Weapons - What you have (NOT a political discussion)

Something about a well used gun on a well used workbench....

1930's S&W Victory Model 10. The Victory revolvers were part of the lend/lease program to supply the Brits with guns to fight the Nazis at the outset, then transitioned to guns to supply the US war effort. This particular one has the British proof marks, and then is stamped US NAVY on the other side so was used by both countries at some point in its history. We have a match every few months at the local club for WWII only guns (rifle and pistol) I shoot this regularly in that.

Is there any rifling left? There's got to be thousands of rounds through that barrel. Looks to be in good shape.

Sierra1 said:

Is there any rifling left? There's got to be thousands of rounds through that barrel. Looks to be in good shape.

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I've personally fired over 1500 rounds through it (conservative estimate). Lead doesn't really hurt barrels, when talking 38 special velocities, you're only moving 700~ FPS it will last a few generations. Wearing out rifling is not really a worry even on rifles, well anything "modern" with the exception of cheap 22lr's pre 1960's. Some of those cut the rifling so shallow out of crap non heat treated metal, they could go smooth bore in 500 rounds probably.

It was slightly out of time when I bought it (time refers to how the cylinder rotates and stops) but fitting a new hand and cylinder stop spring fixed it. It would have kept on trucking without my fix for a normal shooter without notice for the next 100 years.

Its been refinished at some point. Probably when the Navy took it back as it has some minor pitting on the muzzle under the parkerizing. But the refinish was done long enough ago that it still has a ton of character.

One of my better $200 deals.

Kyle_E said:

. . . . Wearing out rifling is not really a worry even on rifles, well anything "modern". . . .

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I had a Remington 700, heavy barrel, that was starting to have issues grouping. The two guys before me never kept a round count, so. . . . I only had put about 1,500 rds through it, and it was starting to have more and more flyers. Luckily it got replaced with the FN, and it was happily ever after. But, the guestimate on the Remington round count was less then 10K; I would have expected better.

Sierra1 said:

I had a Remington 700, heavy barrel, that was starting to have issues grouping. The two guys before me never kept a round count, so. . . . I only had put about 1,500 rds through it, and it was starting to have more and more flyers. Luckily it got replaced with the FN, and it was happily ever after. But, the guestimate on the Remington round count was less then 10K; I would have expected better.

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Yeah on high round count rifles its possible but in 99% of the cases its unlikely to see anywhere near 10,000 rounds. Remember the vast majority of people shoot 20 rounds a year out of their 700's to sight in for deer season. That's who Remington builds guns for (btw they have a shit reputation these days).

Modern barrels for stuff like AR15's last 50-60,000 rounds. You actually get throat/chamber erosion past spec before the rifling is done. High round count on good barrels for bolt guns Todd Hodnett sees 25,000 or so rounds before he replaces them super duper sniper instructor dude who is shooting 1000 yard + groups daily.

The FN was up to about 2,700 rds. It was a chrome barrel, and the group size was still decreasing. Badlands Tactical is a fan-f'n-tastic training center, open to the public, in Grandfield OK. The owner would let us practice whenever we needed. It had a 1K yd range that was fun, but it also schooled ya' on wind. My AR is probably only in the 10K rds range, but it's also chrome lined.

I daily pocket carry a Ruger LC9 or S&W 642 j-frame airweight. When hiking I use a hillpeoplegear kitbag to hold my Glock 20. I'm more accurate with double stack autos and larger grip guns, but they're difficult to conceal. My Sig P228 9mm and Glock 20 10mm are both very easy to shot small groups in a hurry at 25 feet.

I have a couple AR15s, one 15.6lb DCM competition bushmaster and a light home built with Anderson lower and remaining parts Palmetto.

I've got some other random stuff, but nothing special. They're all for use. My 642 air weight's aluminum frame is worn pretty bad from the kydex ankle holster I use hiking when it's a backup gun.

The hillpeoplegear kit bag is great for hiking and riding as seen below.

wjfawb0 said:

The hillpeoplegear kit bag is great for hiking and riding as seen below.

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That's an interesting looking option!

Went and salted my lead mine today.

Just added this to the collection: M1917 Eddystone. October 1918 build date (one month before the Armistice). I compete in the CMP Vintage Military Service Rifle class so this old girl will be getting some range time at the August match this weekend. Nothing cooler than competing with a 100+ year old piece of iron.




