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January 16, 2016
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Hello
I do a lot of .22 revolver double action shooting and so when I saw a used Dan Wesson .22 for sale I jumped on it. It's a .22 on what seems like a .38 frame and that's all I know about it, besides it's having a 4" barrel.
Anyway, I'm interested in finding out more about it. This forum seemed like just the place!
I look forward to browsing around...
thanks
Jim
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Welcome Jim, thanks for visiting New Members first. The DW .22 revolvers are built on the .357 (small) frame. It can seem a little heavy for a .22 lr revolver, but this frame has two advantages:
1) It is strong and durable, this frame was built to shoot a heavy diet of pretty stout .357 Magnum.
2) It shares a great majority of parts with the .357 Magnum version, including most of the internals, sights, grips, etc.
You also have the Pachmayr Gripper on that gun, the very best aftermarket rubber grip available for the DW small frame
You done good!
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
December 4, 2011
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What do you want to know? It is based on the small frame Dan Wesson, a heavy frame for a .22, but DW built the .22, .22 Mag, 32 H&R mag, 32-20, .38 Special and .357 Magnum all on the same durable frame. You will never damage a DW shooting .22 LR. The Dan Wesson action is one of the smoothest double action revolvers around. The guns are very accurate due to the cylinder being secured at both the rear and front of crane and also the barrel is held in tension which drastically reduces barrel whip when firing.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Welcome to THE forum. Nice gun. Be aware that you have crossed over into the Twilight Zone. You run the risk of being obsessed with acquiring Dan Wesson guns, grips, barrels, and everything else connected with DWs. It is called DWAS. The first symptom is joining the forum. It is incurable and only goes into remission when funds are low.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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BTW, that is a Dan Wesson Model 22 with a 4V (4" Vent Rib), nickname 224V
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
January 16, 2016
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Hey guys
Thanks for the friendly responses... and thanks for the info.
I'm interested in knowing the model designation for my pistol because I believe I'm going to have to run down some gremlins, and I know I am missing a couple of parts or three.
EDIT - Steve: Thanks. I was writing this message while you were answering my question!
Have a look at this:
That's the firing pin connector sticking up in front of the hammer. I don't think it's supposed to stick up like that... is it?
To the best of my knowledge, the pistol internals are assembled correctly, but that thing always sticks out like that.
My own contribution to the problems has been to lose the strut plunger and spring and the crane lock. My family has a long tradition of losing gun parts. I'll never forget my grandfather spending an afternoon on the den floor looking for the firing pin from his pre-war Woodsman in the cracks between the floorboards... he found it! I did NOT find the Dan Wesson parts I lost.
Anyway, I'm glad this pistol shares a lot of parts with other models. I'm hoping I'll be able to replace them...
I'm also hoping this Dan Wesson will become one of my go-to pistols for double-action practice.
Thanks again
Jim
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Actually, that appears to be the transfer bar, and that photo looks like every DW small frame in my safe when cocked for single action.
The Dan Wesson Forum Average Joe Tune UP is a great resource for you to understand how your Model 22 functions.
Keep asking questions, there are some pretty smart people (and I'm not one of them) here with good answers
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
December 4, 2011
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Steve is correct, that is the transfer bar and is perfectly normal. You may need to contact Dan Wesson in Norwich NY for the parts you need if you can't find them at Numerich or on ebay.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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to the Forum. If you have trouble finding your parts it is possible forum member can help. Don't forget to ask if you hit a wall.
If you area regular revolver shooter, you may be tempted to do some "trigger work" on your Dan. You have already been pointed to the Average Joe Tuneup. I recommend that you start there before doing anything more to the internals of your gun. It is much different from Smiths and Colts so approach any changes with care. Shoot first then consider working on it.
Enjoy!
January 16, 2016
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Thanks so much, everybody... this is great input. I'm going to check out the Average Joe Tuneup and approach things gradually and conservatively.
I have found two of the parts I need both at Numrich and at Dan Wesson (the strut plunger and spring). The crane lock may be a little harder to find...
Jim
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July 2, 2011
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Welcome, and I will reiterate that your best starting point is the Average Joe Tune Up. It will do 2 things for you: 1. completely familiarize you with the internals and function of you Dan, 2. may surprise the heck out of you with the "problems" it solves.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
January 16, 2016
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I read through the Average Joe Tune-Up and I'm glad I did. It's given me the courage to do a little strategic polishing.
I have also reached out to Genny at Dan Wesson in search of the parts I'm looking for.
