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Path: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!jade!jkh
From: jkh@jade.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.rec.guns
Subject: mod.rec.guns
Message-ID: <1895@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Thu, 11-Dec-86 15:41:27 EST
Article-I.D.: jade.1895
Posted: Thu Dec 11 15:41:27 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 14-Dec-86 18:35:44 EST
Organization: U.C. Berkeley
Lines: 58
Approved: jkh@ucbjade
Author: ihnp4!bbimg!mikey@ucbvax.Berkeley.Edu  (Mike Yetsko )
Article: 12:11

I have a Dan Wesson that I've tried putting the Packmire(sp?) grips
on a long time ago.  Actually, I put them on back in 1977, I just was
never able to get them off!  No big deal, I never disassembled the gun
since because it has operated fine and standard cleaning did the job.

Recently I started shooting reloads that were extremely dirty.  300 rounds
on a weekend and my cylinder got sluggish.  I was forced to tear the gun
down about every other weekend for a 'total' cleaning.   Getting the
rubber grips off became such a nightmare I eventually left the wood grip
installed.  Spending 30-45 minutes tugging and in one case pulling a 
muscle in my shoulder really pissed me off.  I tried everything, dry 
grips, 'Break-Free', WD-40, Vaseline, Hoppes,...

Finally, I got pissed enough I called up Dan Wesson and asked if anyone 
there used the grips and how the hell do they get them off.  I got a worker
who told me a lot of their people have them.  The grips for the Dan Wesson
have a square metal tube in the rubber, with a slight amount of rubber 
inside the tube.  He recommended getting in there with a small blade or
screwdriver and scraping away the rubber from the SIDE surfaces, not the
front or back.  I scraped one side and the grip now goes on AND OFF with
a LOT less hassle, but still tight.  I may scrape the other side, just to 
make it a little easier.  The alternative is to file the butt post to take
off the casting marks, but then the wooden handle may become sloppy.  The
worker offered to let me send the gun to him and he'd do it (presumably for
free, but if I wanted it blued over the work, I'd have to pay) but he
recommended that the scraping of the rubber grip was the prefered method.  

Don't take this a a blast against Packmire(again sp?) I wouldn't own a .357
without them!  I've just got a set for my S&W Model 36 also, I just haven't
gotten around to using them yet.  Tomorrow they will get plenty of use!!
 
				Mike Yetsko 
				Boston's Beth Israel Hospital
				trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey


------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have an older Dan Wesson 15-2 that in rapid fire sometimes will not
properly penetrate the primer, leading to a misfire.  I have NEVER had 
this happen with factory ammo, only reloads.  I have used CCI primers,
both the regular small pistol and the large magnum in the plastic 
Target 38's from Speer with the same problem.  When the gun was new,
it had this problem and it was solved by a slight filing of the hammer to 
increase penetration.  Now with well over 5000 rounds through the weapon 
(maybe even closer to 10000) I'm beginning to suspect something else.  
The transfer bar is getting quite a mark in it from hitting the striking
surface of the firing pin.  I may replace it just in case.  It's easy to
do and probably very inexpensive.  The other alternative is the main
spring.  Has anyone heard of a 'weak spring' in a Dan Wesson?  Are 
different spring rates available?  If anyone has any suggestions for what to
try, I'd appreciate hearing them.  Also, if anyone has replaced the spring in
the 15-2, I would appreciate any tips.  I've never had the spring out and
it looks like it might be one of these 'boing-gone' situations if I'm
not careful.
				Mike Yetsko 
				Boston's Beth Israel Hospital
				trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey