New DW 357 SM Owner.....Questions...

[match]

Hey gang, just purchased a very nice 357 Super Mag at a local auction and have a few questions.
When I test fired the gun, every now and then, the pawl will not advance the cylinder.  It appears that
the pawl is slipping over the tooth at the rear of the cylinder.  Is this a common problem ? Anything in
particular to look for ?  Next thing I'd like to know is, are barrels and barrel shrouds available for this gun ?
What were the barrel length options for the 357 Super Mag?  Is CZ the best place to get a barrel nut tool ?
And finally who offers replacement grips for the SM frame ? Thanks for any info.   BTW.......I'll probably have
lots more questions........

[RollTide]

1. No it is not a common problem.  Take it to a gunsmith.
2. Yes, look for a good gunsmith.
3. Yes, barrels and shrouds are available from the factory or on auction sites.
4. Barrel lengths for the SM are 4", 6" ,8", and 10"
5. Yes, CZ has the tool.
6.  The factory and Hogue offer replacement grips.  They are often seen on the auction sites.  There are only 2 sizes in DW grips and they are distinguished by the shape of the grip tang.  Square tang is small frame (357 on down). Round tang is large frame (41mag on up).

Congratulations on the purchase of a fine firearm, albeit in need of a little TLC right now.

Roll Tide

PS  Grant Cunningham is the best DW smith I know of. 

http://www.grantcunningham.com/

[match]

Thanks for the info.  i have repaired the cylinder advancement problem by removing some casting flash that was in the hole that the pawl / hand goes through to move the cylinder.  It was not allowing the pawl to move all the way forward to completely engage the teeth at the rear of the cylinder.  One thing that I am confused about, is frame size.  On some auction ads for grips, they state that the grips fit large frame (including the 357 SM/Max).  Is this correct ? Are the 357 Mag and 357 Max different frame sizes (grip size) ?
Also, are replacement front sight blades available from CZ ?  Are the 357 Mag and 357 Max barrels / shrouds different sizes or are they interchangeable ?  Sorry for all the questions.    Thanks again for any info. 

[DWTim]

Exellent work!

I believe there are two grip frame types. I remember them as square and round. My Supermags are [correction: round], and my small frame is [correction: square]. Just tell them you've got a DW Mod. 40. They should be able to look it up on a chart.

And yes, the .357 Mags were in models 11,12,14, and 15... All small frame DWs. There are lots of other differences between the small frames and the large/supermag frames. In this particular case, I can tell you that the shroud for my M40V is much too large to fit a small frame M14/15.

You should e-mail Genny at DW. I believe you can get just about any part made from the M14 onward, with the exception of the 375 Supermag barrels. (Yes 375, not 357.)

You may find these helpful:

DW Accessories

607-336-1174 or genny@cz-usa.com


p.s. Do you have a .002 gauge for your gun?

[RollTide]

Match,
DWTim accidently told you wrong.  The SMALL frames have a SQUARE grip tang.  The LARGE and all SUPERMAG frames have a  ROUND grip tang.  Like Tim said, if you order from the factory, just tell the the model and they will send you the right grip. 

The LARGE frame and the SUPERMAG frame are IDENTICAL except for the extended cylinder window on the SUPERMAG frame, so any grip that will fit a 41mag, 44mag, or other LARGE frame will also fit your 357 SUPERMAG or any other SUPERMAG frame.

The 357 magnum is a DW SMALL frame.

The 357 supermag is a DW SUPERMAG frame.

The only thing similar between a DW 357 magnum and a DW 357 supermag is the bore diameter.

NO PARTS WILL INTERCHANGE BETWEEN THE SMALL FRAME (357mag) AND THE LARGE-SUPERMAG FRAME (357sm) EXCEPT THE FRONT SIGHT BLADES, WHICH ARE STANDARD ON ALL DW GUNS.

I hope that helps clear things up a bit.  You and your questions are always welcome here.  That is precisely what this forum is for.

Roll Tide

PS Thanks for sharing how you cleared up the mechanism problem.

[DWTim]

Eek!!

Sorry about that, guys.

I added corrections to my previous post.

[match]

Thanks guys !  I have a set of feeler gauges, and set the barrel / cylinder gap at .002.  I don't have a proper barrel nut wrench yet,
so I used a set of needle nose pliers to remove / re-install the barrel nut (thank goodness it wasn't very tight).   So the gun I have is a model 40 ? Were Dan Wessons never marked with the model number?  And lastly, my ser # is  357M B0011XX, any ideas as to date of mfg.?  Oh, and while I was working on the gun, I noticed that I could unlock the cylinder from the frame by pushing on it with both hands from the opposite side.  Surely, this can't be right ?  The cylinder crane seems to be straight.      Thanks agagin !!

[DWTim]

It has been my experience that those which are marked "357 Maximum Ctg" are Model 40s. (I don't know what they called the ones in 360 Supermag). Your serial number is lower than mine, and mine came in a box indicating it was a 40V-8. My gun's serial number is 14xx, and its rust wrap paper says it was made in May, 1989.

No, you shouldn't be able to pop the cylinder out. Make sure that the latch isn't grimy and getting hung up on something. I'd blast it with some gun solvent and oil it. You might even want to look for some cast flashing in the way.

[Cowboybart]

The "B" in the serial # stands for Blued.  With a low 4 digit # like that eventually there will be some increased collector value.   My 445 is about 100 lower than yours but w/ an "S" prefix.  I recently found a blued 3 digit 44 mag and brought it home.

[blhof]

I have a 40 that had the crane latch problem, polished the latch pocket with a fine diamond bit just until I got solid lockup.  Check Ebay for parts & acc's..  Mine came with no papers or wrench; have since got 6, 8, and 10" barrels and shrouds through Ebay as well as 3 of the older plastic wrenches.  I bought one of the doorknobs from DW, but prefer the old T type for better tightening of the barrel, and less parts to lose..  If you reload; which is the only way to feed the beast max rounds affordably, unfired cases come up on auction sites regulary.  I've got over 2000 unfired brass in nickel and brass for much less than I paid for 30-30 brass once fired.  Good luck, Mine was unfired when I found it at a pawn shop for a steal; as the honest dealer had to tell me they don't make the bullets any more and he had had the gun for 3 years.  I did tell him it would fire 38's and 357mags; after I picked it up.