to the point that people wanted to drop their current .357s for them. As in this thread, most are quite happy with their 686s and GP100s.
I simply can't justify the expense when I already have a 686P.
__________________
Mauser Werke, Schmidt-Rubin, Colt, Walther, HK, Weatherby, Sig Sauer, Browning, Ruger, Beretta, etc, etc....a few friends of mine |
February 23, 2017, 08:03 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 28, 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 11,755
|
It is very encouraging to hear that the new CZ version has an improved DA trigger. I agree with most everything written so far but I would have to guess (since I was not a shooter in the heyday of IMHSA) that while the Dan Wesson "stood up" to the pounding of the nutbar-level heavy bullet .357 Magnum loads... it wasn't so much that the revolver was indestructible-- it was more likely that the barrels got torched and could be quickly, easily and not so costly replaced.
Myself, I have owned two old Dan's, both Monson, both 6", one was a standard barrel and the other a full lug. My full lug was bought to "upgrade" my first one and it was in mint condition. I liked the good things about them but the things I didn't like refused to go away. Accurate for damn sure but the double action was heavy, clunky, not smooth and lousy compared to S&W. But the two other problems (both of them!) were bigger deal breakers for me: --light strikes in DA with CCI primers --cylinder would bind when heated up, making a lousy DA even worse And yes, before you ask, 100% certain that it was NOT binding at the muzzle end of cylinder and my flash gap was NOT set too short. It was in the back end and it was maddening when the exact same problems occurred in my mint, nicer "upgrade" gun, I was extremely disappointed knew it's days were numbered. I'm a double action guy, through and through. The Dan Wesson revolvers were totally awesome for single action shooting but no good for me.
__________________
Attention Brass rats and other reloaders: I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss. |
February 24, 2017, 01:58 AM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 8, 2010
Posts: 778
|
I have a number of Dan Wessons. All are keepers as they do the most important thing VERY well.....
|
February 24, 2017, 04:31 AM | #18 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 9, 1998
Location: Ohio USA
Posts: 8,563
|
Quote:
Matches back then were two days long - Saturday and Sunday. The gun had to work with no repairs or modifications allowed for the whole two days. For production class, the gun had to literally fit inside a special box & it had to sell under a certain price. Small refinements to the locks were allowed, but, no real custom creations. The 200 meter Ram targets have a "sweet spot" about 8"x 8" on the top where a hit will produce a fall - if the slug has enough oomph. Inside, the Dans are more like the Ruger. Matter of fact, I permanently loaned my friend Jim, who's a Ruger only kinda guy, my old Monsoon Dan .22lr. He commented how alike the two are & I agree. That greater internal strength is what made them hold up enough to maintain the level of accuracy needed to hit that "sweet spot". I've mentioned this before and I haven't gotten around to it yet, but, I probably will before too much longer. I believe I might have some of the old magazines I had back from those early times were all the news is on the Dans. I think they are down in the basement. I've only been putting off the job of finishing the basement since 1986, and now that I've been retired 5 years, my wife is bugging me again about it. If I run across them, I post something here about it. Maybe someone wants them. |
|
February 24, 2017, 04:45 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 1, 2008
Posts: 849
|
I hadn't tried any of the new production DW's ..
But I have owned a half or dozen older production ones ... All verygood revolvers .. But for 4 inch barreled 357 revolvers I like Ruger Security Six's first and GP100's second ... But the 686 I had was a fine gun also |
February 25, 2017, 03:37 PM | #20 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 1, 2005
Posts: 4,443
|
Quote:
From my own experience from owning several of the original DW's, I would hope the quality is better with new one. Jim |
|
February 25, 2017, 08:50 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 5, 2009
Location: Alamance Co., NC
Posts: 265
|
Given CZ's reputation in general & what I've seen/experienced with the DW 1911s, I'd hazard a guess that the new DW revolver would be a mechanical jewel & a tack-driver.
|
February 25, 2017, 09:01 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 15, 2002
Location: West, Texas
Posts: 280
|
Dan Wesson
I have a DW in 32 H&R Mag with multiple barrels. It is one of their limited editions from way back.. I'll have to check and see which one it is.
Plain and simple----------best revolver I've ever owned!! |
February 26, 2017, 10:20 AM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 11, 2005
Posts: 1,023
|
Thanks for all the feedback folks, now if only I could afford one.
__________________
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill. |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|