Dan Wesson Revolvers

[jimmyj]

I have never owned or fired a Dan Wesson Revolver.
Those that have, what is your opinions ?

 

[Hawg Rider]

My only experience with a DW is a 1979 6" Model 22 (.22LR) that I recently purchased from the estate of my friend's Dad. The one I have is basically NIB, but it's only the revolver with barrel tool, original box and sleeve (not the Pistol Pack with extra barrels and stocks). It's a very well made revolver with a relatively smooth action, target sights, and Python-esque vent rib. The target stock fabrication and checkering is a little rough but OK. It operates much differently than a S&W (clockwise cylinder rotation, cylinder release in front of the cylinder, etc.) and probably not quite the quality of a comparable S&W revolver. Members of the DW Forum inform me that my Model 22 was built on the earlier .357 frame, so it's quite heavy for a .22 LR revolver (and with the vent rib it's much heavier than a K-22 or Model 17). There are a couple of DW frame sizes, and quite a few different calibers. I suggest you check out the Dan Wesson Forum...although perhaps not as well attended or as interactive as the S&W Forum, they do have a lot of information available and their members are helpful.

 

[sniper]

Mine was a blued 357, and after adding a grip that would fit my hand better, and a lower power mainspring, it was the most accurate revolver I have owned! I sold it because the rear sight didn't have adjustment clicks, and bought a S&W 586, which I used for a couple of decades, with satisfaction. Nowadays, both are waaay above my pay grade!

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I have a 15-2...super revolver. I have a number of additional barrels for it though have not fired every one. Dan Wesson is one of those guns that depends on when it was made and under whose ownership for quality control. The earlier manufacture the better for the most part.

While Dan Wesson revolvers may not be the most aesthetically pleasing in some details...they may be the most versatile double-action revolvers due to the interchangeable barrel feature and can be tailored to many scenarios as opposed to a different gun for different purposes (not that that a bad thing!)

 

[Crookedcreek]

I have two, a 22 'Pistol Pack' and a 375 Super Mag. Excellent quality revolvers and all tend to be very accurate shooters.

 

[12Magnums]

I own 7 Dan Wesson revolvers. 22 cal thru 445 super mag. I also have a 357 pack.
They all are very accurate.
I have never had any issues with mine. I would say they are as dependable as the 10 Smith and Wessons I have.

 

[DARE]

In the 1980s I worked in my father's gun store. We handled Dan Wesson. Dad was an engineer and really liked the design. We sold hundreds of the guns.
Interchangeable barrels and the ability to set the barrel-cylinder gap. The way the barrel was set up added to the accuracy. The barrel was under tension. The shroud was under compression. More rigid than a one-piece barrel.
The hammer arc was designed to not add movement during hammer fall.
I wrote a magazine article on the .22LR Pistol Pac. 2.5-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch barrels. Very accurate.
Founder Dan Wesson was for many years plant manager at S&W and I think a great-grandson of D. B. Wesson.

 

[stansdds]

I have had two, both were Model 15-2's with the blued finish. I foolishly traded away the first one I had, years later I found another one and it will not be leaving my possession. Both had heavy, stacking double action triggers, but scary crisp single action triggers. Both were very accurate, I'm talking Colt Python accurate. Both of mine were made in Monson, MA and these are considered the most desirable. Those made in Palmer, MA and Norwich, NY are more likely to have quality control issues.

 

[Richard Simmons]

I had a 4", M15-2, Monson manufacture. It was an excellent revolver. Wish I had kept it.

 

[44wheelman]

Very accurate target revolver. Perhaps not aesthetically or cosmetically as refined, but a solid, well engineered gun.

No, you won't get excited about it's double action trigger pull, but it's not what it was designed for.

I like 'em.

 

[Brian Parrish]

Yes!

The DW is thought to be ugly.
I think the thin top strap on a S&W revolver is what makes it so good looking.
But if anybody can stand to own a Glock that is no consideration.

Back in the Steel Silhouette Shooting craze, the Dan Wesson took the prize too, too many times. The Smith shooters were heating up their loads and blowing out the top strap right at the 90* corner under the sight groove which, because of that cut, is even thinner there. The Dans kept running. I had a Model 29 at the time and decided to just leave be. In answer to that, IIRC, Smith beefed up the metallurgy of the top strap, the "29 classic", which helped, I think it was a good solution, but when I asked why not make the top strap thicker, somebody told me, "Then it would be just as ugly as a Dan Wesson!" Well, we can't have that.

My Dan Wesson is a model 15-2HB Pistol Pac.
I have a scope on the 8" BBL.
The 2.5" BBL can shoot those legendary, infamous 125 grain "one-shot manstoppers", those Federal HP's all day long and twice on Sundays
I don't really use the 6 incher except I used it to qualify.
The 4 incher goes in a cartridge belt holster which hangs by the bed, but I never wear it because almost always it is in CCW configuration.

