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August 29, 2009
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Talked to my gunsmith about Dan Wesson revolvers. He and his family owns them and says they are good guns BUT…When they blow up, they blow up bad.
He has seen see what was left of 3 that had blown up. The cylinder and back strap ended up in pieces that flew apart but no one was hurt. He see it in 357 and 44 mag. He did not note what era they came from. Is this common for a certin era or is it random?
What info and personal experience do you have on them when they blow up?
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January 24, 2009
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Honestly, when the situation is right, ANY gun will blow up bad. DW's are no weaker than others, I'm sure of it.
A handy example...
I had a friend once who liked to whip up his own "special hot-loads" that we used to shoot through his Anaconda. He ended up breaking the top strap one day at the range.
If you are careful with the loads you're loading, a DW will last for thousands of rounds in it's lifetime. Ask IHMSA80×80 how many rounds he has through some of his DW's.
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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Let me find some pics–I have some of a scoped revolver that blew up–WOW!
SHOOT
January 22, 2008
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I would think in order to blow up any modern quality revolver someone did something wrong. Landtoy if I'm not mistaken this is the first post on DWF about one blowing up so this is certainly not common.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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It has likely happened to DW's, just as it has happened with Colt, S&W, etc. I talk to lots of people at gunshops, a couple gunsmiths, and online about Dan Wessons, no one has ever commented on one blowing up. Surprising that one gunsmith has experience with three of them.
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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January 24, 2009
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SHOOTIST357 said:
Let me find some pics–I have some of a scoped revolver that blew up–WOW!
Look at that, an Anaconda!
Although my friend's blow-up wasn't as bad as that one, it did split the top strap just above the barrel.
August 29, 2009
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He didn't advise me not to get one, just gave me a heads up that from his experience, that when the DW blows up, it does so more than other revolvers that he has seen.
February 2, 2009
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Check on Graybeardoutdoors.com, he mentioned that he wouldn't own one because of blowing cylinders, but I had a 357 mag in the early 80's that shot several hundred rounds of factory and reloaded ammo with no problems and my current 357supermag has had a few thousand rounds of reloads from factory spec to Ruger only loads and it's still working fine. Both my guns are Monson and blued. In fact my mag went through about 1000 rounds in one day, when my neighbor called when I was Active duty USAF and they had to dispose of several cases of 357mag and 38 spcl ammo that was in excess of their allotment before an inspection, 4 Sp's and myself spent several hours at the range shooting til we got tired, took a break and shot again, watching out that the guns didn't get too hot, we ended up with a 55 gal barrel of brass.
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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Guys--I like to load my stuff HOT... I've been reloading for over 20+ years heavily, and I'ver never blown up a gun. And believe me, some of my 44 mag loads would put a hurt on a cheap gun. The DW's are tanks and are made to be shot steady. If one blows up, I'd blame it on the round, not the gun--and chances are--it would take a few overloaded rounds before it came apart.
SHOOT
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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Yep I am sure it is possible to bust one, but less likely than most other brands, is what I have always been told. I even remember reading somewhere that one of the DW group put a solid rod in place of the barrel on a Dan and fired all 6 cylinders with no dammage to the gun. As with any thing "stuff happens" but I am not the least worried about a blowup. As long as the operator stupidity factor doesn't take over. Hmm "OSF" could be a new acronym.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
Range Officers
February 25, 2009
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robhof, absolutely no offense to you. But over the years watching and listening to guys that have delt with graybeard, I would have to step outside to make sure it was raining if he told me it was.
I would consider the DW's close to or as strong as the Rugers. With the Rugers being top dog in strength except the FA. I also think most failures come from a double charge of powder or a primer not fully seated and ignites a chamber not under the firing pin, which in turn make for a messy outcome.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
~Thomas Jefferson~
July 5, 2009
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lbruce said:
Yep I am sure it is possible to bust one, but less likely than most other brands, is what I have always been told. I even remember reading somewhere that one of the DW group put a solid rod in place of the barrel on a Dan and fired all 6 cylinders with no dammage to the gun. As with any thing "stuff happens" but I am not the least worried about a blowup. As long as the operator stupidity factor doesn't take over. Hmm "OSF" could be a new acronym.
LB
LB,
I have uploaded an excerpt of the article that I believe you reference in your comments. The article was Dan Wesson's Littlest Magnum – 32 H&R Magnum by Todd Spotti. Seth Wesson's claim cited in the article seems extraordinary to say the least. If true, however, the claim would help to support your and other Forum members' comments about the DW revolver cylinder strength. The full article is at: http://www.lasc.us/RangingShotDWLittlestMagnum.htm.
(DISCLAIMER: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO REPRODUCE THE TEST CITED BELOW AS IT MAY CAUSE BODILY INJURY AND/OR DEATH).
"To illustrate just how strong these guns are, Seth Wesson once told me how, as an experiment, he took a small frame 357 Mag model, replaced the barrel with a solid steel rod, and loaded it with a proof cartridge (100,000 psi +). The gun was then fired remotely in a test chamber. Not only did the gun survive, but functioned normally afterwards with no damage what so ever. Now that’s what I call tough."
GG
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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GG- That is an extraordinary claim, I have lot's of trouble with the "functioned normally...no damage" part. Seems hard to believe.
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
August 29, 2009
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Is the cylinder cast metal?
Are all the different era's cylinders made the same?
Is there a strength difference between SS and steel?
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January 24, 2009
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I'm pretty sure the cylinders are all forged. Cast would be too brittle. The frames, triggers & hammers are cast though.
Steel is generally stronger than stainless, but the 17-4PH stainless (that I believe is used in DW's) is really close to having the same hardess as forged steel.
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