DW 44 Frames to .445 barrels

[FireMarshal91]

Hi to all in DW land,

I have been wanting to ask this question for some time, but feel almost stupid asking it.  Anyway, here it goes:  I have a DW 44 magnum pistol, will a .445 Supermag barrel assembly fit this frame?  I have noticed several for sale and have been tempted to buy one to put on the 44 mag frame, but do not know if it will work.

Thanks for any help,

Jason  :oops:

[Bluedog]

Where are you at? Maybe you could hook up with someone and do a test fitment?

[monson_magnum]

The below is copy and pasted straight from the Dan Wesson website. It's in the FAQ's. Hope it help's, Cal


INTERCHANGEABILITY

Cylinder/caliber interchange?
     We don't sell cylinders, crane assemblies or extractor assemblies and only allow replacement of these components and assemblies to be performed at our factory service department.
     The reason for this is that each double action cylinder is different and a number of parts and assemblies have to be fitted specifically to each individual cylinder and frame to ensure that the chamber in battery position ranges with the barrel. For this same reason cylinders cannot be interchanged on a double action revolver allowing caliber changes. Beyond that, we thread the frame end of barrels of each caliber differently to prevent putting a barrel of one caliber on a frame with a cylinder of a different, especially a larger, caliber--basically, we want to keep our owners and shooters around!
     We also do not change the cartridge capability of our revolvers, as this would negate the accuracy of BATF records regarding your revolver, and we certainly wouldn't want to upset the folks at BATF, now, would we?

[unspellable]

I have both.  bear with me, and tonight when I get home I'll try this swap.

As I remember, the barrel tube is identical.  The shroud differs in that the 445 shroud has a longer slot for the ejector rod.  This would only be a cosmetic difference on a 44.  The 44 shroud would not work on the 445 becasue of the shorter slot.

I'll try the swap tonight.

[unspellable]

OK!  The barrel tubes are exactly the same, not the slightest difference.  

The 445 shroud will fit on the 44 frame, no sweat.  The slot for the ejector rod is a bit over long but this is a cosmetic detail.

The 44 shroud will fit the Super mag frame but does not allow the cylinder to be closed due to the longer ejector rod.  You would have to machine out the slot to make it longer.

The 357 Super Mag shroud is identical to the 445 Super Mag shroud except for the markings.

For some reason Dan Wesson marked the chambering on the shroud instead of the frame, so you'll have a mismatch there.  Again a cosmetic detail.

[monson_magnum]

Hey guy's,, sorry I've shown my ignorance here. Obviously I know nothing about the big bore's.

Can you educate me a little. Would I be correct in assuming the the diameters of the casing's are the same between the two. Just the length's are different. Like a .38, .357, .357 super mag. That being said, can you shoot a .44 mag shell through a .445 gun.  Like I said, I just don't know about these gun's and want to learn. Thank's, Cal

[unspellable]

44 Russian will work in a 44 Special.  Both work in a 44 magnum.  All three can be fired in a 445.  The only dimensional difference is the case length.

Like wise, a 38 Special will work in a 357 magnum.  Both will work in a 357 Maximum.  All three will work in a 357 Super Mag.  As above its progressively longer case length.

The 357 Maximum nominal case length is 1.605 while the 357 Super Mag nominal case length is 1.610, a trivial difference.  the real difference is in OAL, the Super Mag being longer, allowing the use of longer heavier bullets with out taking up powder room.  The 357 Super Mag factory loads used slow ball powder with light bullets, a recipe for erosion in a revolver.  The Super Mag does not suffer from this.

The Dan Wesson 357 Super Mag  for some obscure reason is marked 357 Maximum but is actually chambered for the Super Mag.

In general, I prefer to use a case length matched to the chamber.  of course I hand load and it's easy to put up a light load in a full length case.

[FireMarshal91]

Unspellable,

Thanks for the information.  I knew someone would eventually find the answer to the question I ask several months ago.

Jason