It is extremely accurate!
It is terribly inaccurate also!
What??

You can dial in the sights to a more precise and accurate group than any gun I have ever seen in my life. But if you change barrels, or if you change ammo brands or projectiles, ya gotta do it all over again. It is such a task, that once I have it set, I don't want to change barrels. So now, I have set the sights for the 4" bbl and the 2.5" is close enough y'know? The scope is mounted on the 8" bbl shroud so you can set it for season and leave it. The iron sights are not a factor then. I have no idea where the 6" would even hit right now. My next CCW qual will be with my model 411 40 cal.

The rear sight is supposed to be wobbly. There is nothing wrong with it.

Is that everything?

 

[tlawler]

Very accurate target revolver. Perhaps not aesthetically or cosmetically as refined, but a solid, well engineered gun.

No, you won't get excited about it's double action trigger pull, but it's not what it was designed for.

I like 'em.

Ditto on the DA trigger pull. I picked up a stainless 741 .41 Mag 8" several months ago. It's accurate and fun to shoot in SA, but I thought something might be wrong with it in DA. I guess it's a quirk of the design and meant to be primarily a SA revolver. The quality and workmanship are stellar, and it eats up the hottest magnums I can put through it. I bought a rail to mount a scope on it, but I'll have to drill the top strap, and I just haven't gotten around to it yet. The sights are really good, but with an 8" barrel and better in SA, it's just begging to stretch it's legs a little.

Here it is with my scoped 610.

 

[wcat94]

The 8" Dan Wesson holds it's own with the S&W 27-5 and 27-1 as far as accuracy, function and finish. Someday I will try them all with different loads to see which is the best.

 

[PatriotX]

I've owned several, and the ability to set the B/C gap was very cool.

The triggers were nothing special, but not horrible. The lack of grips that fit me was the reason they all moved on. Back in the day, I would have taken the block of wood in the Pistol Pak and carved my own.

The Model 40 SuperMag is still the loudest pistol I've ever shot indoors. Hurling a 357 with 44 mag energy levels comes with a price…

 

[Model52guy]

Got my first on in 1980's to shoot silhouette . 357 Supermag. Set the Barrel gap at .002. Before that I had a Ruger Blackhawk in 357 max. Ruger recalled them due to top strap erosion. Since the 80's I have 8 pistol pacs in 22LR, 357, 44 mag. The prices for pistol pacs have gone through the roof. $2000 +. The single action trigger pull is better than any S&W I have except a Model 14 SAO I picked up recently. Also have 10", 12" and 15" barrels for the 357.

 

[diyj98]

At one time the resale was terrible on them, but over the last few years they seemed to have gotten hot again. I had a 44 magnum and 357 magnum that were probably the two most accurate handguns in those calibers that I've ever owned. On the other hand, I had on in 22LR that shot poorly and had timing issues. I currently have one of the High Standard (built by Dan Wesson) 357 magnums. I've never gotten around to shooting it, but it seems to be typical Dan Wesson quality.

 

[hardluk1]

I had a DW 6" 44mag that came with a ported and non-ported barrel and it was a top level shooter but after some years of hunting with it I sold it and stayed with my first DW 15-2 bought in '76 . I also picked up a 4" barrel to go with the 8" barrel on it . Only got around to swapping barrels to the 4" about 2.5 years ago . handgun hunting days are behind me now !

I mounted a buehler scope mount to it but never liked a handgun scope so when Ultra Dot Do toptic came along in '90 I bought a 1" tube type 2moa dot off them . Great combo back in the day . Shooting from a bench rest I could place 6 bullets in side a 4" groups at 100 yards , Might could have been better , maybe but my loads were a 170gr sp at 1400fps for deer and a 180gr swc . Mine has a 7lb 4oz da trigger pull that has a very smooth trigger pull threw out and has a 2lb SA break , adjustable over travel too . I tend to run a 3ths cylinder gap for hunting

Small parts can be bought from EWK arms . Less today than some years ago but still a good choice for parts and tools beyond what CZ can offer .

Grips - Wood Grip in different styles can be found from LB Custom Grips . I never was a wood grip guy for hunting and stayed with houge rubber grips . Hunting hogs can mean your grabbing at a tree to get behind and shooting DA one handed after the first shot . Wood grip can get a little hard to control with hot hunting loads .

 

[JKP099]

Best revolverl that I ever owned, wish I had it back!!!

 

[kscharlie]

Bought mine, 15-2 VH, brand new in 1978. Gun shop was going out of business and it cost me $200 out the door. Came with an 8" barrel. Several years later I bought a 4" barrel and that is what I use most. It goes with me at times on a walk about. A few years ago, I put a Hogue grip on it. Works better than the wood grips for me.

