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freebullet

Guest
Hopefully it's not a Manson reamer. If so we're guna be waiting. After the 3rd month I cancelled the order, it showed up 2 weeks later.

Since you posted in the handgun section, I'm guessing a new hi point for now.:p
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Hopefully it's not a Manson reamer. If so we're guna be waiting. After the 3rd month I cancelled the order, it showed up 2 weeks later.

Since you posted in the handgun section, I'm guessing a new hi point for now.:p

It is NOT a Manson Reamer - and that sounds like MY luck! And I can assure you, it is NOT a Hi Point! I would def not bother to tease you with such a turd! (or even admit I paid $ for one!). And I also expect that the suspense is going to be drawn out a bit, for the NICS issue!
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
OK. FINALLY got to pick this one up! AND get it on the range for a little paper punching! so, it is...

A Smith & Wesson Victory circa Aug/Sept 1942(?). Orig 5" bbl/38 S&W Cart (38 S&W-38/200). 38 S&W Ctg on rh side of bbl. Marked with bomb and U S Property GHD on top strap. All matching serial (incl grips) # V288880. There are NO British proofs on it. Correct original finish/VERY tight lock up. ALTERED: 38 Special stamped into left side plate. Cyl has been bored to accept/shoot 38 SPC. Fired case looks like a mini 38-40! Does not split fired cases. Will need to neck size only and load soft lead cast fat as will chamber. Trigger is rough/slight 2 stage. Shoots as well as expected with oversized bore for 38 SPC. Need to slug bore and cyl throats.

Bought it as a shooter (not collector), pd shooter price, and it will shoot as expected. Pleased with it, and the history it has. It is in prob 85%++ shape for a war gun. If it were orig, prob $800-$1K, based on what I have seen. I have half that in it. Happy
 

Ian

Notorious member
Nice. Mine's a US Navy .38 S&W Special, also all original. Most if the finish wear has been put on it by me, can't stand to not shoot it periodically and I've carried it a lot when hunting, usually with half a cylinder of snake shot.

If you find yours shoots high, use a 125-grain bullet. Yep, neck sizing is in the cards for you, but that's actually an advantage.

I'm sur you will enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine, congratulations!

Some pics I was going to post because it didn't look like you were going to there for a minute. :)

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RBHarter

West Central AR
My Grandmother gave me Grampa's M10 he bought when he was a Kern county Ca Constable in 1955 . It was made in 47' about 1000 after end of the Victory model .
It left S&W in a shipment of LEO guns to a major warehouse then out to a western region Police distributor and eventually to the shop where he picked it in San Bernardino CA in about April of 1955 . He carried for duty which doesn't appear to have been much through May of 1959 . It mostly hide in a closet in a makeup case until 1993 or so when I got it . It's got a few dings and a little more holster wear since then . I shot it some . In hindsight probably all very dumb on my part , on the other hand if you don't make memories with Grandpa's gun now looking at probably a 6th generation next owner it won't be special to them will it . :)

Nice find there , it looks pretty good to me .
I wonder if a 9mm Mak/9×18 steel set would be a good set to try to half size vs a 38 Short or special set .
 
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oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
RB - I have both 38 SPC and 38 S&W dies. I am thinking that I can also shoot the S&W in this one, kinda (now) like a 38 Short (or like 44 SPC in 44 Mag). This one is a pure shooter. As are ALL of mine! I shot it today with reload I had on the shelf - nothing tailored. Did ok. I am sure, as I work things up, it will shoot as well as I can. But man, the fired brass looks funky! Kinda like it can't make up it's mind what size it wants to be! lol! I need to slug the throats and the bore, just for kicks. It is also a very cool companion to my Smith 1917 made in 1918/Brazilian 1946 Contract 45. I LOVE old, and especially old military/historical, guns!
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I have a S&W M&P in original 38/200 from Australia. Throats measure about .362" on mine.
 

StrawHat

Well-Known Member
The 5” barreled K frame is about the best balanced of the bunch. Never messed with the 38 S&W but have had several of the Specials.

Kevin
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I'm not a collector but mine was barely out of the box . I should have gotten it lettered and found a box . On the other what makes a valuable collectable doesn't do a thing for priceless memories and living history . Fire formed would be interesting to see . I wonder if maybe this could be a candidate for a 38 long die set . I'd have to look but the old long is probably the same dia as the short and length is pretty close to the Special . I have a new unopened bag of long around here somewhere and nothing to shoot it in ...... I got it cheap to trim for short which I also don't have anymore .
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
of the six cases, two middle ones are fired in std 38 SPC. Out side 2 on both sides were fired in the Victory.

RB - not familiar with the 38 Long. No clue if it would work. What I THINK I am seeing is a 38 S&W dia on the lower 2/3rds of the case, and a 38 SPC dia on the front 1/3 of the case. As I said, they remind me of a 38-40/44-40 case shape. Good news is, no mouth splits on 1x fired.

IMG_0490.JPGIMG_0492.JPG
 

StrawHat

Well-Known Member
...What I THINK I am seeing is a 38 S&W dia on the lower 2/3rds of the case, and a 38 SPC dia on the front 1/3 of the case. As I said, they remind me of a 38-40/44-40 case shape. Good news is, no mouth splits on 1x fired...

Correct, the 38 S&W is shorter and larger diameter than the 38 Special. When they “improved” the chambers, the 38 Special reamer touched nothing of the original chamber but it did lengthen it and enlarge the throat ahead of the 38 S&W chamber. Firing a Special in it produces a “bottle necked” casing.

You should still be able to fire 38 S&W in it if you get them.

Kevin
 

StrawHat

Well-Known Member
They may be more accurate but the new chamber is giving a bit more free bore to the equation. That might be detrimental, or not... Only one way to find the answer.

Kevin
 
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oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
They may be more accurate but the new chamber is giving a bit more free bore to the equation. That might be detrimental, or not... Only one way to find the answer.

Kevin

yeah - thought about that. 'course, there is always the 200 grn option too! 38/200 originally! I will play with it. May just be as simple as pure lead pushed ~800ish. It ain't a target gun - just a fun historical shooter. And I can typically still always shoot one of them better than 85% of the plastic gun spray and pray lot! lol!
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
before I go buy some... anybody have some extra 38 S&W brass to part with? (I do NOT need 500 from Starline!)