Dan Wesson VALOR, V-Bob

[NS2]

I picked up both the new Dan Wesson Valor Guns a few weeks ago and have finally had a chance to get to them.

I decided to start with the Dan Wesson Valor, V-Bob.  It is a 4.25" bushing barrel, CDR length guide rod .45 using what is marked as a "match" barrel.  However, since there is no standard established defining exactly what "match" grade means, the marketeers are free to run with it so I tend to skeptical about the use of such words.  The gun has a bobtail similar to those one would find on Ed Brown guns.  There is a lot of interest lately in this type of treatment between all the bob or round butt options out there, and it is about time.  If you have a meaty palm, the bobtail or round but are just enough to make the gun sit better in the hand.  Not that you would notice it if you never felt a bobtail, but hold them side by side and you may find that one of these types of "butts" is in your future.

The Valor is an all steel gun which brings it in at the standard 1911 weights.  More importantly, and what made me buy these two guns in the first place, is the internals.  Dan Wesson chose to make a sub-$2k gun with real internal parts.  No MIM in there. It should be noted here that the gun itself is more of an assembly of the right parts by a manufacturer that seems to be listening.  The sights are Heinie, Ledge Style straight eight night sights and are drift adjustable.  The grips come from VZ and are slim line with hex head grip screws.  The internal parts are fitted and clean.  There were no signs of rough edges, dirty channels or shoddy machining anywhere.  In fact the inside of the gun looks as nice as the outside.The barrel has no play when locked up and slide to frame fit is reasonable, but not ridiculously tight.  In other words, they understand that it is a working gun and I doubt I'll have to beat this one into submission.

The trigger is exceptional and broke consistently at 3.75-4.0#s on my scale.  It is smooth, has a very crisp break and a definitive reset.  It feels like a gun that has good parts and has been assembled by someone who understands.

Having completed the evil that I do to all my 1911 guns, i.e., short trigger and low thumb safety, I'm now ready to start shooting it.  I plan to use 230gr HArdball, 155gr Frangible, 230gr Ranger T-series and 185gr Hy-Shok in nothing but Wilson Combat 47D mags.  I don't even bother with any other mags anymore. 

Basing it on what I have seen so far, DW-CZ has really hit the mark with this one.  It is a high quality 1911 with some great features and checkering where it is needed.  Add to that the fact that is it sub $1800 street price, and somebody finally got it right.  Even if the gun shoots 4" groups at 25yds, it is a heck of a good deal.

Here are some pics of what I'm starting with.









I'll let you know how it shoots and, as always, ask if you got them.

[Bob Mayne]

Nice review! I wish I could afford one of these right now. I've heard excellent things about the Dan Wesson guns. Everybody I've ever talked to has said terrific things about them.  Please keep this thread going. Whenever you have an update on that gun whether its shooting it or modifying it or whatever please keep us posted.

[Rob Kroupa]

I have one of the Dan Wesson Pointman 7's and love it.  Exceptionally well made, very tight.  My only issue with it at all is the chamber seems to be a little tight, after 100-150 rounds I start having feeding issues.  A quick cleaning and it's all better.  I really want to get my hands one on of the Dan Wesson CCO's.

[NS2]

Rob,

How do you like that straight trigger?  Has it done well for you over time?

I Think the DW 1911 guns are a pretty well kept secret.

Thanks for the heads up about the chamber.  I'm looking forward to shooting mine.

[Bob Mayne]

I just want you to know that this thread has caused me to experience an old illness I once had.  It's called "1911 fever."  It was very hard to cure last time, and now thanks to you guys, it's reared it's ugly head again.  What am I going to do?

[Rob Kroupa]

Scott,
I'm a very big fan of the flat trigger, I can't seem to articulate why but it just feels better to me.  That one is from 10-8 and it comes with a fixed overtravel screw which requires some hand fitting but you end up with very little overtravel once you have it setup.

This is strictly a BBQ/range/fun gun for me so I only have about 1200 rounds through it and it does seem to be loosening up, in a good way.  After about 1000 rounds the slide feels like it is on roller bearings.

[NS2]

I was able to run the first 1050 rounds through the V-Bob today and things are looking good.

