S&W Victory

chockkicker · #1 11-13-2008, 05:22 PM

As a FNG I don't think I have permission to post pictures, more than likely just computer ignorance on my part, go here http://www.snubnose.info/docs/m10.htm and the second gun down is an exact copy of the one I have, 4 screw side plate, same grips, same barrel.

chockkicker · #2 11-13-2008, 05:22 PM

As a FNG I don't think I have permission to post pictures, more than likely just computer ignorance on my part, go here http://www.snubnose.info/docs/m10.htm and the second gun down is an exact copy of the one I have, 4 screw side plate, same grips, same barrel.

10-12 · #3 11-13-2008, 05:50 PM

Some time after WW II, some enterprising English companies bought a number of the British Victory Models (.38 S&W), rebored them to .38 Special and cut the barrels to two – three inches. Some had “combat” style sights while others had the standard half moon. Many were exported to the US. If there is no locking lug under the barrel for the extractor rod, I’d bet that is what you have. That means only one lockup so you have to beware of other than light loads. Boring out a .38 S&W to .38 S&W Special can cause problems as well. The diameter of the .38 S&W case is a bit larger than the .38 S&W Special which can lead to bulged cases and may even cause extraction issues. The .38 S&W fired a slightly larger bullet so accuracy with the smaller diameter .38 Special bullet will suffer. I bought one back in the day for $25.00 and it worked rather well. Whomever did the work on mine retained the locking lug which resulted in a 3 ½-inch barrel rather than the shorter ones normally found. Unfortunately, these guns are not bringing anything near what an unaltered Victory will, all else being equal.

Hope this helps.

Bill.

chockkicker · #4 11-13-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 10-12:
Some time after WW II, some enterprising English companies bought a number of the British Victory Models (.38 S&W), rebored them to .38 Special and cut the barrels to two – three inches. Some had “combat” style sights while others had the standard half moon. Many were exported to the US. If there is no locking lug under the barrel for the extractor rod, I’d bet that is what you have. That means only one lockup so you have to beware of other than light loads. Boring out a .38 S&W to .38 S&W Special can cause problems as well. The diameter of the .38 S&W case is a bit larger than the .38 S&W Special which can lead to bulged cases and may even cause extraction issues. The .38 S&W fired a slightly larger bullet so accuracy with the smaller diameter .38 Special bullet will suffer. I bought one back in the day for $25.00 and it worked rather well. Whomever did the work on mine retained the locking lug which resulted in a 3 ½-inch barrel rather than the shorter ones normally found. Unfortunately, these guns are not bringing anything near what an unaltered Victory will, all else being equal.

Hope this helps.

Bill.

Thanks Bill, it is a pretty gun, feels and looks new. I don't plan on firing it unless I have to for home protection.

Landpimp · #5 11-14-2008, 08:57 AM

look something like this?

cut down, drilled out for 38spec, parts all mismatch, its loose as a goose and will split a case now and then....but shoots pretty darn well, think I paid $75 for it last year.

BillCa · #6 11-16-2008, 12:01 PM

10-12 is right about shooting only lower powered loads. Unless you have a gunsmith add a ball-detent to the cylinder yoke to help keep the cylinder locked, only standard pressure loads should be fired in the gun.

If the gun's bore really is .360" - the bore spec for the .38 S&W - you can get very good accuracy using soft lead (swaged) hollow-base wadcutters fired between 700-750 fps. The hollowbase forms a "skirt" that expands during firing, giving you better accuracy.