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Post by jfs on Aug 2, 2019 14:25:42 GMT -5
I finally found a Dan Wesson 357 Super mag in good condition for a decent price.... It was worth the wait... Anyone have this handgun?? What are you shooting??? What have you hunted??
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Post by squawberryman on Aug 2, 2019 14:50:35 GMT -5
Sir what's the difference between a 357 Max and a 357 Supermag? Thank you
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Post by matt56 on Aug 2, 2019 16:12:57 GMT -5
I have the same gun in stainless and it cost me quite a bit. I don’t anticipate ever seeing another one
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Post by kings6 on Aug 2, 2019 16:15:48 GMT -5
Potato versus Potahto in 357 max versus 357 supermag. There MAY have been some minor differences in case length if my memory serves me but same round. Mr. Taffin will be along shortly to correct me if I am in error.
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Post by potatojudge on Aug 2, 2019 16:46:22 GMT -5
It’s potato, and the difference is negligible- case length IIRC.
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Post by Encore64 on Aug 2, 2019 16:47:46 GMT -5
Beautiful Gun!!!
I saw it on the Reeder Forum. Can't go wrong with a gun like that.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Aug 8, 2019 6:43:01 GMT -5
That one looks really nice... Mine is stainless, a gun we got from FIL... I added the rubber grips, & had my retired tool & die buddy make me a custom comp / barrel nut, it's forward beveled to direct gasses away from the scope lense... FIL reportedly shot a big Wisconsin buck at 125 yards, with the scope on, but the factory wood grips, & factory barrel nut... thinking he was using a 180 grain bullet, not sure the load, though I'd bet it was backed by 4227
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Post by oddshooter on Aug 8, 2019 13:40:39 GMT -5
A half dozen years ago I got really focused on the Dan Wessons and in particular the SuperMags. The barrel interchange really tweaked my mellon. I have both the blued and stainless. In full shrouds and in partial slotted shrouds. I have bought extra barrels, shrouds, and accessories several times as well from the new Dan Wesson and EWK. This has made the DW especially fun to collect. I also really enjoy the purple coloring on many of the DW's. www.danwessonforum.com/forum/ is a wonderland of DW aficionados. My story of blowing up one of my DW SuperMag is there with pics. Prescut
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Post by bradshaw on Aug 9, 2019 18:15:05 GMT -5
Sir what's the difference between a 357 Max and a 357 Supermag? Thank you ***** The .357 Maximum represents Bill Ruger’s move to squeeze .44 Mag energy into a straightwall revolver chamber with less recoil and good retained energy downrange. The Blackhawk Maximum handles .357 Mag and .38 Special without worry. From some revolvers .357 Mag can be very accurate. Even the .38 Special groups from the right gun. In my experience, a short, concentric foring cone counts big time in making the shorter shells shoot. Founding IHMSA member Elgin Gates----and president from 1977 until his death in 1988----learned of the development from the present writer, and appropriated the case by calling it the “.357 Super Mag” and specifying an additional .005-inch in length to Ruger’s 1.605-inch case. Thereafter, Gates came up with the .445 Super Mag, .375 Super Mag, and .441 Super Mag. The .445 SM was Elgin’s answer to Dick Casull’s .454 Casul, but has nowhere near the performance of Dick’s big .45. Like its forebears .38 Special and .357 Magnum, the Maximum runs a straight chamber with parallel sides. Thus, the Maximum may be loaded with .38 Spl/.357 Mag dies, just as this writer did with experimental brass when there were no Maximum dies in existence. As with all proper revolver loading, a seating plug which fits the bullet is often necessary to prevent deformation. Brass headstamped “.357 Super Mag” or “.357 Super Magnum” is really .357 Maximum brass. The Dan Wesson Arms Model 40 and Seville have longer cylinders than the Ruger, a plus for rifle bullets and a little more powder. Before Sig Himmelmann and DWA made lengthened revolvers, Bill Ruger, Sr., and Bill, Jr., were ready to lengthen frame & cylinder beyond the SRM prototypes, a move I resisted for potential strength reasons. Father & son Ruger poo-poo’d my doubt, but sdeferred to the SRM length as sufficient. (Bill Ruger, Jr. was ready to order experimental ammo with 1.660-inch case, which Bill, Sr., and this shooter thought would expose the forcing cone and narrow the rpm band for consistency. Viewed from the perspective of deep seating, the longer case may have worked fine.) David Bradshaw
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Post by oddshooter on Aug 10, 2019 11:42:18 GMT -5
David,
It takes a big man to bring candor to the discussion of the past.
