DAN WESSON 15-2 H .357 Magnum
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- Another great firearm manufactured in the 1970s. This .357 beauty is accurate as can be but will need some spring work to function the way I want it to in double action.
I let one of these Dan Wessons get away from me before and have been on the lookout for a long time to replace it. In this video, we talk a little bit about the history of the company, take some very good close-up looks at the revolver, do some shooting and look inside to get an idea what all is involved in replacing the main spring.
More to come. Enjoy! - Zábava
I’ve said in other posts that I love these revolvers and for good reason. From their inception they were innovative and way ahead of their time. The grip attaches to the frame by a single post allowing for a large variety of styles. The single post design is possible because the main spring is a coil spring not a leaf spring (new at the time). While everyone else was using a hammer mounted firing pin Dan Wesson used a frame mounted one (the way everyone does now days). The cylinder/crane latch is located near the forcing cone where it does the most good. the cylinder is firmly held on each end adding to the strength of the entire mechanism. The barrel design is GENIUS! Trading out barrels is fast and easy. Thread the barrel to proper depth (tool included), slide shroud over barrel, thread castle nut on and tighten. Not only is it fast but the best part is it puts the barrel in "tension." Tightening the castle nut anchors both ends of the barrel and has the effect of stretching it. This is the same method used in many high end long range riffles. All of this innovation took place 50 years ago when Dan Wesson and Karl Lewis decided to make a better revolver. I think they succeeded.
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These were really a deal used years ago but now demand much more,fantastic gun,really beautiful, factory blue job is like blue chrome.
i just got a 15-2 vh 8 inch target this afternoon . only put 6 38's through it . not going to pay 100 bucks for 50 357's ! was looking at videos on complete disassembly . got mine cleaned up and wow ! the bluing is the best i have ever seen on a gun ! in the right light it is so blue- black that it looks like chrome ! it is going to be a keeper .
Awesome- enjoy!
I just got one of the 15-2VH 6" .357 from a local pawn for $500. Pretty clean, no box and the front sight was busted at the jog where the orange plastic insert went. Easily changed and fixed. The catalog shot at 19:00 was great. Helped me classify mine. Serial No. 22146* is a 1979 production in the original Monson, MASS factory.
Beautiful 357. On my list to get when I move over to the US .
I have a 22v that I've had since new. Close to 40 years old. Terrific 22 l.r. pistol.
All right. Now I feel like I've got the info I need to understand what I'm looking at, if I were ever starting a real DW revolver search. That old original pamphlet in your box there, showing all the different barrel profiles with the whole naming scheme... Very helpful to see.
Superb reference info right here. Thanks very much for posting this.
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Chales coant
Once you get used to the front cylinder latch, you realize it's the right place for it. Besides, it helps lock the cylinder better than the old S&W way.
I agree, the latch location was most likely an engineering decision. The cylinder is much stronger being secured front and back.
Nice looking weapon. I have the DW 715 version which I bought when it first came out in late 1982. Bought it with the six inch bull barrel and later bought a second four inch barrel. Very accurate, specially with match wad cutters 38 Specials. I used to shoot at a 55 gallon drum place at about 120 yards or so and hit all the time. The wad cutters were so slow that it would take about a second to get to the target and I could hear the hits on metal. Since the internal parts are nickel covered, they work very smoothly. The barrel is chromed outside for some reason even though it is stainless steel. 1982 price was $330.00 including tax for the basic six inch revolver. I still have it. I also own since 2000, a DW 445 Super Mag in stainless steel with a couple of barrels.
Over the years i have fired a number of Dan Wesson revolvers and i can say this much , all shot very well with tight groups .. Trigger pull was good in single action , double action was a little bit harder than what i liked .. Strong, well built , good sights .. The door latch to open the cylinder everyone called it worked fine and i kinda liked that method ..They never did gain a strong following here where i live but the ones that are around here i still see at the range and doing fine .. My understanding that CZ bought the holdings from Mrs. Wesson some years back ..well built guns i thought ..
I took one of these DW 15-2's off a guy a few years back with that same 4" bull barrel, tool, and manual. Monson just like this one in your video. The guy still had the original sales receipt from 1982 from a shop outside of Chicago. Not even a turn ring on the cylinder and the bluing is like the example in this video. Thanks for the video.
Had this same gun brand new back in the day! Sweet shooter sadly sold it many years ago! Nice 👍
The over travel screw in the back of the trigger of the early models...very nice feature.
