Lee Martin
Hunter
First public photos of the DWA .44 Magnum. M44 makes its debut at an IHMSA match in Goliad, Texas. David squeezes M44 with Vent heavy 6-inch barrel. To his left, Jim Whitcomb at work with S&W M-29 nickel 8-3/8".
M44 VH6 barrel at recoil. DWA sent David VH8 and VH6 shrouds and barrels. Testing began with 8-inch, with poor accuracy. David called DWA to report bore compression under threads, only to learn that the threads had been rolled on. The 6-inch had cut threads and shot superbly.
Still doping the sights, David shot 30x40 Creedmoor, then 25x40 standing. Numerous silhouetters shot the M44 that day, several immediately placing orders.
The big Dan and the Redhawk share major concepts----with major mechanical differences.
Similarity:
* over built for .44 Mag.
* solid frame construction, made possible by investment casting.
* vertically stripped modular trigger assembly.
* offset cylinder latch.
As tear downs would be frequent to observe, adjust, and change barrels, threads were coated with Anti-Seize Compound. In anticipation of muzzle nut fouling from Power Control porting, the grease was put on thick.
From the git-go, David encourage DWA to drop Power Control porting as unnecessary to the soft recoil of the 4-lb. Dan. Not to mention mess. DWA saw Power Control as promoting sales, yet advised against firing cast bullets through it. Were it not for the Anti-Seize, fouling from jacketed bullets would have locked it up. 6" barrel shown.
Fouling from jacketed bullets. Imagine what cast would do.
Wire wheel cleans fouled threads. David advised DWA drop the porting. No accuracy deterioration was found but, as soon as a an 8" barrel with cut threads arrived, it was mounted.
Barrel socket and frame face of DWA M-44. Hole by yoke cutout takes a pin. The pin indexes barrel shroud in vertical alignment. Spring loaded etent ball in standing breech centers cylinder ratchet. A thumb latch secures yoke to frame
The three muzzles. L-to-R: M-29 5-groove; Redhawk 6-groove; M-44 8-groove.
Unit facing left...
M-44 hammer at full cock. Unlike S&W and Ruger double action lockwork, the M-44 notch is in the trigger, and the sear tip is on the hammer.
M44 trigger guard has adjustable trigger stop. SA tunable for a clean, light letoff----lighter than any other DA revolver, with possible exception of, but probably including, Colt Python
M44 hammer (left) is a MIM part, as is M44 trigger; won't give trouble----as long as hard double action work is kept off the menu. Technically a double action, in practice the M44 is a single action with superb trigger and fast lock time. Note raised bearing surfaces to reduce friction.
Redhawk hammer (and trigger) are investment cast, heat treated, durable in the extreme----both SA and DA. Redhawk SA cannot approach letoff of the M-44.
M44 trigger module contains trigger rebound spring, arrangement later adopted for Super Redhawk. SRH didn't exist when these photos were taken.
M-44 trigger module:
* trigger pinned to module.
* pawl pivots on trigger.
* transfer bar attached to pawl.
* hammer pins to trigger module; Hammer/trigger engagement may be checked on module
Redhawk trigger module:
* trigger pinned to module.
* pawl and transfer bar pivot on trigger.
* cylinder latch attached to module.
M44 VH6 barrel at recoil. DWA sent David VH8 and VH6 shrouds and barrels. Testing began with 8-inch, with poor accuracy. David called DWA to report bore compression under threads, only to learn that the threads had been rolled on. The 6-inch had cut threads and shot superbly.
Still doping the sights, David shot 30x40 Creedmoor, then 25x40 standing. Numerous silhouetters shot the M44 that day, several immediately placing orders.
The big Dan and the Redhawk share major concepts----with major mechanical differences.
Similarity:
* over built for .44 Mag.
* solid frame construction, made possible by investment casting.
* vertically stripped modular trigger assembly.
* offset cylinder latch.
As tear downs would be frequent to observe, adjust, and change barrels, threads were coated with Anti-Seize Compound. In anticipation of muzzle nut fouling from Power Control porting, the grease was put on thick.
From the git-go, David encourage DWA to drop Power Control porting as unnecessary to the soft recoil of the 4-lb. Dan. Not to mention mess. DWA saw Power Control as promoting sales, yet advised against firing cast bullets through it. Were it not for the Anti-Seize, fouling from jacketed bullets would have locked it up. 6" barrel shown.
Fouling from jacketed bullets. Imagine what cast would do.
Wire wheel cleans fouled threads. David advised DWA drop the porting. No accuracy deterioration was found but, as soon as a an 8" barrel with cut threads arrived, it was mounted.
Barrel socket and frame face of DWA M-44. Hole by yoke cutout takes a pin. The pin indexes barrel shroud in vertical alignment. Spring loaded etent ball in standing breech centers cylinder ratchet. A thumb latch secures yoke to frame
The three muzzles. L-to-R: M-29 5-groove; Redhawk 6-groove; M-44 8-groove.
Unit facing left...
M-44 hammer at full cock. Unlike S&W and Ruger double action lockwork, the M-44 notch is in the trigger, and the sear tip is on the hammer.
M44 trigger guard has adjustable trigger stop. SA tunable for a clean, light letoff----lighter than any other DA revolver, with possible exception of, but probably including, Colt Python
M44 hammer (left) is a MIM part, as is M44 trigger; won't give trouble----as long as hard double action work is kept off the menu. Technically a double action, in practice the M44 is a single action with superb trigger and fast lock time. Note raised bearing surfaces to reduce friction.
Redhawk hammer (and trigger) are investment cast, heat treated, durable in the extreme----both SA and DA. Redhawk SA cannot approach letoff of the M-44.
M44 trigger module contains trigger rebound spring, arrangement later adopted for Super Redhawk. SRH didn't exist when these photos were taken.
M-44 trigger module:
* trigger pinned to module.
* pawl pivots on trigger.
* transfer bar attached to pawl.
* hammer pins to trigger module; Hammer/trigger engagement may be checked on module
Redhawk trigger module:
* trigger pinned to module.
* pawl and transfer bar pivot on trigger.
* cylinder latch attached to module.
