Dan Wesson revolver

eelgrass · Dec 29, 2015

I was going through my gun cabinet the other day just oiling up some guns and I came across my Dan Wesson 44Magnum CTG. I've had it for about 20 years and fired it a total of 12 shots. It's a gun I got when my father-in-law died. It has the 8 3/8" barrel. It also came with an extra barrel from the factory. They are easily interchangeable, both using the same barrel shroud. The problem I'm having is I can't remember why the extra barrel. Neither barrel have any marks or stamps that I can find, which seems odd to me. The one on the gun is blue and the extra barrel is silver (see photo)

I can shoot both 44 Magnum and 44 Special from the same barrel...or can I?

Any Dan Wesson owners out there who can jog my memory as to why I have two barrels? I've searched the internet but found nothing.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos3/8168danwesson001.jpg

Homer · Dec 29, 2015

yes....you can shoot either eel...and 44 russian also....I have one in 357 that came with 2 barrels of different lengths...but also with the shorter shroud for the extra barrel.

Very nice gun eel...

sageadvice · Dec 29, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Dec-29-15 AT 09:48PM (MST)[p]Very nice looking rig! I know very little of Dan Wesson revolvers but have always admired their looks.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

eelgrass · Dec 30, 2015

It was bugging the heck out of me all morning, so I took the barrel off and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember now.

One barrel is ported (the shroud is ported too.) It was recommended to shoot jacketed bullets only through the ported barrel.(I can't remember why though) They included a non ported barrel for use with round nose bullets.

It's like my father-in-law tapped me on the shoulder and said "pay attention, son"

RELH · Dec 31, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Dec-31-15 AT 11:04PM (MST)[p]Eel the Dan Wesson was very well built revolver noted for outstanding accuracy. They had interchangeable barrels where you could go to a different barrel length with changing the shroud also.
As for the ported barrel, shooting cast lead bullets in it could plug up the porting holes with scraped off lead and lube from the cast lead bullets. Would make for a cleaning job to pick out the lead slivers.

Hang on to it, one of the best revolvers made and super accurate. Used price has gone up very well in last couple years.

RELH

eelgrass · Jan 1, 2016

RELH, thanks for that information. I understand now. It does seem to be well built but it's not something I'd want to take back packing as it's pretty heavy. If I remember right I think my father-in-law intended to hunt with it but he didn't get the chance.

7 · Jan 12, 2016

Wow that brings back some good memories. When I was in the Air Force many years ago a friend of mine got a remote assignment to Alaska he bought one to take with him for bear protection. Wow thanks for the flash back!

7 Mag