Perhaps range reports are a waste of bandwidth especially since I posted images instead of links to images, but here goes anyway. In June I had the chance to shoot a friend's Dan Wesson Valor after the High Country Steel Match. His Valor is a full size with the black finish. I was (still am) impressed with the full size Valor.
I had been contemplating switching back to a .45 ACP for carry. A couple of years ago I drank the 9mm Kool Aid and switched to a 9mm simply because I can shoot the 9mm better (as in faster) than my lightweight commander sized .45 ACP. Try as I might, I can't convince myself a 125 grain 9mm hollow point can perform as well as the 230 grain .45 caliber counterpart. As much as I hate packing a heavy pistol, I decided I would buy an all steel commander in a 1911 in order to switch back to a .45 ACP.
Off I went shopping for a commander when I spied a couple of Dan Wesson pistols at a gun store. One of them was the Valor V-Bob in stainless steel. I gave the pistol the once, twice, third time look over and the temptation was just too great. No wonder I am broke all the time. I bought the gun and out the door with some PMC ball and a box of 230 grain Hornady TAP ammo.
I have read several reviews on various forums, including this one, about the quality of a Dan Wesson. In my view, the Valor has great fit and finish and it is made of quality parts. I have had Les Baer, Wilson, Triangle Shooting Sports (Benny Hill) custom 1911s, and the obligatory Kimbers, Springfields, and Colts. I am not disappointed with the quality of the Valor.
Off to the range. First, I have never shot a bobtail and even though it feels good in the hand, I was concerned about how the bobtail would perform under recoil. The bobtail (for me) has no adverse effects while shooting at speed. The slide stop/release is a "shelf" type of slide stop and I can live with or without the "shelf". It just makes no difference to me. The straight eight sights are something new to me and they work well. The front is bright as can be in the dark and it stacks immediately on top of the smaller, less bright rear sight. They are a cool set up.
Here is a photo of the first five rounds I shot out of the gun:
Wow, the gun shoots right to point of aim and the group isn't too shabby. When I pulled the trigger I was immediately reminded that I wasn't shooting a 9mm anymore, but the recoil and reduction in overall control of the gun is worth trading away (in my feeble mind) for the feel good sensation of packing a .45 auto.
Here is a photo of a five round group at 25 yards:
Not bad, but not great. I then tried a five shot group with the Hornady TAP ammo to see if the accuracy would improve. This is what I got for results:
Pretty decent group. OK, but can the group be repeated. Yes, it can. Not only with TAP, but the gun shoots equally well with 230 Golden Saber ammo and it shoots pretty decent with TiteGroup under a 230 plated Berry bullet.
Time to try the pistol in the "shootability" department on the clock. I shot a series of "pairs" at 7 yards. The spread of the shots and the time once again left me longing for my Pro Ageis. But the size of the holes brought a grin to my face.
And now for the Bill Drill. The shots are spread all over the place, but as the spilt times show I didn't really linger on the trigger. I guess if I am ever in a gun fight I'll have to trade the Bill Drill in for the Zipper.
Since the time of the range test I have had the opportunity to shoot the pistol quit a bit and it runs like the Energizer Bunny. All internet B.S. aside, this is a darn fine pistol and I like it a lot. A big thumbs up.
I had been contemplating switching back to a .45 ACP for carry. A couple of years ago I drank the 9mm Kool Aid and switched to a 9mm simply because I can shoot the 9mm better (as in faster) than my lightweight commander sized .45 ACP. Try as I might, I can't convince myself a 125 grain 9mm hollow point can perform as well as the 230 grain .45 caliber counterpart. As much as I hate packing a heavy pistol, I decided I would buy an all steel commander in a 1911 in order to switch back to a .45 ACP.
Off I went shopping for a commander when I spied a couple of Dan Wesson pistols at a gun store. One of them was the Valor V-Bob in stainless steel. I gave the pistol the once, twice, third time look over and the temptation was just too great. No wonder I am broke all the time. I bought the gun and out the door with some PMC ball and a box of 230 grain Hornady TAP ammo.
I have read several reviews on various forums, including this one, about the quality of a Dan Wesson. In my view, the Valor has great fit and finish and it is made of quality parts. I have had Les Baer, Wilson, Triangle Shooting Sports (Benny Hill) custom 1911s, and the obligatory Kimbers, Springfields, and Colts. I am not disappointed with the quality of the Valor.
Off to the range. First, I have never shot a bobtail and even though it feels good in the hand, I was concerned about how the bobtail would perform under recoil. The bobtail (for me) has no adverse effects while shooting at speed. The slide stop/release is a "shelf" type of slide stop and I can live with or without the "shelf". It just makes no difference to me. The straight eight sights are something new to me and they work well. The front is bright as can be in the dark and it stacks immediately on top of the smaller, less bright rear sight. They are a cool set up.
Here is a photo of the first five rounds I shot out of the gun:
Wow, the gun shoots right to point of aim and the group isn't too shabby. When I pulled the trigger I was immediately reminded that I wasn't shooting a 9mm anymore, but the recoil and reduction in overall control of the gun is worth trading away (in my feeble mind) for the feel good sensation of packing a .45 auto.
Here is a photo of a five round group at 25 yards:
Not bad, but not great. I then tried a five shot group with the Hornady TAP ammo to see if the accuracy would improve. This is what I got for results:
Pretty decent group. OK, but can the group be repeated. Yes, it can. Not only with TAP, but the gun shoots equally well with 230 Golden Saber ammo and it shoots pretty decent with TiteGroup under a 230 plated Berry bullet.
Time to try the pistol in the "shootability" department on the clock. I shot a series of "pairs" at 7 yards. The spread of the shots and the time once again left me longing for my Pro Ageis. But the size of the holes brought a grin to my face.
And now for the Bill Drill. The shots are spread all over the place, but as the spilt times show I didn't really linger on the trigger. I guess if I am ever in a gun fight I'll have to trade the Bill Drill in for the Zipper.
Since the time of the range test I have had the opportunity to shoot the pistol quit a bit and it runs like the Energizer Bunny. All internet B.S. aside, this is a darn fine pistol and I like it a lot. A big thumbs up.