I learn something new everyday reading the Dan Wesson Forum.

Here is a pic of my 714 wearing the original 2 inch 714 barrel assembly that came along with gun. I used to have the box for the barrel assembly, but that was years ago, and the box has long since worn out and been lost. Sure wish I had kept it now.

The 2 inch barrel assembly in the picture is apparently for a 714 from harly's description.

I have a few 715 shrouds, and a couple of EWK conversion model 14 front sight blades as well, so I can use a model 15 shrouds, on a model 14 gun. (or 714)

Here is a picture of 2, 4, and 6 inch barrel assemblies next to my 714.

The 6 inch barrel assembly is a 715 shroud with a standard model 15 sight blade.

The 4 inch barrel assembly is a EWK model 14 conversion sight, on a 715 shroud. (and is mounted on the gun in the picture)

The 2 inch barrel assembly is a 714 barrel assembly, with a model 14 sight blade.

You can find EWK Dan Wesson Model 14 Conversion Front Sight Blades from the link below.

http://www.ewkarms.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=17

Typical weight .38 spl ammo shoots to point of aim on my 714 with an EWK model 14 conversion sight blade installed on any of the 715 shrouds. The stock 715 sight blade is too tall for the fixed rear sight on the 714.

Since the 714 has no adjustable rear sight to get in the way, and the 8 inch 715 barrel assembly had no front sight, I figured it was a perfect candidate for scoping.

I am messing around with a red dot sight on the 8 inch shroud as well. It's really fast to pick up, but not as nice or precision as the magnified optic. I will put a picture up of the red dot on the 714 after I try out both scopes at the range, and decide which one of them I like mounted best on the Dan.

- Bullwolf

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Here is a picture of the CenterPoint Red Dot scope mounted on my 714 DW.

It's pretty easy to pick up visually.

I am just exploring my scoped options a bit now, before my eyesight goes south in my old age.

Can't say that I like the look of a scope on a revolver, quite as much as I like fine lines of a Dan Wesson revolver without a scope. Unfortunately good eyesight doesn't last forever.

Hopefully on the weekend I can spend some quality time with both optics, and see which one I prefer, and how well they perform compared with iron sights.

- Bullwolf

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Bullwolf said

Just exploring my scoped options a bit now, before my eyesight goes south in my old age.

Can't say that I like the look of a scope on a revolver, quite as much as I like fine lines of a Dan Wesson revolver without a scope. Unfortunately good eyesight doesn't last forever.

Hopefully on the weekend I can spend some quality time with both optics, and see which one I prefer, and how well they perform compared with iron sights.

 

- Bullwolf

 

Well, I put in some range time with both of the optics mounted on the gun.

I have to say that the Red Dot took some serious getting used to. It worked fine, but it's kind of like using a hand gun laser. I had to hunt around to find the dot, even when using the brighter settings when I go to look for a sight picture. I found that the Red Dot slowed me down more than I liked. I also found that my groups were not as tight, as groups made with plain iron sights.

While using the Simmons 4x32 handgun scope, instead of the Red Dot the magnification felt pretty intense at close range. I have noticed this before shooting a scoped 44 Super Redhawk though. Having that much magnification just exaggerates how much I am moving around, and I don't really like it. When just shooting off hand, I found the 8 inch barrel combo with the scope somewhat annoying. The scoped 8 inch shroud needs to be fired over a sandbag rest, and have the range stretched out to really make it shine.

Some other relevant information here. I am a large-ish guy, over 6 foot, and close to 200lbs. It's not that the scoped 8 inch .357 Dan is too heavy for me, the 8 inch barrel is just a bit longer than I prefer for off hand shooting. (too much wiggle, and the scope really helps show it)

As to the recoil, well it's barely noticeable on the 357 magnum with the 8 inch shroud. On the same range trip, I was also shooting an older 7445 Super Mag with a new 6 inch VH solid (non slotted) barrel shroud (recent Norwich Manufacture shroud) and iron sights using 300 grain 44 Magnum loads, and some full house 445 Super Mag loads. I wouldn't say that I am recoil sensitive, but firing enough warm loads through a short barrel .44, or the .445 Super Mag will eventually make me start to flinch.

After all of this testing, I ended up going back to my 2 favorite barrel length combos on the 714. Iron sights and either the 6 inch, or 4 inch barrel shroud, for general walking around and truck holster carry. I still like having the scoped shroud as an option however. Maybe I will just use the scoped shroud for shooting tight groups over a solid rest. I will certainly be keeping it around for later on down the road use, when aging eyes start to have difficulty focusing on iron sights.

For now, I prefer the medium length combination of a 4 inch barrel/shroud, and good old iron sights on the gun.

- Bullwolf

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Love that pic Shoot!

I think I will use it as my desktop wallpaper for a while.

- Bullwolf

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