S&W Victory takedown screw problem

[Zeke Dickinson]

1. Box says 091515
2. Damn straight!
3. don't know haven't used
4. See #2

OK the actual mfg date was 10/18/16

 

[Zeke Dickinson]

Here is my experience with a new Victory:

Bought gun at local basspro at Christmas. Tried to clean before going to range and despite best efforts and some CLP, unable to remove screw. Actually almost stripped screw head with simple hand pressure. Returned to Basspro. The clerks at the gun counter were well aware of what they said was a defect in this gun-in fact they said simply placing word "screw" on the work order would be sufficient due to many returns for this known problem. They themselves openly wondered about SW quality these days as well as why SW hasn't recalled this gun yet for the screw issues. I was very, very unhappy. Told 3-6 weeks for repair.

I went back to my pistol range to RO and there was a member at a shooting station with his brand new victory. Before he began shooting it for the first time I advised him to try to remove the takedown screw. He turned his allen wrench into a corkscrew (by hand) trying unsuccessfully to remove it.

Called SW and was told that the fix is nylonized screws that supposedly won't back out. They didn't admit or apologize for this known defect which I think was very poor cust. service. I personally am off to hardware to get the proverbial #61 O ring before using it for first time. Appreciate other forum recommendation to clean thoroughly after return from SW. Am hopeful I won't have further screw issues or other new problem like the feed issue described as I have tons of bargain federal ammo to shoot.

It will be interesting if this gun holds up to new Ruger offering in the market. Hoping for the best

update, received my victory back from SW yesterday. No apologies, nothing written about what they did. Takedown screw now functional but did have red material (locktite?) on it.

Cleaned gun and tried to cycle it and it and have some hopefully minor concerns. First, the mag is a little difficult to lock in the gun, both empty and with a cartridge in, not sure why. Also, it didn't cock the hammer with cycling even with the mag in.With a cartridge in I'm not sure if the hammer cocked. Haven't shot it yet so don't know for sure. Not sure if I did something wrong with the reassembly. Any seasoned victory owners have a comment? Thanks.

 

[Zeke Dickinson]

sorry wrong date of manufacture, from another SW gun. The Victory Box is at the shop!

was 10/18/16

 

[Zeke Dickinson]

whoops, sorry spoke too soon, fiddled with gun stripped down, turned out the hammer was cocked but not releasing. Released it a couple of times stripped, put together again and used more force to seat mag (with homemade snapcap from drywall anchor). Cycles now without difficulty.

Next post hopefully will be how happy I am with the gun!!!

 

[Zeke Dickinson]

all well I think

First trip to range. Cycled well, no hangups, only problem was barrel worked itself loose on its insert screw. Figured out it was loose after trying to zero new red dot was problematic. I'm planning to carry the two allen heads to the range whenever using the pistol and checking tightness closely. If it continues to work itself loose, then will need to investigate locktite for the barrel screw. Otherwise shoots well and now I'm tentatively happy with purchase.

 

[BennyS]

I sold my M&P 22 to buy a Victory. Picked one up at a gun show yesterday. As with all my new purchases figure I would disassemble and clean it. Well bent three allen keys trying to get the takedown screw out. Finally went to HD and bought a husky 1/8 hex socket. thank the good lord it came loose but damn I swear they use a 1/2 impact gun to tighten the damn thing. Buggered up the screw a bit so email SW to see if they will send me a new one. I did clean the screw and thread and used blue Loctite and torqued it to 40 inch pounds. Looking forward to shooting it.

 

[Targets Guy]

First trip to range. Cycled well, no hangups, only problem was barrel worked itself loose on its insert screw. Figured out it was loose after trying to zero new red dot was problematic. I'm planning to carry the two allen heads to the range whenever using the pistol and checking tightness closely. If it continues to work itself loose, then will need to investigate locktite for the barrel screw. Otherwise shoots well and now I'm tentatively happy with purchase.

Sorry to hear about your problems. I bought my Victory in Jan of 2016. Had no problem taking the screw out for the first cleaning. My barrel tended to loosen at about 70 rounds and I began making sure I took the hex wrench with me. I would check the barrel after each mag and tighten as necessary. After cleaning sometimes the barrel would stay tight for 100 rounds (my normal compliment at the range) and sometimes not. I just retightened and moved to the next mag. Over the last three months the problem seems to have gone away. Last five trips with no loosening. I did put a "o" ring on during the last trip and it worked fine. I will continue to monitor that based on what I read above. I am also going to call S&W customer service and see if they will send me the new nylon screw. I'll keep that as an emergency back up.

Hope yours smooths out and gives you a lifetime of pleasure. I love shooting mine.

 

[Targets Guy]

Update . . .

Just got off the phone with them. New screw on the way. The person I spoke with didn't recommend one with a nylon insert or widget or whatever. Worse case is I have an extra part.

 

[Barrie]

Benny instead of continuing to fight with the screw loosening at the range place a No.61 O-ring on the screw 1st and only torque to around 30-40 inch lbs with NO locktite at all. This will do the trick for you instead.

 

[Autigers]

I have a Fat Wrench and had to set it to 65 in/lbs to break the take down screw free. Started at 20 in/lbs and worked up in 5 in/lbs increments. After talking with a local gunsmith, he recommended using a Viton O-ring.

 

[BigBoy99]

What is the screw -- is it an inch standard or a metric standard? Maybe not using the correct standard Allen wrench is causing the problem?

 

[Targets Guy]

allen wrench that comes with the pistol is a 1/8".

 

[CoachRick]

First post by the new old guy.

Been spending more time on the Victory FB page; but happy to join you folks.

