Thinking of a Dan Wesson Revolver

[357shooter]

Hi guys,

Looks like the DW 715 is coming out new in 2011, the pricing doesn't seem to be available yet though. I'm thinking of a 6" 357 Magnum in particular. Extra barrels are OK but not a requirement of mine.

Question: When looking a used DW's, how do know a great model/year/version from a so-so model year version?

Looking for accuracy with a 6inch (even longer is OK w/me) 357 mag. It looks like Guns America and other online sources have them available.

What are the top 2 or 3 to look for?

Thanks (my wife told me last night she'd like to buy my a gun for my birthday. How great is THAT! Today is my birthday, but I'll wait for a great gun.)

Or, should I wait for the new 715???

[blaser.306]

Look for a monson built model , If I remember the Palmer models had hit and miss quality control. I have a monson built model 44vh 6" and 10" and have had no complaints with it at all !

[BBA]

Monson and Norwich were the best, in my opinion. The Palmer guns were spotty. I have a few of the early Monson (744 & 715) without the full underlug. The very early (model 12?) had a porkchop shaped barrel shroud and do not accept the current shrouds. Most of the used ones that I have seen have never been abused, but there are exceptions. If you look carefully, you can probably find a 357 and a 22 for about the same pricing as (1) new one will be. These are really great guns.

[357shooter]

There's a Model 15-2, I can contact to seller to see were it was made. But maybe you can tell: http://www.gunsamerica.com/968698774/Guns/Pistols/Dan-Wesson-Pistols-Revolvers/Revolvers/62420_DAN_WESSON_Mod_15_2_VH_TWO_BARRELS.htm

What do you think??

[357shooter]

There's a Model 15-2, I can contact to seller to see were it was made. But maybe you can tell: http://www.gunsamerica.com/968698774/Guns/Pistols/Dan-Wesson-Pistols-Revolvers/Revolvers/62420_DAN_WESSON_Mod_15_2_VH_TWO_BARRELS.htm

What do you think??
OK, I enlarged the pic and it's a Monson gun. Wow Looks good to me, any thoughts?

[BBA]

Looks to be in nice condition and not a bad price. If you decide to go for it, make sure to check all the barrel threads for any damage. I've seen a few where people over torqued the barrel nut. Extra barrels are avail. and Egunparts has them on/off pretty cheap.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Been shooting DW since 1978 when I bought nmy first 15-2 Monson. I would highly recommend a Monson model. I have 5 calibers and they all shoot like a revolver should.
Built tough as a tank and have long enough cylinders to give real versitility with cast bolits.

[357shooter]

Thanks. I've decide to buy it. Now I'm waiting for confirmation from the seller that someone else didn't take it first. The listing said it wasn't exclusive on GunBroker and that it "might not" be available.

I haven't hear back yet though, and it's killin' me! I WANT THE GUN. It is New Year day and all. bummer

Casting and lubing and loading in the mean time so that's a good thing.

[NSP64]

I bought it.






:bigsmyl2::kidding: I had a Monson years ago and should have never gotten rid of it.

[357shooter]

I bought it.






:bigsmyl2::kidding: I had a Monson years ago and should have never gotten rid of it.Didn't see the yankin' chain at first. Gotta go put on some clean drawers! You got me. :drinks:

[jeff423]

By the pictures that looks like a pretty fair deal. Around here (MO) Monson 357's go for about $300 - $350 with a 6" barrel. The short barrels are harder to find and people are asking $250 for them on GB (I don't know if they get it or not). The 4&6" barrels are about $150. The Cabela's in Hazelwood, MO has a couple listed at over $400 with one barrel.
FWIW: After I got my .44 Dan Wesson I sold my Anaconda.

Jeff

[DanWalker]

I shot IHMSA Field pistol with a DW 357. One of the most accurate revolvers I've ever fired. A bit heavy for carry though.

[357shooter]

This is for the range and also Silhouette shooting (looking for my first try in the coming months). Big and heavy is good.

[jeff423]

A lot of silhouette shooters consider them highly accurate because the the barrel is held under tension between the receiver and the nut at the muzzle.

There is a Dan Wesson forum that can provide a lot of good information:
http://www.danwessonforum.com/

Jeff

[357shooter]

A lot of silhouette shooters consider them highly accurate because the the barrel is held under tension between the receiver and the nut at the muzzle.

There is a Dan Wesson forum that can provide a lot of good information:
http://www.danwessonforum.com/

JeffThanks for the info.

[DanWalker]

I never understood how accurate my gun was until years after I got rid of it. I thought any decent revolver would be accurate enough for to me use empty quart oil containers as practice targets for the 100 yard rams.
Yeah, I was young and ignorant in those days.

[357shooter]

I never understood how accurate my gun was until years after I got rid of it. I thought any decent revolver would be accurate enough for to me use empty quart oil containers as practice targets for the 100 yard rams.
Yeah, I was young and ignorant in those days.
The deal is done and the gun is will be shipped Thursday to my FFL. Do you recall your favorite/accurate silhouette boolit and charge that hit those oil cans?

