Dan Wesson Info

[glockopop]

Just when I thought my mind was made up on a S&W M19 for $329, I see a Dan Wesson with a 2 1/2 inch and a 6 inch barrel for 300 bucks. I know it's more gun for the money, but I know NOTHING about Dan Wesson guns and I'm a little standoffish. Also, I don't particularly like the square butt target grips that are on the gun, are Hogue monogrips or anything like that available? Can anyone attest to the quality (or lack thereof) of a Dan Wesson revolver?

 

[Hal]

Dan's are quite possibly the strongest D/A revolver ever made, and among the most accurate.
They do have a funky D/A trigger though.
Not good/not bad just,,different.

Resale (as you see) is also quite low. There's no real logical reason why Dan Wesson products never gained the respect they were due.

 

[dallasconundrum]

They were at least fairly popular with the silhouette crowd as they were offered in the "SuperMag" or "Maximum" cartridges weren't they? Granted this wouldn't be enough of a fan base to keep a company afloat, but just curious as I thought I remembered reading that at some point.

 

[Hal]

They were at least fairly popular with the silhouette crowd as they were offered in the "SuperMag" or "Maximum" cartridges weren't they?

Briefly.
There was a rule change that removed the price ceiling though, and after that Dans popularity dwindled.

Re: The .357 Maximum. - The .357Max was pretty much the answer to the loads Dan shooters were stuffing into their stock .357mags. The Dans were up to those uber loads, but the Smiths and Rugers weren't.
Not that the Smiths and Rugers were necessarily "weaker". More that they couldn't take a steady diet of those loads and still maintain the precision needed for IMHSA.

Looking at both the Smith N frame and the Blackhawk it's difficult to imagine how anything could affect them,,,but that's what was happening. They (Smith and Ruger) would shoot just loose enough using those hyper-.357 heavyweights, that they couldn't stay on the 200 meter Ram targets.

IIRC from reading all the latest poop on it at the time, the 200 meter Ram target has a "Sweet spot" about 8 inches by 8 inches. The bullet has to hit that sweet spot in order to knock the (50 lb?) target over. A "hit" isn't enough to count. The target has to go down, otherwise it's a miss.

 

[farmall]

I shoot a DW model 15 in .357mag. 6" barrel with target grips. Only had it about 6 months, but fast becoming a favorite! Accuracy is great, and I dont think it'll ever wear out. As said before, the DA trigger takes some getting used to. Buy it !!!!

 

[GrantCunningham]

I know it's more gun for the money, but I know NOTHING about Dan Wesson guns and I'm a little standoffish. Also, I don't particularly like the square butt target grips that are on the gun, are Hogue monogrips or anything like that available? Can anyone attest to the quality (or lack thereof) of a Dan Wesson revolver?

Well, the other folks have given you some good info. I'll just fill in a couple of things.

Yes, you can get Hogue grips for the DW. Although grips are not as common as for a S&W, there are a surprising number of options out there. You'll also occasionally run across the Pachmayr "Gripper" style.

Build quality varies considerably; the early guns made in Monson, MA are the best; the later Monson guns aren't quite as good. The Palmer, MA guns are usually awful, and the recent Norwich, NY guns are, at best, equal to a late Monson.

The double action triggers, though fairly smooth, stack horribly. It's possible to dramatically reduce that, however, with proper gunsmithing.

As noted, they are phenomenally accurate and very durable. The price for the gun and 2 barrels, if they're all in nice condition, isn't bad; generally, the gun with a barrel is worth around $225-250, and an extra barrel assembly goes for around $100.

Good luck!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

DW's are accurate, reliable, cheap and you can still get parts for them. What's not to like?

I have or have owned now about 8 DW's. All have been either the Norwich (current manufacturer) or Monson's. They are great guns and just misunderstood by the masses. Folks tend to belittle them for various reasons, but it won't be for lack of accuracy or reliablity. The workmanship of the Palmer goods was "so-so" and I have seen enough of them to agree with this analysis.

Here is a DW 722 at 15 yards in single action mode. 50 shots per target offhand.

This is a monson DW md-15 at 15 yards in double action. 50 Shots per target offhand.

They are good guns and shoot pretty darn well.