tell me about this gun

[GD2A]

I realize the irony of the following statement but ... I've been reading enough good things on various sites to finally put DW on my radar as a gun I might want to own. Money is an issue and I'd probably have to part with my Eclipse Custom II if I decided to get another high end 1911. What I'm weighing as a potential next gun is a Gold Cup against a DW.

Can y'all please tell me about this gun - not the crap I can read online but the real-deal, nitty gritty truth about this entry level model. Is it worth buying, is the 'next model up' a substantially better shooter, should I try and find a Pre-CZ DW, etc?

Thank you kindly :)

http://www.centerfireguns.com/cz-usa-rz45-45acp-heritage-ss-01981.html?source=slickguns

[DrHenley]

It is more or less a resurrection of the popular "Razorback" with a Clark-style rib.

I have a Pre-CZ DW, and while I love it, I don't think it is in any way superior to the current DWs.

[Sheepdog]

I would get rid of a mimber for a DW everyday. I have both pre CZ and post cz DW's. The current line is great. I have never had a problem with either. DW over a Gold Cup hard call for me. They are two totally different in that the DW's are really tight tolerances and the Gold Cup, well it's a Colt.You can get a good used pre VBOB, Valor for a decent price.

[BadOscar]

If you are looking to get a shooter I would opt for the DW. In general they are very tight out of the box. I have personally never seen a DW with a loose slide to frame fit. A DW may require a little more break in but it will likely be noticeably more accurate than a series 2 mimber or a newer gold cup.

[Grouse]

I have a RZ 45 heritage. It was so tight that even after cleaning and lube with oil it galled up on me on the second shot. That took me about 4 hours to get the slide off the frame. Another six to get the galling removed. I used bore paste and slow deliberate strokes with the back side of emory cloth wrapped around a popsicle stick.

After an hour and half of that i was able to mate the slide and frame. I used bore paste and racked the slide for the last 3.5 hours. Cleaning regularly, oiling, and more paste. When i finished it was still insanely tight, but rolled as good as any gun i had. It still took about 500 rounds to break it in after the initial two rounds. It is a tight, functional gun.

So would i buy it again? Yes, I make sure though that i use all of the oil on the frame and rack just the two back and forth for at least an hour before cleaning, oiling and shooting. I picked up a pm9 the other day that was just as tight and did not have any issues with galling. Some feeding issues, but by that time the gun had fired 200 rounds as fast as i could reload. The other local guy went in and shot the pistol out of the box, against my recommendation for racking slide to the frame for an hour and galled it in place. Thankfully his was able to seperate pretty easily and i saw him there a few days later running it like a 100 year old singer sewing machine.

As for the pistol it is a quick pointer, the big front dot is super for quick pick up. I like the clark rib. I do find for some reason that my grip shifts on this, where is does not on my pm7. So i may put some grip tape on the front of it, or have it checkered.

pre cz guns IMHO don't hold a candle to the current models. The overall fit and finish is better on the current ones. If you do, find an old one, pick it up from a reputable DW dealer like severns custom. Have him go over it. you will not regret it.

[GD2A]

Thanks folks, I appreciate the replies thus far!

[Dave Waits]

Now, for the other side. While it's certainly priced like one, I would not call any DW an upper-end 1911. It's on about the same level as a Colt worked slightly by the Custom shop. Quality-wise I'd put them in the middle, high-middle. What work they do to them(Although some of what I've seen wasn't the best) does make them feel and shoot better than most Factory-Level guns.

As for the Gold Cup, it's apples and oranges. The Gold Cup is a dedicated Bullseye pistol, the DW isn't. In a Bullseye shooters hands a Gold Cup will stay with almost any upper-end 1911 except for Joe Chambers guns. This isn't to say DWs aren't accurate guns, they are. But, they won't shoot with a Gold Cup at Bullseye. Conversely, a Gold Cup isn't the best choice for a carry gun, sights are a little fragile for that. Plus, it would have to be respringed which would throw off the Balance of the action.

Then there's the price of the average DW new, they're really proud of them. They're, in my mind, overpriced by about $300.00. You could get a Gov't Model, reworked with the same bells and whistles from the Custom shop for less.

Just my opinions.

[DaFadda]

Can't speak to the Colt... don't own one. DW tho? I own a Patriot and a CCO. If you're going to buy one sight unseen.... Call Dave Severns at Severns Custom. One of the most reputable people I've ever met.
Just my 2 cents.
DaFadda

[notshawn54]

Well I sold my Gold Cup to get my DW . Also based on what I've read. Haven't shot it yet. My feelings for the Gold Cup changed when I got my Eclipse II. The Kimber shoots groups inside of what the Colt would do. About the only thing I'll miss is the incredible blueing my Gold Cup had but not the sqishy trigger. Now if it's range only gun and a pristine 70's series, that changes the game. It's a Colt and it will never lose its value. BTW the Colt was my first pistol and I had it for 21 years so a lot of thought went into letting it go, so hopefully all goes well when I finally get to the range and if it does, I'll have no regrets.

[dwsmithjr]

I have a number of 1911s. Most of them are DW in both .45 and 10mm. They are some of the best of the best 1911s out there. I would take a DW over a Colt or Kimber any day of the week including Sunday.

The CZ Dan Wessons are, if anything, better than the pre-CZ Dan Wessons. The Heritage is an entry level DW, IMO, but does not, in any way, shirk on quality, fit or finish, it's just not an $1800 or $2000 Valor or Specialist.

The RZ was first a 10mm and took it's name from the rib on the top of the frame. When CZ started in with DW, they made the RZ-10 and then later a .45 version of the same design which is the Heritage.

I would recommend this gun to anyone who was ready to spend a little over a grand for a 1911. It's the best deal you could get.

[sdmc530]

Can't speak on this DW but I would not give up my Gold Cup for one. I have had Gold Cup for a couple of years and its a darn fine gun. Shoots straight and true and its a tack driver. DW are super nice though, not taking away from them. I sold my Mimber to get a Colt. You will not be sad to get a DW.......