Excellent vid, DR! 🇵🇷
I have a 6" vented heavy barrel 15-2 , and a 4" model 14. Love my Dan Wesson pistols , very accurate
I have a 15-2 also. I bought it circa 1976. I carried it when I was a cop in MN. I have an 8" barrel for it too. I've put thousands of round through it, mostly handloads. Informative video, thanks.
Mark had the insight to get a really decent wheel gun for LEO work. I carried the 15-2 VH 4" right out of the Kenosha, WI police academy back in 1976 while everyone else carried S&W or the Colt Trooper. Never an issue on the range after 2k rounds or during the few times on the street. Loved the Dan Wsson 15-2VH
Very good video and information. Great revolver!!
Happy Thanksgiving !!
I recently purchased a 15-2 . And had the same issue with mine. I bought a spring kit from cz. It came with all springs for the gun. The main spring is 9lb.
Took it to the range yesterday, and problem solved!! A little stiff in double action ,but smooth.
Even though stiff in double action, the gun is very accurate for me in double action.
Nigel Rodger Thanks for sharing that’s good news I will give that a try
That is an excellent find in that condition. I have one of the new Dan Wesson 715’s made by CZ. I’m happy to say they are of equal quality to the originals. Something that cannot be said for the new colt python.
I’ve had a new DW 715 with 4 & 6 inches. Nicest 357 I own!
Yo también tengo una igual pero es más vieja muy bien revólver saludos MR
I have that model with Zebra wood stocks. I have the 15-2 VH 8” and 2.5” barrels. Very well made revolvers. The newer Dan Wesson 715 CZ are great revolvers. The Monson made revolvers are more desirable compared to the Palmer made models.
The designer of the Colt Trooper MK model was a guy named Lewis who worked for Dan Wesson that designed the revolvers.
I love My Dan Wesson. My Step Mother bought the Model 15-2 VH 6’’ new in 1981. I shot it for the first time when I was 10yrs old. 10 years later she sold it to me for $150. I collected the 2.5’’, 4’, and an 8’’ barrel and shrouds over the years for it. And all 4 grips. Just a great gun. Total I have been shooting it 31 years no problems. Can’t say the same for My Smith and Wesson. Not hating on Smith and Wesson just talking about my experience.
As i see it you have yourself a fine revolver , nothing wrong with that purchase at all . good find ..
A couple years ago one gun shop where i live had a Dan Wesson pistol pac with 4 barrels and it was in .44 magnum at $300.00 it wasn't a bad price at all i thought ..
I've owned DW guns since 1977, when I was 21. I currently have a 715 and two 15-2's. I have 3 S&W 28's too, but I like the DW's better.
The Dan Wessons are known for that purple hue to the blueing in certain areas. Dan Wesson collectors actually like that and refer to it as Barney.
These are excellent firearms.
I shot mine so much it went out of time and had to be sent in.
Amazing accuracy. I used to be able to easily hit 8” plates at 80yards standing. With the 6” barrel
Great video
I had to change the mainspring on my first 15-2, it was clipped, and only fired DA about 50% of the time. I think the new spring was like $1.25 at the LGS near my house in Vegas. Only one I ever had that had anything done to it that affected shooting. I did have a hand spring break on one of my more recent ones, but after 40 years of use, I can't complain. I've built up a large bunch of parts over the years and can fix anything but a broken frame now. I got a bunch of stuff years ago when a gun store closed up in Southern Ohio, for $50, I resold most of it for well over $500.
I changed the grips on my 15-2 when i purchased it this year. I found a great set of hogue laminate grips bit the acrew was way too long. I took an eighth inch off the screw length with a grinder and it worked perfectly.
That's the way I feel about all of my firearms. They are all shooters! I had three Colt Single action army's sampling engravers at one point. I shot all of them a little but eventually sold them to a collector in Texas for a good bit. I have sold quite a few Colt Single Action Army's that were not shot, no drag line and all of that. But now any firearms I buy I shoot. I do take especially good care of them but if I can't shoot it I don't buy it.
Dan Wesson arms out of Monson work there's seven years new Dan Wesson personally was a real nice nice man handed turkeys out on the holidays personally himself
My dad has one of these. First revolver I shot when I was a teenager. He always shot 38 special out of it and I got some 357 to try out. Made the mistake of not having ear plugs. Wont do that again.
I think you're my favorite gun channel now. I think I may even like your channel better than Hickok45, and that's saying something!
I’m flattered beyond belief - thanks!
I sure wish I had Hickock’s gun range LOL
@@drdrake63 Oh hell yeah! Me too!
I ahve the 15-2VH with 2-4-6-8 inch barrels. I bought it in 1978 - had my first issue - hand spring broke - but used it in competition matches must have 25K rounds thru it.
