Cowgirl Corner: my revolver jinx breaker, the DW 715

[North Country Gal]

I've never posted much about my bad luck with new production revolvers, but suffice it to say, I've had some really bad luck with quality control and function issues on a high percentage of new production revolvers from a couple of brands. Enough so, in fact, to almost call it quits with the new stuff and stick with vintage revolvers.

After paring down the rifle collection of some rifles that were seeing little use to make more room in the safe, I decided to give a new production revolver one more chance. Had the money from the rifles to afford a good one, so I ordered this one, keeping my fingers crossed that I wouldn't end up with another expensive lemon.

Here's the gun. It's a new production, Dan Wesson 715, 357 magnum with a 6" barrel and, make no mistake, this is one expensive revolver, right there with the price of DW 1911s. I'm happy to report, though, it's no lemon. Not even close. In fact, I've nicknamed it my "jinx breaker".


For those of you not familiar with DW revolvers, they are unique in many respects. They feature user interchangeable barrels of different lengths, the ability for the user to set the correct barrel/cylinder gap, a different lock up system featuring a ball detent, superb adjustable sights with easy to change front sights and, my favorite, a great trigger by design, both in single action, but especially in double action. The DW has an exceptionally fast lock time, thanks to the shortest travel and smoothest out of the box DA trigger you will ever find. As someone who loves shooting in DA, this is one superb gun to shoot in DA. As for SA, not even the tiniest hint of creep or mush. Calling it crisp does not do it justice.

Now at around 300 rounds of 357 in the DW (have no intention of shooting 38s in it). Not a singe issue of any kind. Extraction is perfect with any kind of ammo and no leading issues, whatsoever. Sight in day I had to settle for a 20 yard target, since the other stations were being used by other shooters, but still enough distance for the DW to show its stuff.

SA with 3" bull (I don't use a rest, anymore, to sight in a new handgun. I go right to my usual standing position.)


DA with a 3" bull. Not much difference, thanks to the excellent DA pull.


Last outing, I did manage to wade though the heavy snow for one try at 50 yards, after dialing in the sights for a six o'clock hold on the 6" bull. Hands were just getting too cold, but had to give it a try, anyway. The "jinx breaker" did not disappoint.


Can't wait for spring and some warmer weather, but not even close to spring, up here. In fact, we've had more snow in April than we've had in February or March. May be June for warmer weather, the way it's going. In the meantime, I do enjoy pulling out the 715 for a little dry fire work. I'll be ready when we finally get some spring weather.

Love our 1911s, but when it comes to shooting 357s, nothing is more traditional than a quality DA revolver.

[Travlin]

Good shooting. I remember that D.W. also made a .22 rf revolver on a big frame but I think that was the company before it came back .

[PT7]

First comments are about two of your target results, NCG.
Your "SA with a 3" bull"....no rest for sight in.

SA with 3" bull (I don't use a rest, anymore, to sight in a new handgun. I go right to my usual standing position.)

Wow!

...and "Last outing....try at 50 yards" are both impressively excellent, especially so because of your off hand shooting. The farthest distance I shot my 3.02" Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum revolver was at a black steel target 45 yards out, off hand and kneeling. I for sure didn't have as many POIs clang that steel as you have in your splash target. Again, I'd like to try out a DW someday!!

Last outing, I did manage to wade though the heavy snow for one try at 50 yards, after dialing in the sights for a six o'clock hold on the 6" bull. Hands were just getting too cold, but had to give it a try, anyway. The "jinx breaker" did not disappoint.

Wow!

Although you named the DW715 appropriately, the shooter helped much to blow away any jinx.

Here's the gun. It's a new production, Dan Wesson 715, 357 magnum with a 6" barrel and, make no mistake, this is one expensive revolver, right there with the price of DW 1911s. I'm happy to report, though, it's no lemon. Not even close. In fact, I've nicknamed it my "jinx breaker".


Love our 1911s, but when it comes to shooting 357s, nothing is more traditional than a quality DA revolver.

Wow!

Nothing else to say this go-around other than those wows. Great thread and very cool revolver!

.....stick with vintage revolvers.......DW revolvers, they are unique in many respects. Now at around 300 rounds of 357 in the DW (have no intention of shooting 38s in it). Not a single issue of any kind.

[Bugs]

What is the load you are using for .357's? Just wondering how well this gun will stand up to extended shooting of full power .357's.

[JEBar]

beautiful revolver in the hands of a someone who knows how to use it .... it should last you and your family for many generations

[RetiredSeabee]

That is a beauty and looks almost as good as your targets.

[North Country Gal]

And, WOW, for the nice comments, folks. I do appreciate them.

To answer some questions, I do sight in my handguns, out of the box or after a load change, directly from a standing position. Shooting a handgun from a rest and then switching to a standing position does change the POI, since your grip changes when switching between those shooting positions and that does affect POI. Of course, you do have to have a basic level of skill with a handgun to do this, enough to know when a miss or a flyer was caused by your shooting or the gun.

The DW lockup is stronger than a typical S&W. It was designed, specifically, by it's inventor, Dan Wesson, to be stronger than a Smith. Closer to a Ruger, than a Smith, in this regard. It's unique, though, unlike any other revolver design. It uses a stout locking lug at the front of the cylinder (that where the release is) and a ball detent on the rear. The ball detent is used on the big S&W X frame revolvers and some of their other designs where extra strength is needed. DW revolvers have a long history of durability and accuracy in silhouette shooting, where a competitor will shoot more rounds in one year than most shooters will see in a lifetime. Back in the heyday of silhouette, DW revolvers pretty much owned the revolver class and, to a lesser extent, Rugers.

