Go ahead and laugh. At least it was cheap.

[jtcarm]

No laughter here.

I'd risk $150 on a DW. They're wicked-accurate. That will make a good silhouette/hunting revolver.

Once everything's functional, you'll need to find a barrel wrench & get some feeler gauges so you can set the B/C gap.

 

[jtcarm]

The front sight on the Dan Wesson is easily changed. There is a little setscrew above the muzzle that holds it in place. You can get replacement sights, tools, parts and possibly barrel assemblies from EWK Arms, here: EWK Arms

Grips are also easily changed but you'll have to find some on eBay or Gunbroker - I don't know of anyone who currently makes new ones. Make sure the grips are for the .357/.22 frame size, the .44 frame size is or course larger. Looks like there are also barrel assemblies, tools and parts on eBay.

Isn't CZ making the DWs again?

 

[sigp220.45]

Isn't CZ making the DWs again?

Yeah, they are. It looks like they only make one revolver, at a whopping $1500 retail. I'm not sure any of the new stuff will interchange with the old ones.

Dan Wesson 715 Revolver - Dan Wesson

 

[Bosquebass]

For a buck fifty, why not? I've seen a lot more money paid for a lot less gun.

 

[sigp220.45]

Today's plan was to try it at the range, then take it to the Colorado School of Trades for its action issues. The school is like barber college, but for guns. The gunsmith students work on guns under the watchful eyes of the instructors - I've never used them but I hear good things.

Turns out the range is closed for two days for lead mining. Then I figured I should at least pop the sideplate and take a look.

I had to buy an Allen wrench set at Wally World, because mine apparently ran away from home. The grip-thing came off, and then the sideplate. It was actually pretty clean in there and the single action function magically returned. I put the sideplate back on and everything still worked. I put the hideous gripthing on and when it was fully cranked down (via an Allen screw in the bottom) it went back to DAO. Half a crank back and all was good again.

So, now it functions. I still don't know if it actually shoots, but it should.

I bid on some DW grips on eBay. If I don't win, Hogue still makes grips for this thing.

Things are looking up.

 

[murphydog]

Anyone who laughs at a functioning 8" .357 has a screw loose, and not necessarily one that needs an Allen wrench .

Looking forward to the range report.

 

[C J]

Anyone who laughs at a functioning 8" .357 has a screw loose

The grips were what made me laugh. Other than that it could be a very good gun for a very good price. But the grips look like they were made for some other species.

 

[jtcarm]

Yeah, they are. It looks like they only make one revolver, at a whopping $1500 retail. I'm not sure any of the new stuff will interchange with the old ones.

Dan Wesson 715 Revolver - Dan Wesson

That seems pointless, there's plenty of .357 DAs out there, and I doubt that price point would attract many buyers.

What they should really do is bring back the Super Mags.

 

[Ingramite]

I've already got $150 worth of grins out of it and the trigger ain't been pulled yet.

 

[laytonj1]

I'm surprised no one has commented on the obviously altered serial number.

Jim

 

[sigp220.45]

I'm surprised no one has commented on the obviously altered serial number.

Jim

Why? It has a serial number. I got it from a police supply place, who got it from a police department. The serial number is on my receipt. If I thought it was a problem, I wouldn't have bought it and plastered it on the internet. Looks legit to me.

Here it is with it's new Hogues. I usually don't like Hogues, but they are waaaaaay better than the Planet Of The Apes grips it came with.

I finally had a chance to shoot it - no surprises there. All I had were .38s, and they barely moved that long barrel. At the 50' max distance on the indoor range it put all the rounds in a single ragged hole from a rest.

 

[RichCapeCod]

No laughter here.

..... They're wicked-accurate. That will make a good silhouette/hunting revolver.

Once everything's functional, you'll need to find a barrel wrench & get some feeler gauges so you can set the B/C gap.

I concur. Until you put the gun on paper (from a secure rest) you won't know what you have.

With quality ammo, I would not be surprised if you find you have a tack-driver.

Rich

Edited: OK, an ugly tack driver... :-/

 

[laytonj1]

Maybe they did not know what a legit serial number on an older dan wesson should look like. Who knows??? It may not be any issue at all.

Jim

 

[sigp220.45]

Thanks, but I'm not concerned in the least about it.

 

[C J]

Sounds like you have a nice shooter. The new grips make it look like a gun for our species. I wonder if there's a web site for selling stuff to aliens? ou might actually be able to sell those weird grips.

 

[LoadedRound]

Why? It has a serial number. I got it from a police supply place, who got it from a police department. The serial number is on my receipt. If I thought it was a problem, I wouldn't have bought it and plastered it on the internet. Looks legit to me.

Here it is with it's new Hogues. I usually don't like Hogues, but they are waaaaaay better than the Planet Of The Apes grips it came with.

I finally had a chance to shoot it - no surprises there. All I had were .38s, and they barely moved that long barrel. At the 50' max distance on the indoor range it put all the rounds in a single ragged hole from a rest.

If you fully tighten the Hogue grip screw, does it still go DOA or did the fix it?

 

[sigp220.45]

If you fully tighten the Hogue grip screw, does it still go DOA or did the fix it?

I cranked them on tight and everything still works.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I confess I am a DW lover.I own a 6''44 Mag that shoots like nothing I've seen before and carries a blue that turns my Gold Cup green of envy!
My .357 carries a 6'' and a 8'' bbl.It too shoots great.I think that not only you hit an extremely good deal but you will be the last one to laugh.Just try it at longer range and watch the tiny groups.
If I were the lucky guy who'd have bought it,I would
A)buy new grips(you done that)
B)buy the tool that screws/unscrews the barrel+the feeler gauge to adjust the cylinder/barrel gap.
C)if you want a shorter barrel,you can buy it from CZ.But for hunting and plinking,the 8'' is a blast.
BTW,for those who suggested shortening the bbl,you can't do that on a DW.It is screwed on both ends which is the reason they are so accurate.

 

[mtgianni]

I also have a Pork Chop model 15. It is accurate especially when the barrel is set up with a minimum gap. You are probably aware that the 15-2 shrouds will not fit that model. Parts are harder to find but out there.

 

[MOONDAWG]

You got a great deal. I've never met a Dan Wesson revolver that could win a beauty contest. By the same token, I've never seen or handled one that wasn't a tack driver due to it's barrel set up.

I paid a $100 for a S&W M-36 that looked link a rusted, barnacled boat anchor a couple of years ago. The out side finish was a deeply pitted orange rusted disaster...but miraculously the bore and cylinder's chambers were pristine. After a week soaking in WD-40 and the copious applications of a stainless steel brush on a Demerel tool looking at the exterior would no longer make you wretch when viewing it.

The upside was it shoots 1 1/2" 15 yard groups all day long with hard cast 158 gr. SWC's.

Congrats again on your new acquisition!