Dan Wesson Revolvers.

CajunBass

New member
What can I say. I'm a sucker for these things. I've owned a couple in the past, traded and sold them all off for one thing or another, but this morning I picked up another one. This one is a Monson made, 4" 22 LR, S/N in the 25xxx range. Really nice gun.

But for all the ones I've had before, this is the first time I've ever had a barrel wrench with the gun. So my question is, when viewed from the muzzle, which way does the wrench turn? It's tight both ways and I'm not going to force it. I've got some oil soaking in now.
 
That's what I figured. I just wanted to make sure this wasn't one of those "rare instances".

A little oil soak, a little pressure, and it broke loose.
 
The muzzle nuts have a habit of binding up with fouling.

What I do is strip, clean oil lightly, then put a little "Never-Seez" on the threads at both ends of the barrel & spin them in & out a few times to distribute. It's way better than boogering up those little cuts in the nut!

After that just re gap & attach as per the manual.
 
Make sure you use the cylinder gap gauge when you put the barrel back on
(You probably know that, but they are easy to lose or forget)
 
Thanks for the help and the advice fellows. I've owned a couple of Dan Wesson's before, but never had the barrel wrench, so I never bothered with them before. I put a couple of drops of oil on the barrel nut and let it soak for a few minutes, then applied a little more pressure than I'd tried before and it popped right off. Everything was clean inside. I set the barrel back with the go/no go gague (never seen one of those either, before), and tightened everything back up.

Then I cleaned it up, and took a couple of pictures.



 
As you've not done this before a tip.

If it now "spits" you might want to re-adjust that gap.

I set the loosest chamber (they vary slightly) so the barrel/cylinder just contacts the gauge. Too much pressure just forces the cylinder back into the spring loaded ball bearing rear lockup.

Best way I found is to put the barrel in with no shroud. Tighten for light contact & open action. press forward on rear of barrel, slide shroud on & then nut & tighten nut with finger pressure still on barrel to prevent rotation. Check gap afterwards to make sure it didn't move.
 
10 or so years ago I ordered a snubby barrel and shroud from CZ for my 15-2, and a new barrel nut wrench and gap gauge. I was expecting to get a .006 gauge but they sent .002. My 15-2 did spit a bit with a .006 gap, but not at all with .002, which is what I stick with now.
 
That's just a "feeler gauge" that sets the barrel/cylinder gap at .006" If it gets lost you can easily replace it with shim stock, or the real thing:

I'd just never seen the actual gague that come with the gun. Or the barrel wrench.

I doubt I'll ever fool with them again. I never really saw the advantage of the extra barrels. I know I wouldn't change them. I'd rather have another gun.
 
My local FFL has one that was on a display case with 3 different barrels. The one that is on it looks longer than 6" then a 4" and guessing is a 2.5. Beautiful but pricey.
 
Well, they sure are pretty! I also have a 6" barrel for this as well.

DW-2_zpse4d5f2ed.jpg
 
Here is my Dan Wesson 15-2 Monson manufactured 8 inch barrel.

This gun had been neglected for many years before I got it. Barrel was loose, surface rust and bluing was stainded in several places. I dis-assembled it, sprayed it down with CLP and let it soak for a couple days and then wiped with a shop cloth for at least three weeks. I was happy with the amount of original finish I was able to bring back. Target grips that were on it were pretty badly cracked. Picture only shows crack on the side it also has cracks front and rear. Hogue Monogrip fits my hand very well for this shooter.

Four inch barrel, heavy shroud, barrel wrench and fiber optic front sight are from EWK (excellent products).

I bought the 4 inch barrel thinking that loaded with 38 Specials it would find a home in the nightstand on my wifes side of the bed but it just did not seem to work for her. Maybe with a lighter shroud it would have been different. Also considered having my machinest friend remove a lot of the mass from the shroud but instead just bought her a gun she picked out so I get to keep this one all to myself.

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My 15-2 did spit a bit with a .006 gap, but not at all with .002, which is what I stick with now.
I actually use a 0.004 from a set but I don't think I'd go quite that tight because I see variations from chamber to chamber almost that big!
 
-Beautiful but pricey.

Yep. That's the way I see them too.

Also strong and accurate.

And although I wouldn't probably change barrels that much I'd really like to have the extra barrels (The 'Pistol Pack' with the extra grips, sight inserts etc.) just because.
 
Dan Wesson made a great revolver and the ones from Monson seemed to have the best quality control. For the performance (read: Accuracy) they deliver that you can still get for a decent price, they are one of the bargains in handguns.
 
Beautiful but pricey.

Don't know what's normal price for these but it is in mint condition on display case for $995. Doesn't look like its ever been fired.

But I just purchased a model 624 and a Cheetah so I am done for now. ;)
 
I know I wouldn't change them. I'd rather have another gun.
Having extra barrels and shrouds is a lot like having another gun
I have both 6" and 8" barrels for my 44VH, and have a scope on the 8" shroud, but use iron sights on the 6"

It only takes a couple of minutes to switch
 
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