Review - ASG Dan Wesson co2 Revolver
 

I've been looking for a Dan Wesson revolver for quite some time, but until recently they have been extremely overpriced in the Canadian market. However a Canadian retailer "Replica Airguns" just brought a shipment of these revolvers in last month, and while they are still charging a premium over US pricing, it's not as bad as other CDN retailers have been pulling.

The revolver I purchased currently goes for $245CAD from ChiGun Hobbies, I was able to buy it from Replica Airguns for $169CAD. US Pricing is generally approx $119US.

So onto the review;

Purchase

http://www.replicaairguns.com/buy-ai...oduct=11989701

As noted above I purchased this revolver from Replica Airguns. My item shipped the day after payment, and although there was a delay in delivery this was the fault of Canada Post, not the retailer. Replica Airguns ships via Loomis or CP, so if you want your item quick ask them to ship it Loomis to your work etc; four days to get from Toronto to Kingston via expedited parcel is ridiculous.

Before delivery, I contacted Replica Airguns (RA) with a follow up question about purchasing extra shells for this revolver, and they responded to me the same day via email. I should also note that there were some conditions put on the delivery of my package by RA in order to ensure that it ended up in the right hands; "Card for pickup" and "Proof of Age". This ensured that I had to go to my local post office and not only provide ID to prove who I was, but that I was over 18. Given that minors getting their hands on airsoft anything is a big concern here, I think that is a good step on the part of RA to ensure that only adults are getting their products.

So overall, very happy with the service from RA, highly recommend them.

Packaging

The revolver comes from ASG packaged in a standard container, being styrofoam with a cardboard top. It did a good job of ensuring that all items within were well protected, but you're going to throw it out the moment you take the revolver out of it.

Inside you'll find the revolver, a container of 100 ASG branded 0.2g BBs, a weaver rail mount, a speed loader and six (6) fake .357 rounds made of brass and plastic that you load a single BB into.

Build Quality

Holy cow! This revolver is built like a brick sh!t house. It's all metal construction except for the grip; nice and heavy with good balance. This being the 6" model it is just right, the 8" model would be too front heavy IMHO.

http://i.imgur.com/iY8N7.jpg

The grips are made of a rubberised plastic with inset Dan Wesson medallions. The grip slides apart and holds a 12oz co2 cartridge inside IOT power the revolver. There is enough friction to hold the grip together, but not so much to make it difficult to pull the grip apart when you need to change out c02 cartridges. The finish on the metal components is top shelf - not quite a "chromed" finish, more like polished stainless steel. The finish is very even over the whole revolver, not blotches and uneven spots like many airsoft manufacturers are prone to having on similar products.

http://i.imgur.com/xp20N.jpg

The cylinder is made of a solid machine hunk of metal, and this is obvious in the finish as slight machining marks from a CnC bit can be seen but they are consistent and give the cylinder more of a "brushed metal" finish than detracting from the look of the revolver. The barrel is pinned into the frame of the revolver with two rolled steel pins, and there is zero wobble - you can literally pick this piece up by any part and use it to beat people with if you run out of ammo*.

(*Note, reviewer does not condone the beating of fellow players with any weapon, comment intended in a light hearted manner)

Function

This revolver can be operated in single action or double action, and cocking back the hammer cycles a fresh round in a smooth manner. However the trigger pull on this piece is a little on the heavy side - although the break is crisp and not vague.

Reloading is accomplished by inserting BBs into the fake rounds, then loading those into the cylinder of the revolver. I find this to be one of the big reasons to purchase this over other revolvers like the TM or Tanaka line that have fake rounds built into the cylinder, with BBs being loaded directly into the cylinder. Getting to put rounds in one at a time should make for some tense moments on the field for sure. At the same time, the co2 cartridge give approx 100 shots, so you won't have to change that out too often, essentially meaning that this revolver is one of the most realistic avail in the Canadian market from a function standpoint.

