how AWESOME is the Dan Wesson Specialist?

[throttletony]

How AWESOME is Dan Wesson Specialist? Perfect weight for IDPA

This is a rhetorical question... I have one and love it!
I was checking on its viability as a CDP gun in IDPA competition, and get this... the weight limit is 43 oz in this division, and the DW Specialist with an empty mag weighs.... drum roll please... 42.75 oz

Again, it comes with re-branded checkmate 8 rd mags. The Dan Wesson Specialist with an empty mag weighs 42 3/4 oz The internet didn't have this information quite clear enough for me to find easily, so I hope that this post will help others in the future looking for the weight of a Specialist with an empty mag. Obviously a heavier mag might tip the scale just a bit too much.

I was starting to debate if I'd need to swap grips, main spring housing, or magwell, or guide rod, etc. No need, it's perfect as is for my intended use (fun, HD, IDPA)

 

[Brad69]

Not as impressive as the Valor

View attachment 67133

Even with a Idiot scratch!

 

[throttletony]

The Valor is great...
The Specialist has ALL the same internals, and is railed, and has ambi safety, and a magwell

As a lefty that wanted to be able to mount a light, the Specialist was a no-brainer. a V-bob was also tempting... but didn't check all the boxes for me

 

[throttletony]

Not as impressive as the Valor

View attachment 67133

Even with a Idiot scratch!

p.s. those idiot scratches can sneak up on the best of us

 

[Dean C.]

I may or may not love Dan Wesson 1911's, the top gun my Custom Springfield that I use for Single Stack in USPSA weighs the same as your Specialist barley making the weight cut off! That may or may not be the reason it has CF grips

 

[throttletony]

I may or may not love Dan Wesson 1911's, the top gun my Custom Springfield that I use for Single Stack in USPSA weighs the same as your Specialist barley making the weight cut off! That may or may not be the reason it has CF grips

Awesome setup there! I never thought I would be a 1911 guy, but here I am... and revolvers too! "Who woulda thunk it?"
Do u like the ECO? I'm considering something like the DW Guardian as a carry piece. 5 yrs ago, you couldn't convince me that I would like a 1911 as much or more than a Glock 34

 

[Dean C.]

Awesome setup there! I never thought I would be a 1911 guy, but here I am... and revolvers too! "Who woulda thunk it?"
Do u like the ECO? I'm considering something like the DW Guardian as a carry piece. 5 yrs ago, you couldn't convince me that I would like a 1911 as much or more than a Glock 34

Love it , weights right at 2 pounds loaded with 7+1 of 230gr Federal HST. Trigger is superb as usual I highly recommend it. Though I would not suggest +P ammo as it is really snappy in that small gun.

 

[churchmouse]

Not as impressive as the Valor

View attachment 67133

Even with a Idiot scratch!

Oh you did not.....tell me you did not.....

 

[Brad69]

I was hoping you wouldn’t see that post CM !

Yes I did it even with my “idiot scratch” protector in place.
View attachment 67146

 

[Dean C.]

I hope this meme works off my phone , but Shame for the idiot scratch!

 

[VERT]

Is a railed 1911 legal in CDP division in IDPA? I ask because it is not an option for USPSA single stack. Also 5” bushingless barrels are a No No.

 

[Dean C.]

A railed 1911 is 100% allowed in USPSA single stack as long as it is not a an extended light rail like a Springfield Armory Full Rail TRP. Granted the 43oz rule and anything over a 4.2 inch barrel must be bushing still has to be observed.

 

[throttletony]

A railed 1911 is 100% allowed in USPSA single stack as long as it is not a an extended light rail like a Springfield Armory Full Rail TRP. Granted the 43oz rule and anything over a 4.2 inch barrel must be bushing still has to be observed.

Correct. As long as it's not a full rail/dust cover, and this has a bushing (required).
It really is the perfect fit it seems.

 

[churchmouse]

I was hoping you wouldn’t see that post CM !

Yes I did it even with my “idiot scratch” protector in place.
View attachment 67146

Meh. Get some wheels and compound. That will buff right out. Yup, it sure will.

 

[drillsgt]

Meh. Get some wheels and compound. That will buff right out. Yup, it sure will.

Yeah, then have AllenM do a soft bead blast and good as new.

 

[Hopper]

Yes I did it even with my “idiot scratch” protector in place.
View attachment 67146

You're definitely not alone. I put a very small/partial 1d10t mark on my brand-new V-Bob the day after I got it. It wasn't a full-length mishap, but enough that I knew it was there, and my eyes were constantly drawn to it, kind of like your tongue is drawn to a sore in your mouth. I was sick about it, absolutely sick. The V-Bob was SO tightly fit together... I've never had another slide stop be so easy to remove, yet so particularly finicky to put back in.

Now I keep a roll of electrical tape on my bench. Before I re-assemble, I cut two small pieces and stack them on top of each other just below the slide stop. For me it works, it's like a thick cushion, and won't slide around like a business card can sometimes do. Never again (I hope)!

 

[Hoosier45]

When I was a kid I put an idiot mark on my dad's gold cup, trying to show him I knew what I was doing.

 

[Brad69]

I keep telling myself it’s a EDC but it doesn’t take the pain away.

 

[wtburnette]

I keep telling myself it’s a EDC but it doesn’t take the pain away.

Try ruining the duty coat on the slide of a Dan Wesson CCO. That'll give you a nice sinking feeling in your stomach, at least it did for me...

And BTW, yes, the Specialist is awesome. It's the 1911 I have on my list to pick up one day, if I can ever scrape enough pennies together.

 

[Hopper]

Try ruining the duty coat on the slide of a Dan Wesson CCO. That'll give you a nice sinking feeling in your stomach, at least it did for me...

Oof, I remember that, and felt bad for you! That was a pretty innocent mistake... until that happened to you, I thought the Duty Treatment was just about impervious to anything you threw at it.