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January 20, 2013
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As I am new to DW's,I just bought my first one in 357max,I was wanting to learn more about switching barrels.
Can a barrel from a 357 magnum be used on my 357 maximum frame?
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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No they will not! You can only mount a Max barrel to your Max Dan!
Welcome and more will be along shortly to help out!
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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The Magnum is a small frame gun, whereas the Maximum is a large frame. Here's a couple comparison shots, so you can see there's a big difference. The Maxie (SuperMag) is on the left in this first shot.
January 20, 2013
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Darn The revolver I bought has an 8" barrel and I would really like to have a shorter option for concealed carry use.I guess I'll keep looking for a barrel for sale,and since mine looks to have a ventilated shroud,I guess I'll need a new shroud also.
I think this revolver would benefit from a magna porting job so I've contacted them about doing a port job--any thoughts from the you guys with more experience?
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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IMO, the separate barrel/shroud assembly doesn't lend itself to a magnaport job. This max was designed for IHMSA use and long range handgunning- not concealed carry. I'd recommend adding a DW 15-2 to the stable with a snub barrel, if you want a CCW revolver.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Because your barrel and shroud install independent of each other, it will be very difficult to exactly index the ports in the shroud with the ports in the barrel. The DW method was to drill 6 holes equally spaced around the circumference of the barrel, than allow the spent gasses to vent into the void between the barrel and shroud, then vent out two small slots in the shroud.
An eminently inefficient system that has little impact on reducing barrel flip, and allows all kinds of crap to accumulate inside the shroud.
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
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Dan Wesson did make a power control in the large frame! Mostly seen in the 44mag. The 357max or Model 40 normally came with 2 barrel tubes mostly being in the 8" length, I have not seen a ported Max, I have seen a few in 6" not sure if factory or not. I am with the mind set of a good 15-2 in 357mag would serve to carry, or a 14-2 service model!
November 23, 2008
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Good morning
Now if you are looking to CC for bear then I guess I can see the desire to carry a 357 SM but a 445 SM would have been a better choice. I would even consider a .454 BFR with the short cylinder.
But if you are looking at 2 legged CC types.. a DW 15-2 with the stock long cylinder will accomidate a 180 grainer seated out to the first grease groove giving that extra powder capacity so you can get that 180 going fast enough to blow through even Goliath (if he was about).
But is that safe ? I imagine a 170 soft cast lead pill doing about 1100 FPS spilling near all the energy inside and making an exit about the size of a caliber .40 hole. Works wonders on 200 pound does at 35 yards. But I prefer my DW .41 or .45 Colt for hunting up close in the river bottoms.
So knowing the lowly 38 Special with a 170 grainer is plenty ( when properly placed) a .357 propelled 170 grainer properly placed is far safer in confined areas.
Mike in ILL till 28 Jan 
January 20, 2013
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First of all ,as a "newbie" thanks to everyone on the feedback 
I purchased this caliber DW to match up with my savage 24V 357max/20ga to use for hunting hogs at our camp in central FLA.I have a large collection of savage combo guns and am a big fan of guns with multiple barrels--I think I have 4 recievers and about 12 0r 13 barrels.
As for the CC I wasn't thinking it would be my primary CC piece,I have a nice little 380 that works just fine,but I would like a shorter barrel for the DW so that it could be avilable if I did want to carry it concealed.
Now I sometime also shoot 38+p and 357 magnum in my combo gun and I assumed (we all know what that means) I could use those rounds in the DW also.
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I don't think I'd shoot 38 specials out of my 357 max due to the long jump from the cartridge mouth to the forcing cone. I have shot 357 mag from the max and it works ok, but anytime you shoot alot of short cases like that you can get a carbon fouling ring in the chamber which will make it difficult to chamber the 357 max. If you do shoot the shorter stuff, be sure to scrub out the chambers with a brush and solvent to romve that buildup.
What length barrel do you have now? I've not seen any BA's for the model 40 shorter than 6 inches but they may exist. You could call Dan Wesson in a few months when they reopen in the new plant (had a fire in Nov) and see if they will make one for you. I've done this and they are very good to deal with. It took about a month to get and wasn't cheap but it was just what I asked for.
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
January 20, 2013
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Thank for the info I have the 8" barrel and I just got an email from Keith at the plant telling me about the fire and the availability of extra barrels.I keep in mind what you said about 38 ammo--I really don't shoot that much,just to sight in and to hunt
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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If I may ask, what did Keith at Dan Wesson say about availability of new barrels? I have been meaning to contact them about having a shroud made just havent done so yet.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
January 20, 2013
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His 1ST email didn't say but my reply asked when I could get one .He hasn't replied back to me yet.I'll post his answer when I get it.
February 11, 2010
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A Short barrel SuperMag for a carry piece would be rad ! 
What are you thinking
the four inch ?
-Blacktop
January 20, 2013
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I really don't know--my DW experience is zero so I'm going to ask the pro's what they think
Is 4" really a good choice or should I go to a 6"?I've seen several DW 357 max guns with 6" barrels for sale--nothing shorter.
The 8" barrel that comes on the gun is definitely for my hunting uses but a 4" may be the choice for "occasional carry"--maybe using 357 mag rounds?
February 11, 2010
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I think the four inch would be Awesome ! You see a lot of the Pro Guides carrying the
S&W 500 four inch and I know the Max would be much more enjoyable to shoot in
that size. I don't believe we have seen the Max in four inch, another reason I like
the idea.
-Blacktop
January 20, 2013
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I've shot a 2' python and a charter arms bulldog 44 spec 2"--both really aren't anything I'd want to shoot again so I'm a little leery of making a $300-$400 mistake of ordering a 4' max barrel BUT --it would be something!!!!
and I really like to shock people--just me being me
May 3, 2011
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Congrats on that 357 Max. They are great pistols and a real trophy gun.
February 5, 2013
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lonwolf93 said
If I may ask, what did Keith at Dan Wesson say about availability of new barrels? I have been meaning to contact them about having a shroud made just havent done so yet.-Lonwolf
Hey Lonwolf, I had a response just yesterday inquiring about some work and he said it was looking like June before they would be able to start back up with repairs/orders?
Wes
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