My first Victory TB was purchased in April, '16. No problems initially with the takedown screw; but I did end up adding a split washer after the screw backed out after the second and third cleanings(100 rounds or so between). Didn't have any trouble removing the screw the first time using a Husky(China )bit chucked into a Kobalt(China) rubber wrapped 'screwdriver' handle. Always just tightened by hand to whatever felt OK.

After a spring issue in the original Vic, I purchased another just over the weekend. My original is on its way to the mother ship and I traded my 22/45 base model in on the new TB(didn't want another TB; but the range shop only had TB models). Initial breakdown was similar...felt pretty tight; but no undue force was needed to loosen it. Set screw for barrel is plenty snug and all is well after 250 rounds or so...except the red dot I swapped from my original has gone nuts(what did I expect for thirty bucks!). Now I'm back to the original sights, although I may switch to a too-bulky 1x scope just for grins.

The trigger on the new unit is crisper and more positive feeling. Otherwise, the new Vic is a very familiar 'friend'. I'm up to eight mags between the two, so I'm burning through ammo faster than I should! Couple boxes of MiniMags along with a couple hundred Browning BPR and Federal AutoMatch...all running fine(albeit smokey on the Browning).

Just gave it a quick clean and replaced the original sights for a trip back to the range later today(I hope...Valentine's Day, ya know).

I'll be back with stories of my Vic experiences and an update on what the mother ship does with my original unit. I'm hoping for some new springs, roll pin, etc and maybe a new shock bumper since I mentioned that to them.

Adios,
CoachRick

 

[CoachRick]

Forgot to add a pic of the tiny spring that went haywire in the firing pin assembly. Broke into three pieces and coiled onto itself, resulting in multiple non-strikes per magazine....

 

[Barrie]

Hi CoachRick and Welcome to the Forum from Canada as well. There are many Victory owners on here with a lot of knowledge about them. If you can find a No.61 o-ring at your local hardware store just place it on the barrel screw and torque it to around 35-40 inch lbs. Still easy for you to undue and will not loosen off by itself. Tandemcross also makes a very nice trigger setup for them which is easy to install at home.

 

[BigDog48]

#1 10/21/16
#2 Y -- Hell yes
#3 Hasn't yet
#4 See #2 above

I have been unable to get this screw out even with Bondhus T Handle 1/8 driver. Right now my pistol is resting sights down with the screw soaking in Kano Kroil. I am going to give it a try tomorrow. If I can't do it then to S&W. I am 6'2" and 235 pounds and have broken many a bolt off ocertightening. I have been taught by this experience (and my father) never to "force" anything beyond what seems reasonable.

This pistol shoots great, although I haven't gotten it apart yet to clean it completely (Just using a Bore-snake), so I don't know its potential.

Damned irritating!

Well my Victory went to S&W and I got it back in about 3 weeks. They got the takedown screw loose and tightened so I can undo it, and even sent me 2 extra hex keys rattling around in the box.

My only complaint is that the elevation adjustment screw from the rear sight was also rattling around in the box. Why it was out, I don't know...but I put it back in and am headed to the range tomorrow to re-zero it. Odd mis-step by S&W customer service, which was otherwise exellent to deal with.

 

[BennyS]

well after getting the takedown loose(thanks husky 1/8 hex socket)! put 250 rounds through it with four brands of ammo and it shot without a problem!!! after a little site adjustment was very accurate! real happy. Oh and I received a new takedown screw for S&W. New screw with a dab of red substance on part of the thread????

 

[BigDog48]

Range report

Well my Victory went to S&W and I got it back in about 3 weeks. They got the takedown screw loose and tightened so I can undo it, and even sent me 2 extra hex keys rattling around in the box.

My only complaint is that the elevation adjustment screw from the rear sight was also rattling around in the box. Why it was out, I don't know...but I put it back in and am headed to the range tomorrow to re-zero it. Odd mis-step by S&W customer service, which was otherwise exellent to deal with.

Update: Took my newly repaired Victory to the range and it shot great once I got the rear sight re-adjusted. Shot a variety of ammo, about 80 rounds, no issues.

 

[Steb]

I just wanted to say thanks to all on this thread. I have had the same issues with my Victory, so I followed the advice to use Kano Kroil and left it overnight. I bent all my 1/8 hex keys, so purchased the 1/8 socket. After a big squeak, it released. I cleaned the barrel and the screw and then used VC-3. Since then no problems with about 100 rounds. S&W is supposed to send me a new longer screw to eliminate the loosening issue. I love this little gun. I have a Ruger 22/45 and the Ruger Mark III target and this is every bit as accurate and fun to shoot as the other two.
Thanks.

 

[danfo]

Here's a new one!

I have had the takedown screw loosening problem since the purchase of this thing! 50-75 rounds and it's loose so I contacted S&W and they said they would send me a new screw. I received the screw, it said it was called a (some kind of) patch screw or something, it had a red circular spot on it of some sort. Well, I cleaned pistol and used the new screw and off to range today. Less than 100 rounds it was loose, rather than fool with it, out of disgust, I just put it in range bag and shot something else that wouldn't come apart on the firing line! When I got home this evening I was going to clean it went to take screw out seemed rather loose, kept turning then realized that the bushing that the screw screws into had unscrewed out of the barrel! No matter how I try I cannot get the takedown screw out of the bushing! What a hunk of junk! I would rather put up with a ruger takedown any day than to have to go through what it's been like owning this junk. I guess I'll contact S&W on Monday and send it back! I would not advise my worst enemy to think of purchasing this aggravating and unsafe pistol.