One thing that can't be done with this revolver, is the "flick the cylinder back into the frame" move. Because the inner barrel is a floating design that is spring loaded to push against the cylinder in order to ensure a tight air seal, you must press the cylinder slightly back as you push it back into the frame. Not a deal breaker, but I will be taking this apart to see if weakening the spring a bit will allow me to flick the cylinder closed.

http://i.imgur.com/HErDA.jpg

Velocity and Hopup

This revolver is clocking in just under 500fps with 0.2g BBs. While obviously WAY too hot for field play, have no fear there is a solution. A simple modification to the hammer spring can lower the velocity of rounds down to game legal levels. Here is the guide to this modification;

http://airsoft.web-rocks.co.uk/dan-w...r-fps-mod-co2/

As well, this revolver does not have hopup, but there is a simple mod to install a shortened AEG barrel and hopup IOT essentially make this the best airsoft revolver ever. Info is here;

http://forums.zeroin.co.uk/showthrea...xed-Hop-up-mod

Performance and Accuracy

After fielding this revolver @ OP: DEAD BY DAWN I can't say enough good things about it. Truly the first pistol type airsoft weapon I've used that you can just point at something and it dies, the first time; super accurate. Standard engagement ranges up to 30 meters were no problem for this revolver, and the satisfying *crack* that comes out of the business end is a sure fire crowd pleaser. Now that I've cycled about 150 rounds through it, the various bits are buttery smooth WRT cycling the cylinder and firing a round in double action is nice and smooth with a crisp break on the trigger, whereas out of the box it was stiff and sort of vague.

http://i.imgur.com/6M1Jd.jpg

Here is a test grouping of six rounds; pretty tight considering it's shot from 30 ft.

Conclusion

I will write a conclusion and score this revolver once I have evaluated it's performance on the field.

I own a Dan Wesson as well. Overall this is a good review. If I may ill add a few things to this.

Since you bought the silver, it may not effect you, but the paint job on the guns is great, but after only a few field uses the paint on the magazine has begun to flake off in large chunks. As well, the arm holding the magazine in has ceased to be useful and it no longer holds the magazine in place while reloading so I have to hold it. On more then one occasion I pop'd it open and the magazine would take the whole assembly and hit the dirt >.>

I noticed you said it cant be flicked? For w/e reason I could always flick mine in and out...it takes a bit of a forceful flick but not damaging. Maybe mine wasn't quality controlled enough :p

The guide you posted for modding the c02 pistol is fine. You can instead just go to Canadian tire and buy three nuts and a washer for less then 2 dollars and install them in about 2 minutes and be firing at cqb legal limits. Just another modification that isn't a permanent fix so you can increase or decrease the fps at anytime depending on the field you are at.

The gun itself isn't that accurate. At 25 - 30 feet you may hit a pop can.

Overall I use this revolver since I (had) a AEG with 160 round midcaps. I hardly ever used the revolver, and it was mostly just for looks, since it is a gorgeous gun. And for 169 bucks (I paid $220) that's a good gun to have...If you have a reliable primary.

Its got a nice loud bang, and hell you can mount optics on it!
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/6...2060700002.jpg
P.S This a joke, I would never mount optics on the revolver for game purposes.

Overall I like this revolver, but it definitely isn't a sniper or marksman side arm.

very good review.

though i am curious about the weight distribution on this revolver. i own the police carry where the muzzle is shorter than this one so the distribution of weight is centered. i wonder if the back end is more significantly weight on this one or does the longer muzzle it balance it out?

The six inch model is slightly front heavy, even with a c02 cartridge in it. Its not that bad tho.

If these are anything like real swing out cylinder revolvers, the crane (or yoke) that connects the cylinder to the frame is actually pretty delicate. Flicking the cylinder open or shut stresses it in ways that can warp it, causing misalignment of the cylinder to the frame.

On a real one, once the crane is out of alignment it will need to be repaired by a gunsmith.

For an airsoft gun, you'd probably have to scrap it and buy a new one.

In general, I would not suggest operating firearms or airsoft guns in a manner other than the intended and proper manners.