I'm looking forward to getting this pistol up and running. Thanks for all the help!
Jim
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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DW in Norwich is still doing a really good job of supporting the revolvers, you should be able to get any parts you need. The AJT is really more about cleaning, smoothing, new springs, and understanding your gun.
I have owned both the Model 22 (blued) and 722 (stainless), both were good guns. I sold both (on DWF) because I came to realize that I was shooting .22 lr with them in single action only. They were made to be more than I used them for, and both went to good homes.
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
December 24, 2015
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Greetings from a fellow DW 22 owner!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I just ordered several strut plungers and crane locks from Dan Wesson. The spring comes with the small parts kit. You will do that once. I laid in extra in case I come across a Dan in disrepair. While you are at it, buy a replacement cylinder stop. It is the raised boss on the sideplate that keeps the cylinder from sliding off. Colt and Smith call the bolt that locks the cylinder a cylinder stop. If you hammer on the ejector to remove a stuck case it can be knocked out and lost. The replacement part is a little oversize and is pressfit in. Also, when ejecting cases, keep the revolver tilted to the left and your middle and index finger through the frame pushing the cylinder open. There is a tendency for the cylinder to close while the extractor star is extended and it will scratch the sideplate and gouge the back of the recoil shield. ARE ALL YOU NEW DAN OWNERSHIP PAYING ATTENTION. Sorry, it is a pet peeve of mine.
Lastly, the best thing you can do to improve the action is a set of Wolff Reduced power springs. I use the 8 lb mainspring. IMHO, the single best thing you can do is use the Wolff trigger return spring. It eliminates most of the scratchy feeling and lightens the action.
January 16, 2016
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Steve: A decade or more ago (after seeing a video of Jerry Miculek) I resolved that I would always shoot my double action revolvers double action. In SIXGUNS Elmer Keith said you can learn any kind of pistol shooting if you practice with enough .22. So I've burned I don't know how many rounds of .22! I still don't shoot like Jerry Miculek but I have improved my trigger squeeze and that has helped my shooting a lot. This M224V of mine has a SWEET single action, but I feel like I'm only using half the gun when I shoot it that way...
Ole Dog, thanks for the insights! Not sure I follow about the bolt stop... next time I take off my sideplate I'll look to see if mine is still there.
I have used Wolff springs in a variety of arms. My experience has been that .22 revolvers with coil mainsprings can have some problem with consistent primer ignition in double action rapid fire. For this reason I might go for a lighter trigger return spring, but the hammer spring I would consider increasing the weight. I guess I prefer a heavy smooth action that pops primers consistently to a lighter one that produces misfires... or worries me that it might.
Thanks, everybody, for the info and support...
Jim
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Jim, folks have been known to use a piece of wire of appropriate thickness, cut & shaped to fit, as a crane lock. Works fine!
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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kellyhopkinsville said
Steve: A decade or more ago (after seeing a video of Jerry Miculek) I resolved that I would always shoot my double action revolvers double action. In SIXGUNS Elmer Keith said you can learn any kind of pistol shooting if you practice with enough .22. So I've burned I don't know how many rounds of .22! I still don't shoot like Jerry Miculek but I have improved my trigger squeeze and that has helped my shooting a lot. This M224V of mine has a SWEET single action, but I feel like I'm only using half the gun when I shoot it that way...Jim
Jim, I admire your dedication to .22 lr double action shooting, and I agree that you can train and learn any style of shooting if you work at it. I pretty much only shoot my .357's double action, but most of my regular shooting is 50' .22 lr at a small local club, and I shoot my Browning Buckmark more than I shoot everything else combined.
Those rare times that I make it to the Big Boy range I do as much .357 and .45 as possible from holster, 2-3 magazines thru the LCP, and finish off with a couple of Mad Minutes in 9 mm.
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
January 16, 2016
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Snake-eye, thanks for the suggestion! That's probably "plan B" if I can't get the actual part. Some thick copper wire would do the trick, I think.
Steve, when you say "from the holster", are you drawing and presenting? I need more practice at presentation. The range (indoor) I shoot at is very fussy and won't allow it.
Sounds like you like that Buckmark. Since I carry an Officer's Model .45, I practice a lot with a purpose-built .22 1911 that I put together. It's got a Ciener unit on it and that's what I warm up with before I go to the .45s.
Jim
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Yes, Draw and Present, which the range is a little fussy about. I can do this if no one else is on the line, watching me "break" the rules.
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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