Register
Log In
Home
March 31, 2017
Offline
I have a 14-2 with a 6" barrel. Would this be enough to hunt with or would I need an 8" barrel? If I can use the 6", can the shroud be successfully drilled and tapped for a scope mount? It is the standard shroud with no vents. Lastly, can the DW's handle hot 357's? I'd like to be able to use what I have and scope it but if I have to spend $300-400 on another barrel and shroud I may do it. Oh, last question, the 15-2 barrels and shrouds should mate up with my 14-2 correct?
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
Moderators
November 17, 2008
Offline
OK several questions so I will do my best. A 6 inch 357 magnum is legal to hunt with in my state and I imagine in most states. Is it enough is a subjective opinion depending on what you are hunting and each persons ideas. I say yes if you do your part with bullet placement.
A DW will handle the hottest loads reasonable so no worries there.
The 15-2 shrouds will fit and work fine. The only issue is the point of aim will be off with the front site. There are adapter sights available and the issue is mute if you mount a scope.
A 6 inch shroud can be drilled and tapped but you may have to watch scope length as you don't want it stuck out in the muzzle blast.
Others smarter than I will be along soon and may have better answers.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
March 19, 2016
Offline
I would agree that a 6" barrel will be fine for hunting. But then again you did not really say what you were hunting. Deer, pigs, coyotes, fox no problem. It is very important you match your ammo to what you are hunting. Do your home work before you go. I have shot many things with revolvers. Just keep in mind you are not shooting a rifle. Practice enough that you know the distance you can shoot to and what the gun/load is capable of. A Dan Wesson is plenty of gun to shoot loads used for hunting, no worry there. Good luck
March 31, 2017
Offline
Shooting deer and pigs
Supporter
Moderators
Dans Club
February 22, 2009
Offline
Hunting with the .357 for deer is no problem. Hogs would be boarder line unless you are close and accurate, using a slow expanding bullet; that gristle plate can be hard to get through in the shoulder but the center neck shot would be OK. Be sure to study the pig's anatomy to ensure a good neck shot- kinda tricky...
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
March 31, 2017
Offline
rwsem said
Hunting with the .357 for deer is no problem. Hogs would be boarder line unless you are close and accurate, using a slow expanding bullet; that gristle plate can be hard to get through in the shoulder but the center neck shot would be OK. Be sure to study the pig's anatomy to ensure a good neck shot- kinda tricky...
I've killed around 600 pigs in the last 10 years. I got their anatomy down pat lol. I'm planning on using 158gr cast bullets. I can hard cast them and they'll go through the pig no problem. I'm only looking to use the pistol 50 yards and closer. I've shot and killed pigs with pistols before (45acp and 9mm) but they were only 15-20 yards away so the 357 shouldn't be a problem.
Took 3 shots but she went down. The belly shot was actually a pass through from another hog. The first hog went down, this one was got hit from the shot that dropped the first hog. I caught this one in the neck as she was running off and put a finishing shot behind her ear for good measure. All with a 45ACP.
February 29, 2012
Offline
n10sivern said
I have a 14-2 with a 6" barrel. Would this be enough to hunt with or would I need an 8" barrel? If I can use the 6", can the shroud be successfully drilled and tapped for a scope mount? It is the standard shroud with no vents. Lastly, can the DW's handle hot 357's? I'd like to be able to use what I have and scope it but if I have to spend $300-400 on another barrel and shroud I may do it. Oh, last question, the 15-2 barrels and shrouds should mate up with my 14-2 correct?
DW revolvers can successfully handle hot 357's. They are easily strong enough to handle "Ruger Only" or heavy silhouette loads.
Both the 6 and 8 inch length barrels should be fine to hunt with, depending on what kind of game you were after.
I also have a 714 fixed rear sight Dan Wesson 357 revolver. (Stainless version model 14-2)
My 714 revolver (above) with 3 different barrel shroud assemblies.
Top is a 6 inch is a 715 vent rib shroud, with 715 front sight blade. (Too tall for a 714)
Middle is a 4 inch is a 715 vent rib shroud, with a EWK Model 14 conversion sight blade.
Bottom is a 2.5 inch is a factory non vent shroud, with a stock 714 front sight blade.
The EWK Arms Dan Wesson Model 14 Conversion Front Sight Blade costs $11.99
The shorter Model 14 conversion front sight blade allows you use model 15-2 and 715 shrouds on a model 14-2 or a 714, and still have the sight plane line up correctly.
EWK Arms Link below.
http://www.ewkarms.com/zen8/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67_9&products_id=17
I also have an 8 inch barrel shroud for my DW 714 revolver, that's been drilled and tapped for a scope mount. My 8 inch barrel has no front sight provision at all, and gets used with optics only.
You can still purchase drill and tap scope mount bases, but the barrel shroud must be permanently modified (drilled and tapped) to accept this kinds of mount. I simply couldn't bring myself to drill holes in one of my rare, or hard won barrel shrouds. So instead I bought an 8 inch barrel & shroud that was already drilled and tapped with the mount attached from an online auction.
Somewhat more difficult to obtain but less permanent solutions, are the clamp on type mounts which attach to the top rib of the barrel shroud, or top of the revolver. They still pop up occasionally at online auction sites, but tend to be somewhat expensive since they are no longer being made.
For more information about scope mounts, be sure to check out the official DW scope mount thread linked below.
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/reloading/the-official-dw-scope-mount-thread/
- Bullwolf
March 31, 2017
Offline
Does the POI change any after taking the barrel and shroud off and putting it back on?
March 31, 2017
Offline
Would the weigand mount work?
Supporter
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
February 4, 2017
Offline
Thanks for sharing the pix and a very informative response Bullwolf. 
Rimfire
"LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO SPEND IT WITH AN UGLY GUN!" - John Taffin
February 29, 2012
Offline
Rimfire said
Thanks for sharing the pix and a very informative response Bullwolf.
Rimfire
You are most welcome.
n10sivern said
Does the POI change any after taking the barrel and shroud off and putting it back on?
You may experience a mild POI shift after removing the barrel & shroud, and reinstalling.
I typically do not experience much of a POI shift, but barrel nut torque, or even a loose shroud locator roll pin could affect it more on other revolvers than my own.
n10sivern said
Would the weigand mount work?
The Weigand drill and tap mount looks to have been used on quite a few Dan Wesson revolvers.
EWK arms made a custom RH (Railed Heavy) DW barrel shroud, where the scope rail is milled into the entire top of the barrel shroud. They do show up on auction sites from time to time. It might be worth contacting Eric at EWK arms, to ask if there is another batch scheduled soon.
EWK Arms RH Shroud
EWK Arms stainless RH shroud.
http://www.ewkarms.com/zen8/index.php?main_page=contact_us
You may also want to consider contacting CZ-USA/Dan Wesson to purchase, or even install a drill and tap scope mount base. That is unless you have a smith of your own, or you plan on doing the drill and tap installation work yourself.
CZ-USA (currently) shows a DW revolver scope mount in stock, on the Shop CZ-USA.com page.
https://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/20080_Dw-Revolver-Scope-Mount
CZ-USA Dan Wesson drill and tap scope mount image, from The official DW scope mount thread.
Additional CZ-USA Dan Wesson scope mount image, from Shop CZ-USA.com
There's likely a few other options as well. Someone with more experience with the various Dan Wesson scope mounts available, should be along here shortly.
- Bullwolf
March 31, 2017
Offline
Thank you for the information. The EWK shroud is nice!!!
Supporter
Range Officer
Moderators
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
Offline
He just did a batch of barrels, not sure if any of the long shrouds were made but give a call soon if interested.
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
1 Guest(s)
