Inspector Callahan
New member
The following is a range report for my new 6" and 8" Dan Wesson model 44. Great gun. Just a few minor problems...
-------------
Since I already had the 8" barrel installed and adjusted, I started out my session with it using some of my (rather crude) handloads. These heavy loads were worked up when I first started handloading on my first press, a Lee Hand Press. I seated the primers with an RCBS hand primer, thus causing my first problem of the day. The firing pin on my old Blackhawk must have had deeper penetration for I had never experienced a failure to fire with it. Some of the primers were seated too deep for the Wesson causing three failures. My mistake. The weapon shoots factory ammo, and most of my other handloads with no problem.
Recoil was insane. I've never been recoil sensative, but today I had to really concentrate on trigger control. This wheelgun bucks like a mule. The full-lug shroud helped some, as did the Houge Monogrip. But overall, recoil was brutal. I even skipped a few charge holes just to see if I was flinching..... I was.
When I changed over to the six inch tube, things got REALLY hot. Weak hand only drills are totally out of the question with this barrel in place. Strong hand only drills are only marginally better. I guess I got spoiled on 45ACP recoil or something. This big sixgun beat me up this morning.
Loads used were my handloads (240 grain hardcast SWC powered by 20.6 grains of 2400, lit off with a standard Winchester Large pistol primer) a max load according to Alliant's 1998 freebie booklet, as I recall. Also used were factory PMC 44 spl JHPs, a true pleasure to shoot and very accurate. Used some factory PMC 44 Mag JHPs and some factory yellow-box Remington 180 grain soft points. Those 180s sure to flash/blast! Even in the bright sunlight, there was a massive fireball.
Accuracy was ho-hum. Not impressive with either barrel. This was obviously due to my lack of trigger control. Hopefully this will improve. I was getting 4" groups at 25 yards. Not good at all, considering this is a LONG range gun. I will work on trigger discipline.
One problem with the gun.... When returning from a DA shot, the trigger hangs about halfway to the reset point. Just a tap on it will free it up and it will come forward. Very annoying! Anybody know how to take the trigger group out? I think some Tetra Grease will cure it, but I don't want to screw anything up trying to take it apart without knowing the procedure.
Here's a pic. Items included in the photo are: The DW with the six incher installed, the eight inch tube/shroud above, a Buck 105 Pathfinder knife, the barrel wrench, and three factory 240gr JSPs.
-------------
Since I already had the 8" barrel installed and adjusted, I started out my session with it using some of my (rather crude) handloads. These heavy loads were worked up when I first started handloading on my first press, a Lee Hand Press. I seated the primers with an RCBS hand primer, thus causing my first problem of the day. The firing pin on my old Blackhawk must have had deeper penetration for I had never experienced a failure to fire with it. Some of the primers were seated too deep for the Wesson causing three failures. My mistake. The weapon shoots factory ammo, and most of my other handloads with no problem.
Recoil was insane. I've never been recoil sensative, but today I had to really concentrate on trigger control. This wheelgun bucks like a mule. The full-lug shroud helped some, as did the Houge Monogrip. But overall, recoil was brutal. I even skipped a few charge holes just to see if I was flinching..... I was.
When I changed over to the six inch tube, things got REALLY hot. Weak hand only drills are totally out of the question with this barrel in place. Strong hand only drills are only marginally better. I guess I got spoiled on 45ACP recoil or something. This big sixgun beat me up this morning.
Loads used were my handloads (240 grain hardcast SWC powered by 20.6 grains of 2400, lit off with a standard Winchester Large pistol primer) a max load according to Alliant's 1998 freebie booklet, as I recall. Also used were factory PMC 44 spl JHPs, a true pleasure to shoot and very accurate. Used some factory PMC 44 Mag JHPs and some factory yellow-box Remington 180 grain soft points. Those 180s sure to flash/blast! Even in the bright sunlight, there was a massive fireball.
Accuracy was ho-hum. Not impressive with either barrel. This was obviously due to my lack of trigger control. Hopefully this will improve. I was getting 4" groups at 25 yards. Not good at all, considering this is a LONG range gun. I will work on trigger discipline.
One problem with the gun.... When returning from a DA shot, the trigger hangs about halfway to the reset point. Just a tap on it will free it up and it will come forward. Very annoying! Anybody know how to take the trigger group out? I think some Tetra Grease will cure it, but I don't want to screw anything up trying to take it apart without knowing the procedure.
Here's a pic. Items included in the photo are: The DW with the six incher installed, the eight inch tube/shroud above, a Buck 105 Pathfinder knife, the barrel wrench, and three factory 240gr JSPs.
