Dan Wesson Range Day

[jimmyj]

At the range today I had the opportunity to fire a Dan Wesson Model 15 6" .357 Revolver.
Never have had a Dan Wesson in my hand and it was an adventure.
Fumbled opening the cylinder as the cylinder lock is by the crane (?).
Firing .357 JSP and JHP was no issued as the Revolver is HEAVY !
The short DA took some getting use to as was the awesome short SA.
Fired at 3, 7, 15, and 25 yards on a B-29 target.
Accuracy was unbelievable. At 3, 7, and 15 yards the bullet holes were touching. At 25 yards the group was 3".
Now this was standing two hand hold.
This was quite a day for an over the hill handicap has been.
The Revolver grip was large and hand filling which was a help.

 

[Model52guy]

My first collection back in the 80’s were Dan Wessons. I still have about 10 of them. Shot a lot of Silhouette with the 357 Max in the early 80’s. They still have the best factory SA trigger. Great guns.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I have a 15-2 along with extra barrels…it’s an excellent revolver and possibly the most versatile revolver ever made. Quality depended on when it was made and under whose corporate ownership. It’s generally considered the original Monson made guns are the best.

The forward mounted cylinder release…while certainly unconventional…acts as the forward cylinder lock thus doing double-duty reducing the number of required parts.

 

[dsf]

The thread deserves a photo I suppose -



The internal geometry which causes a stout DA pull also makes the SA drop very quick and a nice trigger pull.

 

[S-W4EVER]

Only DW I ever touched belonged to a buddy in college. Surprisingly accurate, beautiful revolver.

 

[hardluk1]

I had 4 DW revolvers over the years going back to '76 with my first one 15-2 357mag. I have sold e of the 4 and finally changed barrels and shrouds from an 8" to a 4" and removed the buehler scope base and rings . Getting old and walk and stalk hunting days are behind be at this point .
With a 2moa ultra dot I use to be able to place 6 rounds of 170gr sp hot loads in a 4" group at 100 yards fired from a bench using an adjustable rest .

 

[stansdds]

Back in the days of DW's being new and produced in Monson, MA, they were sometimes called "poor man's Python" due to their appearance with the full underlug barrel and vent rib, deeply blued finish, and incredible accuracy at a fraction of the price of a Colt Python. The cylinder release on the crane does take some practice, but once you get your technique perfected, it is just as fast as releasing the cylinder on a Colt or S&W.

 

[wbraswell]

I've had Dan Wesson revolvers over 45 years. Somebody at DW knew how to blue a gun. Love the interchangable barrels. My only complaint would be a larger ejector rod.

 

[Hawg Rider]

At the range today I had the opportunity to fire a Dan Wesson Model 15 6" .357 Revolver.
Never have had a Dan Wesson in my hand and it was an adventure.
Fumbled opening the cylinder as the cylinder lock is by the crane (?).
Firing .357 JSP and JHP was no issued as the Revolver is HEAVY !
The short DA took some getting use to as was the awesome short SA.
Fired at 3, 7, 15, and 25 yards on a B-29 target.
Accuracy was unbelievable. At 3, 7, and 15 yards the bullet holes were touching. At 25 yards the group was 3".
Now this was standing two hand hold.
This was quite a day for an over the hill handicap has been.
The Revolver grip was large and hand filling which was a help.

Glad to hear that you were happy with the DW. I've heard that all of their models were very accurate and easy to shoot. I recently picked up my first DW, a 6" Model 22 (.22 LR)...and you're right, it's a heavy revolver! I wish it was the Pistol Pack (with extra barrels and stocks), but I'm OK with it just as it is. It does resemble a Python, but obviously the action is not as smooth.

 

[hardluk1]

Maybe your 22 does not have the rounds fire to smooth it up . Hard to find a 22lr that has a low 2lb sa trigger pull or a mid upper 7lb da pull DA pull ether . Clean your trigger group well and add a little full synthetic 0w-20 oil . Many oil change shops specialty oils or still by the quart . Ask to pick thru the garbage cab for a ole container or too . Drain over night into a needle bottle .

DW small parts - EWKarms . Ask if your don't see what you want for the future needs ! He might have it . Good guy to deal with . He used to make a number of barrels for heavy bullet twist too and shrouds in different lengths too . But over the years he has moved on to other handgun brand and model parts .

 

[Model52guy]

Need some pictures?

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

My 15-2...

 

[colt_saa]

When using the 8" Model 40/740 357 SUPERMAG for Metallic Silhouette you had to use the shroud with the slots in it to get the weight down below the IMSSU limit

These things were just wickedly accurate. They made us all look like better shooters. Most shooters use these revolvers to fire 357 maximum just because it was much easier to find ammunition and brass than for the 357 SUPERMAG

Of the several that I own I think that the 8" blued Model 40 is probably the best looking. With the VH (vent rib heavy) barrel even the stoutest loads are pussycats

The Dan Wesson design even let me channel my inner Maxwell Smart

Of course we all know this wouldn't work because of the barrel/cylinder gap. But I had to do it anyway

But I must say that my favorite Dan Wesson revolvers are the ones that are chambered for 41 Magnum. I shoot my stainless Model 741 the most

One day down the road I will add a 414 SUPERMAG to the family but not right now. Though I already have acquired a large supply of brass

 

[maxfam]

The only Dan Wesson revolvers I currently own. I need to take them out and play with them at the range.

 

[BC38]

My 15-2...

Several years ago I passed on one just like that. The price was $750 IIRC. Wish I had bought it.

 

[rck281]

Back in the day, I had a Model 15 Piatol Pac similar to the one shown. I then purchased an extra 6 in. shroud and mounted a Hutson Handgunner pistol scout on the extra shroud. The Hutson Handgunner pistol scope was made in 1X and 1.7X versions and was TINY - maybe 5 in. long. Look it up.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Several years ago I passed on one just like that. The price was $750 IIRC. Wish I had bought it.

Today…some barrels will cost more than that.

 

[BC38]

Today…some barrels will cost more than that.

Yeah, that's why I regret passing on buying it.
What is the complete set worth these days?
$3k? $4K? Maybe more?
Hindsight is always 20/20...

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I’ve no real idea of its value…haven’t followed values of the Dan Wesson line for some time. The revolver is in great shape…several of the barrels are still unfired. I have another even longer barrel NIB that won’t fit in the case.

The DW is one of my favorite revolvers. I’m not saying I would never sell it…after all…everything is for sale…it just depends on the price. I’m just not looking to let it go…it’s simply as versatile handgun as one can find.

 

[BC38]

FWIW, a quick search of completed auctions on GB for the DW .357 Pistol Pack with all 5 barrels only brought up one recent sale - for $2,525
That would have been a pretty good return on investment if I had been willing to shell out the $750 a few years ago.