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July 21, 2009
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Last week I snagged a DW 44 on Gunsamerica; well, it's here. Despite my prediction, it was made in Monson, functions fine, and seems to shoot halfway decent. I had a brief moment of panic when I saw the vents cut in the shroud, but the barrel itself is not vented.
I gave it a quick 25 yard range test.
The first load was some cheap commercial reloads I bought to harvest the brass: a 240 gr. plated LSWC at about 1200 fps. "Cheap" means all kinds of barrel leading, smoke, etc. It also means I paid, um, $50 for 973 loaded rounds (and 25 empties) from the disgusted original purchaser. Recoil was no problem, accuracy was OK, roughly 3" for six shots DA. Typically I had 3 touching, then 2 touching, and then one flyer. Yeah, my grip was shifting.
Second load was a cast 260 gr LSWC at 1400 fps. Accuracy was OK but I only shot a few of them.
Third load was one I was experimenting with when I sold my last .44 (Ruger SBH): a cast 300 gr LSWC at about 1400 fps. Once I figured out where they were hitting, it was obvious I don't need to be in a rush to work up an accuracy load! This one shoots minute-of-poker-chip, I just have to remember it hits 4" high at 25 yards.
The revolver seems to be in better condition than the seller described. Single- and double-action trigger pull is acceptable, particularly for a DW. As received the gun was wearing rubber Hogues and I see no reason to change that for now. The original wood stocks are a bit beat up, and I never liked them anyhow.
Yeah, yeah, I know:
I'll get on that right after I finish cleaning up my new revolver.
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Congrats on the new DW...
and thanks for the good range report! Anxious to see the 
.
Ed
January 22, 2008
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Coffeecup,
Thanks for the range report. I really love my stainless 44. I haven't really shot it much in DA mode but the SA trigger pull is unbelievable!
Looking forward to seeing the pictures!
Jody
April 25, 2008
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Nice report! I love my 744 it's one heck of a great shooter out to 200 meters. I will try 300 meters with it tomorrow, just for fun.
The Savantist
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Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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coffeecup said:
Last week I snagged a DW 44 on Gunsamerica; well, it's here. Despite my prediction, it was made in Monson, functions fine, and seems to shoot halfway decent. I had a brief moment of panic when I saw the vents cut in the shroud, but the barrel itself is not vented.
Nice catch CC. I'll bet that when you get some quality fodder for that thing the accuracy will improve a lot.
BTW, I believe that all shrouds for 44/744's are ported. However, if you want the ported barrels to match you will have to get them on the auction sites.
Enjoy!
-Mike
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January 24, 2009
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coffeecup said:
I paid, um, $50 for 973 loaded rounds (and 25 empties) from the disgusted original purchaser.
That's awesome! Even if they are cheap rounds, that's still awesome!
You jumped in on a good deal with that gun, way to go.
February 20, 2008
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If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
July 21, 2009
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Sorry for the delay, got called in to work before I had anything more than these snapshots. I think I've got them resized correctly--now to figure how to post pics!
Hey, it looks like it worked!
Just snapshots, not up to the standards of the forum here--but I did finally get them done. Will try to get some decent shots of a clean gun Monday or Tuesday.
February 15, 2009
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"BTW, I believe that all shrouds for 44/744's are ported. "
I have a 44 Palmer that has no vents in the shroud. Just wondering if no ports is that uncommon.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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warnerwh said:
“BTW, I believe that all shrouds for 44/744's are ported. “
I have a 44 Palmer that has no vents in the shroud. Just wondering if no ports is that uncommon.
Curious. Maybe it's a Monson thing. All of my shrouds for my 744 are ported and all are Monson made. I regret that I don't have ported barrels for the VH4 and VH8, only for the VH6 which was the barrel on the gun when I bought it new.
Are you sure the shroud is a Palmer (roll marked caliber)? I'm just thinking that it could have been purchased separately by the original owner (unless that's you ) and actually be a Norwich (laser engraved caliber) shroud.
I don't shoot the ported barrel much because there's just no need with a DW, IMHO, and the cleaning afterward is a bit of a PITA.
Maybe we can get some of the other guy's with 44/744's to chime in here and determine whether ported shrouds were a Monson only thing
-Mike
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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I have a Monson 44 that all the shrouds are ported and the ported barrels are with the 6" and 8" but not the 10". I do not have any Palmer 44's to compare with.
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
April 25, 2008
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My 744-VH10 is a Monson gun, and the shroud is NOT ported. How's that for throwing a wrench in the works.
The Savantist
February 15, 2009
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My Palmer 44 I bought new. It seems odd that so many shrouds are ported but not barrels. I wonder if the shrouds were made and then the leading between shroud and barrel came about so they quit porting barrels.
Supporter
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January 24, 2009
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According to magazine articles, the ported barrels were available at the very beginning. DW advised that you should take the shroud & barrel apart after every 200 (IIRC) rounds for cleaning…and advised that only jacketed bullets be used.
The magazine writers seemed to prefer the non-ported barrels, because of less hassle & not having to do mandatory re-zeroing of the sights after each barrel install…but they did say the ported feature did work well on the gun.
Because of the cleaning hassle, you'd think that the ported barrels would be a lot less common. I've noticed that some of the ones on the auction sites say that the ported barrels are often unfired.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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warnerwh said:
My Palmer 44 I bought new. It seems odd that so many shrouds are ported but not barrels. I wonder if the shrouds were made and then the leading between shroud and barrel came about so they quit porting barrels.
Does that mean that your Palmer gun has ported shroud(s)?
As I understand it, all barrel assemblies with ported shrouds were sold with non-ported barrels and if you wanted the ported barrel, you had to order the assembly that way or order the ported barrel sepatately.
-Mike
February 15, 2009
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My gun came without ports in the shroud.
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