Dan Wesson Wraith

By
ON TARGET STAFF
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Range Time

With four shots nearly on top of each-other and one just north, the Wraith proved capable of one-inch groups using Colt Defense 230-grain Match. For a production 1911—let alone a custom gun from one of the boutique manufacturers—it’s hard to ask for better performance than this.

Built entirely from forged stainless steel, the Wraith is very strong, making hot loads like Doubletap Ammunition’s 450 SM (short magnum) a perfect match (www.doubletapammo.net.) Accuracy with these type loads was in the sub two-inch range at 25 yards, mostly due to some stiffer recoil. Using a 20-pound recoil spring tamed it a bit, but these are pretty snappy. My best group came from Doubletap’s 230-grain Match Ammunition loaded for Colt Defense. It put four rounds into a cluster at 25 yards with one opening the group up to a bit over an inch. Soft shooting in this all steel 1911, it was a pleasure to shoot and very accurate. Everything else was in the 1.5- to 2-inch range using a bag as a rest on a pretty windy, rainy, and cold day. Sharp checkering kept things solid, even in the rain. It was like a vice with gloves on, a bit sharp bare handed, but solid as a rock.

Reliability was excellent with a consistent and predictable ejection pattern. Most of the self-defense ammunition ran okay with the heavy spring but switching back to an 18-pound spring brought it back to more normal patterns. No stoppages or failures with any of the ammunition using either spring. It worked well suppressed, as good as any with moderate powder at the shooter. Accuracy was unaffected by the Osprey and it did little to change the handling of the Wraith other than adding length.

Bottom Line

Dan Wesson’s Wraith is typical of their higher end 1911s, excellent in almost every respect. Fit and finish is superb, parts are high quality, accuracy is stellar, about as good as it gets on a hunting or working hand gun. Operation was flawless using several different magazines. The Distressed look is nice, looks worn without having to carry it for a few years. While not truly dull, it is not too shiny for tactical use or personal carry. If you have decided you need a full-sized stainless steel 1911 with a threaded barrel, the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning Wraith may be just about perfect. For More Information contact Dan Wesson Firearms, Dept. OT; Tel.: (607) 336-1174; Web: www.danwessonfirearms.com—

Testing with multiple brands of ammunition, a bunch of different magazines and running both suppressed and un-suppressed, the Dan Wesson Wraith ran with 100-percent reliability throughout testing. The SilencerCo Osprey can performed equally as well, producing minimal blowback, excellent sound suppression, a negligible point-of-impact shift and no degradation of downrange precision.

Specifications: Dan Wesson Wraith

Caliber/Gauge: .45 ACP

Barrel: 5.75 inches

OA Length: 9.5 Inches

Width: 1.5 Inches

Height: 6.0 Inches

Weight: 42.3 ounces

Sights: Ameriglo Tritium Suppressor Height

Stocks/Grips: G10 Stippled

Action: Semi-Automatic / Single Action

Slide: Stainless Steel

Frame: Stainless Steel

Finish: Distressed Duty

Capacity: 8+1 (or any standard 1911 magazine)

Price: $2077.00

Performance

Cartridge                                          Velocity (FPS)                 Best Group

Doubletap 160-Grain +P Barnes   1,200                          1.25 Inches

Barnes TAC-XPD 185-grain +P                 1,000                          1.30 Inches

Underwood 120-Grain +P XD                   1,385                          1.40 Inches

Doubletap 255-grain 450 SM                    1,025                          1.80 Inches

Federal HST 230-Grain                              900                             1.45 Inches

Colt Defense 230-grain Match                  850                             1.00 inches

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