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March 9, 2025
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I just acquired a 744VH8 (Monson manufactured) with ported shroud and barrel. I picked it up in a lot of firearms and know little about these pistols.
I have some questions about it. Please excuse my ignorance. In my research it appears that you shouldn’t shoot lead bullets through these ported guns because it will cause the barrel and shroud to get stuck.
How often should these be taken apart (barrel and shroud) and cleaned during regular shooting? I have a very nice Model 29-2 that I shoot a lot of cast bullets through, so I’m weighing the practicality of the DW 744VH8.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Paul
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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To the
ftom central Il!!
From the pics your shroud is definitely ported, but have you verified the barrel tube is ported too? Most people don’t shoot them ported because of the sticking barrel issue. If you do shoot it ported, you should take apart and clean it after every session. Another option is to buy a non-ported barrel tube to use inside the ported shroud.
March 9, 2025
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Thanks for the reply. Yes the barrel is ported as well. I do not have a barrel wrench, so I’m thinking I should get one and take the shroud/barrel assembly apart for a good cleaning before I shoot it.
If I decided to go that route, where is the best place to find a non-ported barrel?
I have also considered selling it as I already have several .44 magnum revolvers.
just weighing my options.
Paul
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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I believe CZ-USA still sells barrel nut wrenches. Also, EWK Arms sells stuff for Dans too. They have a nifty wrench that uses removable inserts (one insert per caliber). They sell both large frame and small frame wrenches.
March 9, 2025
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Thanks for the info! I’ll have to get a wrench. Also a non-ported barrel would be great.
Paul
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Watch eBay for barrels. Also many of the gun marketplace sites like GunBroker, GunsInternational, Guns.com, GunsAmerica, and Armslist.
Dans Club
December 7, 2020
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KurtB said:
If you do shoot it ported, you should take apart and clean it after every session. Another option is to buy a non-ported barrel tube to use inside the ported shroud.
What Kurt said.
I just bought 3 new stainless 44 barrels (8") from Dan Wesson (Genny) I paid either $110 or 130 each. The DW part# is DWR0332S
You can also get new barrel assemblies in different lengths:
https://shop.cz-usa.com/dw-products/revolver/barrels-shrouds/44-magnum.html
https://shop.cz-usa.com/dw-products/revolver/spare-parts.html
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Great info there Scout!!
March 9, 2025
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Thanks Scout!! I’ll take a look and see what’s available. Thank you as well Kurt.
You guys are great!
Paul
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Glad to have you with us! This group on the DWF are top notch people.
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January 24, 2009
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KurtB said
Glad to have you with us! This group on the DWF are top notch people.
True dat! 
Dans Club
March 28, 2023
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May 6, 2024
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Gonna be the Odd Man out..since I like Ported Barrels. I personally would just leave it, and Shoot the Snot outta it!! Gonna buy the barrel Wrench anyway (I use EWK personally) may as well use it to clean at the threads after an outing.. Nothing much to it, Long as the ports "match up" at desired B/C gap..!!
March 9, 2025
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Thanks for all of the info and the welcomes! I’ve reached out to see about getting a non ported 8” barrel and would like to buy a 4” barrel and shroud as well. Looking forward to shooting it but want to wait til I clean it first. Don’t want to add more fouling as I don’t know when the shroud/barrel was last cleaned.
Paul
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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It's fine to shoot the Power Control barrels on the ported shrouds, you've just got to clean them regularly after use, especially if shooting lead.
The problem arises when people don't take the shroud off and clean them often. I had a 44 I got at a show that the previous owner apparently never removed the shroud. When I went to remove the shroud, the nut came off but the shroud wouldn't move. I tried soaking in oil, and even kerosene with little improvement. I finally shot 6 rounds with the barrel nut removed and immediately dunked it into Kroil and let it soak. After another overnight soak, I was finally able to wiggle the shroud off. There was carbon and jacket fragments all the way down the 8 inch shroud to the frame face, packed tight so there was no space between barrel and shroud. I had to use a brass brush on a drill and Hoppes to clean the shroud.
So moral of the story, clean your guns regularly, especially if shooting power control tubes.
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
Dans Club
March 28, 2023
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You guys may remember this for sale last week on GB. I started looking at it and then alarms went off. It was a newer Palmer compensated shroud but the barrel was an old type power control barrel. I kept thinking if whoever bought that tried to shoot it like that it would end well. The old style barrel with the 6 holes drilled in it. That means the holes would be 
behind the barrel nut so the gas would have nowhere to go but I guess out the barrel. would this have been dangerous to fire like that? Seems to me it would be but then again the gas could just not go anywhere and escape out behind the bullet. I did send a message to the seller to let the buyer know but still not sure if it would cause a problem.
March 9, 2025
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I haven’t fired the pistol yet. I’m heeding everyone’s advice and waiting for my wrench to arrive so I can take it apart and clean it. It doesn’t look like it has been fired much, but who knows when the shroud was last removed.
I’ll keep you guys updated. Thanks for all of the useful info!
Paul
March 9, 2025
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Okay! I received my wrench/feeler gauge set today. I have been applying some penetrating oil to it for about the last four days in anticipation of a stuck barrel shroud nut…
To my surprise the nut came right off with little effort! The shroud came off easily as well. As you can see from the photos, it’s pretty dirty but should clean up easily( I soaked it pretty well!)
So far, so good! Have an 8” non ported barrel in the works and think I’ll get the 4” assembly as well.
Thanks guys!
Paul
March 9, 2025
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Photos for above!! Also, how much should I torque this down past snug when re-assembling?
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