shot this at the range last two days in 9mm and this is without a doubt the most accurate pistol I have ever shot. It belongs to a friend and when he bought it I had my doubts but now Im a huge fan.
Handsome, well-made handgun. Old school. That bull barrel fitting with the slide is a beautiful piece of engineering. Makes it a real eye candy in a plastic world of Glocks, S&W M&P's and all the other consumer product firearms.
I watched your video on the eco about 3 month ago, now I own one thanks to this video. Awesome! Sub compact 1911's . Dan Wesson's are truly comparable with other high end 1911's at half the price.
I've got the VBOB and I'm in love with it. It's my daily carry. You mentioned the gun being uncomfortable on your thumb - I have the same complaint. It's because they don't radius the edge of safety lever and it has a sharp corner. That's the only thing I'd change!
sootch00, I still enjoy this video & watch it years later since I first viewed it which was my deciding factor in buying this very model & still carry daily ..thank you & continued success !!
After watching this video (and reading other reviews) I purchased one in imm -- Dan Wesson ECO 9mm. One of my "faults" is that I'm overly precise and too much of a perfectionist -- which leads to very high expectations on my weapons. This pistol has exceeded my expectations so far. It fits my hand perfectly, it shoots twice as good as I thought it would, is very accurate, and I surprisingly love the sights. Shooting factory 9mm 115grain the recoil was so small that it didn't even register. I had just finished an IDPA match and pulled this pistol out to play and I literally felt like I could have shot the match with this pistol. I was worried before my purchase -- and questioned if carry-sized 1911 could function properly in 9mm and I'm this guy has not given me a single problem. Thanks for your great video -- even though yours is 45 ACP, it pushed me over the edge and I went ahead and purchased from the CZ Custom shop (czcustom.com) and I'm so glad I did. It is my new favorite pistol. I'm just floored at how accurate I am with the pistol right with no experience with it. I draw and am on target with initial shots and followup shots with no recoil. This pistol is a diamond in the ruff -- thank you Dan Wesson!!!!
I enjoyed the video Sootch. I picked up the DW ECO in 9mm about a month ago. First trip to the range had quite few failure to go into battery. I was using 115 grain fmj cheap target ammo. ran a few mags of hollow points and it was flawless. Put 200 rounds through it that day. 2nd trip...150 rounds-1 failure. 3rd trip 150 rounds 0 failures. I absolutely love this pistol.
That is a very classy looking pistol. It does not have a bunch of logos and lawyer warnings marked all over it. Just a rather small ECO and the small factory marking. The black and white grips, clean lines, and flawless finish all scream classy carry piece. This is a, I am in my suit at a big high dollar dinner kind of carry gun.
Thank you for this review. I was almost set on getting a S&W Shield, but loving 1911’s like I do, I have oriented back to the DW ECO. Wish I could shoot one before buying, but am not too worried about being disappointed. Great vid and keep up the great content. You are one of the best on RU-vid.
Bought a mint, scarcely shot ECO in 45 from a friend who found the pistol just didn't work for his hands (he is left handed), mine runs 100% with appropriate lubrication shooting factory or my reloaded .45 ammo. Mine shot low, not a problem for a defensive gun, but I also shoot for accuracy in IDPA, and hence put XS sights on the gun ( a standard Novak cut) and now when I "cover" the target, it shoots precisely to point of aim. My DW ECO is my carry pistol. Paid a grand for it. I have a Bobtail 45 Dan Wesson Commander, and that pistol has thousands of rounds down the pipe, and it too functions perfectly.
I've seen this in a few videos now and the OCD in me makes me say this. There is no benefit in pulling the trigger quickly with the trigger gauge. All it does is add to the variation in the readings and often makes the readings appear higher than reality. You'll get much more consistent readings if you press slowly to the rear with the trigger pull gauge. You don't have to go at a glacial pace, but you're almost jerking it here. Lastly try to align the gauge on the same spot of the trigger with each pull as that can make a big difference too. I'm glad to see you giving readings now, I'm just trying to give some advice to get the most out of the tool, no offense meant.
***** I try not to be a dick. Someone takes the time to make a video I am enjoying for free there's not much call for complaint to begin with. If I can help out though I will. I do a lot of trigger work on my pistols and I've seen easily half a pound in variation by how the gauge is used. Anyway, I'll give your channel a look!
I have a Dan Wesson model 15-2 revolver. It is in 357 magnum. It has interchangeable barrels. It is a sweet shooter. Wish I had one of their large frame revolvers. When the company was producing quality firearms, it was really something. When it was sold and resold, it left a lot to be desired. But that is a story too often heard with too many firearm companies.
Great review of a great pistol. Dan Wesson makes some really awesome pistols . It's like a custom / production gun with no mim parts. Very high quality pistols. I have had 0 problems with my Dan Wesson Valor. It is my favorite 1911, very durable, very accurate simply a high quality firearm. So far it has been flawless, Currently at 2000 rounds and going strong and continues to look great. A real pleasure to shoot. The ECO looks like another fine firearm by Dan Wesson.Thanks for sharing.
I own a Dan Wesson CCO .45 ACP and it is best made, most accurate 1911 I have ever run. It is truly a semi-custom firearm that can compare well with the custom guns by Wilson, Ed Brown, etc.
I own a Valor v-bob very nice 1911 but my Ed Brown kobra carry is in a class by its self.I am in awe of that pistol.Fit and Finish blows the Valor away !! You get what you pay for !!
Great review on the ECO. It sure is a fine looking 1911. For me it has what I look for in a 1911, checkering on the front strap and good checkering on the mainspring. The grips look to give good purchase too and sights are very nice. The disassembly seems straight froward however, the price point is just a little high for me. Very nice looking 1911.
