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October 27, 2017
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I've had this DW 44 for 6 years. It was unfired with box when I bought it. 6" barrel.
I have a shoulder holster for it, but when hiking around Glacier National Park (we live nearby) its pretty heavy and unwieldy. I'd like to go to a 4" barrel.
Q1: Are the CZ barrels/shrouds any good?
Q2: What does the B/A mean? --> https://shop.cz-usa.com/b-a-blued-44-4-inch.html
Q3: The box had the multi-tool, manual, but no .006 shim. Can I use an automotive feel guage? (You know, when we used to check the point gaps in older engines? 🙂 )
Thanks all!
Photos
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February 8, 2014
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Hello Sportsdad60
I really like your 44 mag. I recently bought a blued DW 44 and have yet to shoot it. In checking it over I don't believe it has ever been fired. I have some stainless 44s that I shoot often and love them.
I have a couple of answers for you on your questions.
1. BA stands for Barrel Assembly. That is usually a shroud, barrel and barrel nut.
2. CZ parts. I have 2 stainless BAs that I use on my 44s and they seem to be very good quality. They are much more accurate than I am.
3. If you can't buy a DW feeler guage then I am sure an automotive guage would work very well. CZ USA has a site you can access to buy DW parts and BAs. I have gotten a few things from them. There is another site I have used to buy DW parts but I can't get on their site today. It is EWK Arms. The site address is ewkarms.com. There are several parts listed on E-bay for DW parts and accessories.
Good luck with your revolver. I hope you enjoy shooting it.
Steve.
Steve S.
October 27, 2017
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Thanks Steve!
I just validated that my feeler gauges are wide enough to keep the .006 gap. (I used .005 though, a spec closer)
Just pulled the trigger on a CZ 4" DW B/A.
Thanks for your answers!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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The CZ barrel assemblies are the same as Monson or Palmer except for the roll mark.
Automotive feeler gauges are actually more utilitarian. The set with all the different sizes is great. Point oh six is actually what is recommended for small frame guns. It is more of a gap than is usually needed unless the cylinder face is not perpendicular. The small frame cylinder expands with use,closing the gap a bit. The large frame guns do not generally need more than .002 gap. Hence the benefit of the set of automotive feeler gauges. A .002 shim is standard with the 44 mag.
November 3, 2019
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sportsdad, I recently picked up a 4" VH barrel assembly from CZ/DW. At 10 yards from a rest, a 6-shot group was one ragged hole with the exception of one shooter-induced flyer about 1/2" out. Ammo was Federal 240 gr. JHP ammo. They're good gear.
My only other .44 barrel is the 8" ported vent rib barrel that the revolver came with. I hadn't given the porting on that barrel much credit, but the muzzle rise on the 4" is more than I expected considering the weight distribution of the 4" VH shroud vs. the 8" ported vent rib barrel. It's not unmanageable, but it's definitely noticeable.
Ole Dog, I had no idea that the gap on the .44 should be that small. Mine's running about .005", guess I can tighten that up some.
October 27, 2017
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Thanks for the input fellas!
October 27, 2017
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CZ ships fast!
New 4" barrel arrived. Pleased as punch!
I put my shootin' grip on it and plan to test it tomorrow.
October 11, 2009
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Sir, do yourself a favor and put that gun up as a "Safe Queen". She is way too pretty to be hauled around hiking. Its going to get scratched and bumped around. Get yourself a Taurus or an old stainless Ruger .44. They are "Working" guns. Dan Wesson's are works of beauty and engineering art.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Yes, and get a stainless gun to hike in the humid Northwest.
October 11, 2009
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For sure, go for stainless in that climate. But your DW44 needs to only be shot on nice days. It's like having a mint 65 Corvette. You only drive it once in a while and only on nice days. I've never seen a Corvette with studded snow tires or chains on it. But then again I live in the south.
August 8, 2016
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Dantanna58 said
Sir, do yourself a favor and put that gun up as a "Safe Queen". She is way too pretty to be hauled around hiking. Its going to get scratched and bumped around. Get yourself a Taurus or an old stainless Ruger .44. They are "Working" guns. Dan Wesson's are works of beauty and engineering art.
F that. To each their own but I shoot the crap out of my Dan’s. To the point the 8" barrel split on my Monson 715 which destroyed the gun. I also sheered off the scope base screws on my 744.
But then again I’m a shooter not a collector. I am not wasting space in my safe along with money just to have them collect dust.
DW’s are not Korth revolvers.
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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Sportsdad, great looking "snubby (for a 44)" BA, let us know how it shoots! If you care to share. 
Andrew, it depends on where you are personally regarding the general value of some DW's & how much they impact their worth on one's soul. I for one, own just shy of 20 DW's currently...and there are a few of those that are not quite "one-off", but pretty close. About 6 of those have never been fired, past the DW factory. Those I have never fired myself...but I keep 'em clean & lubed. I have another revolver that is a "1-of-5" ever produced (not a DW), but it came to me with a few rounds down the pipe before me & I simply had to feel it breathe (it is an early 454 Casull)...I sent 10 rounds down the pipe, then I cleaned it up, with a grin on my face & haven't fired it since.
So I do understand the sentiment of "keeping the miles" off a certain gun...a nice gun, a nice gun that has a certain worth to a guy. Many DW revolvers evoke this kind of feeling & sentiment on & to their owners. On the other hand, Korth revolvers hold no value to me (or most others here), regardless of their German make (& supposed automatic class superiority), not to mention their self aggrandizing advertising. Blah. Until that German gun proves itself superior, it's just a bunch of BS to me, at this point. And I doubt I'm alone in that opinion. 
