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03-26-2010, 06:22 PM
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Shoot 38 S&W in Rechambered Victory?
My Victory Model is one of those "converted" to 38 Special. As is well known, these don't shoot worth a hoot.
Wondering if it would be worthwhile to track down some correct 38 S&W ammunition.
Would the S&W rounds shoot better? Or not?
Anybody tried this?
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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95
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03-26-2010, 06:38 PM
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I've tried factory .38 S&W in a rechambered Victory model. The unguided, oversized throat made by the longer .38 Special did not do it any good. The accuracy was lousy.
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03-26-2010, 08:05 PM
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I've had the opposite findings. I have a 38 S&W Pre-Victory, 5" Aussie return that was reamed for 38 Special. I obtained a 38 Special cylinder for it, and shoot both 38 S&W and 38 Special, and both are very acceptable accuracy. Not a tack driver, but will shot into about 3 1/2" at 25 yards with either caliber.
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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244
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03-26-2010, 08:13 PM
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In theory the proper ammo should shoot fine. In practice, if the smith (?) doing the reaming did a poor job and reamed the chamber mouths too big or oblong then accuracy will suffer.
I guess you have to shoot it to see.
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03-27-2010, 01:41 AM
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Looking into the chambers I can clearly see where the 38 Special reaming stopped and the remaining bit before exit is apparently untouched. FWIW, this is a 5" New Zealand return.
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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95
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03-27-2010, 10:36 AM
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Try a few rounds. It can't hurt anything. You may be pleasantly surprised.
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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244
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03-27-2010, 11:27 AM
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I've got a few 38 S&W Victorys that had been converted to 38 special and one 1939 era 38 special M&P target that had been converted to 38 S&W by the English and they all shoot well with orignal ammo.
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03-27-2010, 08:26 PM
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I have one just like it and it shoots "OK". I already had an Enfield, so 38 S&W ammo and dies were on the shelf.
Some complain that the 38 spl cases split. I think I got around that too. I had a few hundred once fired +P range brass that I neck sized only, then fire formed them to the Victory. I continue to only neck size when I reload them.
My "Victory" loads shoot fine and are slightly better than the 38 S&W. Not as good as my Model 27, but I can get a 4" group.
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