Observations from 1st range trip w/new Dan Wesson DWX

[JimLob65]

My convently (but expensively) close Sportsman’s Warehouse had a new Dan Wesson DWX in the display case when I visited a few days ago. Like many I was hooked on the idea of mixing the best features of the 1911 and higher end CZ pistol when it was prematurely introduced in 2019. It all seemed to be mythical until they actually started shipping late last year. I recall being alarmed when the MSRP climbed by several hundred dollars when it seemed imminent that it would be actually produced, figuring that I wasn’t likely to buy another large, expensive and heavy 9mm competition style pistol (I own a CZ S2O and TSO, and a Beretta 92x Performance), especially since I haven’t been shooting handguns too much lately as I have bought several nice rimfire rifles and a couple of very nice Tikka T3X’s, as well as a 4.25” & 6” Colt Python. Lots of good stuff to shoot!!

However I was badly bitten by the bug, pondered over it for a few days and a couple of trips to visit it. A trip to my not-so-local mega gun shop demonstrated that the DWX actually was on sale at SW, not cheap but $150 below MSRP. I bit the bullet and bought it yesterday, having everyone behind the counter telling me what a beauty it was.

Keeping in mind that I hadn’t been to the range in several months since my local and convenient range has been under maintenance for over 6 months and hadn’t really shot too much 9mm lately, my results at the range were really impressive given my limited shooting ability. At the admittedly short range of 7 yards I tossed only 1 round outside the 9 ring on whatever target I was shooting out of about 40 rounds, very good for my shooting abilities. DWX ran 100%, is VERY smooth, the sights were outstanding as I really like the green fiber optic (I didn’t have to touch an adjustment either) and the trigger is amazing, measuring at around 3lb 6oz and very crisp! Fit-n-finish are outstanding as is the machining with no marks to be found on frame or slide. There is an ever so slight amount of slide to frame play, minimal really. Not as tight as my S2O but close.

In short the DWX is all that it has been advertised as, and more! Not so sure I needed to put out the cash but IMHO the DWX is worth the cost. Didn’t get to shoot it as much as I would like to today as I needed to sight in my new scope on my Tikka 270Win, shoot my new Springfield Armory 2020RF 22 for the first time and adjust the new Wilson Combat rear sight on my 6” Python. Hopefully I will get back to the range in a couple of days with the new Dan Wesson.

[JimLob65]

One minor issue that I forgot to add to my original post is that I had to be aware of where I placed the thumb of my right hand. If I had a very high grip on the pistol with my thumb under the safety lever I tended to nudge it up a tiny bit, and actually engaged the safety on one occasion. I will have to play with my grip a bit.

[JimLob65]

Third range trip with the DWX for a total of about 125 rounds. Has run 100%. One thing for sure….it gets others to pay attention! Last trip I shot it against my CZ S2O, while this trip I took my CZ TSO.

Unfortunately the past several months I have paid more attention to shooting long guns, including several very nice rimfire and a couple of Tikka Roughtech rifles, which are awesome! Therefore it takes me several shots to settle in and begin to shoot to my abilities, which aren’t really all that great. Still my results with both pistols were pretty comparable. I finished off my string of shots with both pistols by resting my wrists across the small shelf, concentrating on the front sight and the trigger. There was little to choose between them at the end of the day. The trigger on the DWX is a bit more crisp, but the trigger on the TSO was definitely lighter, almost half the pull weight as the trigger on the DWX! Several pulls on the TSO trigger weighed between 1 lb 8oz and 1 lb 11oz! The lighter trigger of the TSO as well as the longer sight radius were definite advantages. It seemed the TSO was a bit lighter recoiling than the DWX as well. The thinner front sight blade and the crisper trigger were advantageous on the Dan Wesson.

I am not sure how helpful my post may be as I am not an accomplished shooter. I had very good results with my S2O as well. I guess if anyone is trying to decide between these three pistols it would depend on which set of features appeals to you. The slide/frame fit of the CZs is definitely tighter (the TSO is DAMN TIGHT!!), but it seems the DWX is easier To manipulate the slide because it has more real estate. The safety on the DWX seems a bit on the light side as unless I ride my thumb on it I tend to nudge it up (unfortunately it rides on a scar that runs along the crease of my thumb). The ergos are very similar obviously, trigger type not withstanding and minus the gas pedal on the TSO. Tough to choose between them.

Next trip I will be shooting it with my Beretta 92x Preformance.

[awp_101]

The slide/frame fit of the CZs is definitely tighter (the TSO is DAMN TIGHT!!), but it seems the DWX is easier To manipulate the slide because it has more real estate.
That inside inside the frame slide configuration has to be number one on my very short list of complaints about CZs. It's just different enough that I have to think about if I'm shooting CZs and non-CZs in the same range session.

[JimLob65]

That inside inside the frame slide configuration has to be number one on my very short list of complaints about CZs. It's just different enough that I have to think about if I'm shooting CZs and non-CZs in the same range session.

I really haven't had any problems caused by the low profile slide on my various CZs, even though I had been much more of a Beretta 92 & SIG fan, both with fairly large slides (especially the SIGs!). However I do not shoot competitively.