As for the review itself, I'd been wondering about these, good stuff.

Thanks for the Review, I was wondering about one of these.

Just picked up a 9v battery for my chrony, this revolver clocked in with the following numbers;

Results in FPS w/ supplied 0.2g BBs;

Shot 01: 492
Shot 02: 487
Shot 03: 485
Shot 04: 475
Shot 05: 487
Shot 06: 491

Pretty consistent, this is my first co2 airsoft anything, so I'm not sure if this is to be expected from a co2 pistol/revolver, or if this is because of the great airseal with the barrel being spring loaded in relation to the cylinder.

Obviously wayyyy too hot, will be modding this to reduce the velocity and will post numbers when I do.

Also emptied the rest of the co2 cartridge, there was enough gas for over 100 shots, checked velocity at 60 and I got 470fps, so actually pretty impressive gas consumption.

Thanks for this report- hope you will advise on accuracy at various distances
when you can.

Kokanee, I just wanted to add my contribution to this thread.
I've got a method to make the FPS on your revolver adjustable.
Here click me click me!

Very nice review. I myself have the WG 703 8", and love each and every minute of it. The only thing I have to say are those damn push pins are a bitch to get out to put the rails on.

The "flicking" thing sure isn't going to warp the cylinder that goes into the frame to keep it on par with the rest of the gun, it's about 1/4" solid steel :P
But it could have effects on the smaller stuff near the co2 entrance.

Don't know why that one seems to get only 100 shots with it. Pretty sure I can go for 200 easy with my WG.
But they're basically the same thing, no?

Its not that it ''only'' gets 100 shots, it gets ''at least'' 100. I got bored after that. Will check out the link thanks ;)

I was able to mod the resistance on the hammer spring and now the revolver is clocking in at about 380fps.

That is NOT for a dan wesson. That mod is interesting to read, but not for the same gun.

What I did to get my revolver down was to simply replace the metal box in the handle that was supporting the hammer spring arm. Just swapped it out and replaced it with three bolts I bought from Canadian Tire and it shoots consistently at 310 fps with .2's. Adding a washer increases the fps to 355fps so it was over the 350 limit.

This way it is not a permanent no going back mod...at anytime I can stick a washer or two in the handle and go out to a outdoor game with a 400-450 fps revolver, then remove em and go play cqb!

Indeed daishi, I did the same thing and it worked like a charm.

I'm pretty sure that Dan Wesson is simply a rebranded WinGun revolver. As i've said in the turotial, it's all the basic same insides in it. The same thing will work for both.
You can do the same thing i've done with my metal box, but replace it with a cylinder that you can screw up and down, therefore making it not permanent. I think I covered that in my turotial :P

Your mod was a good idea though :P

Ladies ladies, please - both ways work, surely there is enough modding goodness to go around?!?

Updated first post with performance info after first game.

When I first got my WG 2.5 revolver, the flicking thing was not working, so disappointed, cause there was about 1mm extra space in front of the revolver cylinder, add a right tiny thin washer to fill the space will make it work perfect.

Has anyone used the velocity reducing shells that are out now?

I'm iffy about the mods so far, as I've seen them done (most notably the hammer spring mid), and the results are inconsistent.

A gun that shoots 420 for 6/10 shots, 395 for 3/10 shots, and 495 for 1/10 is still a 495fps gun.
Could someone with the mods done please do an exhaustive (20-30 shots or one Co2 pellet) chrono for us? I'd like to see those results, because as far as I know the person who did the mods did them very well and still came up iffy.

What I'd really like to see is some keyed valves to drop into these things as a truly solid, adjustable mod... until then I will remain leery of them being used in games.
That is, unless we can get some good, long-term data.

I'm still gonna buy one though because seeing these things thwack eggs is a real treat :)

The mod I performed has been very steady on my gun, perhaps there is something overlooked or reassembled incorrectly in yours?

I'm not the one who owned the gun or did the mod, which is why I've been keeping my eyes open for more data.

If yours is running well and without gross spikes in FPS I'll probably be buying one soon.