Dan Wesson 1911 experience

10mm · Feb 5, 2024

I've got an itch that only an expensive new toy will scratch and I'm still in the middle of researching. My want is a middle expense 1911 in 10mm that will be hunting legal and I may want to carry it. Right now I'm sitting on two dan Wesson/cz models: the Kodiak and the Specialist.

I'm looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly of new dw/cz and if anyone has any first hand experience with them. I appreciate answers and I'm always willing to look at other models in the $1500-2500 range. I don't think I want to go full nighthawk though.

2tonic · Feb 5, 2024

While I can't specifically address the 10mm version, I can tell you that I own 2 Valor V-Bobs in 45acp, and I love them.
Fit, finish, quality, value....call it what you like, but I don't feel like I'm going out on a limb when I say that I think DW is the finest production 1911 you can get, shy of an Ed Brown, Wilson, Les Baer, or similar.

10mm · Feb 5, 2024

2tonic said:
While I can't specifically address the 10mm version, I can tell you that I own 2 Valor V-Bobs in 45acp, and I love them.
Fit, finish, quality, value....call it what you like, but I don't feel like I'm going out on a limb when I say that I think DW is the finest production 1911 you can get, shy of an Ed Brown, Wilson, Les Baer, or similar.

I've had my hands on a few Ed Browns, so I'll take that as very high praise.

Dean C. · Feb 5, 2024

I have had an VBOB and an ECO, Dan Wesson dollar for dollar makes hands down the best 1911's available still. Their duty treat finish is borderline indestructible, very well made pistols.

2tonic · Feb 5, 2024

There are several Ed Brown parts in the V-bob. The bobtail mainspring housing, hammer, safety, ejector, and extractor.
The slide release, trigger, mag release, and recoil plug/bushing could be, but the jury's still out on that one.
Suffice to say...all good tool steel internals.

Expat · Feb 5, 2024

I have the DW in the commander sized 10mm. It’s okay. I think I only took it out once.

63PGP · Feb 5, 2024

Expat said:
I have the DW in the commander sized 10mm. It’s okay. I think I only took it out once.

Same experience with my DW Specialist 10mm. Shot it side by side with my old G20 Gen 3 and every time I walked away liking the Glock better. Replaced the DW with a SW 610 revolver.

I recent picked up a FN 510 and so far, really liking it.

DadSmith · Feb 5, 2024

63PGP said:
Same experience with my DW Specialist 10mm. Shot it side by side with my old G20 Gen 3 and every time I walked away liking the Glock better. Replaced the DW with a SW 610 revolver.

I recent picked up a FN 510 and so far, really liking it.

I was just the opposite in regards to 1911 10mm and G20SF I had. I like the 1911 RIA 10mm better than the G20SF.

Now I'm interested in a SW 610 at some point also. Do they require moon clips like the majority of revolvers that fire rimless cases?

yetti462 · Feb 5, 2024

DadSmith said:
I was just the opposite in regards to 1911 10mm and G20SF I had. I like the 1911 RIA 10mm better than the G20SF.

Now I'm interested in a SW 610 at some point also. Do they require moon clips like the majority of revolvers that fire rimless cases?

I never tried my 610 without moon clips. But they are nice to use. It is a fine shooting revolver, you won't regret getting one.

mcapo · Feb 5, 2024

DadSmith said:
I was just the opposite in regards to 1911 10mm and G20SF I had. I like the 1911 RIA 10mm better than the G20SF.

Now I'm interested in a SW 610 at some point also. Do they require moon clips like the majority of revolvers that fire rimless cases?

Yep....moon clips. They really aren't as bad as people make them out to be. Just like loading mags....

Brad69 · Feb 5, 2024

I have a DW Valor commander in .45 it has been flawless.

10mm · Feb 5, 2024

63PGP said:
Same experience with my DW Specialist 10mm. Shot it side by side with my old G20 Gen 3 and every time I walked away liking the Glock better. Replaced the DW with a SW 610 revolver.

I recent picked up a FN 510 and so far, really liking it.

