smith & wesson model victory for ccw

[mg357]

Dear Smith and Wesson Forum would a World War 2 s&w model victory Revolver with a 4 inch barrel be good choice for a ccw carry gun any and all help in answering this would be greatly appreciated sincerely mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum.

 

[P&R Fan]

I suppose it would work fine, although S&W cautions against the use of +P ammunition in one that old. It probably won't hurt it too bad, but a steady diet of it is not a good idea.
I like to carry some of my older revolvers too once in a while, but for everyday use the more modern stuff is more appropriate, at least for me.

 

[Faulkner]

It's essentually a 4 inch K Frame, and lots of people carry a 4 inch K Frame every day. As with any 50+ year old firearm, if it's in good shape there's no reason not to carry it.

 

[Deltaboy]

It will work just fine.

 

[310Pilot]

If the Victory is chambered in .38 Special, it should be fine as a carry gun. However, if it is chambered in .38 S&W, as the great majority of Victorys are, it would be marginal as a carry gun, as that cartridge is much less powerful, and factory ammo for it is limited in both availability and effectiveness.

 

[smithman 10]

Victory Carry

I own one Victory Model in .38 Special. I'd carry it if it was all I had with no worries about its reliability. It's really just a military and police model with a utilitarian finish and smooth grips.

But I'd rather carry something smaller and more concealable if possible, like a J frame Model 60 in the front pocket. Or a J frame airweight.

But again, as long as it's in good shape, no problem with carrying a Victory Model.

 

[dakasat]

Provided that it is in .38 Special, I think it would make a fine CCW gun. Not much different than when I carry my Model 13 for self defense. Same frame.

 

[VictoryOwner]

If the Victory is chambered in .38 Special, it should be fine as a carry gun. However, if it is chambered in .38 S&W, as the great majority of Victorys are, it would be marginal as a carry gun, as that cartridge is much less powerful, and factory ammo for it is limited in both availability and effectiveness.

Yeah, I have one (not Special) and the only bullets available are RNL, which don't have much stopping power and risk over penetration. Nowadays there's better self-defense ammo, but unfortunately no one makes any for this gun. Probably you could find someone to make better self-defense bullets, but short of that it's a marginal carry gun.

 

[Badkarma 1]

Not a problem mg357. Just load it with a non +P load like the Federal Nyclad or Win. Silvertip.
If not that then either semi wadcutter or wadcutter bullets.
A few +P shouldn't hurt it though.
Dale

 

[OFT II]

If it's in 38 Special I wouldn't bat an eye about carrying it. Now if the gun in question is in 90% or better condition I would be concerned about any wear that I might put on it. The gun that I plan on taking out today is a second model 44 that was made in 1929. Not worried about any damage to the finish as it has an after-market nickle finish.

 

[cmort666]

Dear Smith and Wesson Forum would a World War 2 s&w model victory Revolver with a 4 inch barrel be good choice for a ccw carry gun any and all help in answering this would be greatly appreciated sincerely mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum.

It wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd pick it over a lot of other things which I've seen claimed as or recommended as a carry gun, to include:

• Hi Points
• SAA type single action revolvers
• Nagant revolvers
• derringers
• .22 "mini" revolvers, or anything of lesser caliber than .380acp

I've got a post-war vintage M&P in .38 Special that I got from R.M. Vivas. It's down to bare metal in places, but it shoots straight and has an incredibly slick double action trigger. I wouldn't shoot a lot of +P through it, but it'll survive six rounds of it in an emergency.

If I carried one (assuming it's a .38 Special), I'd use some version of the 158gr. LSWC-HP +P "FBI" load.

 

[HKSmith]

If the Victory is chambered in .38 Special, it should be fine as a carry gun. However, if it is chambered in .38 S&W, as the great majority of Victorys are, it would be marginal as a carry gun, as that cartridge is much less powerful, and factory ammo for it is limited in both availability and effectiveness.

Actually, Buffalo Bore now makes .38 S&W ammo that's suitable for self defense. It fires a 125 grain SWC bullet at well over 900 ft/sec from a 4 inch revolver (not a test barrel). This is similar territory to many major manufacturers .38 Special +P loads. It's not for use in top-break revolvers!

 

[cmort666]

Actually, Buffalo Bore now makes .38 S&W ammo that's suitable for self defense. It fires a 125 grain SWC bullet at well over 900 ft/sec from a 4 inch revolver (not a test barrel). This is similar territory to many major manufacturers .38 Special +P loads. It's not for use in top-break revolvers!

Something similar to the old British .380/200 load with a 200gr. bullet would be an improvement as well.