As for ammo, I use standard factory 357, 158s or 180s. From time to time, I'll run some of the fancy hunting factory loads to see what they can do in our various 357s, but for our shoot for fun approach, the standard factory 357s are plenty accurate.

At 47 ounces, the DW is a big, heavy revolver. It's no carry gun. It's purely a target or hunting 357. That weight, along with the frame and grip design, makes standard 357s feel like shooting 38s in a lighter gun.

[RanchRoper]

That is sure good shooting. Very interesting revolver too. I know nothing about them. Thanks.

[JEBar]

if I was in the market for a 357 revolver, my first choice would still be a Ruger GP100 and my second would be a Dan Wesson

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, again, folks.

JEBar, if you saw the price tag on the 715, you'd might be in the market for just the Ruger.

Dan Wesson prices went up, considerably, this year. Already expensive guns became more expensive. Not many folks would pay around $1500 for a new revolver. I had to think long and hard on it. In the end, I decided to take the plunge on a new 715 while I could. I fear that DW will have to drop the 715 at some point for lack of sales. That would leave vintage DW revolvers as the only option and those do not come cheap, either. They don't come up for sale that often.

In my defense at spending that much, consider the way all Dan Wessons are made, be it their 1911s or their 715. First, no MIM parts on any Dan Wesson. All parts are premium grade, CNC machined. Then, an individual gun is assembled from those parts by an individual who matches and mates those parts for best fit. The parts, themselves, are only minimally altered or finished by hand, but are instead, carefully selected for proper fit following a strict protocol for quality. As a result, you will never get an DW that is less than perfect, out of the box. No need for breaking in, trigger job and all the other rigamarole shooters go though with other brands to make them right. You pay, dearly, for this kind of QC, but it reduces your odds of getting a lemon to next to nothing.

My other Dan Wesson is a 1911 A2. It was a big help in making me decide to take the plunge on the revolver. I honestly don't think you can make a better 1911 than this. Fancier, yes, but better fit, no. It's my pride and joy.

[JEBar]

you are most certainly right about that .. .. $1,500 for a 357 or any other caliber revolver would most likely ensure I stay in the Ruger market .. ..

[Mistered]

$1,500 for a 357 or any other caliber revolver would most likely ensure I stay in the Ruger market

Man I AGREE! I spent less than that for this pair of No Dash Smith & Wessons in the pic below and they are PRISTINE and unfired - and both have trigger and action jobs. No disrespect intended but thats a bunch to spend for a new revolver.

[PT7]

As a wheel gun guy, I'd like to jump in with a huge regret I have. Back in early 2013, I had been working with my LGS to set up an order for a Freedom Arms .357 Magnum revolver. The order totaled just over $2400, and that is why I didn't follow through. Like I said, I wish I had purchased it. Here are a few of the "expensive" details on this order:

FREEDOM ARMS Model 97 Premier Grade w/Adjustable Sights
.357 Magnum, Stainless Steel, 4-1/4" barrel
.38 Special cylinder fit to Model 97 .357 Mag
Flutes added to .38 Special Model 97 cylinder (this was to help me easily distinguish the two barrels)
Brush Finish and Impregnated Hardwood Grips.

My inquiries about this revolver included some direct contacts with Jeff Quinn at gunblast.com, and with Grant Cunningham, a gunsmith and author of Gun Digest books on revolver. Both of these fellows are really into revolvers and excellent shooters, and I got an A+ from each on their evaluation of this FA revolver.

As I was working on the order, I cobbled together some FA web site photos and other internet photos of what gun I was trying to build. The only thing I couldn't match exactly in the pics is the barrel length; the photo I found shows a Model 97 with a 5-1/2" barrel, so close enough for my "look." Both the 97 and 83 are very similar in their looks. Anyway, I might call this photo collection "My Loss."

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If you were to read reviews on the FA revolver, you'll notice it's among the best (if not the best) quality-controlled built firearm. Notice in my order details the .38 Special barrel is individually-made and fitted to the .357 Magnum frame. That's a definite plus. Recently, I've been reading about using large-bore revolvers for hunting, as I hope to hunt whitetail deer with my new .357 Magnum Vaquero. The FA revolver shows up all over the place as a revolver-of-choice to hunt big game.

All that said, I totally agree with what NCG wrote:

I had to think long and hard on it. In the end, I decided to take the plunge on a new 715 while I could.....In my defense at spending that much, consider the way all Dan Wessons are made.....You pay, dearly, for this kind of QC, but it reduces your odds of getting a lemon to next to nothing.

Yup, what really counts is the QC involved in the build of a revolver (or any firearm), the top-level machining and materials used, and the excellent product at the end of it all. I also believe that the DW company and FA company both produce very high-quality handguns.

Finally, there is that old, trite expression which I think is mostly a truism: "You get what you pay for." Well, with the various revolver brands and types I've tried since 2013, I really think I goofed not getting the FA Model 83. And I'd be cautious of going back and totaling out what I spent on my revolvers. I bet it would be more than that "huge expense" for a FA revolver.

Bottom line for me? I'm with NCG on this. Advice to myself. Find what I think is the best in a firearm, and go for it. I don't need to say "Hang the cost." Rather, "count the cost." Ah, live & learn. Or when will you learn, PT7?!?

Thanks for putting up with my 2 cents.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, PT. You get it.

Speaking of Freedom Arms, I've looked at them over the years and have always wanted one. Have seen a couple of display models and was floored with the quality and fit. Just couldn't come up with the cash, though. Now the prices are make the Dan Wesson seem like a bargain, not to mention a waiting list in years!