DAN WESSON PM9 OR RANGE OFFICER? ACCURACY? QUALITY?

[marathonrunner]

Hey Guys, I have received so many great feedback from this site. There are a lot of knowledgeable folks here. I am not interested in the listed guns above, but have a friend who is trying to decide which one is better in terms of accuracy and quality. I know this is a Smith and Wesson Forum but I think if I go to Springfield's forum I won't get an objective answer and if I go to Dan Wesson I won't get a fair answer. Me personally if it was a choice between the two, I think the Range Officer uses MIM parts, and their stuff is made overseas. I have heard that in bullseye shooting the Range Officer is the most widely used. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[bad2006z71]

I don't have the PM9, or the RO in 9mm, I do however have the RO in 45 and the Valor in 45.

My RO has been a superb gun. It is accurate and hasn't had 1 hiccup. SA is a great company.

That said, my Valor is light years ahead of the RO in terms of fit, finish, and quality. There is a reason why it is nearly double the cost of the RO.

The mim debate is far overblown and SA uses very good parts, and if one does happen to break, send it in under the lifetime warranty. Also SA no longer sources their frames or slides from Imbel (not that that was ever an issue, Imbel made dang good frames and slides.)

The RO is a lot of gun for the cost (currently $683 at buds for a 45, I realize you are asking about the 9).

I would say your buddy couldn't go wrong with either pistol, or company.

Edit, I must correct myself. The Valor has had an occasional failure to chamber a round using Chip McKormick power plus 10 rd mags, never an issue with the factory mags from both or Wilson 47d's.

 

[marathonrunner]

thanks

I don't have the PM9, or the RO in 9mm, I do however have the RO in 45 and the Valor in 45.

My RO has been a superb gun. It is accurate and hasn't had 1 hiccup. SA is a great company.

That said, my Valor is light years ahead of the RO in terms of fit, finish, and quality. There is a reason why it is nearly double the cost of the RO.

The mim debate is far overblown and SA uses very good parts, and if one does happen to break, send it in under the lifetime warranty. Also SA no longer sources their frames or slides from Imbel (not that that was ever an issue, Imbel made dang good frames and slides.)

The RO is a lot of gun for the cost (currently $683 at buds for a 45, I realize you are asking about the 9).

I would say your buddy couldn't go wrong with either pistol, or company.

Edit, I must correct myself. The Valor has had an occasional failure to chamber a round using Chip McKormick power plus 10 rd mags, never an issue with the factory mags from both or Wilson 47d's.

I mentioned MIM because I know their M1A's are not the best quality when compared to Fulton. Lots of threads on M1A uses too much MIM parts that break. i.e. cast investment receiver is not exact so scope mounts tend to be difficult where USGI is no problem.

I am happy with my Glock 34. BTW I just bought an M&P Compact 9mm and love that. If the RO is a good gun, I may consider that down the road as the Dan Wesson is so expensive

 

[Ofc.JL]

Dan Wesson! Superb quality firearms. And just about EVERYBODY uses some MIM anymore. In most applications, MIM is fine. The firearms industry has learned how to make very high quality MIM parts now. Some manufactures even make MIM barrels. Heck, Ruger for years cast the barrels for it's pistols. That is what Ruger is very good at, investment casting. MIM is a casting process of a different order. Both work very well, if done correctly. Done poorly, and yep, stuff breaks. But done right, it works very well.

 

[GKC]

I've never owned a Dan Wesson, primarily because of the cost. Most who do say they are good guns. I have owned a Range Officer, and the one I owned was marked as made in America (I can't quote the rules on what percentage manufacture/assembly has to occur here to count...but mine had the "NM" serial number prefix, which indicates American made, and there was no "Made in Brazil" roll mark.) The only thing I didn't like about the RO was the sights...and this is on me, because I didn't do the research I usually do before buying.

I liked the RO, and it was set up exactly as I like a 1911, except for the black, adjustable sights. I assumed I could just have them changed to fixed night sights...wrong. Well, I did, but the RO has a non-standard cut, and the options for sights were limited and expensive. I ended up sending the slide to SA, and they installed a set of fixed night sights for me. It was, as I said, rather expensive.

Otherwise, the RO is a great gun...I can't compare it to a Dan Wesson, but the RO and Springfield (the company) are hard to beat, IMO.

 

[Grayfox]

I can't speak of the Dan Wesson, but I do own a Range Officer and its an outstanding pistol. In fact, I own several Springfield 1911s and they're all excellent pistols.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have heard good things about the RO. But I would go Dan Wesson if I had the money. Not sure but I don't think there are any MIM parts on the DW. Some of the parts are made by Ed Brown. As mentioned above the fit and finish is superb. Better than any other production gun IMO.

Still kicking myself for selling the one I had. Excellent gun.