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Dan Wesson Lockwork
- Thread starter Shmackey
- Start date
Jim Watson
New member
About as different as it can be and still accomplish the same functions of rotating and locking the cylinder and firing the round. Well, at least it is not witchcraft like a Colt, but still different from S&W and Ruger.
Shmackey,
Time:
Late '70's--IMHSA was gaining in popularity as a new sport.
Problem:
.357 mag revolvers lacked the 200 meter punch to knock down the targets.
Solution:
180-200 gr slugs @ 1700fps +
Platform:
Wasn't Smith or Ruger--they fell apart from a steady diet of 50K psi .357magnum loads.(Colts were out of the running)
Guess I'd have to say Dan's = legendary.
Agree with uglygun,,,Dan's have a funky D/A trigger,,no question about their strength though,,,toughest muthas ever,, far as revolvers go. Maybe a Redhawk or a Raging bull are at the same level,,hard to say though.
Time:
Late '70's--IMHSA was gaining in popularity as a new sport.
Problem:
.357 mag revolvers lacked the 200 meter punch to knock down the targets.
Solution:
180-200 gr slugs @ 1700fps +
Platform:
Wasn't Smith or Ruger--they fell apart from a steady diet of 50K psi .357magnum loads.(Colts were out of the running)
Guess I'd have to say Dan's = legendary.
Agree with uglygun,,,Dan's have a funky D/A trigger,,no question about their strength though,,,toughest muthas ever,, far as revolvers go. Maybe a Redhawk or a Raging bull are at the same level,,hard to say though.
I think he's referring to the venerable 715 lockwork.
Yep. Or the step up to "large" frame, but not those monsters.
Swamp Yankee
New member
Wouldn't worry to much about the strength of a DW 15/715 action.
Pull the side plate off one, you'll find it's pretty simple, straight forward, and rugged. Locking the cylinder / crane front and back keeps things in line. Sure, some have/had problems, (most were late Palmer Mass. guns), but it's a manufactured, mechanical assembly, that will happen.
As to the DA trigger pull. Dans are indeed different. The 15/715 line has a short hammer throw. If you're used to Smiths or Colts the difference is very noticible when cocking the hammer by hand. The throw will feel like its half. The short throw leads to the DA trigger feel. As the main spring is being compressed in less movement, the feel of the trigger is stiff and the let off tends to be very abrupt. In short, the same force to fire a Smith or Colt is being applied, just in a shorter time and distance.
The pull on a DW once you get the feel is smooth. If you can find a smith that knows Dans, the trigger pull both DA and SA can be tuned beautifully. My 715 was personally tuned by Daniel B. Wesson shortly before his passing. People that shoot it are always amazed at how smooth and fast the action is. Usually takes a few rounds before they get the feel. First round fired hardly ever hits the intended POA.
Sorry for being long winded, I just have this "thing" about Dan Wessons and love to discuss them whenever I can.
Take Care
Pull the side plate off one, you'll find it's pretty simple, straight forward, and rugged. Locking the cylinder / crane front and back keeps things in line. Sure, some have/had problems, (most were late Palmer Mass. guns), but it's a manufactured, mechanical assembly, that will happen.
As to the DA trigger pull. Dans are indeed different. The 15/715 line has a short hammer throw. If you're used to Smiths or Colts the difference is very noticible when cocking the hammer by hand. The throw will feel like its half. The short throw leads to the DA trigger feel. As the main spring is being compressed in less movement, the feel of the trigger is stiff and the let off tends to be very abrupt. In short, the same force to fire a Smith or Colt is being applied, just in a shorter time and distance.
The pull on a DW once you get the feel is smooth. If you can find a smith that knows Dans, the trigger pull both DA and SA can be tuned beautifully. My 715 was personally tuned by Daniel B. Wesson shortly before his passing. People that shoot it are always amazed at how smooth and fast the action is. Usually takes a few rounds before they get the feel. First round fired hardly ever hits the intended POA.
Sorry for being long winded, I just have this "thing" about Dan Wessons and love to discuss them whenever I can.
Take Care
Trigger Pull on 15/715 Dan Wessons
I am curious about the weight of the trigger pull. As noted due to the shorter hammer arc it will be quicker and feel different especially compared to the long hammer arc on the old Colts.
I think Dan Wesson used to make a model called the "Gold" or some such that had a tuned trigger with the double action advertised in the 8-10 pound range. Having never felt a TUNED Dan Wesson what can the double action be reduced to in pounds and fire a magnum primer? Is there someone that specializes in Dan Wesson tunes. The only ones I know that even tune them are Jim Stroh and Teddy Jacobson and it seems they give them their "generic" tune for lack of a better word.
I am curious about the weight of the trigger pull. As noted due to the shorter hammer arc it will be quicker and feel different especially compared to the long hammer arc on the old Colts.
I think Dan Wesson used to make a model called the "Gold" or some such that had a tuned trigger with the double action advertised in the 8-10 pound range. Having never felt a TUNED Dan Wesson what can the double action be reduced to in pounds and fire a magnum primer? Is there someone that specializes in Dan Wesson tunes. The only ones I know that even tune them are Jim Stroh and Teddy Jacobson and it seems they give them their "generic" tune for lack of a better word.