I just picked up one of these today. Haven't shot it yet, but I have owned a couple of DW's in 22 LR. The only difference is mine has the half/lug barrel. The trigger on mine breaks exactly like yours, on the same type of scale. Around 9 in the DA, 3.5 in SA. I'm looking forward to shooting it against my 2020 Pythons.
Just bought a 6in heavy that’s suppose to be excellent condition/possibly unfired. Not sure if it’s a 15-2 or not, has a longer serial number. Waiting on it to arrive. Thanks for the vid, not many Dan Wesson vids on here!
Fine Quality history
I believe the diference in blueing color is due to the different steel alloys used in each piece. The frame side plate is probably machined from bar stock while the frame apears to be an investment casting. Early Rugers had the same problem, their cast frames would turn plumb color after a while due to additional silicon in the casting alloy vs the bar stock alloy. The additional silicon made for better castings. Ruger has since improved the blueing process for cast parts and they don’t change color any more.
Chris Talbott That’s great info to have. I appreciate you weighing in
A "Barney" frame is more common in large frame DW's, but I've seen a lot of small framed ones go plum too.
Beautiful dw
Dear Drake
I wonder,that you have not wait a little bit longer, before cycling the gun.
Maybe I am wrong...but there could be the cance a round going off.
Anyway,I follow you since the early videos.
I like what you do.
God bless you Sir!
Karl Lewis and Harry Sefried were great modern gun designers. Karl Lewis went on to start LMT and Sefried worked with Ruger and made his own designs after. Both High Standard Alumns
Bummer. I bought the complete 4 barrel kit with all accessories, not vented or heavy barrel. Didn't know they made such a thing. Picking it up tomorrow.
Love my Dan W 15 for sure! But what is the intro music??? Great stuff. Tower of Power?
The 'red' or 'plum' color on bluing is normally because there is a different hardening of the steel which makes it take blue different.
Nice video, I am fairly certain that your light strikes are the result of the grip screw being too tight. Try backing it off a half of turn, that should solve that problem.
Turned out it just needed a spring replacement. Thanks for watching
The grip screw tightness does play into how the gun will perform. There is a Dan Wesson forum that has tons of good info on DW guns , and a bunch of knowledgeable guys on there
The cylinder latch is there because they thought it would be stronger.
The "H" indicates "Heavy Underlug" not barrel. The "V" would indicate Vent Rib. Both refer to the shroud features not barrel profile as they are 2 separate parts.
Oh yeah just subscribed to the big drdrake63
I just picked up a model 15 6inch good luck trying to get barrels i can't find any atleast some good info tho...
I have that plum bluing in the same spot of my dan Wesson .357 ctg
My 15-2H has that same plumb color in the same exact spot also?
I put teflon lube in mine and dry fired the hell out of it, eventually, it will take less effort to fire in DA mode.
My late father had a 6” heavy barrel. Unfortunately, he sold it to pay bills before he passed away.
Bummer! I thought they were going to be available again
They are available through CZ
Is this the closet the US got to Korth, Janz, and Manurhin? I know the Janz has changeable barrels and even changeable calibers.
Anyone know where I can buy interchangeable barrels for this model?
Ebay, only place I can find
I have the 15/2 wonder what it's worth
I have the stainless service 714
Beautiful revolver! Is that Dan Wesson a L frame or N frame?
I don’t think Dan Wesson is going to make any new revolvers. I like how the barrel change works but Cz now owns Colt and I don’t see them making both when Colt has the Colt name.
How much and where i can buy?
what's the tune
Maybe I missed it but if you don't mind what did you pay for that gem? I think I've found a little newer 4" 15-2, (162k SN) but no box, tools etc. IF they don't change their mind...
Four fifty
Cz usa is quality. More than Colt! Colt isn't Colt anymore!
CZ has actually acquired Colt recently
Umm.. Just something worth noting here. 06:00 and on, demonstrating misfires.
But there is also a very well known possible different additional outcome. That being a round going off after the hammer strike. Typically, K/A 'a hang fire'. Rare? Yes. But the consequences..? 👀 The 'rule then? Full immediate consideration -for the possibilities.
All of which are.. well just 'run a few of them; Chamber advanced..? Right.
The delays/pause advised, run 10, 20, some say 30 seconds..
Your vid', triggered a memory. Shooter next to me at a range, Thompson/Center Contender center fire, 'click. He opens the breach to look at it..
Don't want to be overly critical but it looks' rather casual, as if well, "A Pro" here right? 👀
Do not use heavy loads, the barrels are not made for it. NO BEAR LOADS
Dont like dan wessons