Author Topic: NO Colts, Smith & Wessons, Blackhawks, or Taurus ALLOWED (Read 1531 times)

RollTide · « **on:** June 26, 2003, 03:54:01 AM »

I posted this in the Dan Wesson forum a while back, but I thought it may be of general interest as well. The other makers make fine guns, but for the ultimate in strength and durability, there are only 2 names at the top of the list, Ruger Redhawks and Dan Wesson (Freedom Arms is in the same strength range, but their cylinders are not long enough for Garretts biggest load.)

For those who like to carry big bore side arms along with their rifles (or instead of), the legendary strength of Dan Wesson revolvers has gotten an endorsement from one of the best premium ammo makers. Randy Garrett now endorses using Dan Wesson revolvers with his heaviest +P 44MAG ammo along with the Ruger Redhawks and Super Redhawks.

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/q&a.asp

Most Dan Wesson owners already knew the incredible strength and durability of these revolvers, but it is nice to see someone with Randy Garrett's credentials recommending them for use with his superlative ammo.

willis5 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 26, 2003, 10:00:39 AM »

ooohhhh it is so pretty!!!!!!

:roll:

That is all I can say about dan wesson revolvers having never owned one, but you sound like you are advertising. Is that an advertisement or a support through experience? please enlighten us. :grin:

RollTide · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2003, 11:34:06 AM »

Willis5,
I have owned and shot pistols and revovlers (as well as shotguns and rifles) for over 25 years now. Not as much as some of you and more than others. I have owned, shot and hunted with Dan Wesson revolvers since one of my friends in college bought one and brought it over for me to see during the early 1980's. At present I own 4, two in 357, one 44, and one 445 Super Mag. When the first son got married and needed a gun for home protection, I bought him and his wife a Dan Wesson 357. That is about as high an endorsement I could give any gun. Dan Wessons are hands down the most accurate revolvers I have ever seen and much stronger than most others out there. IHMSA records will attest to both their strength and accuracy. I think they are possibly the most underrated and little known values on the gun market today. I have owned and still own all types of handguns by other makers, but I have never owned or fired any handgun of any type that would match the Dan Wesson for accuracy except the TC Contender. I certainly would not be opposed to Dan Wesson giving me a share of any increased revenue my endorsement might bring in. There are only 2 problems (or at least 2):

1. I don't know anyone way up there in NY. (If YOU know anyone up there, tell them I am a real nice guy, I like their guns a lot, I would settle for some extra barrels for my guns if they would like to give some away.)

2. Even if I did know someone up there, I doubt my endorsement will bring enough additional sales to justify Dan Wesson buying me a cup of coffee in return.

Nope, no advertisement! I am just trying to educate people as to what a great deal these guns are from my own experience.

Roll Tide

475/480 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2003, 12:45:33 PM »

I am waiting for them to come out with a 475 SuperMag :eek: And hopefully they will.

RollTide · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2003, 05:16:29 PM »

475/480
They should do the 475, they already let S&W beat them to the 500 Super Mag. It has the same cartidge length as the Super Mag series. This is not by coincidence though. S&W collaborated with Dan Wesson during the design of the new revolver and incorporated several Dan Wesson features in their new beast. I think that kind of cooperation will be good for both companies in the future and we customers will be the beneficiaries.

I am all for the 475 Super Mag.

If wishin' would only make it so ........

Roll Tide

markc · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2003, 03:00:02 AM »

that DW makes fine revolvers. Out of the guns I have swapped over the years and haved to regret it, the DW .357 is one I wish I had back. As fine a revolver as any I've handled or shot. Maybe I will get my hands on another one in a larger caliber some day.
markc

kciH · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2003, 08:53:04 PM »

Let me start out by stating that I love S&W revolvers, although I have only a few examples, all large bore and a 617.

I have 2 DW's and I will state that they are the BEST double action revolvers that anyone can purchase off the rack. I am NOT speaking of these revolvers in the self defense arena, I'm talking accuracy and durability. I'll relegate the best single action revolver to Freedom Arms, likewise, off the rack. I used to shoot silhouettes, and I'll be Gdarned if anyone can show me a revolver that will outperform a DW in any aspect, unless it is price, which means little. You can buy about 1.5 Ruger double actions for the going price of a DW, but you will NEVER match the performance of the DW. The S&W 500 Mag is a .500 Supermag, designed and tested by DW long before S&W started making it's current line of "compromised" revolvers, not to mention the fact that the .500 uses DW technology to hold the revolver together. I've seen, not heard about, groups shot by .357 and .375 Supermag revolvers that where about 4" at 200yds. I'm not saying average shooters did this with factory ammunition, but I challenge anyone to produce a factory revolver capable of this accuracy level, at any cost. Lets not forget these groups where under 5" at 200yds with factory iron sights.

I've pounded the heck out of my first revolver, a .357 DW, and it still will outshoot any S&W or Ruger DA I've ever seen. This is a revovler made during the years of "questionable" quality control. I like most revolvers of decent quality, but I've never seen a revolver that can compare to the accuracy of a DW. You'll spend $1000+ to make a Ruger, or S&W, shoot as well as most DW's do right out of the box with a factory trigger job. I guess the realtivley high price seems more reasonable when that is taken into account.

