SW22 Victory Issues

[Rclark28]

New user here. My range buddy has a Victory Base Model and I asked him about his guns reliability and he stated he has had it for 1 year and after using the "needle nose plier method" to tweak it the gun eats any ammo and is very accurate with no issues at all. I had a chance to shoot it last month and liked it. I use a Mark III 22/45 and find it to be a great firearm with no issues. I am interested on this subject because I plan to acquire a new Mark VI or a Victory depending on what I come with on my quest for data. I find it interesting the different issues with both Victory and Mark IV. Thanks for all who shared here. I plan on taking my time with my research, it's fun and I want to make the correct decision. I am very trusting of Ruger and it will be a interesting journey to compare these two target platforms.

 

[Sevens]

Hello Rclark28, I saw your other post and note that you live close to me.

Take a look at this thread:
I GOT TO SHOOT A NEW RUGER MARK IV LAST FRIDAY

This discussion contains my opinions on why the Mark IV is not the choice I would make. I will however say, with my whole heart, that I'd take -ANY- of the Ruger Mark I-IV over the S&W Victory. I would go far out of my way to avoid the S&W Victory.

That opinion may not be overly popular in the S&W forum... but then again, MOST of the Victory discussion on this forum is about the shoddy build quality and poor attention to detail that these pistols have shown since day 1.

 

[Rclark28]

Thanks Sevens for the time, info and thread. Going to hold off for now and focus on getting something down the road even if I have to save and or spend more funds upfront.

 

[nicalex]

First time at the range with the SW22 Victory. Stove pipe every third round. Fail to eject-half way out with another live round on top. Apparently it wouldn't eject fast enough I guess. I don't know. I think it might be the ammo. Using CCI Mini Mags. MY Ruger 10/22 loves them. I noticed they have a waxey build up on them. I've been using this ammo for years. Never noticed this wax. Do you think this is my problem with the Victory. I cleaned every one of them before I go back to the range. I'm also going to try several different brands. So much for buying the good stuff. I hope this is the problem with the Victory. Very accurate when it worked. Any advice?

I have sw22 victory performance center. I own several other guns but for accuracy my sw22 is the gun. I think every rimfire will stove pipe occasionally and tried every 22lr available and the two best are Federal match grade and Aguila. Both only had an occasional jam. Don't use copper plated. Screws up rifling in barrel.

 

[nicalex]

I'm sorry, but to say that one should not shoot name brand ammo from some of the companies listed is just not the right answer.

The right answer is for S&W to fix this Victory pistol.

It has had various issues since its introduction, and S&W seems not to care.

In the meantime, my Ruger 22 Auto (both MK III and 22/45) just goes on feeding absolutely anything. And I have one that has not been taken apart EVER, nor does it get cleaned more than once every few years.

If a 22 Auto will not perform as reliably as the Ruger, then I am not interested.

Making money is certainly one goal of a corporation, but long term survival is another, and the more customers that try S&W and leave for other brands the more long term survival is impacted.

Bad show.

I have read in the last two weeks on this forum of folks having issues with the Victory, the M&P pistols, the light strikes with revolvers that seem to have started after S&W shaved a little off the frame mounted firing pin to make sure of California drop tests, etc.

The one thing we all want in a firearm is one that fires each time the trigger is pulled, and it should work - whether that be cylinder rotates (there are posts on here about dragging cylinders in new guns) when trigger is pulled, or whether that be extract, eject, feed and fire again in semi-auto weapons (without out of battery firings, etc.).

S&W seems not to publicize what, if anything, it is doing to address ongoing problems, and for me, that promotes LACK of confidence in the product.

Sorry S&W, but that is how I feel.

I have several S&W handguns to include all the M2.0 and SW22 Performance Center Victory. First of all; I had a couple of issues with my Victory. Contacted S&W and they went out of their way to solve the issues. Secondly, my Victory is the most accurate gun I own. Gropings .51. I tested several different rounds and found that Federal Match grade and Aguila worked extremely well. Occasional stove pipe but all rimfire pistols have them. I've found Smith and Wesson to be sincere and expedient in solving any of my issues.

 

[nicalex]

New user here. My range buddy has a Victory Base Model and I asked him about his guns reliability and he stated he has had it for 1 year and after using the "needle nose plier method" to tweak it the gun eats any ammo and is very accurate with no issues at all. I had a chance to shoot it last month and liked it. I use a Mark III 22/45 and find it to be a great firearm with no issues. I am interested on this subject because I plan to acquire a new Mark VI or a Victory depending on what I come with on my quest for data. I find it interesting the different issues with both Victory and Mark IV. Thanks for all who shared here. I plan on taking my time with my research, it's fun and I want to make the correct decision. I am very trusting of Ruger and it will be a interesting journey to compare these two target platforms.

Have both Ruger Mark IV and SW22 Victory Performance center. Both great guns but lean toward my SW22 Victory with carbon fiber barrel being the most accurate and very few jams if any. Quality of ammo determines the jams.

 

[Rockyriver]

I shoot CCI standard velocity in my Victory and CCI Mini Mags
and yes in the beginning it jammed like crazy. I did the ejector tweak and now it shoots without jamming.