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January 11, 2017
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New forum member, considering a Dan Wesson .44 to shoot (not engraved, commemorative, etc., doesn't need to be perfect, etc.).
I have been watching gunbroker a little bit, and some "bare guns" have gone in the sub $600 range, no case, no extra barrels, etc. Are there any specialty forums that list DW for sale? I am in Central Florida.
Do all of the removeable barrel .44 guns use the same parts, or did it change with ownership location? Are the newer guns considered high quality?
Especially, will all the .44 barrels interchange?
I don't see where cz or ewk are listing the barrels for sale but I have not called. Do barrel assemblies come up for sale often? I see mostly 8" guns for sale, I would like a 4" to carry and even a 2.5" to work up .44 special loads for my smaller gun.
Or is it a situation that if I don't get the pistol pack, I will have a hard time finding barrels?
Can the DW .44 handle as much as a Ruger Super/Redhawk? I am not ready for a supermag yet, but am interested in some hot handloads.
Finally, other than inspecting the gun like any other gun, are there any specific issues relating to the DW .44's?
I did try googling these questions but was unsuccessful.
Thank you, I hope to be a regular here soon.
Skip
February 16, 2016
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to 
Skip !
I don't own a .44, so will leave your questions to those more qualified.
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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Welcome. A quick answer is a DW will out shine a Ruger in the strength department so no worries with any " reasonable" hot load. The main thing to look for on a used DW is be sure the barrel and barrel nut are not stripped/stuck and come on and off easy. The owner should have the barrel wrench to prove this. All 44 barrels should interchange and do show up with reasonable regularity. Quality from any plant will be good. Others may expand more on my ramblings.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Welcome to DWF. eBay is one possible source for .44 B/A's. The 4" will be a bit of a challenge to find, and the 2-1/2"even tougher. Eric (EWK) produces batches of barrel assemblies when he has time, it's really a sideline to his tool&die business. Email him to get on the list for when he does do some manufacturing (and he may just have a couple of odds and ends lying around, you just never know).
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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All right, I get to play 20 questions. First, where in central Florida are you. If you want to shoot one come to Ocala. Large frames were made by several management's of Dan Wesson but not by CZ. All fine Quality but maybe the Norwalk guns were finest. They were made by CNC machines instead of investment castings of the frame. Unfortunately they are scarce.
As Steve said, the 4" barrels are scarce and expensive. And a handful. The 21/2" are only made by EWK but the factory once made a small amount long ago. A supermag would be gentler than a 21/2. The two places to come by Assemblies are ebay and Gunbroker. Gunbroker is probably the easiest way to get a gun. Shops rarely have them long. Most shops put them on GB.
Dans Club
October 17, 2008
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Welcome to the forum!
January 11, 2017
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Thanks for the replies. I'm in New Smyrna Beach, just south of Daytona. Ole Dog I might take you up on that when my pre-retirement home remodel is finished. I might be able to sneak in a .22 shooting range if I use silencers, I don't think that would work with a .44?
Thanks again, Skip
February 16, 2016
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skipnsb said
I'm in New Smyrna Beach.
I shoot my 15-V8 at ICORE matches every third Saturday at the Volusia Gun & Hunt Club on 44 before the Fairgrounds and I-4. Come by sometime and I can bring some other stuff you can try afterwards.
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