My local gunshop has a Dan Wesson Model 15 with an 8 inch barrel for $225. The gun is sort of lightly scratched all over, but functionally appears nice and tight. The gun shop owner has test fired it and says it shoots great. I really like the way this feels in my hand. I've stayed with 44 magnums for my hunting handguns, but this 357 is really calling my name. The fact that it's scuffed doesn't really bother me. I can use it and not worry about any minor scratches I inflict. Anyone have any experience with a Dan Wesson model 15? I sure don't need a 357, but the price seems very reasonable for a "shooter". Thoughts?

For comparison here's a nice DW outfit - http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=154007106. It looks unscratched and is all four barrels, accessories, three sets of grips and a case. Last bid was $700.

I used to want one of these, and if I was still interested I'd hold out for a set like that. But, over the years I honestly came to be an S&W guy, in a lot of calibers including 357.

If it's a must have, then the price sounds OK, but I'd probably first run $180 up the flag pole and see if anyone salutes.

Btw, what kind of grips it has would matter to me. I'd want original DW ones like on the gun pictured.

It has the original DW grips just like the ones in the auction link. The gun shop owner commented that this is the second time he has owned this gun. The kid who owned it for a while sold it back because he needed the money. I think you're right on in your bidding aproach. Most likely that $180 bid would result with a sale price right in the middle (around $200). Kind of neat how the DW barrels can be unscrewed and interchanged. A 6 inch barrel would be my first choice on that 357 for hunting. I've got a S&W 629 with a 4 inch barrel. The 4 inch is great for carrying but I'd rather a 5 or 6 for shooting. My thoughts were really similar to yours... should I spend a little on this gun or wait and spend a little more on another 629 with that 5 or 6 inch barrel? I'm not desperate for the DW. The gun shop owner is gone to the SHOT show this week. I'll probably just wait and see how long it sits on the shelf.

i shot IHMSA silhouette with a 8" full shroud in .357 mag.... i liked it.... ive seen several of the 6" bbl'ed with half shroud lately, and they go for about $273-300... if i wanted a .357, i'd grab it...

Thats a pretty good price. If you wait.....you might be disappointed. Grab it while it's there.

I have had more than a few Dan Wessons.They are very accurate.That is a good price.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I think it would be a fun shooter and I wouldn't lose too much if I don't like it and decide to trade it off on something else. OK, I am thinking I should just go buy it.

The price sounds good to me for a DW. There are folks that can restore that DW blue if it's not too badly scratched.

I have a Dan Wesson model 15 that I bought new in 1984. It is by far the most accurate revolver that I have ever owned. That is a great price, grab it up! You won't be sorry.

I bouht it. Offered him $180. He sold it to me for $187. Bought a box of Magtech 38 special cleanrange ammo. Shot it yesterday. It was 0 degrees Farenheit outside. Started out it shot fine. Then I noticed the cylinder didn't want to rotate when I cocked the hammer (sometimes, not always). Also it failed to fire on a few rounds. I noticed the cylinder latch wasn't completely latched. Once I pushed the cylinder latch tight it would fire every time and the cylinder would rotate. So is any of this related to the extreme cold temps, or do I just need to make extra sure the cylinder latch has completely engaged? Thoughts? I still feel like this is a lot of handgun for the money. I looked at the Taurus .357's in the gundshop. They were twice the money and seemed like half the gun. Made me feel like I got 4x for the money. I really like this gun, just want to make sure it is safe and reliable.

I collect these things, super deal I would have junped on it with both feet. I have 8 of these in diffrent calibers from .22 to 445 supermag.

Thanks for the wise words guys. I like this gun every time I look at it. Didn't really know much about a Dan Wesson until I saw it in the gun shop and went home and started researching them.

quote:

Originally posted by simangus:
I bouht it. Offered him $180. He sold it to me for $187. Bought a box of Magtech 38 special cleanrange ammo. Shot it yesterday. It was 0 degrees Farenheit outside. Started out it shot fine. Then I noticed the cylinder didn't want to rotate when I cocked the hammer (sometimes, not always). Also it failed to fire on a few rounds. I noticed the cylinder latch wasn't completely latched. Once I pushed the cylinder latch tight it would fire every time and the cylinder would rotate. So is any of this related to the extreme cold temps, or do I just need to make extra sure the cylinder latch has completely engaged? Thoughts? I still feel like this is a lot of handgun for the money. I looked at the Taurus .357's in the gundshop. They were twice the money and seemed like half the gun. Made me feel like I got 4x for the money. I really like this gun, just want to make sure it is safe and reliable.

Why don`t you clean it out with an aerosol degreaser.That should blow all the dirt and crud out of it.Then lube latch and cylinder with a dry lube.

I'll try that. It's quite a bit warmer today (15 F). Think I'll shoot it a little this afternoon, and then try the aerosol degeaser tonight.

You might try a little lurking over at The Dan Wesson Forum. Lots of knowlege about the DWs.

Never been there. That's a good idea. I'll pay them a visit.

