Dan Wesson 715 vs DW 15-2

From what I can tell the only difference is the new manufacturer (CZ) and the materials. The 715 I held looked-felt just like my Monson MA 15’s do.

I wish CZ would make .357 Vent shroud/ barrels in blue steel, the VH weigh a lot on the hip all day.

Stay safe

Can't compare the old with the new, got to shoot a friends Monsoon model about 30 years ago and was impressed with it but at the time I was shooting my Colt Python. Still have the Python but quit shooting full house loads out of it about 10 years ago. When the urge to shoot some hot loads re-emerged I started looking for a good pre-lock 686, wasn't happy with what I could find so I decided to pop for a new DW715.
More than happy with it, has the best double action of any revolver I've owned, plus interchangeable barrels, what more could you ask for.
Only complaint is finding a set of Roper grips for it, can't seem to find any and I hate rubber grips.

Huntolive said:

Yes but there are Monson M A made 7:15 as well as well as Palmer MA 7:15.
I'm not talking about the CZ new ones I'm talking about the original ones that I guess we're made around the same time as the 15-2.

Although I would also be interested in comparisons between the newly made CZ 7:15 and the Monson made 7:15

My fundamental question is if there's a big difference at all and accuracy or function that's worth paying for between a 15 - 2 Monson made and a 715 Monson made
Or new CZ 715.

If there's not much difference then people are paying a huge premium 4 stainless steel

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It may be that they're paying for the SS construction of the older ones because of the rarity of the SS 715 models vs the blued 15-2's. Finding a SS one back in the day when they were being made by DWA wasn't easy compared to finding the blued. A quick check of Gun Broker a few minutes ago showed one DWA Monson 715 for sale... and numerous DWA Monson 15-2's. And, to be honest, new CZ-made DW guns are pretty expensive across their catalog, so SS makes them even more pricy. (I'm seeing people on GB right now asking $1,300 for a new CZ-DW 715, and a nice used 4-barrel pistol pack DWA M15-2 is realistically priced anywhere from $1,500 to $1,800. I sure am glad I got mine when it cost me $700.)

I don't ever recall hearing anyone saying the older SS vs blued models felt or shot differently when compared to each other...and the new CZ-made 715 feels the same to me in the hand as the two DWA 15-2's I own (Though I haven't shot a new CZ-made one yet so I can't give a shot-to-shot comparison). I will say the bluing on the older DWA 15-2 really holds up well (see below), so paying a huge price difference for SS wouldn't be something I personally would do. Now, if you're planning on week-long trips hunting with the revolver in the snow or rain, then yes, either the original DWA SS or a new CZ SS model would definitely be worth the premium $$ you're seeing just for the ease of maintenance alone.

I'd say, if you think you're going to drop $1,300 on a new CZ SS one, spend 400-500 more and get a DWA Monson 15-2 pistol pack.

Stay safe.



Stay safe.

I really prefer stainless to a blued finish... but a 715 and a 15 are identical in design and the parts can be swapped to make interesting looking hybrids.

I have a couple Monsoon barrels/shrouds for my 744 and a CZ barrel / shroud. The CZ is every bit as good as the Monsoons.

New CZ 715's are expensive because they are brand new and of a very high quality! And I am very happy to see that CZ has decided to start manufacturing them again! I would have no problem buying an older 715 in good shape though. I also believe that in time the CZ revolvers will be held in just as high esteem as the original Monsoons... from what I have seen the CZ pistols are that good! I am very pleased that CZ didn't cut the quality on 715's to make a cheaper pistol and use the reputation of the Dan Wesson name to sell it... this seems to be a rare foresight amongst firearm manufactures these days.

There is no difference between a stainless (including the new CZ models) and a blued steel Dan Wesson .357 Magnum. All parts swap (except for the fixed barrel models).

I have both a 715, and two 15-2's and I wouldn't pay a lot more for a clean 715 over a as decent of condition 15-2. In my case, the 715 was cheaper, by a lot, than any of the 15-2's I've bought since I got it in 2006. $269, in the factory foam box, with 3 grips, parts, one of the junk wrenches, and the sales receipt for the original buyer. The cheapest 15-2 I've had was over $300, and the last one was about $400.

You can't beat a nice "Monsoon" 715 though!

driptrHrd said:

The model 15 is the older model and the barrel shroud fits differently. The shrouds are not interchangeable. The 15-2 is a later version and has a small hole in the shroud that fits on a tit in the frame. My memory isn't what it used to be. A few years ago I had a mod. 15 with three different length barrels but I went and sold it. I now have a mod 15-2 with 4" and 6" barrels. If you have the later model I suggest you hold on to it. I think it will be a collectors item in a few years. The Dan Wesson is a very accurate and versatile revolver and
it is strong and will handle any plus-P load that is available in gun stores. Hope this will help, flat rock........ps: make sure the gap between the barrel and cylinder is .006"

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You are right. The older "porkchop" shrouds will not work on the -2 models. However, the -2 shrouds will fit the older porkchop models with an adapter from EWK Arms.