RollTide · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2003, 02:13:13 AM »

As for the price, you can pick up some good deals on the guns at gunbroker.com and auctionarms.com. You can by brand new never fired guns there for $100 to $200 off Dan Wessons retail price. I picked up a used, very low serial number, stainless 445 Super Mag with one 6" barrel and one 8" ventilated with B-Square scope mount and variable power scope all in a bombproof aluminum case for $630 at auction arms. I have also bought 44 mags with 2 barrels (one of which was a compensated barrel) for $390. The barrel assemblies go on ebay between $50 and $100 depending on caliber, length, and condition. Pawn shops are also good places to shop for Dan Wesson. I have bought 44's for as low as $250.

Roll Tide

WildBill · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2003, 09:11:03 AM »

I agree the DW is a very nice gun ,but don't dump on Taurus ,my 454 Raging Bull shoots 1.5 groups @ 50 yards over bags very consistantly. I am not the greastest pistol shot in the world either. As for 4 inch groups at 200 yards that is something this counrty bumpkin would have to see to believe! :eek:

Zachary · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2003, 09:22:37 AM »

I too have never shot a DW pistol either, and as such can neither praise, nor condem, these pistols.

However, I also have 3 Taurus RBs and I can't imagine other handguns being much accurate. My 454s and 480 shoot 1" groups at 50 yards. The DWs may be stronger, from what I read, but who really needs much more power than the 454s? To me, accuracy is just as important. That's not to say that the DWs are not accurate - I don't know.

For those of you who shoot DWs, how accurate are they in 454 and 480 (if they are made in these cartridges?)

Zachary

kciH · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2003, 11:27:23 AM »

WildBill & Zachary,
Not intending to dump on the Raging Bulls. I've fired a .480 several times and was very impressed with the quality and accuracy. I've not had the chance to wring one out on a longer outdoor range, my work was limited to 25yds on an indoor range. I believe the point of the post in general, is that the DW's on the average, are more accurate than any other line of production revolvers, not just specific examples of one manufacturer. DW doesn't make revovlers in the .454 or .480 at this time. They have the .445 Supermag and the .500S&W (read that .500 Supermag) was initially developed in the DW revovlers long ago, but DW is not chambering the .500 S&W as of right now. I would imagine we might see it in the near future, but I suspect it will be a 5 shooter.

RollTide · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2003, 03:15:59 PM »

I like Taurus guns. I have only owned a 4" 357, but it was a dandy. I could regulary out shoot my really competitive bother in law at the indoor range with his gp100 Ruger. There is nothing wrong with 1" at 50 yards. That is about as good as I get from most of my Dan Wessons (but I am not the best pistol shot in the world either.) I think that the one thing that sets Dan Wessons apart is not only that they are fantastically accurate, but they are able to maintain that accuracy over extremely long periods of time using very heavy loads without smith work due to the strength of the action. Another great thing is that if a forcing cone does start erroding due to load experiments or whatever, you can switch the barrel out for a new one yourself for about $50.

Roll Tide

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2003, 05:36:41 PM »

With iron sights thats is very hard for me to accept. Even with a machine rest it would be very good. Here I am cranking out 44mags at 100 with a 2x scope off the bench and happy to see them in the black. And my only reason for this was to establish my point of aim.
Jim

TopGun · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2003, 01:53:15 PM »

I'm with Jim in Iowa! I'd really like to see it done with a 357 or 44.

My scoped Contenders won't come close. I wish I was a better shot. :oops: About 3-4" at 100 is the usual size. :grin: I just picked upa DW .44 8". It's my first. It's well used but I couldn't pass it it up for the $200. I can't wait to compare it on the range. It feels a little weird, but I've been using my TC's and Rugers alot. It looks like a real sound piece.

RollTide · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:29:06 PM »

I don't blame people for being skeptical about Dan Wesson accuracy. Many other well made revolvers will not come close, especially right out of the box. Dan Wesson accuracy is something that has to be experienced to be believed. I originally bought my first Dan Wesson when I was in college because I could not afford several guns and I could get several barrels and use the same gun for protection, target shooting and hunting. The accuracy was a VERY PLEASANT surprise because I had not read about Dan Wessons much, I just bought it for the versatility. Recently, while sighting in the Bushnell scope on my 6" Dan Wesson 44, I put six shots in two 44 caliber holes that overlapped nearly halfway. At least one of the holes had to have several shots through it, but I could not tell which one because they were both nearly exactly 44 caliber. Even at 25 yards with a scope and a rest, that kind of accuracy is SCARY. In my TC Contenders, I regularly shot under one inch with my 6mm/223 and my 35 Remington at 100 yards. They were usually more accurate than most of my rifles. 4" at 200 yards is 2" at 100 yards and 1" at 50 yards and I guarantee that with the right loads and a good shooter, most Dan Wessons will do that right out of the box. Their barrel and shroud arrangement holds the barrel in tension and is unstressed at the frame unlike any other revolver ever, until Smith & Wesson went to an identical arrangement for the new S&W 500 like kciH explained. This is the secret to the uncanny accuracy and strength of these guns and what sets them apart from any other design.

Roll Tide

P.S. Top Gun I think you will really enjoy shooting your 44. The heft of a Dan Wesson is sometimes a hassle to carry but it makes it a pleasure when you touch off heavy loads. Their compensated barrels are also very effective at reducing recoil and muzzle flip. Persoanlly I would much rather have a gun that shoots well rather than one that carries well. (of course if you have one that does both, now that is perfection.)

kciH · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2003, 06:40:33 PM »

I'm trying to dig up some photos from the days when I used to shoot silhouettes. I'm pretty sure I have some photos of swinger rams with groups you could cover with your hand that where shot at the standard 200yds with iron sights. They where not shot by me, I've never been that good.