December 26, 2018
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I love my 744 and the two CZ barrels I own are excellent. But, in my opinion, the Dan Wesson 44's aren't what I would consider a hiking gun. My 744 with the 4" is much heavier than anything I would want to hike with. Even with the 2 1/2" barrel it is way too heavy for me to even consider hiking with it.
The Dan Wesson 44's were designed to be a target revolver. Mainly for silhouette shooting. For this they are excellent. The DW 44's are a massive frame designed to stand up to competition shooting, with heavy loads and last forever. I don't shoot competitions but I love my 744 as a range gun and it is an excellent night stand gun... right next to the amplified muffs.
If you think the 6" barrel is unwieldy I don't think you are going to find the 4" barrel to be that much more convenient. If you want to hike with your DW by all means go for it! It is an excellent revolver and one I would trust my life with. It is just a lot more weight than I would ever want to carry while hiking.
I have a scoped 8" barrel which is a fun shooter! It is lighter than my hunting rifles... but not by a whole lot. I frequently put the heavy but effective EWK brake on the 8" barrel which makes a very steady shooter when I am at the range.
My 4" barrel is also a nice shooter. The weight makes it much more pleasant to shoot that the 44's from other manufactures I have shot. I shoot the 4" at the range quite a bit. I kind of wish I could get a 4" barrel shroud without the full under lug. But the actual weight savings that little bit of metal would save is kind of trivial considering the weight of the frame. I am glad CZ decided to manufacture the full under lug shrouds, it is a lot easier taking a bit of stainless off of a shroud that it is to try to add some on.
I have only had my 744 with its new 2 1/2" barrel out once. It is a fun gun with lower power target reloads. Even the lower power hand loads throw out a LOT of flame... which is kind of fun.
P.S. I carry my XD mod 2, 3.8" .45 acp subcompact for hiking. To me this is a perfect pistol for hiking. I have been eyeing the new XDm 3.8" subcompact 10mm. A 10mm would make a very nice hiking gun, but I have a lot of faith in .45 acp for my locale here in Central Oregon.
July 15, 2017
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oughtsix said
My 4" barrel is also a nice shooter. The weight makes it much more pleasant to shoot that the 44's from other manufactures I have shot. I shoot the 4" at the range quite a bit. I kind of wish I could get a 4" barrel shroud without the full under lug. But the actual weight savings that little bit of metal would save is kind of trivial considering the weight of the frame. I am glad CZ decided to manufacture the full under lug shrouds, it is a lot easier taking a bit of stainless off of a shroud that it is to try to add some on.
If you want a partial lug 44 mag 4" barrel assembly you can order one directly from Dan Wesson, just contact Genny Spencer ( Office & Production Manager Genny@cz-usa.com )
Earlier this year the going cost of them were $359.80, basically the cost of the normal vented heavy version plus some extra for the extra steps they have to do to the shroud.
December 26, 2018
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David said
oughtsix said
My 4" barrel is also a nice shooter. The weight makes it much more pleasant to shoot that the 44's from other manufactures I have shot. I shoot the 4" at the range quite a bit. I kind of wish I could get a 4" barrel shroud without the full under lug. But the actual weight savings that little bit of metal would save is kind of trivial considering the weight of the frame. I am glad CZ decided to manufacture the full under lug shrouds, it is a lot easier taking a bit of stainless off of a shroud that it is to try to add some on.
If you want a partial lug 44 mag 4" barrel assembly you can order one directly from Dan Wesson, just contact Genny Spencer ( Office & Production Manager Genny@cz-usa.com )
Earlier this year the going cost of them were $359.80, basically the cost of the normal vented heavy version plus some extra for the extra steps they have to do to the shroud.
Excellent! Thank you for letting me know!
November 20, 2021
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I recently purchased a DW 44 mag with a serial number that starts with 012xxx
it is Beautiful dark rich blueing and not a scratch.
I think it was made in early 1970? Looking for any information
February 16, 2016
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Munch44mag said
I recently purchased a DW 44 mag with a serial number that starts with 012xxx.I think it was made in early 1970? Looking for any information
Firstly, 
to the 
Our serial number registry has a Model 44 with 0103xx that is from 1981.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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The first 44 mags were sold in 1980. Dan Wesson was showing them off on the silhouette circuit in 1978.
June 8, 2009
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Glacier NP is in Montana. To me it's not really the humid NW after living in OR. I did not pack my DW.44 much in OR. All my DWs are blue...like when Dan Wesson was alive. BUT...most of my blue guns only go out when the weather is nice.
OP might want to give Diamond D Holsters a peek. I love the leather chest holster for my 8" .44V. They also make a nice hip holster that has a flap available that I keep eyeing for 4"VH and maybe 6"VH. They know DWs and the difference between V and VH although I think they call them full and 1/2 lug. Nice products and nice people.
I like the front sight you got!
October 27, 2017
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Sorry late getting back on the range report.
This vid below at the bottom was from last November before I went south to TX for the winter.
Very accurate at 25 yards with the 4" barrel and my 44 mag hand loads. My hand load data velocity was out of 1 of the 2 Ruger 44 Carbines I own so that's why they're so high. The velocity out of this 4" barrel is roughly 1200 FPS.
Thanks for the heads up on the Diamond D chest rigs, Leonard!
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