Sorry, no quilt.....does a cheap Persian rug count?

Sierra1 said:

I had a Remington 700, heavy barrel, that was starting to have issues grouping. The two guys before me never kept a round count, so. . . . I only had put about 1,500 rds through it, and it was starting to have more and more flyers. Luckily it got replaced with the FN, and it was happily ever after. But, the guestimate on the Remington round count was less then 10K; I would have expected better.

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I can't get my old 700 to group worth a plug nickel. Piece o' junk.
I try and try though; 4 rounds a season.

Yee haw!

Henry 357 Just picked this up used. Its well built and really a great gun. But don't think I will keep it. I just cant get over having to load it from the front. I regret selling my old Marlin.

Kyle_E said:

Yee haw!

Henry 357 Just picked this up used. Its well built and really a great gun. But don't think I will keep it. I just cant get over having to load it from the front. I regret selling my old Marlin.

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I understand. I have a pair of Marlin 1894C's - 357 Mag/38 Special and 44 Mag/44 Special. Love them!

Sierra1 said:

Former duty weapon. After I retired, I put the red dot on it. Shoots very well.

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Wow, how’d you keep a duty gun in such nice shape! Every gun I carry has holster rub down to bare steel, especially on the front of the slide.

Revz said:

Wow, how’d you keep a duty gun in such nice shape! Every gun I carry has holster rub down to bare steel, especially on the front of the slide.

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It's stainless. Key word being "less", not proof. The wood grips were put on after retirement. I used rubber Hogue wraparounds that were getting pretty worn. Keeping the rust from under the grips was a full time job.

Kyle_E said:

. . . . I regret selling my old Marlin. . . .

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I'm assuming you're talking about a .30-.30. I had one back in the '80s. I too, regret selling mine. Something about a lever action carbine. And, it may be sacrilege, but I always preferred the Marlin over the Winchester.

Kurgan said:

I understand. I have a pair of Marlin 1894C's - 357 Mag/38 Special and 44 Mag/44 Special. Love them!

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I kept my 44 thankfully. I sold the 357 when they promised to make a threaded barrel version in blue (now 5 years ago). They went a different direction and made it stainless with plastic they just came out with a black and plastic one. They want $1600 for it.... no thanks. Even if I could get over not having blue and wood, that price is just dumb, and there are about 50 other guns I'd buy first at that price point.

Sierra1 said:

I'm assuming you're talking about a .30-.30. I had one back in the '80s. I too, regret selling mine. Something about a lever action carbine. And, it may be sacrilege, but I always preferred the Marlin over the Winchester.

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Marlin is a better gun than the Winchester. Not that the Winchester is bad, but there is a drastic difference in strength of the Marlin action along with their fit and finish. Henry is right there with the Marlin in terms of quality.

But no talking 357 mag. They made their lever guns in that along with 44 mag for a number of years. They stopped for a while because of all the cheap Rossi import guns at 1/2the price (clones of the Winchester action made in Brazil) They just couldn't compete so they stopped doing it for a while. Thankfully they started making them again! Just wish they didn't cost more than my first truck.....

I picked up both of mine from a gentleman who was slowly getting rid of the majority of his guns since he was getting very frail (recoil became an issue) and had failing eyesight. For both, he only wanted $400!

He and I went back and forth as I told I was going to give him $800 for both and he refused to take the extra money! He finally accepted $600 after 10 solid minutes of me almost begging him to take it. Over the next year, a friend and I bought mosts of his guns and we went through the same dance each time...."we're giving you more money! No!"

Kurgan said:

I picked up both of mine from a gentleman who was slowly getting rid of the majority of his guns since he was getting very frail . . . .

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Similar story for me. My benefactor had a massive collection; contained in three large safes. He gave my youngest son his knife/sword collection. Told us he was tired of his children/grandchildren stealing them one-by-one. He "charged" us $10 each for 2-M1a rifles and an M1 Garand. Later he "sold" us 2-9mm Browning Hi-Powers, 1-.40 cal Browning Hi-Power, and a 888lb FN safe. . . . for $200.00. And, no, we were not taking advantage of him. We had been to the range with him numerous times over the years, sighting in this & that rifle, and had told him these were our favorites. The remainder of his collection, including 2 B.A.R.s, was sold serious collectors. He sold all of his firearms, except for nickel 1911 chamber for .38 Super. He said that was the only one that he could shoot accurately because of it's light recoil.