 

[hostageamos]

Bought mine, 15-2 VH, brand new in 1978. Gun shop was going out of business and it cost me $200 out the door. Came with an 8" barrel. Several years later I bought a 4" barrel and that is what I use most. It goes with me at times on a walk about. A few years ago, I put a Hogue grip on it. Works better than the wood grips for me.

I bought a 15-2V (not the heavy barrel in the early 1980s, Monson version. I put a Pachmayr Gripper on it. Same as yours, it came with an 8" barrel. I bought a 4" later. I love it.

 

[VictorLouis]

Very accurate target revolver. Perhaps not aesthetically or cosmetically as refined, but a solid, well engineered gun.

No, you won't get excited about it's double action trigger pull, but it's not what it was designed for.

I like 'em.

Kinda like 44's assessment, LOL. The DA pull is both perceptibly shorter, and 'faster'. However, not as easy to stage. One must just pull-through with deliberation, if that makes sense.

My favorite part of these is that they handle recoil better than any other brand, save for maybe the Italian Rhino.

I've had several of the .44s, and shot them aganst Smiths and Rugers in varied barrel lengths. However, I've only kept the small frames for now.

Having the same grip/s (Hogue), of course...a lighter or even shorter Dan is more comfortable and faster back-on-target with the same loads. This is also true on the .357 frames. I don't know why, but it's true.

 

[Demetrix3775]

I have had two, both were Model 15-2's with the blued finish. I foolishly traded away the first one I had, years later I found another one and it will not be leaving my possession. Both had heavy, stacking double action triggers, but scary crisp single action triggers. Both were very accurate, I'm talking Colt Python accurate. Both of mine were made in Monson, MA and these are considered the most desirable. Those made in Palmer, MA and Norwich, NY are more likely to have quality control issues.

I bought my Dan Wesson 357 Magnum Model 15-2 in May 1974.I think that's when they appeared for sale on the USA market, as advertised in the Pistol Shooter,Publication! I presume mine is a Monson,MA too!Crisp trigger for Precision and dualling in the Centre Fire match.Trigger to heavy in double action mode.Would not recommended it in the Service Match, You need to be an Arnold SWAZTARNEGGER..LOL

 

[stansdds]

I bought my Dan Wesson 357 Magnum Model 15-2 in May 1974.I think that's when they appeared for sale on the USA market, as advertised in the Pistol Shooter,Publication! I presume mine is a Monson,MA too!Crisp trigger for Precision and dualling in the Centre Fire match.Trigger to heavy in double action mode.Would not recommended it in the Service Match, You need to be an Arnold SWAZTARNEGGER..LOL

The originals were Monson, MA produced. Can't say that the DA on mine were that heavy, but definitely heavier than that of a S&W K-frame.

 

[bedwards]

I have the 15-2 Pistol Pack bought in the early 80s. Haven't shot it much. I didn't have the money to feed it back then and now I just hate to. I need to get it out and use it.

 

[silicosys4]

I just bought my first DW revolver, a
15-2V6, and initial impressions are good, fit and finish are good, seems well made and robust. DA trigger has some stacking and will take some getting used to after a lifetime of S&W's.

 

[mtgianni]

I have the 15-2 Pistol Pack bought in the early 80s. Haven't shot it much. I didn't have the money to feed it back then and now I just hate to. I need to get it out and use it.
View attachment 774429View attachment 774430

That is $2500 minimum as it sits, possibly $3500. I would be cautious about running a ton of rounds through it just because you can. They made K frames for that. Check gunbroker sales if you want to verify.

 

[bedwards]

Thanks for that post mtgianni. I wouldn't have thought that.

 

[Riposte1]

I have never owned or fired a Dan Wesson Revolver.
Those that have, what is your opinions ?

I owned a Pistol Pack back in the 70s - had 4 barrels. It was accurate but had a lousy DA trigger - polishng it ate through the hard surface of the sintered metal hammer and trigger and it had to be kept lubed (I'll put that down as my fault).

I traded it off for something, and later bought another DW with 2 barrels in order to get the 4X Leupold M8 that was on it - this gun had been laid on a wet carpet and was rusty on one side. I cleaned it up and put a 2X Leupold on it as I had a project for the 4X - it shoots great but it isn't much for looks.

I've killed several deer with it but had to track all but one.

Riposte

 

[Riposte1]

That is $2500 minimum as it sits, possibly $3500. I would be cautious about running a ton of rounds through it just because you can. They made K frames for that. Check gunbroker sales if you want to verify.

Oh wow! I haven't kept up - I recall paying $495 for my 4 barrel Pistol Pack (wholesale) back in the 70s - likely should have kept it

Riposte