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September 12, 2013
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Hi, new member here, I've got a Dan Wesson .357 SuperMag, with 8" barrel that
I bought in 1990. I use it to shoot IHMSA silhouette matches with, and lately its
been rotating counter clock wise when I fire it. Sometimes it only goes back one
chamber, sometimes two, or even three. Anyone on here have any ideas? It
locks up tight, not as tight as when new, but then again, it has 23 years of match
shooting in it, too. Any help, or ideas, would be appreciated.
March 27, 2013
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I would venture to guess that the bolt is not moving up as quickly as it should after the cylinder rotates. I'm betting that if you take it apart and clean the bolt area real good that will solve your problems.
Good luck with it.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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I'm not certain what your problem could be but agree that you should dig into it and start with a good cleaning. We're here to help. Just start here!
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
September 12, 2013
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Thanks for the replies, fellows. I will tear into that thing tonight, and
see whats goin on. I havent had the thing apart in years. Thanks
again, guys.
September 12, 2013
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Well, I took my Dan Wesson Mk 40 apart, and man, was it nasty inside!
I cleaned all the crud, oiled all the interior parts, and put it back together.
It locks up much tighter now, and I will give it another try in our October
match, at New Braunfels, Texas. Guess there was bout 15 years of gunk
inside. Thanks to all who responded on my problem.
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January 24, 2009
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It's amazing how much gunk can gather inside through the years. Each time I buy a used gun (regardless of how clean they look externally), I blow it apart & give it a good scrubbing. I don't take pics of each one, but here's my 7445 a couple days after it came home in 3/2010, for example. 
This one was NOT clean inside.
It's been apart twice since then & digested maybe 800 rounds in the meantime. No, I don't shoot this one a lot.
All my stuff gets at least an annual scrubbing, even the unfired ones.
It might just be me, but I love the feeling when I cycle my 40+ year old unfired (and rarely fired) DW's through their paces & they click along like they were built just yesterday.
September 12, 2013
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Ok, I shot the Mk 40 in a silhouette match last weekend and doin the same
thing, cylinder rotating backwards. I took it apart, and it appears the tip of
the hand is deteriorating. I ordered a another hand from Numrich arms, gonna
see if that will cure this. Anyone on here ever ordered any Dan Wesson parts
from them, and if so, how was the quality? Guess i'm asking too late, as i've
already ordered it, but let me know your experience with them. Thanks.
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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Not sure about Numrich, some parts you get from them might be used stuff. In the future if you need any parts I would suggest calling Genny directly at CZ-Dan Wesson, you can get the contact info on the right side of this page under FAQ's. Look at 'Where can I order parts'. They are great people at Dan Wesson and I really think they can supply most any part. Also excellent service if you need to send a revolver in for work from what I hear.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
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January 24, 2009
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HARTLOCK said
Ok, I shot the Mk 40 in a silhouette match last weekend and doin the same
thing, cylinder rotating backwards...
I got thinking more about this tonight...and the more I read of this, the more it seems odd.
Soo bring me up to speed here...with the gun in hand, barrel pointed down range, the cylinder on your gun rotates COUNTER-CLOCKWISE?? I have never had any of my DW's rotate counter clockwise...and moreso, due to the position of the hand in the frame, I can't picture a mechanical excuse for one to rotate counter clockwise...period.
Not even in Australia. 
Not even with 6 planets lined up in a row on a Tuesday.
Nada.
If yours truly does rotate counter clockwise, I am aghast & have no further ideas.
September 12, 2013
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Charger fan, mine does not normally rotate COUNTER CLOCK WISE, either,
it rotates clock-wise in firing mode, what is happening is the the thing is rotating
counter-clock wise SOMETIMES, when the gun is FIRED. I believe the tip of the
hand is supposed to hold the cylinder in place against the bolt stop. Apparently, mine
is worn on the end, and sometimes lets the cylinder rotate backwards. That is the
reason I ordered the hand from Numrich gun parts. I will let ya'll know what happens.
April 25, 2008
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DW's did have a habit of the cylinder coming unlocked upon firing. Sometimes it would rotate to the left, sometimes to the right, but the end result was that the chamber did not advance to the next live round. Many silhouette shooters had that problem, and Dan Wesson fixed the gun for no charge if you sent it back. One of mine did that, and part of the reason was that I rested the gun on my blast shield, which pressed on the right side of the frame (I shoot left-handed). It was sent back, and never had that problem again.
The Savantist
September 12, 2013
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Well, I finally got that new hand from Numrich gun parts, and believe it or not,
it appeared to be a brand new one. I used the old one as a guide for fitting it
and after taking apart and putting it back together about 20 times, I finally got
it fitted to where the old gal locks up as tight as she did, when new. Our silhouette
matches are pretty well over down this way, but I will take it to the silouette range
and sight it in. I am truly looking forward to the new season starting next February.
I used only small files to get the fit right. It was a job, but now my MK 40 is ready
again for competition.
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Congratulations!
what a great feeling.
September 12, 2013
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Snake-eye, you are so right about that! Man, I've had that revolver for over 20
years, and have shot many,many matches with it. I sure hated the thought of
having to hang the old girl up for good. Now, I will see how she does in upcoming
match next year. I cant wait!
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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That's just how I feel about my old Harley's. They take me where I want to go. They are old friends, not to be discarded!
September 12, 2013
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Well, didnt think it would take this long, but here is update on putting new hand in
my Mk-40 Supermag. It really didnt help much, and shot a lousy score in IHMSA
match at Greenwood gun club, last Sunday. I think its time for old Dan to retire and
I'll go to my new Ruger Superblackhawk for revolver class. I just hate to take the
beating that Ruger is gonna dish out in 40 round match. I would just buy me a
new Freedom Arms .357 with 9 inch barrel, but they are 2200 dollars now, and with
the lack of interest in handgun metallic silhouette shooting now, I dont think im gonna
bother with that. 
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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First, good job on fitting a new hand! Second, try buying another model 40 at auction. Cheaper than a Freedom Arms and you are comfortable with it.
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January 24, 2009
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I agree, you can sometimes find unfired DW's on the auction sites, or at least ones with an obvious low round count. Or you could also send your gun back to DW, so they can go through it & make it as good as new. Either of those choices would be less than a new FA...not that I'm trying to knock buying a new FA, by any means.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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Charger Fan said
you could also send your gun back to DW, so they can go through it & make it as good as new. Either of those choices would be less than a new FA...not that I'm trying to knock buying a new FA, by any means.
That's the ticket.
-Mike
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