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December 3, 2021
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Okay, I've got several other .357s than Dans, and a 35yrs of shooting experience total. I am getting the reflection, or splashback of gases when shooting one of my Dans. It's NOT present on other Dans nor my other revolvers. Is this a function of how, tight, or loose, my cylinder gap may be? I do use the gauge, which IIRC is at .006". Or, is this an aligment concern with that particular barrel/shroud combo?
October 17, 2017
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There are a couple of things that could be happening. First, it could be that this particular DW has much more cylinder end play than your other DW’s. So, if you set the gap at .006 and there’s .007 end play you end up with a gap of .013 while the bullet is traveling down the barrel. Check the gap with the cylinder at rest, and then check it again with it pushed all the way rearward. The difference between these two numbers is the amount of end play present. Ideally, it should only be a couple of thousandths. If it’s more, then shims can be used to correct it. Second, the cylinder may not be timed correctly. To test this, pull the hammer back very slowly to see if the cylinder is locked in place by the bolt when at full cock. If not, then a new hand can be fitted to correct it. If you’re shooting double action the misalignment is more likely to show up since the trigger break is happening sooner not giving enough rotation for the cylinder notch to fully engage.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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You may need a new dedent ball spring. Also, .006 may not be necessary. Try .004 or .003 first. If the cylinder doesn't bind after several cylinders of shots you may be good. Wipe the face of the cylinder every several reloads with a rag to eliminate residue build up. If that doesn't work, what 3ric said.
February 21, 2011
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I checked for the tightest & loosest chamber on mine. (there IS slight variation).
then I marked the tightest chamber & gauge on that at 3 thou. The loosest ends up at about 5.
It completely eliminated the spitting.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
December 3, 2021
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Thanks for the great tips, all. I've not thought about end-shake, nor gauging it from the cylinder most proud. Timing I am quite familiar with, and thankfully all is good there. Finally had one apart, and found it amazing how different it is from Smith. Arguably, simpler in several ways, too.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I have quite a few DWs. Over 100. I have not found one that the timing was off no matter how well used it is. They are extremely durible. But they are the thinking man's revolver. The barrel cylinder gap is more than the average person can figure out. If you want a gun to just pick up and shoot, get a Smith.
October 17, 2017
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I have had to replace (and fit) the hand on both of my early DW’s as well as my Colt Trooper MK lll. All were very well used revolvers when I purchased them, and all had been tinkered with by previous owners who didn’t know what they were doing. As they are now they will perform flawlessly for the rest of my lifetime and beyond, and as Ole Dog has pointed out these are very durable designs when assembled correctly.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Ole Dog said
I have quite a few DWs. Over 100.
We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy! 
February 21, 2011
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I don't think by splash-back was shaved jacket material from a timing problem, but maybe un-burnt powder grains exiting the cylinder gap? There was no sign of metal fouling or anything & just closing the gap slightly cured it completely. It also felt too "light" when it struck my face, like a pinch of sand maybe.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
October 17, 2017
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My first thought was it is likely a cylinder/barrel gap issue, but a timing problem was also a possibility. Now that Victor has eliminated timing, I suspect merely tightening the gap may solve or at least lessen the problem. Before I realized just how much excess endplay my early DW had, I was getting a lot of ‘splashback’ at the indoor range. Shooting plated bullets I also occasionally experienced flakes of copper plate bouncing off the wall and hitting me in the face with enough force to draw blood! After fitting a replacement cylinder gas ring (these are only found on the earliest DW’s) the gun functions perfectly.
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