Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing S&W Victory Cylinder Swap..?

I have this pistol that belonged to my Grandpa. He bought it in the 50's or 60's from a retiring LEO, is the story I got on it.

I believe it was an English Victory model that has had the barrel chopped, reblued and the laynard ring ground down. It doesn't have any monetary value, just sentimental.

It was originally chambered for 38S&W but the cylinder has been opened up to accept 38Special.

Once that modification was done, neither cartridge fits real well in the cylinder.

How difficult and expensive would it be to replace the cobbed cylinder with a proper 38Special cylinder and get it fitted, timed, etc., properly.?

I don't mess with pistols much...

I'm working on a 'First Model' I just traded into, and by serendipitous coincidence have the Dope on the ORIGINAL chambering here,.....and only have to punch copy:


Type Revolver
Place of origin United States
Production history
Designer Smith & Wesson
Designed 1877
Manufacturer Smith & Wesson
Variants .38/200
Specifications
Bullet diameter .361 in (9.2 mm)
Neck diameter .3855 in (9.79 mm)
Base diameter .3865 in (9.82 mm)
Rim diameter .440 in (11.2 mm)
Rim thickness .055 in (1.4 mm)
Case length .775 in (19.7 mm)
Overall length 1.240 in (31.5 mm)
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
158 gr (10 g) L SWC 767 ft/s (234 m/s) 206 ft�lbf (279 J)
195 gr (13 g) L RN 653 ft/s (199 m/s) 185 ft�lbf (251 J)
200 gr (13 g) LRN 620 ft/s (190 m/s) 176 ft�lbf (239 J)

It's my understanding that the original BP round described above,.... evolved into the .38 S&W, which was held at black powder velocities in it's smokeless loadings.

Some of the"Victories"( of the lend lease variety) had fairly sloppy chambers to start with. The Brits came up with some 175 gr. FMJ stuff that kinda' dropped into their loose chambers, and was about max for the system.

While there should be no real problem stoking that old revolver with MILD .38 Special, I'd be damned sure to ensure that it's not fed any +P. We had an idiotic "Counter man" at a local emporium sell some 38 Special +P+ to a Victory owner. He'd brought the gun in and the idiot actually prescribed the stuff. The owner kinda' missed the fact that the "White Box" .38 special stuff that he was also shooting was DRAGGING it's bullets across the barrel throat.......the old pelter stood up to all this abuse, testimony to something, probably LUCK

Given that the Victory cylinders are on the sloppy side to start with, one might better seek an older civilian 38 S&W cylinder,.....If you want a tight "Target Grade" cylinder, you may well be looking for a long time......

Nice raw material for sleeving down to a mild rimmed .32 caliber,......

Luck.

GTC

It appears to may be a British proofed Lend-Lease pistol or else a Victory Model (primarily for secondary U.S. issue, but likely sold to Britain as such also). Likely the correct 4" barrel too, methinks. Basically they were a standard 4" M&P (Military&Police) given a parkerized finish, smooth wooden grips and lanyard ring, and chambered in .38 S&W so as to interchange with the British military .38 pistol cartridge. This one appears to have been polished and re-blued, so it likely started out with the parkerized finished, would be my guess.

.38S&W is a larger diameter case, and a larger diameter bore too. A .38 Special is wrong for that gun for for both reasons. Putting a .38 Special cylinder in it likely won't shoot worth a darn due to the larger bore. Best bet would be to find a S&W M&P cylinder in .38 S&W and have a gunsmith fit it to your gun.

Ha ha, it appears we were typing at the same time!

I guess I need to slug it and see how much lead the barrel will be shaving off using 38 Specials...

I don't know about accuracy, but when I was a kid, I'd shoot the ol' regular 158 gr. lead ammo in it.

It was "Minute of Woodpecker in the Barn" accurate at that time..

It want be shaving off any lead due to the 38 s&w actually using a slightly larger bullet.

The 4" barrel is correct for that one. The lettering would not be centered if it was a longer barrel that had been chopped.

Keep it like it is and just shoot lower powered 38 spl lead loads in it. Your cases will probably not last long if your reloading for it due to the cases swelling in the oversize chambers.

Best option indeed, dittos, on your suggestion......

Standard or sub sonic Wadcutters cast from a softer alloy, with a soft BP style of lube just might pleasantly surprise one.

GTC