Victory ammo choice

[Igiveup]

Is it o.k. to shoot .38 spl. +p in a .38 spl. Victory revolver?

 

[sheppard]

No.

Smith and Wesson has recommended that +P ammo only be shot in .38 special revolvers with a model number such as model 10 or model 15.

 

[KEN L]

Why would you want to? The Victory models don't have the same heat treatment as more modern guns (model marked). It's not worth the risk. Buy a more modern .38 to shoot your +P ammo in.
JMHO

 

[DWalt]

I will be the contrarian and say it is OK, and it will not damage a .38 Special Victory which is more than stout enough to take a little higher pressure load. However, I am not a believer in using .38 Special +P in anything.

 

[Igiveup]

The reason I asked was I have a back up victory revolver and noticed that I had loaded it with +p ammo. I have changed it now. KenL, thanks for the recommendation, I have more than enough various model numbered Smith revolvers, along with a dozen Victories. May I suggest you get a Victory, fun to shoot.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Yes, the Victory Model is well capable of handling +P .38 Special ammunition. It's not something I habitually shoot in mine, but I have before and I've seen it done in another Vicfory Model...

...that was a 38/200 British contract Victory with chambers reamed out to accept .38 Special. A lawman friend shot thousands of early 1980s Winchester 110 grain JHP +P loads through his duty revolver which was the converted British contract Victory as that was the ammunition provided by his agency. All that happened was that a slight step was formed in the case wall, which ironed out readily in the resizing the batches of empties I scrounged.

If I had to press the Victory Model into service in an emergency and +P was all the ammunition to be had I'd have no concerns about its suitability.

 

[Valmet]

While I'd shoot +P in it if I had to? Absolutely. However I wouldn't recommend a steady diet of it thru one of them.

 

[murphydog]

Would six rounds of current +P rated .38 Special damage a mechanically sound Victory Model? Highly doubtful.

But a wise decision to make sure a collectible, historic gun is not overly stressed. Use all the standard pressure 158 gr lead loads your wallet can handle.

 

[stansdds]

I certainly would not make a habit of firing +P ammo in a steel framed S&W revolver that is not stamped with a model number, with the exception of N-frames chambered in .38-44.

 

[Electraclyde]

I shoot standard velocity, 158gr. lead wadcutters in my Victory. Mine is a range gun only. When not being fired it sits clean and empty in my safe. I do have other, newer revolvers to shoot +p with.

 

[Igiveup]

Actually, I bought this revolver this spring at a show. The barrel has been cut to three inches, front sight replaced, and the butt partially rounded, not a collector item. I went thru the action and had it cerrokoted. Great shooter and fun gun, not a collectible. Just a different specimen. I do have a collection of Victories that I do enjoy.

 

[KEN L]

I will be the contrarian and say it is OK, and it will not damage a .38 Special Victory which is more than stout enough to take a little higher pressure load. However, I am not a believer in using .38 Special +P in anything.

I have seen at least two Victory models with cracked forcing cones due to the use of +P ammo. These guns were not designed to shoot ammo with those kind of pressures. I stand by my original answer to OP.

 

[KEN L]

The reason I asked was I have a back up victory revolver and noticed that I had loaded it with +p ammo. I have changed it now. KenL, thanks for the recommendation, I have more than enough various model numbered Smith revolvers, along with a dozen Victories. May I suggest you get a Victory, fun to shoot.

I currently own four of them. And you are correct!