.005 doesn't sound like enough to make a difference to me, but reading your recollections about how we got here is a little slice of humility that is always both enjoyed and respected. It seems we don't see it much anymore.
The 357 Maximum is still my favorite caliber. It just fits my shooting to a T. Thanks once again for the role you played and the path you're still on.
Prescut
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Post by HolyHotLoads on Nov 11, 2019 21:13:08 GMT -5
Hello,
New to this forum and new to the 357 Maximum. I've had mine for about two months and I absolutely love it. It is the same as yours, slotted shroud and all. Although yours looks to be in better shape cosmetically. So far a good dose of 4227 and 180 grain "Strikers" makes twanging steel at 200 yards surprisingly easy as I'm no silhouette shooter... although I'd love to get involved in the sport. I do have a few questions about this particular revolver. This is my first Dan Wesson, this revolver (40 supermag) has what I would describe as a clunky action. Sometimes the hammer is hard to cock back while shooting single action. I'm curious if it is because of the rather large cylinder having more inertia to overcome? Ive played with the grip screw to see if it was interfering with the hammer but it didnt seem to be. Although mine was well used it seems to be mechanically sound and well taken care of, but I'm no revolver expert. Single action trigger break is quite nice. Double action is a mess of spongyness and grit but with a short hammer throw. Another question I've been unable to get answered is are you able to shoot .358 200 grain rifle bullets in this pistol. I know this may seem like a silly question but I have load data for several bullets with a diameter of .358, I'm just not sure if they are meant for a revolver or a single shot pistol. Finally I've already had two Remington cases split while resizing after only 3 reloads. Is this normal case life for the 357 maximum or is Starline a better choice for brass? I am absolutely obsessed with my new pistola as it puts a smile on my face like nothing else! Thanks in advance for any help.
Billy
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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 11, 2019 21:21:09 GMT -5
Welcome Billy,.....the 357max will run .358 rifle bullets, mine shoots them well but must be seated deeper. Starline brass gives me very good case life as does Jamison I can’t speak to Remington brass. As to the idiosyncrasies of the DW, I can’t speak to that either as mine is a Ruger, but James or others I’m sure will chime in.
Trapr
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Post by bradshaw on Nov 11, 2019 23:58:39 GMT -5
billy357.... your DWA (Dan Wesson Arms) Model 40 V8 (Vent 8-inch) Super Mag is chambered for the .357 Maximum cartridge, basically a .357 Mag with 1.605-inch case. Made to take small rifle primers. The M40 frame is a stretched version of the DWA M44 .44 Mag frame. The gun is called a Super Mag. The ammunition is .357 Maximum.
Your revolver is configured to scrape beneath the IHMSA 4-pound weight limit for guns shot in the Production or Revolver category. To make weight, just a vestige of the underlug is kept on the barrel shroud. First barrels came 1:14” twist, which stabilized the Hornady .358 200 grain Spire Point. Second batch of barrels have 1:16 twist, which stabilizes .358 22 Round Nose by Hornady and Sierra. Last production barrels have 1:18-3/4” twist, stabilizes the Speer .358 180 Flat Point, and should stabilize the Hornady .358 200 RN.
DA on the big DWA is an affectation, forget about it. Lockwork on the DWA should be lubricated. Motor oil or molydisulfide chassis grease is fine. David Bradshaw
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Post by HolyHotLoads on Nov 12, 2019 10:49:06 GMT -5
Thank you David and Trapr. David, I believe mine has an 1:18 3/4 twist, going by another post by you telling how to judge it by looking down the barrel. The Ludlow paper my extra barrel was wrapped in waa dated 1979 of April, I'm not sure if this can be used to measure the date of the firearm accurately. I know this next question is going to raise a lot of red flags and cautionary advice, but can the big DW handle 353 casull loads? I'm just asking this question out of curiosity and I have no plans on redlining a 357 magnum case. I've read elsewhere that this is one of the strongest pistols built and would like to hear real opinions from people that know what they are talking about. Thanks in advance. Billy
*****
Date on a paper wrapper has nothing whatsoever to do with a revolver’s date of birth. The year “1979” marks a period in the ferocious seesaw between Smith & Wesson and Ruger, primarily in .44 Magnum, with sharp attacks from the Colt Python and Dane Wesson Arms M-15 .357 mags. (No other Colt .357 Mag came remotely close to performance of the Pythion in IHMSA silhouette.) David Bradshaw
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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 12, 2019 11:21:09 GMT -5
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