[ebner glocken]

24.2 grains of ww296 with a sierra 240 jhc shoots extreamly well through mine. On most days will outshoot me. It's one of my most accurate revolvers. A 6" monson .44 ported. A really fun load in it is a 200 grain DEWC with 6 grains of bullseye, scary accurate at 25 yards, the recoil of a .22.

Ebner

[357shooter]

This is a 357 magnum that I was asking about, not 44 magnum. Sorry for the confusion. :p:p

[DanWalker]

My load was 4.5 grains of unique under a 125 grain roundnose cast boolit, put up in 38 special brass. I got around 650 fps and terrific accuracy.

[dubber123]

For an off the shelf mould, RCBS's 180 Sil mould has been super accurate for me out of any decent .35 cal gun. It outshoots my best wadcutter loads at short range through many of my .38's. It's not a hunting boolit with it's tiny Meplat, but accuracy isn't lacking.

[357shooter]

Thanks for the additional load info and mould info guys.

[357shooter]

Finally, after snow/ice delaying UPS, there is a new Dan Wesson in the house! Wow, feels great, looks great. Very nice trigger, the SA is awesome. The barrels are pretty dirty. Cleaning it up to shoot this weekend.

Throats all slug between .3589 and .3594. Don't know about the barrel, except it is definitely smaller. Will check it after it cleaned.

Did I say it's nice! It's nice!

Oh, I had my ID changed from prgallo, so you aren't loosing your minds... lol

[kelbro]

Cool. I will be dragging mine out tomorrow for a little fun.

[357shooter]

I put 50 rounds of 358429 with 5.1 grains of 700X through it Wow, still trying to get rid of the lead. It's like a lead-liner is in the gun. I'll bet a bullet hasn't actually touched the barrel in years.

[kelbro]

Choreboy to the rescue! Chase it with some JB paste followed by your cleaner of choice.

[357shooter]

Used almost a whole choreboy so far. The lead is still coming out. I've never seen anything like this. Just keep at it is the only thing I know to do.

[kelbro]

Even the Foul-outs have their limits. I had one rifle barrel that took a few days and about 20 cleanings of the electrode before I quit getting lead. After all of that, I found out it was so pitted that the lead was probably helping!

EWK lists DW barrels for about $40 :) Out of stock right now though.

[pistolman44]

Have 2 DW's, one is a Palmer 744 VH4" and a 8"VH the 2nd is a Monson 15-2 .357 mag with 6"VH and a 2 1/2"V. There were some that have had the frame crack from Monson made revolvers. I bought both of these used and had a heck of a time removing the barrels. Had to soak them in Kroil for a few days and then used a heat gun to remove the stuck barrel nut. Ended up replacing the nut on the 357, got chewed up a little trying to remove it. Both revolvers are very accurate.

[357shooter]

Even the Foul-outs have their limits. I had one rifle barrel that took a few days and about 20 cleanings of the electrode before I quit getting lead. After all of that, I found out it was so pitted that the lead was probably helping!

EWK lists DW barrels for about $40 :) Out of stock right now though.

EWK said they were running late and might not have barrel until Feb. I couldn't wait that long. Called Dan Wesson and they shipped one to me already. Can't wait!

[Stick_man]

OK guys, sorry for the stupid question, but what does EWK stand for? Who are they? I would like to pick up a couple barrels for my 15-2. Sounds like a place to look for them.

[357shooter]

Sorry for the confusion, I should have include the link and some info. http://www.ewkarms.com/index.htm

They make 12 inch twist barrels and should have them in the next few weeks. The prices are excellent. I couldn't wait for a 6 inch so I called Dan Wesson, if you need only the barrel they have them in stock. Just make them understand you don't need the shroud, they are made to order. I called on Monday and had a brand new barrel on Thursday. $82 for a 6 inch plus $9 for shipping.

The EWK 6 inch is $40. Pretty awesome. I'm waiting to get the 2 in replacement from EWK, it's even less. They have some pretty awesome looking shrouds too:

http://www.ewkarms.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=27

[rugerdude]

A Dan Wesson is definitely one of my next acquisitions!

I really want a .445, but will take most any caliber as long as the gun is in good condition.

Missed a chance at a .357 Pistol Pack a few years back and have kicked myself ever since! Not gonna happen again! [smilie=b:

[kelbro]

The bluing on most of the early DW revolvers is incredible. Mine has recently moved from the back of the safe to a place of prominence right in the front rack.

[oldscool]

Stay away from those junk Palmer guns. Especially the seven44fivevc's. Too shiney, too big for pockets, too heavy to hold, bad triggers, finish, and fit. Also will break your wrist when shot and spit fire out the top..
http://www.hunt101.com/data/564/rottenpalmer.jpg
If you run across any, preferably in 4" or 6" comp. let me know and I will gladly keep them off the market and out of the general publics hands. It's the least I can do.:kidding:

[357shooter]

wow, sweet gun.

[rugerdude]

oldschool,

That is exactly the monster I'm looking for, except without the comp!

Only thing holding me back right now is lack of funds. Hopefully a situation I can cure in the coming months!

[oldscool]

rugerdude,
Ya, those comps are worthless.

[Moonie]

You guys are killing me here, owned 2 Dan Wessons, a model 15 and a 7445, missing them, especially the 8" 7445.