What did you not like about it specifically? Did it not fit in your hand well or was it something else?

DadSmith said:
I was just the opposite in regards to 1911 10mm and G20SF I had. I like the 1911 RIA 10mm better than the G20SF.

Now I'm interested in a SW 610 at some point also. Do they require moon clips like the majority of revolvers that fire rimless cases?

The 610 "can" be fired without moon clips, but the cases are difficult to remove if it's anything hotter than .40 sw speeds and the rimless part makes extraction difficult as well. I wouldn't do it in any setting that wasn't a range or an emergency.

JRR85 · Feb 5, 2024

I have a 9mm Specialist and 9mm Guardian. I would recommend 10mm Specialist. You won’t be upset.

chadm · Feb 5, 2024

I groped a DW when I was really broke, and it was one of the nicest guns I’d ever felt. So smooth. They hold a special place in my heart.

Expat · Feb 5, 2024

10mm said:
What did you not like about it specifically? Did it not fit in your hand well or was it something else?

In my case, there wasn't anything specific. I had just read the INGO DW fanboys talk for years about how they were as good and probably better than any of the semi custom 1911s. I have Les Baers, Wilson Combat and Nighthawk. It simply was not in that class. So I had a let down.

CB1911 · Feb 5, 2024

I have a 2016 Valor commander duty treat in 9mm. Other than a trip back to the mothership for a shorter front site and a new rear night sight, and the initial break in, it has been flawless. It is about 90% of what the higher end guns are in most all aspects.

Thegeek · Feb 5, 2024

I have a Valor .45. Had the stripping block machined for the disconnector and I added an ambidextrous safety. After tuning the mags, it's really smooth. The checkering on the grip is a bit too much, and there's probably a little improvement to be made with the trigger. As far as fit/finish, there's the tiniest lip between the slide and frame. A friend of mine has a Les B. We compared them side by side and he actually preferred the Valor. His was a little prettier though.

Colt556 · Feb 5, 2024

I had a 10mm DW CBob, or Classic don’t remember which, and it was a nice pistol. My main issue was the weight being it was an all stainless gun.
I have a Valkyrie and Guardian now in 9 and 38 Super and love them. Both are LWs so they are lighter and easier to carry and shoot because of the alloy frames and caliber. I love DW and would love a full size 10mm.
I have a couple 610s and really enjoy shooting them. I think of the moon clips as speed loaders and always have “several” loaded up. I’m not a .40 fan at all but the option to shoot them is nice and out of a 610 they are very pleasant.
The only Glocks I own now are 10mm, a 20 and a 40. Both eat up any 10mm you can fit in the magazine and are pretty easy to shoot accurately. But, they’re Glock so nothing very exciting.
I have a Witness 10 Full size and Compact and they shoot well but being all steel guns they weigh a ton!! Those might end up in the classified section someday.
I don’t shoot the Colt Delta Gold Cup but I’m sure it shoots like my other Colts.
I’d like a 10mm AR in 10mm like my Colt Carbine but so far there isn’t a factory produced AR in 10 and I don’t feel like trying to build one or buy any of the odd assortment of PCCs available.
I mostly shoot 9 and 38 Super now so the .45s and 10MMs feel neglected I’m sure.
One last thought is to check with AllenM on here and see if he can build you exactly what you want. He likes the caliber and his work is near legendary at this point.
Good Luck.

63PGP · Feb 5, 2024

10mm said:
What did you not like about it specifically? Did it not fit in your hand well or was it something else?

I love 1911's and 2011's. I have a Les Baer 38 super, Wilson Combat Tactical Carry 9mm/38super and a couple others. I have a 2011 10mm/40mm setup by AllenM and it flat rocks. Fit wasn't the issue. I simply shot the G20 more accurately between the two. I've had this specific G20 for close to 10 years so familiarity my have had something to do with it.

mcapo · Feb 5, 2024

If you like the feel and performance of a 1911, a Dan Wesson is a very well done example of the platform at a (c.2024) competitive price point for the quality received.

Dan Wesson 1911 experience

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