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August 12, 2012
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Although I'm a semi-auto guy and own a Valor I couldn't help but get a 744 as a backup gun for deer hunting (in bear country). Picked up a 744 in ported stainless, like new condition, 6" barrel (ported and non-ported). Have a couple of questions.
1. The serial number list shows two ranges of serial numbers beginning with 44S. How is a person to identify which approx year a gun is made based on this list? Mine is 44S0048xx.
2. My 744 came with the original DW wood grips which are not checkered and somewhat plain grain. Are the nicer looking "zebra" looking wood grips available anywhere for my gun? I already bought a new old stock Pachmayr presentation grip for field use (Oregon = wet) but would love a nice zebra looking wood grip for when she rests in my safe.
3. The ports in the barrel seem to line up forward of the ports in the shroud. Is this proper? Since I got a ported and non-ported barrel with the gun I will likely try both and see if there is a distinct advantag of the ported barrel over the non-ported barrel. Since it is a back up hunting / field gun I won't be shooting it much and when I shoot it the recoil will be the least of my concerns.
Thanks in advance,
PapaCap
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December 4, 2011
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First off 
to the 
from PA!
Now, it sounds to me like you have what DW called a 'Power Control Barrel'. It consists of a barrel tube with cross drilled holes near the muzzel end and a shroud with two slits in the top near the muzzel. This idea didn't really work that well. What it did do was to foul the inside of the shroud with powder residue, lead and copper flakes etc. If you don't disassemble the barrel assembly every time you shoot it and scrub it out with a 12ga brass brush, you can end up with a barrel that is all but impossible to get off. I have a gun configured same as yours. I only shoot the regular barrel.
If muzzel climb is a big problem for you, consider finding a Compensated barrel shroud. It has slits across the muzzel end for about an inch, the end of the barrel is recessed inside the shroud. These work well, I also have one like that. I think they are available from Dan Wesson in Norwich NY.
As to grips, they come up on ebay and Gunbroker all the time, but Zebra is expensive. DW may also have them as well.
Also consider a set of LB custom grips, he is a master grip maker and a member of this site, goes by the handle LBruce.
BTW post some 
of your gun(s) we like pics
.
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August 28, 2009
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Scorpio pretty much covered it. Pack away the ported barrel for a spare. As far as grips - new Zebra's aren't available anymore but every once in a while they do pop up in the secondary market. There are several other choices including new LB, and Hogue available on ebay and at Midway
August 12, 2012
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Thanks boys. I'll check out LB - maybe they can make me some zebra grips like the DW grips.
Too bad about the porting design. I wonder why they didn't at least line up the ports in the barrel with the ports in the shroud. Seems it would have worked better. If there is a good reason and someone knows of it please share.
Any info about my serial number and what year this beaut was made?
I put the Pachmayr presentaton grip on it today. Fit well, feel good, looks good with the stainless.
Ordered a Guides Choice holster rig from Diamond D Custom Leather in Alaska.
Thanks to all who have served our great country! Give till it hurts...they did!
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January 22, 2008
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That's a nice looking holster! Let us know how you like it!
August 12, 2012
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they told me the holster will be in my hands by month's end. I'll test drive it at my gun club but the real test will be during Black Tail hunting this fall. I've talked to a few guys who have used these rigs and have nothing but good to say about them.
Any other comments about the crappy line up of the DW ported barrel with the shroud. I estimate mine is about 1/2 inch between the barrel ports and the shroud ports. That just seems dumb but most things that seem dumb to me have a good reason behind the design and I just don't know about it.
Thanks to all who have served our great country! Give till it hurts...they did!
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March 2, 2008
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The DW Power Control barrel was a very poorly executed attempt to ride the coattails of MagnaPort. Because the DW barrel fits separately from the shroud,the vent holes in the barrel cannot be precisely lined up with the slots in the shroud.
It is a pretty crappy design that might have been improved by having more or larger holes in the barrel and larger/longer vent slots in the shroud. A limiting factor would still have been the minimal volume or space between the barrel exterior and the shroud interior to trap and channel the muzzle blast.
The later compensated B/A's really came closer to being a sensible alternative.
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 12, 2012
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Steve CT said
The DW Power Control barrel was a very poorly executed attempt to ride the coattails of MagnaPort. Because the DW barrel fits separately from the shroud,the vent holes in the barrel cannot be precisely lined up with the slots in the shroud.It is a pretty crappy design that might have been improved by having more or larger holes in the barrel and larger/longer vent slots in the shroud. A limiting factor would still have been the minimal volume or space between the barrel exterior and the shroud interior to trap and channel the muzzle blast.
The later compensated B/A's really came closer to being a sensible alternative.
You hit the nail on the head. "Crappy design" is right. I've made the assumption that there is some good reason that the holes don't line up. Heck, they aren't even close. If the holes in the barrel were close to the slots in the shroud I can see the porting system providing some good. However, the way it's designed I agree, even prior to shooting my 744, that the chances of the porting providing any noticeable compensation very limited. Oh well, the rest of the gun makes up for it. I held it up next to my S&W 29-3 and Dan looks like a beast.
Thanks to all who have served our great country! Give till it hurts...they did!
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
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March 2, 2008
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Your 744 is MUCH more robust than the 29, it will absorb any responsibly heavy load you can imagine, and it will do so for many years.
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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