Yes I bought the new version and the trigger pull I'm referring to is the double action. Can't really compare it to my Python because after 40+ years the single action pull is darn near perfect and I shoot it more accurately, probably more from familiarity than anything else, it is my most prized revolver which is why I quit shooting full house loads out of it.

Huntolive said:

Yup, I love my 15-2
I'm just tempted by the 7:15 I see the prices seem to have gone way up including on the 15 -2
But the going rate now on a 7:15 it's around $900 well I think you could still get a 15-2 four more like 500

About setting the gap between the barrel and cylinder I have a little but metal gauge so if that slides tightly between the two should that be good?

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I recently picked up a 1981 15-2V6 357 in pretty nice condition for $500 OTD. If the gauge you have is the Dan Wesson gauge it's .006 and you're good to go. I use an inexpensive set of automotive feeler gauges so I can set B/C gap tighter if I choose. I usually set it at .005 on the tightest chamber but other folks set it tighter. If you choose tighter you may have to wipe it occasionally to keep it from binding from build up on barrel/cylinder face.

The only difference between the 715 and 15 is the fact it’s Stainless. And yes the only reason people pay much more is the fact it’s Stainless. The Stainless is considered rare and a Stainless in a caliber other than 357 is considered ultra rare.

RUT said:

You can't beat a nice "Monsoon" 715 though!

View attachment 866346

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That’s a Gorilla of a Monsoon .

I saw a stainless .357 Super Mag for sale for around $1,000.00 recently... man that was tempting!

Stay safe.

I shot Silhouette back in the 90’s and the revolver of choice was Dan Wesson.
I still have my set of 8” stainless beauty’s from Monson, an .22 a .357 SuperMag and a .445 SuperMag wonderfully accurate guns. I also have a blued 6” .44 Mag.
I’m looking for a blued 4” barrel assembly for the .44 Mag if anyone has one laying around

salvo said:

I shot Silhouette back in the 90’s and the revolver of choice was Dan Wesson.
I still have my set of 8” stainless beauty’s from Monson, an .22 a .357 SuperMag and a .445 SuperMag wonderfully accurate guns. I also have a blued 6” .44 Mag.
I’m looking for a blued 4” barrel assembly for the .44 Mag if anyone has one laying around

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CZ sells blued 4" barrel assembly for $257 currently OOS though. I bought a 357 4" from CZ I'm very happy with.

Thanks stonebuster, I’ve been watching CZ’s website for awhile now.

Here's my take on my experiences with my favorite revolvers of all time.
The REAL advantage for me of my stainless DWs has been that I still get the excellent feel and results of my blued DW .357s but..... I need not imperil the STUPENDOUS finishes that my blued DWs have always had.

So, is a 715 worth it?
Most certainly and especially since it protects my 15s.


Todd.

My nasty looking 15-2 protects the pretty 15-2, which protects the 715. I need more protection for my 44, it's alone and afraid, after all, it's a "Barney".

I have the 15-2, 8" barrel along with my favorite, a 741, 8" barrel.

Huntolive said:

Yes but there are Monson M A made 7:15 as well as well as Palmer MA 7:15.
I'm not talking about the CZ new ones I'm talking about the original ones that I guess we're made around the same time as the 15-2.

Although I would also be interested in comparisons between the newly made CZ 7:15 and the Monson made 7:15

My fundamental question is if there's a big difference at all and accuracy or function that's worth paying for between a 15 - 2 Monson made and a 715 Monson made
Or new CZ 715.

If there's not much difference then people are paying a huge premium 4 stainless steel

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I've owned both Monson 715 and 15-2 parts are interchangeable between the 2, I've even got stainless barrels for my 357 Supermag, Monson made, I've handled and shot the new 715's from CZ and they are identical to the Monson ones and parts are interchangeable. No difference in accuracy or durability. The stainless guns always were about $50 more than the blued, just because stainless costs more, the new great difference is just because an old 715 can be Flitzed up to look like a safe queen, blued eventually purple out and nothing you can do, also wear and tear on the finish can only be touched up and is visible.

I have read that Dan Wesson revolvers have a shorter pull / trigger reset than most other double action revolvers.

I have never handled a Dan Wesson.

I have seen Jerry Miculek say he preferred Smith and Wesson revolvers due to their speed of trigger reset but I do not know him to have ever discussed length of trigger pull or length of trigger reset or Dan Wesson revolvers.

All of the above randomness being said, how do your Dan Wesson revolvers compare to Smith and Wesson or Ruger in terms of trigger pull and trigger reset?

Thank you.

-Stan