Went to the Dan Wesson Forum. Found very good info that one should know before buying a used revolver (I'm fairly new to revolvers and have plenty to learn). I concluded that the problem occurs when I cock the hammer to shoot in single action mode. If I cock it gently instead of cocking it more sharply, the bolt (little thing that locks up the cylinder) would not fully engage the cylinder. When partially engaged the cylinder was not perfectly alligned with the barrel. The gun would fire in this condition and then shave part of the bullet off. The force from the bullet striking the side of the barrel when misaligned is what was unlatching the cylinder lock. I took it back to the local dealer I purchased it from and explained the problem exactly as above. He agreed with me. Another customer was in the store with a Dan Wesson in 44 mag (that looked really nice). He also agreed. The dealer was very gracious and offered to refund my money or check it out first and then see. I agreed to let me check it out so we'll see what he finds when he dissasembles it.

If you check down towards the bottom of DW forum there's a section for Parts and Service. Seems there's three good places for getting DW work done. CZ holds all the making rights, but not making the guns, but they will work on them. Then there's two other shops.

In the "good old days" of Monson, they'd rebuild them under factory warrant.

I'll check it out. I'm having fun learning about DW revolvers. Didn't really know much about them before. Two questions: The one I bought was made in Monson, but I've read that some were made in other locations. Which location or locations are most desirable? Second, I see where there are ported and non-ported barrels and shrounds. If a person buys a gun with a ported barrel and shroud, but prefers not to have porting can you shoot a non-ported barrel in a ported shroud?

It Depends...Mine are all Monson made and all are blue...all in keeping of the spirit of Mr. Dan Wesson. I just picked up a couple of shrouds and I was willing to pay a premium for Monson made. Of the three locations I think the best made guns were in New York; don't know if CZ made any revolvers.

I think only the large frame guns came ported. A couple of different styles, but the common style on .44s had a series of holes in the barrel and two slots in the shroud. The guns came with a ported barrel and a "solid" barrel. I've never shot mine with a ported barrel. You should not shoot lead bullets with the ported barrels.

These Dan Wessons keep growing on me. I had been thinking that my next 44 mag was going to be a Smith and Wesson 629 classic with a 6 1/2 inch barrel. As I've been studying up on Dan Wessons I'm starting to think a DW 744 with a 6 inch barrel sounds more interesting.

Post up a picture or two, we would love to see it!

Whitworth: That's a good suggestion. However, at the moment my model 15 is back at the gunshop while the gunshop owner tries to fix it. Also I have never tried posting pictures on AR, but I have read the instructions at the beginning of the forums. A thread over on the muzzleloader hunting forum has guys posting their 2009 kills and I had a picture I thought I should post. I'll have to get a photobucket or similar account. I really enjoy reading this handgun hunting forum. It is quite addictive. Convinced me to give my muzzleloader a break and harvested my first deer ever with a handgun this fall. No pics...just a doe.

quote:

Originally posted by simangus:
Whitworth: That's a good suggestion. However, at the moment my model 15 is back at the gunshop while the gunshop owner tries to fix it. Also I have never tried posting pictures on AR, but I have read the instructions at the beginning of the forums. A thread over on the muzzleloader hunting forum has guys posting their 2009 kills and I had a picture I thought I should post. I'll have to get a photobucket or similar account. I really enjoy reading this handgun hunting forum. It is quite addictive. Convinced me to give my muzzleloader a break and harvested my first deer ever with a handgun this fall. No pics...just a doe.

What do you mean, "no picture just a doe?" Every animal taken with a handgun is a trophy and all are worthy of display on this forum. I want to put meat in the freezer every season and those wall-hangers, though impressive to look at, don't eat very well. So by all means, post up! I shot a button buck and a spike this last season and I don't give a rat's backside that they aren't "worthy" of mounting -- but they sure do taste good!

I would recommend opening a photobucket account. They are easy to use.

Whitworth: OK, I shouldn't have said just a doe. I've shot a lot more does than bucks for that simple reason they do taste better. My hunting picture routine has developed into having my 3 year old son pose with me next to the dead deer in the back of the pickup truck. My way on involving him in the hunt until he is old enough to accompany me. I've shot so many does over the years they all kind of run together in my memory. Shooting that one with my Encore 44 mag definitely set it apart from all my long gun kills. I need to get setup on photobucket. This forum is too fun not to share pics.

Gun Update: My local gunshop owner called. He had a chance to work on the gun. The Problem was simple. The two hex head screws that hold the side plate on were loose. The one behind the cylinder was about one turn loose. The one under the grip was so loose that he guessed the grip was the only thing keeping the screw from falling out. He cleaned everything inside the sideplate while he had the gun dissembled and then reassembled the gun and tightened those two hex head screws. He did this all at no charge to me just because he sold the gun to me. Putting the gun in full lock up, the bolt fully engages the cylinder. I tested it on each cylinder and it locks up correctly on each one. I just ordered some 357 dies so will wait for them to arrive before I can load some rounds and test fire again.

That's great news! I am glad it only required a simple fix!