Using 230gr ball I ran 50 rounds through the gun using WC 47D magazines and had no issues.  I then switched to a case of 1000 of the Auto Federal Hollow Point 230gr JHP.  I had not planned to shoot this stuff, and normally prefer bonded or pure copper projectiles, but when it comes for free, you take what you can get.

Accuracy is very good.  In fact, it is safe to say the gun outshoots the operator on this one.  I was routinely getting sub 2" at 25y from the bench, but enough with that goofiness.  The gun hits where it is pointed when the trigger is pressed.

Over the course of the afternoon I ran all 1000 rounds through the gun and it ate every round without an issue.  I did note the slower lock up after the first 150 rounds so I cleaned the chamber with a quick brush which seems to have helped the break in process.  I found that I needed to repeat this process less frequently as the afternoon progressed.  I'm not sure if there is a coating from DW in there, but it is clean, smooth and shiny now and fed the last 300 without issue.  

The gun feels like it runs much more smoothly now with very even wear and no signs of ill fitting parts anywhere.  The Federal stuff always seems more snappy to me so I think there was a bit of a beating involved in this process.  

I have to say, it is an absolute joy to shoot this gun.  Having been a few years since I shot a bobtail gun, I'm finding that the bobtail is much more comfortable than I had remembered it to be.   The grips are aggressive, but no so much that shooting is uncomfortable.  They provide a good purchase.  The thing to remember with VZ and the other "sharp" grips is that too much is better than too little.  In other words, if you find the grips to be a bit too sharp for your liking, a quick pass with some #320-#600 sandpaper and a file applied appropriately to the sharper edges and you have a perfect set of grips.  You can't do this if the grips are too smooth, too sharp is better in my book.

I'm seriously considering replacing my current EDC, a Colt Wiley Clapp CDR LW with this gun once I finish working it out.  The added weight of the DW just makes it a bit easier to shoot and I don't find the difference between the regular CDR and LW CDR guns to be enough to warrant carrying a LW gun only.  My only nit is the grip panels.  Being bobtail, they cover the MS housing pin and being slim line, they do not support the plunger tube.  Both are no-go items for me.  Luckily it is a simple swap.

I'm still not sure I'm going to shoot the full Size DW Valor yet.  It may just end up on the collection side of the inventory. Not quite a piece of art, it certainly is an extraordinarily fine piece of work.

I'm sure I missed something, so please feel free to ask.  I'll do my best to answer your questions.  Overall, it is a sub $1800 1911 with real parts and exceedingly fine craftsmanship!   Even better, it worked right out of the box with a quality defensive load.

[NS2]

I just want you to know that this thread has caused me to experience an old illness I once had.  It's called "1911 fever."  It was very hard to cure last time, and now thanks to you guys, it's reared it's ugly head again.  What am I going to do?

Buy a 1911.  Just one.  You can stop there.  You only need one.  You won't be a well rounded shootist unless you can shoot a 1911 and a revolver to go along with the Glocks.  So it's simple.  Just buy the one 1911.  No worries after that.

I'd suggest you start with the DW guns.  Rob says his Pointman is one hell of a gun.

[Rob Kroupa]

Buy a 1911. 

DO IT! 

[Devereaux]

Oh, yeah. Great advise, chief. I did that - back about '66, and now I have 1911's in double digits. Kind of ruins any other gun for you.

OTOH, when I get a little money, I just may be adding to my little pool, if I can find a DW.

[melski]

Buy a 1911. 

DO IT! 

Do it Bob, do it!  You know you want to!!

[NS2]

500 rounds of each ammo in the picture.  Including 230gr +P Hy-Shok.  All in it is over 2500 rounds using WC 47D mags.  The total number of failures, OF ANY KIND, is zero.  I'm sure I lucked out on that one, it is a 1911 after all, but it is one heck of a gun straight from the box.

What I learned?  The Valor Bobtail or V-Bob runs hard even when you neglect the oil and it will eat anything with the factory recoil spring.

I would trust this gun as an EDC and it is worth the price.



I've decided that I'm not going to shoot the full size Valor.  It's a keeper for me.

I'm looking forward the version with an accessory rail coming out this year.