I have shot 10.000 rounds in my GSG 1911 in 22LR , I hit the 10k mark just the other day . Replaced the recoil spring 3 times just for prevented maintenance, not that it actually broke down, I paid $400 brand new and still running. Hope all my firearms run like it with a handful (no joke a handful) of FTF or FTE and that was the ammo, or the person that was a first time shooter . Anyway I put my order in for a DW 9mm ECP can’t wait .
They actually started designing them in 1890, and finished by 1905 (or somewhere around there), but they had to change it to make it a service pistol, and it became the service pistol in 1911, which is why it's named the 1911.
If I had my wish I would buy a Dan Wesson Model 715 in .357 Magnum which can also handle the .38 Special loads of ammunition, the 715 has 3 barrels 1) a 4", 2) a 6", and finally 3) an 8" , both the 6", and the 8" both have a ventilated barrels. The 715 holds 6 rounds of .357 Magnum, and .38 Special.
Over on my G+ page, I saw Jeff Quinn (Gunblast) reviewing this. Clicked on it to share at my blog, and saw that sootch00 was running a far longer video on the particular one that interested me most. I love the way Jeff does things, but I wanted a bit more on this.
Dat's a purdy little pistol and shoots gud too. But really, great review Sootch, as usual. I think I might have to hit my local gs and see if I can lay my hands on one.
Cheaper than dirt has a rail system made for full size to give you a light rail. Since a lot of 1911 don't have them. But for compact you will need to modify it. I had the rail system reinforced with epoxy and redrilled holes to match up for the pistol grip. Now it fits perfect and I have a light for compact 1911
Cheaper than dirt can keep everything they have. They were the first ones to jack the price of pmags up to 70 dollars per mag just hours after the Newtown shooting. They'll never get a dime from me.
Price gouging is illegal in a state of emergency. I guess it's not illegal in this situation, just low class. A bunch of Motels and gas stations in NJ were charged with Price Gouging during Hurricane Sandy.
Fuck ctd. They raised their prices on everything, to outrageous levels. I could have a one of a kind, priceless firearm that was missing one part, and the only place to get that part (the last part known to exist), I'd sooner melt the gun down before giving those fuckers a penny.
As expensive as these pistols are you would think DW would have put a take down tool like Kimber does in the box. I do believe DW is a lot more superior than a Kimber. DW has the best production 1911 there is on the market. Thanks for the video.
Great review. I agree about the sharp thumb safety being uncomfortable, it's a known issue. I sent mine back a couple of months ago to have them dehorn it. Once it finally makes it back to me it should be a sweet shooter.
I would have liked to seen a demonstration of the alternative way of field stripping; without the paper clip. I know it's not a big deal, but I don't like the idea using a paper clip to disassemble such an expensive pistol.
I've always wondered why you seem to do a quick jolt when checking trigger pull. Why don't you do a slow and steady pull to the rear? I feel like a quick jolt my affect your results
Great vid Sootch, I'am hoping you can play along; I've wanted to carry a 1911 forever but have some requirements, what is your top three officer sized .45 1911's, under $1500 street value? I live in florida, so light clothing only, IWB carry. Thanks, keep up the good work!
Hey Sootch, I've been thinking about stepping up my game to a Dan Wesson, but looking for something in a small frame format for CC. Have my eyes on a CCO from lgs, would you tell me the difference between it and this ECO? Thanks so much... love your reviews, can't get enough of them, they are seriously addictive! LOL!
ECO = Elite Carry Officer; I have the 9mm. Had to send it back for some fitting. Fails to go into battery when new(under 250-400 rounds). Haven't had 100% reliability yet. Really wants to be wet and clean. I need more breakin but haven't had time.
Mine did same gunsmith polished the ramp and works perfect. Next thing is to get trigger job done and a better light. I got nice pistol and wal mart light lol
pay $1500 for something like a frikkin 9mm and it don't work right?!?!?!?!? i've had a S&W 915 for ages, only had one failure, bad primer on an aluminum Blazer round. i have better uses for $1500...116 thirty can cases of Miller High Life!
Looks VERY nice. But for the price point there are MANY other options to choose from. I'm not sure if this would be the compact 1911 I would buy for $1400-1600.
That’s the only issue I have with these pistols, I own two thinking about buying this one, you shouldn’t need a paper clip to take a these pistols down? These pistols are not cheap, at the least CZ should provide a tool that doesn’t damage the finish like the paper clip does
I’ve watched both this review for the ECO and your review for the Dan Wesson “Specialist”.....which would you recommend for carry or just overall? Thanks Sootch. Love your videos and keep up the great work!
Sootch - thanks for yet another excellent video review! Price tags aside, how does the ECO compare to the Rami in terms of IWB carry, comfort and draw? Do you have a preference between these two guns for CCW?
Sootch and all that own a DW 1911...have you had any experiences with rust? . Farmwatch sounds happy...so I guess no rust on his. I would have thought the finish would be corrosion resistant. .
Do you know what all comes in the case? I trying to figure out which 1911 to get. I like the Dan Wesson ECO and the Springfield Range Officer Champion.
ECO, I really thought this was the economy model until I heard the $1600 dollar price tag, people must be made of money.. Wish I was making the same as the people who can afford a pistol like this.. Sorry for the rant :)
I don’t know why all manufactures of 1911’s don’t put front strap checkering and mainspring housing checkering on EVERY 1911 that goes otd! I would gladly pay the added cost for it, and so would most people! In fact I will never buy another 1911 without it!
